The expanding number of activists demanding a return of the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" in talk radio were dealt a significant blow – again – by President Obama, who’s spokesperson yesterday confirmed again that the President remains opposed to the return of the "Fairness Doctrine." As reported by Anne Kornblut of the Washington Post:
President Obama does not support reviving the so-called Fairness doctrine, an aide said on Wednesday, knocking down speculation that Obama was open to reinstating the rule requiring broadcasters to air alternate perspectives on controversial issues.
Some administration officials had made non-committal remarks about the policy. But Ben LaBolt, a White House spokesman, said Obama "does not support the Fairness Doctrine," and never had.
Obama had originally came out against a revived "Fairness Doctrine" last year during the campaign, when his spokesperson said:
"Sen. Obama does not support re-imposing the Fairness Doctrine on broadcasters. He considers this debate to be a distraction from the conversation we should be having about opening up the airwaves and modern communications to as many diverse viewpoints as possible. That is why Sen. Obama supports media-ownership caps, network neutrality, public broadcasting, as well as increasing minority ownership of broadcasting and print outlets."
There’s never been any indication that Obama had reversed his original position, but his comments at this particular time are especially welcome and will hopefully send a signal to those pushing for a return of the "Fairness Doctrine" that they do not have the backing of the White House.
The danger remains, of course, that Congress will push it through as part of legislation that Obama feels he simply cannot veto, or he gives in on the issue as part of some bigger compromise. A more likely threat, however, is that the "Fairness Doctrine" will return in a new form. Congressman Henry Waxman is reportedly considering bringing back the "Fairness Doctrine" through the back door, such as under "localism" standards.
It would be great if the President were to come out to Waxman and his fellow speech squelchers and explicitly say "No, forget it, don’t even think about trying to strip the First Amendment out of broadcast radio," but I understand he has a few other things on his plate at the moment. So until then, I’ll just be extremely happy he’s made clear once again that the "Fairness Doctrine" has no place in an Obama Administration. Hopefully the crazed advocates of this censorship policy will now turn to other concerns. I hear the Stonecutters are still holding back the electric car, and phrenology has been suppressed for too long!
