Who Promised You Fair?
As a broadcaster, I am outraged that key players in the democratic party are working up legislation to reinstate the "fairness doctrine", an antiquated piece of radio history which went the way of the dodo in the 1980's.
The liberals, not able to create quality radio programming (underfunded and not entertaining at all) are turning to legislation to help level the playing field between them and commentators like Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, Sean Hannity and Glen Beck.
The fairness doctrine says that a broadcast licensee is obligated to grant equal time to qualified individuals having opposing viewpoints. This was in play when radio stations editorialized and the FCC believed that community leaders should have the opportunity answer if they so chose. There are no relevant radio stations that editorialize anymore. The opinions expressed on shows like Limbaugh's are the views of the host. They are his opinions, not the opinions of the licensee, and as such, do not fall under the fairness doctrine. This legislation would make each affiliate responsible for content they have absolutely no control over nor input in. How then, would it be possible to determine who would get the equal time?
For a small station airing Rush Limbaugh in Montana, no one probably would care. But at WLS in Chicago or WISN in Milwaukee, there would be targets on their backs. The disruption created by having to answer everyone with a fairness doctrine inquiry would be ridiculous and burdensome.
The liberals are scared to death of talk radio because every day millions of listeners hear what the liberals believe to be one side of the story. Liberals of course believe that you are not smart enough to explore facts for yourself, thus if some bellowing radio announcer doesn't provide them for you, you'll never know the truth. They, the liberals, being the smartest people in the room, must design legislation to protect you, the great unwashed, from yourself.
What the liberals fail to realize is, most of television news leans left, as do interview shows like Meet the Press and This Week with George Snuffleupagus. And there are thousands of liberal blogs and web sites available people to read and digest. Just the amount of items from Media Matters for America is enough to choke even the heartiest RSS reader.
There is no reason to put local radio stations in the position of having to contact someone every time either locally or nationally somebody expresses an opinion. If you have to do that, then the person should have to appear as a guest on the offending parties show and debate the issue with them. That makes for compelling programming and good national debate, which is what our founding fathers had in mind.
Radio is a severely regulated industry, Many of the burdens have been removed, but there are many more still in place. Radio stations are expensive to run because of the amount of federal paperwork. Federally mandated EEO laws have made it harder for trained professionals like me to find work, not easier as was suggested by those who supported it. Lottery rules are also antiquated and need to be addressed. And adding an additional complication of having to schedule people to oppose your hosts views makes it even more complex.
The Democrats can't beat them, so they want to legislate against them. Who promised them fair?
Lightning Round::
- The Anaheim Ducks were supposed to be the toughest defensive team the Detroit Red Wings would have to play in the
2007 chase for Lord Stanley's cup (which, btw, appeared on "Boston Legal" last night and fell off the balcony.) The Ducks dynamic duo of Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer were supposed to keep pucks out of the net instead of assist the Wings in scoring goals. And yet, the Wings, scored early and often to shoot down the Ducks 5-0 last night in Anaheim. Losing 5-0 in a Stanley Cup playoff game is like losing 13-0 in a World Series game. In addition, a blatant elbow by Pronger that drew blood from Detroit's Thomas Holmstrom may cost Pronger some money and possibly a suspension from the league. Things do not appear to be ducky for the Buffalo Sabres as they try to stave off elimination tonight against the Ottawa Senators in Ottawa. - The White Sox and Yankees game was rained out last night and rescheduled as one of those assinine day/night doubleheaders in order to grab two gates, even though no one ever goes to the day game. If I ruled the world, that would be one of the first things that I would ban. Rain is forecast for Chicago this afternoon.The rescheduling is going to hurt the Sox pitching rotation as John Danks may have to go against the Cubs Sunday on three days rest. The Sox could start Nick Masset, but the way he's pitched lately, that may not be a wise move. A better plan would be to hope you get quality starts from Contrares, Garland, Buehrle and Vasquez and use Danks and Masset on Sunday with Danks going no more than five innings. Danks is only 22 years old, so he should bounce back pretty quickly.
- The Milwaukee Brewers have now lost three in a row, two of them late in the game. It was a valiant effort by the crew who had tied the game at 3 in the top of the ninth on Johnny Estrada's home run. Carlos Ruiz untied it in the bottom of the ninth which begs the question what was Derrick Turnbow (pictured right), who got lit up on Monday night doing in the game in the bottom of the ninth? Time for this team to rebound against the Phillies who are still thrashing around trying to overcome a horrid 0-8 start and are now within one game of .500.
- Tank Johnson will meet with the NFL commish today to discuss guns, dogs and clubbing. Lovie Smith is delusional enough to think that the commish, who hands out sentences like Kennesaw Mountain Landis on steroids with a hangover and an ingrown toenail, will give Tank a pass because Tank served jail time. Sorry, Lovie. Today's meeting can only be described as "Roger over and out."
- The Bears are now the first on their block to own their very own live action Smurf.
- Here's an opinion from a writer who better not ever stop for cheese on I-94. Brett Favre is so beloved in Wisconsin, he could walk up to the Lombardi statue outside Lambeau field, whiz on it and people would comment that was the greatest whiz they ever saw. Seriously. Packer fans are the NFL equivilant of Alabama football fans. Alabama football fans still pine for a coach who has been dead for 23 years.
- What D-1 football coaches are feeling heat in their seats? Top names with the hottest bottoms include Greg Robinson of Syracuse and Houston Nutt of Arkansas. Nutt wouldn't be on this list if hog fans were sane and realized Mitch Mustain needs to taken to the wood shed and spanked.
- Attention Rick Adelman: There is no body, repeat there is no body. Please wait before a body is located and it is buried properly before you move forward.
- The NFL has no sense of decentcy when it comes to community spirit.
- The Mid Con Conference is changing their name June 1st. They declined our suggestion of the IBC (Insignificant Basketball Conference) and went for the Summit League instead. It must do those member schools proud to be in a low mid-major conference named after a women's basketball coach.
- Here's a great story on historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama. I was the manager for a men's team there and we played several games at Rickwood. Lots of great history, but since the majors never played there, you probably don't know about it. Here's your chance.
- Congratulations to our friends at Awful Announcing who are celebrating a year of outstanding blogging. Party on, AA!
- And now a few words about the late Reverand Jerry Falwell. In the 1960's, when he, as a purported man of God, could
the 1970's, Falwell decided that he knew what was best for America and formed the "Moral Majority" a group of evangelically, political, Christians whose sole pupose was to hammer home issues of morality and attack anyone who did not agree with them. Falwell and his group were instrumental in getting Ronald Reagan elected and making evangelicals an influential part of the conservative right. But as time moved on and Falwell became increasing insignificant due to his tunnel vision, the Moral Majority eventually disbanded and Falwell went back to the life of a country preacher in Lynchburg, VA. While I respect his accomplishments, the fact is the man was every bit as intolerant as two other men who cloak themselves in religion as a front for their political agendas: Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. - Our friends at Bugs and Cranks did an interesting tribute to Jerry Falwell.
- I can't remember if I ran this before, but if I did it's worth seeing again. Being a Cub fan is frustrating in any language:
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