If the media is liberal, why does the right fight the fairness doctrine?

[Hamlette]

I mean, really. Isn't this the proof in the pudding? If the media is liberal you'd think conservatives would WANT the fairness doctrine to be reinstated.

It's my favorite new argument to use the next time some right wing nut case complains about the liberal media.

Another odd thing is that since November, the right has been launching a preemptive war against the left on the issue. I've not heard one nationally elected democrat talking about bringing back the fairness doctrine (we're got some significant real problems, hello?) but George Will and others are all in a state.

Because liberals have been even less successful in competing with conservatives on talk radio than Detroit has been in competing with its rivals, liberals are seeking intellectual protectionism in the form of regulations that suppress ideological rivals. If liberals advertise their illiberalism by reimposing the fairness doctrine, the Supreme Court might revisit its 1969 ruling that the fairness doctrine is constitutional. The court probably would dismay reactionary liberals by reversing that decision on the ground that the world has changed vastly, pertinently and for the better. (blah blah, not worth reading really, as usual)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/05/AR2008120503194.html

[Orrex]

1. Because that would curtail free speech, which you know they love more than anything else

:sarcasm:

[Robbien]

2. True, the wingnuts could use that fairness doctrine as a club to beat over the heads

of the Liberal Media.

Everything they do is so non-logical.

[Fridays Child]

3. Because they're willing to be martyrs to the cause of Free Market Capitalism.

They would probably tell you something along that line.

[BOSSHOG]

6. I love right wing radio logic

We love the market. If you want to lie and spread disinformation to ignorant people buy your own fucking station. This is America and we are great Americans.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

4. Because it's a leftist plot to take away their last bastions of righteousness:

Fox News and a good chunk of AM radio

[Jim__]

5. Typical of George Will - all kinds of claims about what liberals say.

Not one citation to back up his claims.

[Phred42]

7. GOod argument - why didn't I think of that?

:toast:

[Hamlette]

13. could it be because you don't take showers?

I'd been reading two articles, Will's and someone bitching about the liberal media just before getting into the shower.

Can't wait for the wingnuts at work to start bitching about one or the other (the "liberal media" or fairness doctrine). Shouldn't take too long. . .

Since November 4 I'm not all that much in favor of the fairness doctrine anymore.

We own the Internet. The only GOP presence here are the complete loonies. Have you noticed that reasonable conservatives (yes, there are some) who blog voted Obama? (Sullivan, John Cole have been great the last few years.) I think a part of it was how crazy the right wing bloggers are. There is really no GOP Josh Marshall or Huffington Post or Kos. They are all Malkin, Hewitts, etc.

anyway, maybe we can give them radio. I listen to books on tape in the car. I'll take the internet any day.

[EFerrari]

8. Very nice!

lol

[Proud Liberal Dem]

9. Good Question

I don't understand the obsession about it at all. Sean Hannity in particular seems to be frothing about it just about every time I check in on his show (which is VERY infrequently, so I guess he must talk about it A LOT) even though, like you said, nobody prominent AFAIK is advocating for it. I guess Will, Hannity, et. al just need SOMETHING to keep the liberal "boogeyman" meme going. I mean, how else are they going to keep people scared enough to vote against their own interests (i.e. Republican), support endless war, and, most importantly, keep on buying more and more guns?

[ColbertWatcher]

10. I really don't understand what the GOP has against the Fairness Doctrine. n/t

[Warpy]

11. Because they know full damn well they're lying.

The Fairness Act is the only way they got their cockamamie ideas out in the 60s and 70s. As soon as they got into power, they abolished it.

[BOSSHOG]

12. reagan did away with the fairness doctrine and wala

cro-limbaugh man was born. A skeptic might think the future manipulation was planned.

[Snotcicles]

14. They fight the fairness doctrine because they would have to give time

to those that challenge their bullshit lies.
Then their corporate propaganda will have far less effect.

[Hamlette]

17. yes, I understand that

I'm just saying their arguments are inconsistent and I intend to call them on it.

If the media has a liberal bias, THEY would want a fairness doctrine. They don't because the media IS NOT liberal.

We know it, but we should call them on it.

[Titus Andronicus]

15. The FD only applies to the FCC and deals with broadcast licenses

It would not apply, for instance, to cable or newspapers or the internet.

[Hamlette]

16. but they think all news is liberal...except Fox and talk radio.

I think it is an inconsistent argument but of course we all know they invented the "liberal media" accusation to "work" the refs.