FAIRNESS DOCTRINE,, AIN'T FAIR

Do you support the government forcing Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham and other conservatives on talk radio OFF THE AIR?

Well, that's exactly what Nancy Pelosi and other liberals in Congress are working to do RIGHT NOW through the reinstatement of the so-called "Fairness Doctrine."

In fact, Pelosi admitted as much at a recent breakfast hosted by Christian Science Monitor and attended by the news media.

During the breakfast, Human Events Political Editor John Gizzi asked Pelosi if she would permit a vote on the Broadcaster Freedom Act -- the bill sponsored by Representative Mike Pence (R-IN) to prevent reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine -- if Pence secured the necessary signatures on his discharge petition to force his bill out of committee.

Without hesitation, Pelosis answer was an unequivocal "NO!"

But that's not all! According to Mr. Gizzi:

"[Pelosi] added that 'the interest in my caucus is the reverse' and that New York Democratic Rep. 'Louise Slaughter has been active behind this [revival of the Fairness Doctrine] for a while now.' ...

"'So I don't see it [the Pence bill] coming to the floor,' Pelosi said."

And, like any good reporter would do, Gizzi asked the obvious follow-up question:

"'Do you personally support revival of the Fairness Doctrine?' I asked."

"'Yes,' the speaker replied, without hesitation."

So there you have it. When it comes to silencing dissenting voices to their leftist agenda, Pelosi and Company says "silence them all, silence them now!"

Never mind the will of the people! Never mind the First Amendment to the Constitution, which Pelosi and her liberal cohorts took an oath to uphold!

Since we last alerted you to liberals' efforts to HUSH RUSH and other conservatives on talk radio, two more Members of Congress have stepped forward and signed Pence's discharge petition.

That means we are now only 16 signatures shy of forcing the Broadcaster Freedom Act to the House floor for a fair up-or-down vote.

That means your blast faxes, phone calls, and letters to Congress are having a major impact -- you and your fellow CFIF activists deserve all the credit for this progress.

But we must turn up the heat. Together, we must call Pelosi's bluff by helping Congressman Pence secure those 16 remaining signatures today to force Pelosi to hold a vote on the Broadcaster Freedom Act!

Use the hyperlink below to send your personalized and urgent Blast Fax Messages to President George W. Bush and EACH and EVERY Member of the Leadership of the House of Representatives.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is STILL REFUSING to allow a fair up-or-down vote on Rep. Mike Pence's Broadcaster Freedom Act -- a simple bill that will thwart attempts by liberals to institute their so-called "Fairness Doctrine" and KILL CONSERVATIVE TALK RADIO. Remember, we are making progress. We only need 16 more signatures on Pence's discharge petition to FORCE Pelosi to allow a fair up-or-down vote on the Broadcaster Freedom Act.

And that means we need to keep bombarding them until they cry 'uncle' and finally do what their employers -- the American people -- want. Tell them the American people should be free to decide whether they want to listen to Rush Limbaugh, or Sean Hannity or Laura Ingraham. Tell them we do not live in the former Soviet Union and that liberals in Congress have no right to decide what the American people should or should not hear!

http://www.cfiflistmanager.org/fairnessdoctrinexx.html

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THE LIBERAL DOUBLE STANDARD...

According to syndicated columnist David Limbaugh, Nancy Pelosi's big push to force the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" down the throats of the American people is nothing BUT A BIG, FAT "COLOSSAL FRAUD!"

And just in case you needed an example; here's what Limbaugh wrote about the recent REFUSAL by the fair-and-balanced New York Times to publish Senator John McCain's response to an opinion editorial the Times published from Barack Obama:

"David Shipley, the Times' op-ed editor, sent an e-mail to McCain's staff rejecting the piece and offering suggestions on how to tailor it for resubmission. 'I'm not going to be able to accept this piece as currently written. ... Let me suggest an approach.'"

"Just savor the dripping condescension. But it gets worse. Shipley said: 'The Obama piece worked for me because it offered new information; ... he went into detail about his own plans. It would be terrific to have an article from Senator McCain that mirrors Senator Obama's piece.' It would have to 'articulate, in concrete terms, how Senator McCain defines victory in Iraq ... lay out a clear plan for achieving victory -- with troop levels, timetables and measures for compelling the Iraqis to cooperate.'"

In other words, the folks at the New York Times essentially told a presidential candidate; 'Yeah, we know we published the other guy's opinion editorial but if you really want us to publish yours, YOU HAVE TO WRITE IT OUR WAY.... That's how WE define fairness.'

And let's face it. That's how MOST liberal elites in the media and in government define "fairness." In fact, any idea they don't like is essentially "unfair."

Don't get us wrong. Our criticism of McCain, especially on the issue of free speech, is well documented. But where was the pro-Fairness Doctrine crowd, who are calling for "equal time," when the Times chose to publish the Democrat nominee's editorial and not the Republican nominee's?

Limbaugh summed up the point very well:

"It is not conservatives who, having lost in the talk radio marketplace of ideas, are pushing to reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine to suppress political viewpoints they find objectionable. And it is not conservative newspaper editors who -- masquerading as objective, high-minded journalists -- exhibit the stunning audacity to refuse publication of an op-ed by the presidential candidate they oppose, after having published one from the one they endorse."

And Limbaugh yet again:

"The left supports campaign finance reform, the Fairness Doctrine and other policies allegedly aimed at ensuring that both sides of the political argument be aired. But it's a colossal fraud."

" The Times' rejection of McCain's piece is a case study in how liberals apply these principles. They don't believe in both sides presenting their viewpoints, but in controlling the nature and scope of the discussion. [Emphasis Mine]

"Can you imagine what would be in store for political speech in this country if liberals resumed regulatory control of the airways?

"I can and am horrified at the prospect; and you should be, too."

Use the hyperlink below to send your personalized and urgent Blast Fax Messages to President George W. Bush and EACH and EVERY Member of the Leadership of the House of Representatives.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is STILL REFUSING to allow a fair up-or-down vote on Rep. Mike Pence's Broadcaster Freedom Act -- a simple bill that will thwart attempts by liberals to institute their so-called "Fairness Doctrine" and KILL CONSERVATIVE TALK RADIO. Remember, we are making progress. We only need 16 more signatures on Pence's discharge petition to FORCE Pelosi to allow a fair up-or-down vote on the Broadcaster Freedom Act.

And that means we need to keep bombarding them until they cry 'uncle' and finally do what their employers -- the American people -- want. Tell them the American people should be free to decide whether they want to listen to Rush Limbaugh, or Sean Hannity or Laura Ingraham. Tell them we do not live in the former Soviet Union and that liberals in Congress have no right to decide what the American people should or should not hear!

http://www.cfiflistmanager.org/fairnessdoctrinexx.html

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JUST IN CASE YOU HAD ANY DOUBTS...

The case study from the New York Times has made it abundantly clear that liberal elites in the media and in government are totally oblivious to concepts like freedom and fairness and balance.

Their ONLY agenda is to control ALL debate, opinion and political discourse.

And when it comes to the so-called "Fairness Doctrine," their only purpose is to force talk-radio to CEASE AND DESIST... to SILENCE CONSERVATIVE DISSENT... to HUSH RUSH (and Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham and Glenn Beck...).

Bill Ruder, John F. Kennedy's Assistant Secretary of Commerce, spelled it out long ago:

"Our massive strategy was to use the Fairness Doctrine to challenge and harass right-wing broadcasters and hope the challenges would be so costly to them that they would be inhibited and decide it was too expensive to continue."

Or as Senator James Inhofe recounts in reference to a conversation he claims he heard between Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Hillary Clinton:

"They said we've got to do something about this. These are nothing but far right-wing extremists.... There's got to be a legislative fix for this..."

In order to understand the intellectual tyranny behind this movement, read the following quote from Newshound, a left-wing blog:

"A year ago Sean Hannity was squawking about a 'direct assault on the First Amendment' via what he feared was an attempt to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine. Now, it's free market be damned as he keeps whining that John McCain is not getting the same amount of press coverage as Barack Obama. FOX News' Democratic newcomer, Howard Wolfson, did an excellent job of arguing that Republicans should quit bellyaching..."

Again, some of these liberal elites are totally clueless.

There is no comparison! Neither Sean Hannity nor any other conservative has EVER advocated using the power of government to coerce CBS or the New York Times into changing its programming or politics.

Use the hyperlink below to send your personalized and urgent Blast Fax Messages to President George W. Bush and EACH and EVERY Member of the Leadership of the House of Representatives.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is STILL REFUSING to allow a fair up-or-down vote on Rep. Mike Pence's Broadcaster Freedom Act -- a simple bill that will thwart attempts by liberals to institute their so-called "Fairness Doctrine" and KILL CONSERVATIVE TALK RADIO. Remember, we are making progress. We only need 16 more signatures on Pence's discharge petition to FORCE Pelosi to allow a fair up-or-down vote on the Broadcaster Freedom Act.

And that means we need to keep bombarding them until they cry 'uncle' and finally do what their employers -- the American people -- want. Tell them the American people should be free to decide whether they want to listen to Rush Limbaugh, or Sean Hannity or Laura Ingraham. Tell them we do not live in the former Soviet Union and that liberals in Congress have no right to decide what the American people should or should not hear!

http://www.cfiflistmanager.org/fairnessdoctrinexx.html

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WHERE'S THE OUTCRY FROM THE LEFT?

We will ask the question again: Where was the pro-Fairness Doctrine crowd, who are calling for "equal time" in an attempt to silence conservative talk radio, during this recent New York Times incident?

Where was Senator Dick Durbin, Majority Whip and winner of the 2008 Al Gore Award for Conspicuous Self-Righteousness? Durbin once said: "It's time to reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine. I have this old-fashioned attitude that when Americans hear both sides of the story, they're in a better position to make a decision."

Where was Senator Dianne Feinstein? Feinstein once said: "I believe very strongly that the airwaves are public and people use these airwaves for profit. But there is a responsibility to see that both sides and not just one side of the big public questions of debate of the day are aired and are aired with some modicum of fairness."

Where was Senator John Kerry? Kerry once said: "I think the Fairness Doctrine ought to be there, and I also think equal time doctrine ought to come back. These are the people that wiped out... one of the most profound changes in the balance of the media is when the conservatives got rid of the equal time requirements and the result is that they have been able to squeeze down and squeeze out opinion of opposing views and I think its been a very important transition in the imbalance of our public eye."

Did you hear a peep from any of them?

Of course not!

Stupid Question: Are liberals REALLY concerned about media fairness?

Obvious Answer: Watch CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, and PBS. If you're still in doubt, read the New York Times or the Washington Post. If you're still not convinced, go to a movie theater.

Make no mistake. They believe THEY are in control and ANY opposing thoughts must be squashed!

Today it might be Rush Limbaugh, or Sean Hannity or Laura Ingraham.

Tomorrow, it might be you.

Use the hyperlink below to send your personalized and urgent Blast Fax Messages to President George W. Bush and EACH and EVERY Member of the Leadership of the House of Representatives.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is STILL REFUSING to allow a fair up-or-down vote on Rep. Mike Pence's Broadcaster Freedom Act -- a simple bill that will thwart attempts by liberals to institute their so-called "Fairness Doctrine" and KILL CONSERVATIVE TALK RADIO. Remember, we are making progress. We only need 16 more signatures on Pence's discharge petition to FORCE Pelosi to allow a fair up-or-down vote on the Broadcaster Freedom Act.

And that means we need to keep bombarding them until they cry 'uncle' and finally do what their employers -- the American people -- want. Tell them the American people should be free to decide whether they want to listen to Rush Limbaugh, or Sean Hannity or Laura Ingraham. Tell them we do not live in the former Soviet Union and that liberals in Congress have no right to decide what the American people should or should not hear!

http://www.cfiflistmanager.org/fairnessdoctrinexx.html

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DO LEFTIST OPPOSE FREE SPEECH?

Do Leftists oppose Free Speech?

Not at all.

In fact, they believe passionately in Free Speech when it fits their own agenda.

You can burn the flag, put four-letter-word bumper stickers on your car, commit lewd acts on-stage, and even use taxpayer funds to depict Jesus suspended in urine.

But if you utter a conservative thought on the airwaves, they suddenly demand government enforced "fairness."

Why?

Because tens of millions of Americans listen to Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham.

Because liberals cannot counter conservative viewpoints in a fair fight.

Because, quite frankly, nobody wants to hear anymore bankrupt liberal ideas from Al Franken, Air America, and other left-wing ideologues. CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, PBS and the New York Times already have that territory covered.

But wait a minute. Is it really fair to say that all those mainstream media outlets are biased?

Well, according to Investor's Business Daily:

"An analysis of federal records shows that the amount of money journalists contributed so far this election cycle favors Democrats by a 15:1 ratio over Republicans, with $225,563 going to Democrats, only $16,298 to Republicans."

"Two-hundred thirty-five journalists donated to Democrats, just 20 gave to Republicans -- a margin greater than 10-to-1. An even greater disparity, 20-to-1, exists between the number of journalists who donated to Barack Obama and John McCain."

Even the general public isn't fooled. A recent Rasmussen Reports survey, taken prior to the New York Times controversy, found that "49% of voters believe most reporters will try to help the Democrats with their coverage, up from 44% a month ago."

MAKE NO MISTAKE: The very real efforts to reinstate the "Fairness Doctrine" are nothing more than a politically-motivated attempt to silence talk radio -- the one medium on which conservatives have a real voice.

Use the hyperlink below to send your personalized and urgent Blast Fax Messages to President George W. Bush and EACH and EVERY Member of the Leadership of the House of Representatives.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is STILL REFUSING to allow a fair up-or-down vote on Rep. Mike Pence's Broadcaster Freedom Act -- a simple bill that will thwart attempts by liberals to institute their so-called "Fairness Doctrine" and KILL CONSERVATIVE TALK RADIO. Remember, we are making progress. We only need 16 more signatures on Pence's discharge petition to FORCE Pelosi to allow a fair up-or-down vote on the Broadcaster Freedom Act.

And that means we need to keep bombarding them until they cry 'uncle' and finally do what their employers -- the American people -- want. Tell them the American people should be free to decide whether they want to listen to Rush Limbaugh, or Sean Hannity or Laura Ingraham. Tell them we do not live in the former Soviet Union and that liberals in Congress have no right to decide what the American people should or should not hear!

http://www.cfiflistmanager.org/fairnessdoctrinexx.html

AOL Members Can Also Use This Hyperlink

If the above hyperlinks do not appear to function, copy and paste the first hyperlink into the address bar of your browser.

Yours In Freedom,


Jeff Mazzella
President
www.cfif.org