Have you seen this hypocritical mess?!?!?

[margotb822]

Bush: ‘Fairness Doctrine’ unfair
By Ken Herman | Tuesday, March 11, 2008,

In Nashville today, during a speech to the National Religious Broadcasters Convention, President Bush said there’s nothing fair about the so-called “Fairness Doctrine” that once required broadcasters to offer air time for competing ideologies.

The FCC got rid of it about 20 years ago. Now, some Democrats in Congress - long the target of popular conservative radio talk-show hosts - think it’s time to bring it back.

Perish the thought, Bush told the religious broadcasters in the following passage that ends with a veto promise.

“This organization has had many important missions, but none more important than ensuring our airways - America’s airways - stay open to those who preach the ‘Good News.’ The very first amendment to our Constitution includes the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion. Founders believed these unalienable rights were endowed to us by our Creator. They are vital to a healthy democracy, and we must never let anyone take those freedoms away.”

” I mention this because there’s an effort afoot that would jeopardize your right to express your views on public airways. Some members of Congress want to reinstate a regulation that was repealed 20 years ago. It has the Orwellian name called the Fairness Doctrine. Supporters of this regulation say we need to mandate that any discussion of so-called controversial issues on the public airwaves includes equal time for all sides. This means that many programs wanting to stay on the air would have to meet Washington’s definition of balance. Of course, for some in Washington, the only opinions that require balancing are the ones they don’t like.”

“We know who these advocates of so-called balance really have in their sights: shows hosted by people like Rush Limbaugh or James Dobson, or many of you here today. By insisting on so-called balance, they want to silence those they don’t agree with. The truth of the matter is, they know they cannot prevail in the public debate of ideas. They don’t acknowledge that you are the balance … The country should not be afraid of the diversity of opinions. After all, we’re strengthened by diversity of opinions.”

“If Congress truly supports the free and open exchange of ideas, then there is a way they can demonstrate that right now. Republicans have drafted legislation that would ban reinstatement of the so-called Fairness Doctrine. Unfortunately, Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives have blocked action on this bill. So in response, nearly every Republican in the House has signed onto what’s called a ‘discharge petition,’ that would require Congress to hold an up or down vote on the ban. Supporters of this petition are only 24 signatures away.”

“I do want to thank (Indiana Rep.) Mike Pence, who is with us today, and Congressman Greg Walden (of Oregon), for pressing this effort and defending the right for people to express themselves freely. And I urge other members to join in this discharge petition. But I’ll tell you this: If Congress should ever pass any legislation that stifles your right to express your views, I’m going to veto it.”

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/washington/washington/entries/2008/03/11/bush_fairness_d.html
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Seriously. He said these things with a straight face. What an asshole!

edit: And check out the link for the comments. The zombie masses are excited about this!

[muntrv]

1. Chimpy is projecting again.

[NC_Nurse]

2. He called it an "Orwellian name" (the Fairness Doctrine). What a hoot!

He's the master of the Orwellian name for terrible policies - like the "Clear Skies Initiative" to help polluters

and of course "No Child Left Behind". What a dick!

[margotb822]

3. Don't forget the PATRIOT Act (all caps, of course)

and the Protect America Act!!

Yes, let's ban the idea of balance in media. That's good for debating opinions...

[magellan]

4. Everything he said is the exact opposite of the truth

As usual.

[IQ200]

5. "Fairness" Doctrine

If you've ever lived in, or even visited a communist controlled country, you might know first hand how dangerous it is to have government controlled opinion quotas. It's so scary, I shudder at the thought of it.
It doesn't matter what opinions are dominant on the public airwaves, it is un-American to attempt regulation under the draconian guise of "maintaining fairness".
The government can't make a hammer for under $900 dollars, can't keep a train on the tracks, and it's hard to imagine how much better the postal service would be if it were run by adults, and now people want freedom of public airwaves regulated by the same bureaucrats who can't deliver a stamped letter?
Unbelievable.
Even a broken clock is right twice a day, maybe George got this one right.
Otherwise what's next? Bible thumpers allowed 12 hours of every broadcast day on NPR, or ELSE?

[margotb822]

6. Bush may have gotten this right, but he took the wrong route

as usual. Calling the legislation Orwellian, yet saying nothing of his legislation, saying that he values differing opinions, when that is obviously not true. And, I think they're more scared of Rachel Maddow on Rush than anything else...

Additionally, it would be almost impossible to regulate and people would always figure a way around it.

[riderinthestorm]

7. Again with the up is down, black is white commentary

And again, it is as ridiculous and chilling as before. It's incredible that he can spin this as "silencing" their voices when the Fairness Doctrin simply requires public airwaves to provide both sides of an issue.

And he has the unmitigated GALL to say that the National Religious Broadcasters Association, and other commentators like Rush Limbaugh are "the balance" and that we shouldn't be "afraid"(!) of allowing this mob complete control of OUR public airwaves ala Clear Channel's oligarchy, disguised under the rhetoric of diversity just really pisses me off.

" Supporters of this regulation say we need to mandate that any discussion of so-called controversial issues on the public airwaves includes equal time for all sides." Well NO SHIT SHERLOCK!!

Gawd this guy pisses me off every single day. :nuke: And even worse, those jackasses sitting in the audience agree with this despicable doublespeak. Disgusting.

[margotb822]

8. No, they only want fairness when it suits them

If it's public money, it should be balanced. Or even better, unbiased (however that would be accomplished).

[Faux pas]

9. Up is down, war is peace, evil is good.........Go dub. Idiocy should

be a felony.