The DeMint amendment (Broadcaster Freedom Act) would ban the Fairness Doctrine.
source:Michelle Malklin
Senator DeMint will encourage all senators to OPPOSE the Durbin Amendment.
The DeMint amendment passes 87-11
– The amendment by Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) would achieve the same goals of the Fairness Doctrine through backdoor FCC regulations. His legislation forces the FCC to “take actions to encourage and promote diversity in communication media ownership,” an attempt to dismantle successful syndicated radio programs. The Durbin amendment would hurt small, local radio stations who depend on popular syndicated programming for listeners and revenue.
Dems have attacked from back door on media ownership, localism.”
Democrats passed the Durbin Amendment to restrict free speech- 57-41.
“Durbin Amdt. No. 591; To encourage and promote diversity in communication media ownership, and to ensure that the public airwaves are used in the public interest.” Durbin’s trying to bring it in through the back door by going after ownership of stations.
Source: U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote for ………On the Amendment (Durbin Amdt. No. 591 )
SOURCE: The Hill
Is Durbin going after Limbaugh? By Alexander Bolton Posted: 02/26/09 04:58 PM [ET] Conservatives fear that Democrats are pursuing a “back door” approach to cracking down on Clear Channel Communications, the media conglomerate that airs “The Rush Limbaugh Show,” a favorite among conservatives.
The Senate voted along party lines Thursday to adopt an amendment sponsored by Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.), the second-ranking Democrat in the chamber, that directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to “promote diversity in communication media ownership and to ensure that broadcast station licenses are used in the public interest.”
The measure passed 57-41 without a single Republican vote.
Durbin said his proposal would encourage more women and minorities to apply for radio and TV ownership.
But Sen. Jim DeMint (S.C.), chairman of the conservative Senate Republican Steering Committee, charged the proposal would lead to regulatory pressure on Clear Channel, which owns and operates more than 1,200 radio stations in the United States.
Wild Thing’s comment……..
God bless Senator Jim DeMint for his efforts and for the Republilcans for staying firm on this.
Democrats = Stalinists
Durbin’s bill is much more dangerouso I think. His would order the Federal Communications Commission to encourage radio ownership “diversity.”
A DeMint aide said Durbin’s measure will “impose the Fairness Doctrine through the back door by trying to break up radio ownership.”
The aide called the Durbin proposal “an attempt to break up companies like Clear Channel and hurt their syndications and therefore putting many local radio stations out of business that depend on those syndicated shows for revenue.”
The “Fairness Doctrine” isn’t. So much freedom and fairness is lost in the name of diversity. Diversity is not the function of government. Diversity occurs naturally in society. Some aspects of diversity are not beneficial to society and will be naturally rejected. Let society decide how much or how little diversity it wants to accept.
Never forget that McCain-Feingold set the stage for this to reappear. Bui Tin’s useful idiot may harp against it but will vote in lockstep with the party, the Democrat Party. It’s all about censorship and silencing the opposition. Hugo Chavez imposed it in Venezuela, Obama want’s it here and he wants you and I to fund it.
Tom, your so right, so much for “freedom and fairness”. I agree, let we the people decide.
Jack, your right, they set the stage is so true.