Fairness Doctrine Would Alter Talk Radio As We Know It

When the history of the 2008 elections is written a large chapter will focus on the mistake the Left made in clamoring for reinstating the “Fairness Doctrine.” Progressive, left of center activists have long correctly understood that Talk Radio was an effective communications and organizing tool available only to the Right. Of the top 15 political radio talk show hosts only one is a liberal. And he ranks number 15. In the top ten: zippo.

Conservative talk radio only came into being after the 1987 FCC decision ending the “Fairness Doctrine.” Under the old regime all ideas outside the establishment’s way of thinking-anything to the left or right of the front page of the New York Times-had to be matched with equal time from an opponent.

Three Hours of Rush Limbaugh or Al Frankin could only be possible when this restriction was lifted. But freedom was not equally kind to the right and left as talk radio requires a politically sympathetic audience. Rush had one. Al didn’t.

Mike Pence has introduced legislation to stop the reintroduction of the Fairness Doctrine. Given the recent test vote on an appropriations rider that passed overwhelmingly the Pence bill might pass the House. In the Senate, the Dems will stop such a bill. This leaves the final decision up to the next president who will appoint FCC commissioners who favor or oppose the “Fairness Doctrine.” Hillary can and would “outlaw Rush.”

Thus every single radio talk show host will shift the focus from Hispanics who wake up at 5 am and stand by the road offering to work to concentrate on the 2008 presidential election. President Clinton, President Obama or President Edwards would put every last one of them out of work without a vote of Congress, just a flick of the new FCC’s wrist.