Oh my: DeMint will try to force vote next week on the Fairness Doctrine
posted at 9:12 pm on February 19, 2009 by Allahpundit
Doubtless it’ll be voted down, but it’s a perfect excuse for talk radio to raise the alarm bells and prime the public for the real battle to come — especially so soon on the heels of The One’s opposition to the Doctrine. Smart politics.
Sen. Jim DeMint announced that he will force a vote next week on a bill that prevents the Federal Communications Commission from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine.
The South Carolina Republican’s bill, the Broadcaster Freedom Act, is cosponsored by John Thune, R-S.D., and 27 others and will be offered as an amendment to the D.C. Voting Rights bill…
Sen. DeMint stated: “I’m glad President Obama finally confirmed his opposition to the Fairness Doctrine, which attacks the right of free speech on talk radio, but many Democrats in Congress are still pushing it.
“With the support of the new administration, now is the time for Congress to take a stand against this kind of censorship. I intend to seek a vote on this amendment next week so every senator is on record: Do you support free speech or do you want to silence voices you disagree with?”
If you want to say thanks, here’s your chance. Better yet, use the opportunity to urge him to make sure “localism” is covered in his amendment. The Democrats aren’t stupid; when they try to reinstate Fairness, it won’t be called Fairness. Raising public awareness means, first and foremost, calling attention to the backdoor means of reintroducing the doctrine. If it’s done, it’ll be done by stealth, not by The One ramming it down our throats.
Blowback
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Very smart politics! So glad we have DeMint.
We need more maneuvers like this to distract the Dems and Obama from ruining our country further.
carbon_footprint on February 19, 2009 at 9:15 PM
Bwahahaha! Is The One serious about opposing the Fairness Doctrine and going against his party? Where will the Blue Dogs stand? Stay tuned!
amerpundit on February 19, 2009 at 9:16 PM
Spark of genius! All who vote against it will get an e-mail creaming.
laelaps on February 19, 2009 at 9:17 PM
Sweet.
WisCon on February 19, 2009 at 9:18 PM
First Steve the video guy now Mr. DeMint. 2 heroes in one night.
I’m speechless.
RadioFreeUSA on February 19, 2009 at 9:18 PM
Attached to the DC voting rights bill? Are the dems trying to create more democrat seats and electoral votes?
darii on February 19, 2009 at 9:18 PM
DeMint is the man!
What a relief that we have a smart guy like him in the senate.
jencab on February 19, 2009 at 9:18 PM
Of course we know how the e n a b l e r s , Snowe, Collins and Specter will vote on this.
carbon_footprint on February 19, 2009 at 9:18 PM
This is brilliant. Good for DeMint!
jcheney on February 19, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Smart guy. I’ve been wondering what he’s been up to the past week or so.
genso on February 19, 2009 at 9:19 PM
I smell the sweet smell of gun powder! It only took 30 days of b_ll$hit to ruffle the right.
Thanks Sen. DeMint.
katy on February 19, 2009 at 9:20 PM
Yes. I heard something about this on Mark Levin. They are trying to create seats for DC, which Mark argues is unconstitutional since the constitution is specific about states and DC is not a state but a district.
carbon_footprint on February 19, 2009 at 9:20 PM
202-224-6121
Call him and tell him to put localism in the bill or any derivative.
Dadvocate on February 19, 2009 at 9:20 PM
The preemptive doctrine!
neuquenguy on February 19, 2009 at 9:21 PM
We need to see more of this “in your face” retaliation. Santelli-style.
sherry on February 19, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Best senator in the U.S. Senate. Hands down.
doug1981 on February 19, 2009 at 9:21 PM
They will vote against it.
doug1981 on February 19, 2009 at 9:22 PM
Clarification: Against the Fairness Doctrine. In favor of DeMint’s bill.
doug1981 on February 19, 2009 at 9:23 PM
Demint is awesome. If most Republicans were like him and Sessions we’d be better off.
roopster217 on February 19, 2009 at 9:23 PM
The ballsies are beginning to bud!!
Ris4victory on February 19, 2009 at 9:23 PM
I hope you are right. I just don’t know what to expect from those three after the stimulus bill.
carbon_footprint on February 19, 2009 at 9:24 PM
I’m moving one state down when I leave Ft. Bragg. This guy has balls.
hawkdriver on February 19, 2009 at 9:24 PM
I am this close to moving back to South Carolina.
SouthernGent on February 19, 2009 at 9:24 PM
A Congressman from Texas was just on Hannity. He offered the following to Americans: Put Republicans back in power in 2010 and they’ll repeal the stimulus provisions that won’t get spent during the recession — or, you know, most of the bill.
amerpundit on February 19, 2009 at 9:24 PM
Out of fairness, Democrats will prevent this from coming up for a vote.
JammieWearingFool on February 19, 2009 at 9:25 PM
Won’t matter in the end. Obambi will just have the FCC commission find some back door to push through regulations that strangely resemble the Fairness Doctrine without actually being called it. I’m thinking they should call it the Freedom of the Airwaves Act (trademark pending).
tempestleo on February 19, 2009 at 9:25 PM
Best senator in the U.S. Senate. Hands down.
doug1981 on February 19, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Only because Franken hasn’t won the legal challenge yet.
As for Demint, perfection. Now the issue will stay alive for a while longer, the dems will get asked about it and everyone gets to hear them hem and haw without appearing to go against Ogabe.
Rush and The Mint are going to kill FD before it even gets started.
Bishop on February 19, 2009 at 9:26 PM
And publicly stand against the One? Oh, my.
genso on February 19, 2009 at 9:27 PM
They won’t cross the aisle on this one. Even a lot of Dems will oppose it.
doug1981 on February 19, 2009 at 9:27 PM
I beat you to it. Loving it here too.
AUINSC on February 19, 2009 at 9:27 PM
That is brilliant! That is great incentive and will be even more enticing next year after the bill fails to stimulate the economy.
carbon_footprint on February 19, 2009 at 9:27 PM
That’s true.
carbon_footprint on February 19, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Why don’t the Democrats call it what it really is? “The Democratic National Thought Control Doctrine”. See, it has the word “Democratic” in it. That means it must be good.
GarandFan on February 19, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Remember McLame and Lott and a few other RINOS were for Fairness Doctrine during the Amnesty Mess…..
nondhimmie on February 19, 2009 at 9:28 PM
I got a letter from DeMint today. I’m from Texas but I contribute to him because we need his voice. Apparently the Dems are organizing against him in 2010 in a big way and bringing in heavy outside money. He needs contributions—a lot of contributions. Sorry, I don’t know how to do links.
maxine on February 19, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Yep. Come one, come all. We need some balance for all the people who crapped up their states and moved here to crap on ours.
genso on February 19, 2009 at 9:29 PM
DeMint is terrific.
INC on February 19, 2009 at 9:29 PM
As opposed (fearful) as the left is to open thought and debate congress approval rating among democrats will increase from 43% to 90% if this passes.
ONLY PROPAGANDA IS FAIR and how can propaganda work when stupid ignorant people spout truth? sarc/off
allrsn on February 19, 2009 at 9:30 PM
I just thanked DeMint for his leadership.
He’s a fantastic representative of the Republican party and the citizens of this nation that believe in true conservatism.
jariel on February 19, 2009 at 9:31 PM
DeMint link here.
genso on February 19, 2009 at 9:32 PM
This guy has stones. If the
GOPWhigs had any, he’d be Minority Leader in the Senate.james23 on February 19, 2009 at 9:32 PM
Of course the Fairness Doctrine will be voted down………
………. but then the Anti-Audio Pornography Doctrine will be introduced by the Democrats, with backing from a non-disclosed source from the White House.
Seven Percent Solution on February 19, 2009 at 9:32 PM
Beck was talking about this today too. Everyone I hear thinks this is still going to happen and I tend to agree with them.
If VA. keeps going down hill, SC. is one states I’m considering moving to. Too much questionable stuff going on for my taste anymore.
roopster217 on February 19, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Bipartisan that, Barry.
BuckeyeSam on February 19, 2009 at 9:34 PM
Yeah, like Colorado…I lived there for several years…then the SF Bay crowd realized they could sell their 2 mil shacks in the Bay and buy something 10 times better for the same price in Denver…and of course, they were all lefties…so they ran housing prices through the stratosphere in Denver AND turned the state blue. Gawd I hate those people. They screwed up a great state.
AUINSC on February 19, 2009 at 9:37 PM
LOVE IT!!!!
DeMint is the SH*T!!!
the new leadership rising in the Republican party is very inspiring for a liberal turned conservative…
Palin
Steele
Jindal
DeMInt
Coborn
Gomert
Pence
Bachmann
alexraye on February 19, 2009 at 9:38 PM
This looks like DeMint’s personal/campaign website.
Here’s DeMint on Twitter.
On Twitter he links to another article about the amendment.
I really like the title, the Broadcaster Freedom Act.
INC on February 19, 2009 at 9:39 PM
As a lifelong South Carolinian, welcome. Bring your friends.
genso on February 19, 2009 at 9:40 PM
The democrats must be drowning in corruption, or maybe it’s the release of Hussein’s birth certificate they fear, for whatever reason they are crazy-nuts out to silence the right.
christene on February 19, 2009 at 9:43 PM
I doubt he will use his veto pen once this session.
unclesmrgol on February 19, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Will DeMint have a problem in 2010 or is he relatively secure? I don’t know much about S. Carolina politicians.
sherry on February 19, 2009 at 9:45 PM
O boy I just made a fool of myself and showed that I cannot read!
Sorry Senator DeMint and HA posters.
allrsn on February 19, 2009 at 9:45 PM
Thank you, Sen DeMint.
Weight of Glory on February 19, 2009 at 9:45 PM
“sherry on February 19, 2009 at 9:45 PM”
his seat is target no. 1 for the donks — and sc is just purple enough for them to pull it off with the right candidate. however, actions like this endear him to the base that’s so desperately looking for a hero in the upper chamber that he just might be able to counter all the anti outside money with … pro outside money …
Buckaroo on February 19, 2009 at 9:49 PM
He’s fairly secure but, as I noted, we do have an influx of liberals coming into the state. He will have a target on his back so he will probably need money to counter.
genso on February 19, 2009 at 9:49 PM
alexraye on February 19, 2009 at 9:38 PM
The GOP actually has quite a strong frontline and bench at this point after many of the moderates got kicked to the curb the last two cycles by Democrats that ran to their right. Steele needs to focus on those districts and get some young guns to run.
goat on February 19, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Smart move! I wonder if he’s any good at chess.
herrevery on February 19, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Nice partisan distraction.
getalife on February 19, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Actually, I was born there…so I beat ya! :-p
SouthernGent on February 19, 2009 at 9:52 PM
So far, so good…but the state is getting a bit of a blueish tint in the larger metropolitan areas…and there are still some blue dog dems around. Plus, Grahamnesty is from here too, sadly. But when Obamanomics really kicks in and starts doing the damage, Demint’s stock will only rise. I think he’s solid around here for the long run.
AUINSC on February 19, 2009 at 9:52 PM
Love it
ashofpompeii on February 19, 2009 at 9:53 PM
“getalife on February 19, 2009 at 9:51 PM”
“partisan” — hey douche, betcha he gets more crossovers than zero just did on porkulus!
:-)
Buckaroo on February 19, 2009 at 9:53 PM
genso on February 19, 2009 at 9:49 PM
I would think Demint is pretty safe as an incumbent and no Obama on the ballot.
goat on February 19, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Here’s what you do: You type out what you want to say, obviously.
Then go to the page you want to link to. Select the full url in the address bar, right-click, and copy.
Come back to your comment here.
Highlight the word(s) you want to be the word(s) people click to get to the webpage you’re linking.
See the button over the text box that says “link”? With what you want to be the linked word still highlighted, click the link button.
There’s a pop-pop with a field to enter a url. Right-click the box and click paste or Control and V.
Click “OK”
amerpundit on February 19, 2009 at 9:54 PM
Thank ya…happy to be here. And yeah, I keep talking the place up to my friends, so hopefully, a few might make the jump.
AUINSC on February 19, 2009 at 9:54 PM
Will gladly donate to ensure your state stays red. The whole country needs DeMint.
sherry on February 19, 2009 at 9:54 PM
Obama threw the L-Branch a bone, and is now on to using bureaucracy like the EPA and Census Bureau to bypass legislation. Of course he opposes the “Fairness Doctrine.” This won’t do anything, since the plan has always been to use the FCC to bypass resistance and implement free-speech controls.
TMK on February 19, 2009 at 9:55 PM
I’m confused.
The DC Voting Rights bill will give DC a representative in congress. They are not a state and should not have representation. Additionally, any rep they do get would of course be a democrat. That’s why the Dems want this bill, and Republicans don’t.
DeMint’s amendment will prevent the FCC from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine. Most Dems do NOT want this, and most Republicans do.
This could backfire bigtime. Localism can be instituted without legislation and it will accomplish the same thing as the fairness doctrine. Dems know this, so they will vote for the bill & amendment anyway. Republicans will have to vote for allowing DC representation in order to pass DeMint’s amendment.
Heads they win, tails we lose.
IrishEi on February 19, 2009 at 9:56 PM
Sen. DeMint is terrific.
As I have said before, he also sponsors a PAC, the Senate Conservatives Fund. I have received several solicitations from it.
I will post the address again if anyone wants it, or ask for the address at Sen. DeMint’s website.
In other good news, Bill Russell is gathering support for another run against John Murtha. Let’s get behind him and other fine conservative candidates. They have our interests at heart, and they revere our Constitution.
onlineanalyst on February 19, 2009 at 9:56 PM
True enough. Well, I hope you are in a place now where your vote can swing the balance…if not, the weather and hospitality are still pretty nice right now.
AUINSC on February 19, 2009 at 9:56 PM
Obama, 2007 on “localism”. Sounds like the Fairness Doctrine to me:
PDF file – starts on page 21
Notice his pal Dick Durbin shares his thoughts. MMMMmmm.
WaltDakota on February 19, 2009 at 9:58 PM
“IrishEi on February 19, 2009 at 9:56 PM”
a decent concern, but I’m presuming the amendment is voted on separately …
Buckaroo on February 19, 2009 at 9:58 PM
Did you get that name so you can have a built-in answer to yourself in every post?
neuquenguy on February 19, 2009 at 9:59 PM
OK. That would make more sense. Hope it’s true.
IrishEi on February 19, 2009 at 10:01 PM
I’m still surprised Obama is “against” the so-called “Fairness Doctrine.”
darii on February 19, 2009 at 10:03 PM
A question for our legal beagles out there:
Should the DC Voting Rights Bill be made law, would it withstand a constitutional challenge?
IrishEi on February 19, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Just a slight detour to protect the 1st amendment. After this bill the Democrats can get back to the business of bankrupting this country.
WashJeff on February 19, 2009 at 10:04 PM
I laughed at the headline spin in the Colorado Springs Gazette (I think) that said we weren’t really blue, just independent. (Yeah, right….)
In addition to the influx of liberal Californians, Colorado has been specifically targeted for special attention and money to turn us blue. Colorado Springs is home to the Gill Foundation which funnels money to target communities that they think they can turn Democrat. Like most liberal organizations, they have pretty deep pockets. I wonder how much of the leftward shift in Colorado is due to their efforts.
SheofTwoMinds on February 19, 2009 at 10:06 PM
I would guess he’s just against its name, until he starts being for it.
neuquenguy on February 19, 2009 at 10:07 PM
Done.
ex-Democrat on February 19, 2009 at 10:08 PM
It needs a makeover cause its pretty toxic now in that form with that name.
genso on February 19, 2009 at 10:08 PM
It’s a good move (but monkey) while I hope I’m wrong, I’m not sure it matters in the long run. Neither Obama nor the Democrats really have the leverage to try to ram the Thwart-the-First-Amendment Doctrine through right now because the economy is tanking. If they tried it now and Obama’s porkulus package fails to work, they’ll get killed at the polls; Republicans will be able to claim, rightly so, that in the midst of economic turmoil, the Democrats hastily passed the biggest crap sandwich in the nation’s history and then moved on to trying to kill free speech. Doesn’t exactly portray the Dems as being concerned about the country’s welfare. And all the while, the Dems will get lambasted constantly on talk radio for trying to pull this garbage. On the other hand, if the economy improves–whether it’s the result of porkulus or not–the One and the Dems will get all the credit, the Republicans will be called obstructionists, and the Dems will be able to pass darn near anything they want. Just MHO.
Nonetheless, a pat on the back to DeMint.
Erich66 on February 19, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Yeah, that’s how I do it. Contribute directly to the candidate you support. I don’t trust the RNC or RSCC with my money these days. Maybe Chairman Steele will change my mind, but for now, I’ll control my funds.
I’ll put the good Sen. DeMint on my list.
bestwins on February 19, 2009 at 10:10 PM
You haven’t caught on? He’s a pathological liar. He’s worse than slick Willie. He’s never been called on anything, so he says anything and everything, yet stands for nothing, other than himself.
Let’s roll.
ex-Democrat on February 19, 2009 at 10:10 PM
Compare Jim DeMInt with his South Carolina junior senator colleague, the odious, fat, effeminate, RINO Miss Lindsey Graham.
Hilts on February 19, 2009 at 10:14 PM
I don’t agree with your analysis. The economy, with or without the One’s stimulus will not recover anytime soon…mid-2010 at the earliest. But in the position we are in now, we have to fight the battles when we can. We’ve played political what-ifs for too long with less than stellar results. I see this as a new gameplan and I like it.
genso on February 19, 2009 at 10:14 PM
23rd amendment reads:
So the 23rd amendent establishes that DC is not a state.
Section 2 of the constitution states:
Section 2 establishes that representation is for the several states.
So I would say it is unconstitutional. And given the numerous laws past the last 80 years that are unconstitutional, I’d say we are screwed.
WashJeff on February 19, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Well maybe when they finally destroy the First Amendment they can move on to the Second Amendment! Who the hell is on the hill willing to stop them?
fumpbump on February 19, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Should the DC Voting Rights Bill be made law, would it withstand a constitutional challenge?
IrishEi on February 19, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Maybe, or perhaps.
Let me think about checking on this and I’ll get back to your tomorrow or next month.
Bishop on February 19, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Can you say short-circuit? Yeah, head ‘em off at the pass. heh heh. I love it.
johnnyU on February 19, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Besides Jim DeMint I also like Mark Sanford (the SC governor) a whole lot.
Hilts on February 19, 2009 at 10:17 PM
DC getting a Representative is completely unconstitutional. I really hope the moron Republicans don’t go along with it.
Spassvogel on February 19, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Smart move by Demint to get a vote on record but I seriously doubt the FD could pass Constitutional muster and it would get challenged immediately.
goat on February 19, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Is not DC already represented by Maryland and to a lesser extent Virginia or do congressional districts not extend into city limits?
goat on February 19, 2009 at 10:22 PM
The Constitution is not dead, but it has a terminal disease known as Democancer!
fumpbump on February 19, 2009 at 10:23 PM
QUIT THROWING THE FACTS AT THE DEMS!
fumpbump on February 19, 2009 at 10:23 PM
genso on February 19, 2009 at 9:32 PM
INC on February 19, 2009 at 9:39 PM
Thanks guys for putting in the links.
amerpundit on February 19, 2009 at 9:54 PM
Thank you very much for taking the time to post the linking instructions. I will try it later. I’m a little tired tonight and I have to be sharper when I try anything new on the computer.
maxine on February 19, 2009 at 10:25 PM
More of Reagan’s deregulation and we know how well that turned out.
Just to be fair, here is the response to rush’s “I want him to fail” comment by Malloy:
“They’re worse than useless. These are terrorists. These are domestic terrorists. They want the country to fail, for God’s sake. They want exactly what anyone who attacked this country on September 11, 2001 wanted. The real internal terrorists are the Republicans, I mean, isn’t that clear? Rush Limbaugh is a bigger threat to this country than Osama bin Laden. He’s a bigger threat than anybody that the CIA can invent. He’s a bigger threat than any terrorist that ever leveled its sights against the United States, Limbaugh is, so why isn’t he arrested and sentenced for treason?”
Of course, KO would have to have a con rebuttal.
Scared?
getalife on February 19, 2009 at 10:27 PM
I agree genso that the economy won’t recover soon. But while I might be wrong, I think it’s stupid politically to try to silence opposition to a risky and, according to the polls, controversial stimulus plan before it ever shows signs of working. If I were, for example, a typical “independent” concerned mainly about my pocketbook and not politics, I’d be pretty hacked off to know that while the economy is tanking, the party in power wants to shut up the other.
Then again I’m attempting to be logical, and the Democrats probably aren’t. Hey, if they want to start this fight now, I agree…let’s be aggressive about it.
Erich66 on February 19, 2009 at 10:28 PM
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