Fairness: A Conservative Imagination Figment?
While many on the right remember the many quotes attributed to Barbara Boxer, Nancy Pelosi, and most recently Chuck Schumer, reciting the need for the revival of the Fairness Doctrine, the left is convinced that we have nothing to fear except fear itself because they would NEVER advocate the practice of squelching speech they disagreed with…
To figure out who was causing such agitation, I went searching for the proponents of the fairness doctrine. I looked at Obama’s position–and it turns out that he doesn’t want the policy reinstated. Then I called the array of Democratic congressmen who had been tagged by conservatives as doctrine proponents. But they all denied any intention to push for its reinstatement. As some of the world’s great egotists, it’s not surprising that Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly believe they would be the first political prisoners interred in an Obama administration. But, the more I searched for actual evidence of the doctrine’s return, the more I had to conclude that Schumer was just messing with their heads.
If Democrats (come January) abandon their quest for media equality, it may not go over well with the far left. Liberals routinely attack those who dare offer an opposing view with childish shout-downs and flying pies.
What’s suspicious with this New Republic piece is the notion that any progressive would attempt to calm conservative fears.
