Fairness Doctrine Raises Its Ugly Head Under New FCC “Diversity Czar”
posted at 8:47 am on August 14, 2009 by Rovin
What’s a poor liberal progressive to do when the radio airwaves are dominated by conservative talk and they can’t seem to “get a word in”? Why not diversify it? After Dan Rather got hammered recently for suggesting the news media needs a public handout, now on the horizon is an FCC Diversity Czar calling for private broadcasting companies to fund public broadcasting companies their total operating cost. Matt Cover at CNSNEWS.COM files this report:
(CNSNews.com) – Mark Lloyd, newly appointed Chief Diversity Officer of the Federal Communications Commission, has called for making private broadcasting companies pay licensing fees equal to their total operating costs to allow public broadcasting outlets to spend the same on their operations as the private companies do. LINK
Lloyd not only wants the money to come from private companies, he is planning on regulating the content:
“Local public broadcasters and regional and national communications operations should be required to encourage and broadcast diverse views and programs,” wrote Lloyd. “These programs should include coverage of all local, state and federal government meetings, as well as daily news and public issues programming. (see link above for complete story)
Pravda anyone?
Lloyd wrote a book back in 2006 that must have caught someone in the Obama administration’s eye titled Prologue to a Farce: Communications and Democracy in America, published by the University of Illinois Press. Matt Cover explains that “Lloyd wrote Prologue to a Farce while a senior fellow at the liberal Center for American Progress. In that capacity, he co-authored the 2007 report The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio”
The report argued that large corporate broadcasting networks had driven liberals off the radio, and that diversity of ownership would increase diversity of broadcasting voices
Did you catch that? These unfortunate liberals have been “driven” off the radio. Why wait for the liberals to produce a fairness doctrine when you’ve got a Diversity Czar under the White House’s thumb?
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Someone needs to tell all these “Czars”, what happened to the Romanovs.
The Obama administration is arrogant, overreaching and usually illegal. Worthless, corrupt and incompetent idiots.
NoDonkey on August 14, 2009 at 8:49 AM
Here we go again
blatantblue on August 14, 2009 at 8:49 AM
ugh-
wake me when this is over
cmsinaz on August 14, 2009 at 8:51 AM
No kidding! We’re constantly at war with our own damn government.
darwin on August 14, 2009 at 8:51 AM
These guys must love punishment.
“Hey, this healthcare thing seems to not be working…everyone’s mad about it…
lets go for the Fairness Doctrine”
blatantblue on August 14, 2009 at 8:52 AM
But I thought during the campaign The Messiah was honest? Gosh oh Gee Whiz……..I am in shock I tell you….Shock!
Cinday Blackburn on August 14, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Help! Jane! Stop this crazy thing!
I hate the way the left cowardly plays with words, especially diverse (in all it’s forms).
Diverse? Just come out and saw what you mean!
reaganaut on August 14, 2009 at 8:52 AM
I’m sorry, but pretty much all of our local political talk radio is liberal, except for one conservative host whose program airs at the same time as Rush’s.
BigD on August 14, 2009 at 8:52 AM
how far away is the next cival war?
SHARPTOOTH on August 14, 2009 at 8:52 AM
All this will take is for people to start bringing this up at townhalls.
darwin on August 14, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Hmm, maybe this new “czar” can get to the bottom of recent liberal talk radio hate speech, like the guy who recently said that conservatives want to see Dear Leader get shot, or the one that says he wants to see Glenn Beck commit suicide on live tv….
Keef Overbite on August 14, 2009 at 8:52 AM
“Yea, the F.D! Good idea”
What’s next?
“You know, I don’t think many people are receptive to the F.D…
okay, let’s try amnesty”
blatantblue on August 14, 2009 at 8:52 AM
What the hell is going on in this country?
Rhetorical question.
Don’t answer.
David2.0 on August 14, 2009 at 8:52 AM
These people are going to find out the hard way just who the American people are, if they keep this up.
bridgetown on August 14, 2009 at 8:53 AM
The liberals have to shut down talk radio to control the masses. They will stoop to any level to achieve this. We are at war people and the enemy is within. The entire liberal premise must be totally defeated and reversed if we are ever going to maintain a free and open government.
Gird Your Loins!
trs on August 14, 2009 at 8:53 AM
This would allow public stations to spend as much as their private competition combined. Say there are 10 private stations and 1 public station in a market. Under this plan the public station could spend as much as the 10 private stations combined.
zmdavid on August 14, 2009 at 8:53 AM
As angry as this will move will make me, I hope they go for it. Such a stupid move and it’s not like conservative radio can’t go on the internet or satellite. This administration is so clueless.
Cindy Munford on August 14, 2009 at 8:53 AM
just what i was thinking…
cmsinaz on August 14, 2009 at 8:53 AM
Apparently they want to run private radio stations out of business too! Radio stations in this current economy are running thread bare and are barely scrapping by. All it would take would to have some half-assed tax like this to run them completely out of business and then we can have total government run media, just like they do in Europe and South America.
flytier on August 14, 2009 at 8:53 AM
There’s a reason liberal talk doesn’t do well.
All together now:
It blows!!!
It is patently pathetic!
I’ve tried and I’ve tried, but listening to lefty radio was like getting a colonoscopy in the wrong place.
blatantblue on August 14, 2009 at 8:54 AM
As angry as this will move will make me, I hope they go for it. Such a stupid move and it’s not like conservative radio can’t go on the internet or satellite. This administration is so clueless.
Cindy Munford on August 14, 2009 at 8:53 AM
You apparently don’t know much about the FCC. They also control Satellite and the internet. If it goes through the air or over a telephone line, they control it.
flytier on August 14, 2009 at 8:55 AM
Chief Diversity Officer.
Let that marinade for a little while.
Mommypundit on August 14, 2009 at 8:55 AM
This has it all. Redistribution from the private to the public sector through punishing success, government mandating content, and racially discriminatory mandates on ownership. All under one big umbrella of FCC unaccountability.
And this Czar probably still isn’t as bad as the “Green Jobs” commie or that eugenicist BO has appointed.
forest on August 14, 2009 at 8:55 AM
Big time overreaching. The Sleeping Giant is awake. Obama and company won’t like the reaction to this, either. You either have something worth listening to, or you will fail at radio. Libs don’t understand this. They think everyone should marvel at their intellect.
kingsjester on August 14, 2009 at 8:56 AM
We truly have a govenment that is out of control.
VOTE in 2010
robo on August 14, 2009 at 8:56 AM
I’ve recently realized that the Dems probably won’t ever get rid of Rush. He’s their #1 whipping boy!
Any time they get in trouble, they invoke the name of the boogeyman–Rush Limbaugh.
They need him.
tsj017 on August 14, 2009 at 8:56 AM
Given the tight market in radio even before the economic downturn, as more and more people stop listening to music stations in favor of things like iPods, this would pretty much be like trying to get blood out of a stone not just for talk radio, but for the entire spectrum of radio formats.
As liberal as some of the leadership at radio station owners like CBS or Citadel are, it’s hard to see them sitting still for having what little funds they have confiscated so NPR can boost Garrison Keeler’s financial compensation or subsidize a non-commercial version of Air America (albeit saying “non-commercial” and “Air America” is redundant to begin with).
jon1979 on August 14, 2009 at 8:56 AM
They are already making headway with Beck!!
From Redstate…
http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/08/13/obama-brownshirts-try-to-silence-glenn-beck/
Barack Obama’s brownshirts are after Glenn Beck.
We can’t let them win. If they win with Beck, they’ll be emboldened to go after even more people.
A while back, Glenn Beck called Barack Obama a “racist.” Given all the terrorists, thugs, and racists Barack Obama has chosen as close personal friends (see e.g. Rev. Wright), it’s not a stretch to say it.
In fact, Obama’s Green Jobs Czar, the convicted felon and [Editor's Note: I actually find this on blogs, but haven't found it on a real news site, so I'm striking] self-declared communist Van Jones, has direct ties to the organization that’s trying to shut down Glenn Beck. Jones’s group has hired a big Hollywood PR firm and they are pressuring Glenn’s advertisers to stop advertising. If not, they’ll lead a boycott.
We need to strike back and boycott these groups for ditching Beck. If they are going to fold so easily in the face of Obama brownshirts, we must push back. If not, who’ll be next?
Here’s the list of the groups that have boycotted Glenn Beck. Let them know you disagree. Let them know you will boycott them for kowtowing to Barack Obama’s worshippers, brownshirts, goons, and thugs.
SC Johnson:
Fisk Johnson Chairman & CEO
Phone: (262)260-2000
Petrell Ozbay
Senior Global Public Affairs Manager
Phone: (262) 260-2114
pmozbay@scj.com
Progressive Insurance:
Glenn Renwick, President & CEO- (440)461-5000
Linda Harris, Advertising & Sponsorships
Linda_J._Harris@progressive.com
Geico:
Tony Nicely
Chairman, President & CEO, Insurance Operations
E-mail: tnicely@geico.com
(301) 986-2462
Chris Tasher, GEICO Media Relations
301-986-3271
ctasher@geico.com
katy on August 14, 2009 at 8:57 AM
BIG BROTHER
POWER and CONTROL
yoda on August 14, 2009 at 8:57 AM
Obama just doesn’t get it.
2010-12 won’t be left vs. right, it will be libertarian vs authoritarian. Frankly, I don’t think acorn will be able round up enough useful idiots.
jhffmn on August 14, 2009 at 8:57 AM
Our founders knew we would be.
Mommypundit on August 14, 2009 at 8:57 AM
They’re not going to let us….
katy on August 14, 2009 at 8:58 AM
Good governing guys!
Bush leaves by signing a mega-billion bailout bill and no one knows where the money went.
Obama doubles down and takes more billions to stimulate nothing except his cronies.
Obama takes over GM and Banks.
Obama tries to kill our economy and slip a stealth tax on us with Cap & Tax.
Obama wants to take over our medical system to ration care while calling opponents Nazi’s, terrorists, racists, well dressed flaks, evil mongers and on and on. Plus he sends his goons out to beat people up.
Now they aim to silence our voices and information by government dictate.
This has only begun.
darwin on August 14, 2009 at 8:58 AM
Be of good cheer.
The vermin drove Sarah Palin out of the public eye on the mistaken theory that this would silence her voice in the public square.
No such luck, libs. She’s running the debate in exile. Poor Obama took a pretty significant smack-down by exposing the death-panel provision in the health care takeover bill.
The humiliated Democrat led senate was forced to renege yesterday. They admitted defeat and removed the death-panel provision from the bill yesterday.
Not bad for a girl who was driven out of the public square.
These clowns can’t silence anyone except in their dreams.
jeff_from_mpls on August 14, 2009 at 8:59 AM
This is exactly what Levin said would happen. Bringing about the fairness doctrine won’t come with loud overtures. It will be sneaked in by some regulation that congress doesn’t have to approve.
To everyone who voted for Obama, THANK YOU.
therightscoop on August 14, 2009 at 8:59 AM
This one could be the tipping point. They take away the first amendment and they have us at the point where it’s time for the rifles.
wildcat84 on August 14, 2009 at 8:59 AM
picking a fight with Rush and talk radio is a sure win for Obama…..
……
tag needed?
Ampersand on August 14, 2009 at 8:59 AM
So public radio (and television, for that matter), doesn’t get enough from their federal funding and annual beg-a-thons? (The beg-a-thons having become a pathetic string of infomercials for the latest snake oil the lefties are swallowing: Perricone on skin care; Dyer on psychobabble..).
Wethal on August 14, 2009 at 9:00 AM
These people are Fascist tyrants and we must not yield.
rplat on August 14, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Don’t underestimate their stupidity. They need capitalism to create the wealth they want so badly to redistribute but that doesn’t stop them from trying to destroy it.
backwoods conservative on August 14, 2009 at 9:00 AM
katy: you are with it this a.m. thanks.
kelley in virginia on August 14, 2009 at 9:00 AM
This is what happens when you let hubris get in the way of proper political strategy.
blatantblue on August 14, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Your thought for the day…
I’m not advocating the use of force but…. the founders designed the second ammendment for the pupose of enforcing the first!
katy on August 14, 2009 at 9:01 AM
They were trying to boil the capitalist frogs slowly, slowly enough so that that frogs wouldn’t notice, but Obama’s crew couldn’t help themselves. They got impatient. They’re cranking up the heat on healthcare, on media “diversity,” and all manner of authoritarian schemes. Thankfully, the frogs are noticing now, and getting jumpy.
RBMN on August 14, 2009 at 9:01 AM
We all know what happened to the Tzars when the revolution happened.
Dreadnought223 on August 14, 2009 at 9:01 AM
Thank you… my meds kicked in about 5am.. ;o)
katy on August 14, 2009 at 9:02 AM
Their hubris will be their downfall.
You would think that after such public outcry to their policies, the liberals would pull back, evaluate their situation, and recalculate the realm of political possibility.
Nope.
They double down and just try to push the same agenda through different legislation.
This extreme hubris is going to be their downfall.
blatantblue on August 14, 2009 at 9:02 AM
If HR45, the The Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act passes, the Fairness Doctrine will be a moot point.
Johan Klaus on August 14, 2009 at 8:48 AM
Johan Klaus on August 14, 2009 at 9:02 AM
we’re not nearly at that point
blatantblue on August 14, 2009 at 9:02 AM
The town halls are going to look like Sunday School picnics.
This will go straight to the Supremes. Talk radio will win. Even most sane Dems don’t want to get rid of freedom of speech.
stenwin77 on August 14, 2009 at 9:02 AM
Can we just dismiss with any more beating around the bush?
Obama wants to be a dictator. He’s a committed Socialist, if anyone seriously thought Bush was power grabbing then they have to be appalled by what the Administration is trying to do………..they are appalled right? Oh, guess not.
Can someone prove to me that Obama doesn’t really hope that he provokes the American people into something that requires him to declare a state of emergency or something similar and then shut down dissent.
If that order comes with the left finally recognize it?
1-20-13, come soon.
PappyD61 on August 14, 2009 at 9:03 AM
I just called Geico. I left Progressive because of Soros…not doing it again. Told them to reconsider. Not like they will, but, it’s worth a shot.
I wonder when these companies are actually going to get tired of being pushed around by liberals?
Mommypundit on August 14, 2009 at 9:03 AM
+100
Talon on August 14, 2009 at 9:03 AM
In other words, double the broadcasters’ operating costs, half of which will be a tax above and beyond other taxes and fees the companies already pay. An obvious attempt to drive private companies to bankruptcy so only PBS (meaning government) stations remain on the air.
I love that diversity thing!
Liam on August 14, 2009 at 9:05 AM
They can’t. They go by a script … Alinsky’s script. The protests and townhalls caught them completely by surprise. They expected everyone to just whine then roll over.
There’s nothing in the script for when the people become the radicals because they’re supposed to be the radicals.
All they can do is continue with the script which is attack, attack, attack.
darwin on August 14, 2009 at 9:05 AM
Front page for the Rovin master! Good job my friend.
Keemo on August 14, 2009 at 9:05 AM
GEEZE!..these people are dumb!
Apparently these “smart” people don’t have a clue about the working of a rational mind.
Its amazing.
Itchee Dryback on August 14, 2009 at 9:05 AM
Liberal fascism.
WisCon on August 14, 2009 at 9:05 AM
Katy and the rest of you guys, thanks for sticking up for me last night.
As someone with his degree in Radio, TV, and Film, it chaps me to see this Socialist Administration try to re-instate a arcane set of rules that helped kill AM Radio. If people wanted to listen to Liberal Ideology, Air America and MSNBC would be thriving. Instead, they are on life support and getting worse every day.
kingsjester on August 14, 2009 at 9:05 AM
And the American people will NOT respond well to that script.
blatantblue on August 14, 2009 at 9:06 AM
Yuck….they make me sick….can’t compete in a free market environment with their crappy product that nobody wants, so they go running to their mommy, the government, to take care of the bullies for them.
surrounded on August 14, 2009 at 9:06 AM
In a perverse sort of way, I kind of welcome the Libtards attempt to silence the likes of Rush and Beck.
The fact of the matter is that it is becoming apparent that the differences between statists and Patriots will only be settled through use of force.
Implementing the “fairness doctrine” under any guise will lead directly to violent confrontation.
A ccnfrontation that the statists will lose.
Screw ‘em..
there it is on August 14, 2009 at 9:07 AM
blatantblue on August 14, 2009 at 9:07 AM
that’s Air America.
blatantblue on August 14, 2009 at 9:08 AM
Another great Liberal Idea let kick them off the free air waves and make them go on satilite radio. Just another tax on the majority and then public radio will fail because know one will listen to it so we’ll have to bail them out with tax dollars. I’m buying sirius xm stock it will finally be worth something.
mcl2177 on August 14, 2009 at 9:08 AM
Let me get this straight….attempt to shut down free speech at townhalls (failed)….attempt to shout down (or ignore)your constituents at townhalls (failed)…
So now they attempt to “float” or “play” the fairness doctrine card in attempt to quiet the dissent and free speech to ObamaCare? They must be seeing the same poll numbers and they know they can’t win on ObamaCare in the arena of free ideas and free thought! Therefore lets shut it down.
I think they have really stepped in this time. I guess if you are already going down why not take the entire ship with you!
BTW does anyone else smell the Astroturf melting?
Rndguy on August 14, 2009 at 9:08 AM
This is wrong on SO many levels.
Can you imagine it?
“Johhny, what do you want to be when you grow up?”
“I want to be the Chief Diversity Officer of the FCC!”
BobOfTexas on August 14, 2009 at 9:08 AM
RBMN on August 14, 2009 at 9:01 AM
——
The Clinton administration tried boiling the frog a bit more slowly. Didn’t work. Frog caught on.
Obama came in knowing he had a short window to get the frog up to fatal temperature. It’s going to be close, the Dems *have* the votes to pass this crap, but I’m putting my money on the frog…
Mew
acat on August 14, 2009 at 9:08 AM
I dare them.
tkinTX on August 14, 2009 at 9:09 AM
No we’re not. But it is a thought we should digest and understand.
Each person needs to fully comprehend what it means to them, to thier families and untimately to this country.
I will say that things are moving in a dangerous direction so rapidly that one has to think these things through carefully and thoughtfully now so that they are not reckless when/if the time comes to take our liberty back.
katy on August 14, 2009 at 9:10 AM
Let them try this. It’ll be Obamas dumbest move.This is going to blow up.
Jeff from WI on August 14, 2009 at 9:10 AM
It may be closer than you think. Check out HR45.
Johan Klaus on August 14, 2009 at 9:10 AM
They need to just get rid of public tv and public radio.
surrounded on August 14, 2009 at 9:10 AM
I’ve come to find that it’s never as apocalyptic as it seems at first.
We’re doing a good job of turning things around without a rush to arms. But I see what you are saying.
blatantblue on August 14, 2009 at 9:11 AM
Don’t forget Levin…he is itching for a fight on this issue, and he knows how to fight.
surrounded on August 14, 2009 at 9:11 AM
npr broadcasts on more stations than clear channel and cbs combined.
the need for “diversity” through more public broadcasting is a farce.
my area is served by no less than four npr affiliates.
on fm band, in the sweet spot.
and the punchline is that they would behemently disagree that npr represents a liberal alternative to am.
eh on August 14, 2009 at 9:12 AM
You’re a good man KJ. Anytime.
AS Beck says.. we surround them.
katy on August 14, 2009 at 9:13 AM
And we will be as long as we elect people to office who hate the idea of government being subservient to the people. They wil not tolerate anything that threatens their control of power.
MikeA on August 14, 2009 at 9:14 AM
Maybe they sense Obama’s really going to lose Health Care Takeover, and they’re girding up for the scorched earth campaign.
Weapons of self-destruction being wheeled out.
Keep an eye on these vermin.
jeff_from_mpls on August 14, 2009 at 9:14 AM
I don’t want to own firearms again, but you’re all too right. After this topic, I’m considering calling my county sheriff’s office to find out what I need for approval of an application for a gun permit.
Liam on August 14, 2009 at 9:15 AM
Oh this might take people over the edge seriously.
I hate to tell the “czar” but this is America – if people want it – it sells. Obviously people don’t want liberal radio no much how you try to cram it down our throats.
gophergirl on August 14, 2009 at 9:16 AM
surrounded on August 14, 2009 at 9:11 AM—-My thoughts exactly. Talk about an arsewhoopin’! Almost wish they would just to see the bloodletting. Almost.
tkinTX on August 14, 2009 at 9:16 AM
In my long as wonderful life bb, I have never seen a trampling of our way of life that is so deviant, so blantant ( no pun intended) and so aggressive in my lifetime.
katy on August 14, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Great
now getalife is going to get his own radio show
blatantblue on August 14, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Modern liberalism has rendered this term redundant.
Saltysam on August 14, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Hugo Chavez, call your office.
CP on August 14, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Could it be a shiny object to divert attention from Health Care and Cap and Trade?
tru2tx on August 14, 2009 at 9:18 AM
Do you get the feeling that maybe Obama lost one too many times at Monopoly when he was a kid and now he’s making up for it by taking over the entire country?!
Better exercise your 1st amendment rights now – the Free Speech Czar will be appointed soon to tell you that you won’t be able to say THAT anymore.
VibrioCocci on August 14, 2009 at 9:18 AM
If the first ammenment is lost. The nation is lost.
katy on August 14, 2009 at 9:19 AM
That I understand as well, but tyranny has been attempted in the past. Wilson went thug on citizens. We survived. I’m not trying to belittle our situation, but I do know we are making progress in a seemingly impossible situation (all three houses under Dem control).
Things may get to a fever pitch in the future, but I don’t think we are close yet
blatantblue on August 14, 2009 at 9:20 AM
Wow, I have to come dragging in to this? The have lost their minds if they start messing with Rush, Levin, and Hannity. Talk about an uprising. Someone kept me up too late last night.
TXMomof3 on August 14, 2009 at 9:20 AM
BB, they need to know that they are up against citizens of the United States of America and not some fringe militia or bunch of yahoos.
thomasaur on August 14, 2009 at 9:20 AM
What?
Anyone that listens to conservative talk radio knows that liberals own the top and bottom of the hour.
Saltysam on August 14, 2009 at 9:21 AM
Check out HR45 first. Germany 1930′s redux.
Johan Klaus on August 14, 2009 at 9:21 AM
im confused (sorry its early — well not EARLY, just no coffee yet)
blatantblue on August 14, 2009 at 9:21 AM
You see the problem is, you people just don’t realize what you should be thinking. So, we here in the government are going to force you to fund us, to help us educate you on your intellectual shortcomings.
nice.
NickelAndDime on August 14, 2009 at 9:22 AM
Simple economics. If anyone was actually listening to a liberal talk show, advertisers would pay. Good grief. I can’t believe we’re back on this!
Green Muse on August 14, 2009 at 9:22 AM
Ive said this before and I still believe it. The Fairness Doctrine will be a net positive for talk radio. The second it is implemented, Rush, Hannity, et al will just move exclusively to satellite/online. I personally never listen to the radio as it is. I listen to live streaming and podcasts.
Radio is 100 year old technology. Let the leftists have it.
angryed on August 14, 2009 at 9:22 AM
What?
That’s “Fair” isn’t it?
VibrioCocci on August 14, 2009 at 9:23 AM
it’s called diversionary tactics….it appears it is the MO for this administration….
cmsinaz on August 14, 2009 at 9:23 AM
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