General Discussion

NoodleyAppendage

(4,619 posts) Sat Nov 3, 2012, 07:11 PM Nov 2012

Fairness Doctrine - Obama's 1st Mistake

Early in Obama's term there was talk of working with the Congress and the FCC to reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine, which was killed by Reagan. This talk died quickly after the mewing cry of conservative media types like Limpballs and was never heard again. I am FIRMLY convinced that Obama's first term would be radically different if he had fought to reinstitute what the conservatives fear most...an informed populace with information from both sides of an issue. Imagine Faux News having, by law, to present counterfactual information to their endless propaganda.

With the Fairness Doctrine in place the Obamacare fight and just about every other issue would have had either an easier path or different conclusion.

Vast swathes of the American public are lemmings to the information they receive. Obama's biggest initial mistake was not securing a foothold in the information those individuals tend to unquestioningly soak up.

13 replies

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Fairness Doctrine - Obama's 1st Mistake (Original Post) NoodleyAppendage Nov 2012 OP

It could have helped with talk radio SickOfTheOnePct Nov 2012 #1

This needs to happen. If this happens, 24/7 brainwash broadcasting loses its power ItsTheMediaStupid Nov 2012 #2

There is a push among evangelicals edhopper Nov 2012 #3

But then they will have to come up with facts and not say the Bible says so Angry Dragon Nov 2012 #5

agree mark eagledove Nov 2012 #4

Yes yes felix_numinous Nov 2012 #6

Wow, I just had this conversation yesterday. Gregorian Nov 2012 #7

Garbage. Let the crazies have AM talk radio. banned from Kos Nov 2012 #8

The AM talk radio listeners vote too NoodleyAppendage Nov 2012 #9

Not garbage dreamnightwind Nov 2012 #10

It's been the Jerry Springer-ization of news since. L0oniX Nov 2012 #11

I say let it run it's course. Blanks Nov 2012 #12

The Fairness Doctrine would have affected political discussion shows, but not "the news". hughee99 Nov 2012 #13

SickOfTheOnePct

(7,290 posts)

1. It could have helped with talk radio

Reply to NoodleyAppendage (Original post)

Sat Nov 3, 2012, 07:13 PM

Nov 2012

But would have done nothing about Fox News, as it cable isn't regulated by the FCC.

ItsTheMediaStupid

(2,800 posts)

2. This needs to happen. If this happens, 24/7 brainwash broadcasting loses its power

Reply to NoodleyAppendage (Original post)

Sat Nov 3, 2012, 07:13 PM

Nov 2012

edhopper

(33,615 posts)

3. There is a push among evangelicals

Reply to NoodleyAppendage (Original post)

Sat Nov 3, 2012, 07:18 PM

Nov 2012

to bring back the fairness doctrine. So that they can demand equal time for things like Creationism.

Angry Dragon

(36,693 posts)

5. But then they will have to come up with facts and not say the Bible says so

Reply to edhopper (Reply #3)

Sat Nov 3, 2012, 07:25 PM

Nov 2012

They will have to prove god exists

mark eagledove

(76 posts)

4. agree

Reply to NoodleyAppendage (Original post)

Sat Nov 3, 2012, 07:19 PM

Nov 2012

This Doctrine needs to be updated and renacted. The 2 minutes of hate like the coward Rush and his spinoffs are ruining this country. At least remove the scumbag from Armed Forces Radio.

felix_numinous

(5,198 posts)

6. Yes yes

Reply to NoodleyAppendage (Original post)

Sat Nov 3, 2012, 07:31 PM

Nov 2012

this and election reform should be a high priority. Without these laws, we are making it easy for criminals.

Gregorian

(23,867 posts)

7. Wow, I just had this conversation yesterday.

Reply to NoodleyAppendage (Original post)

Sat Nov 3, 2012, 07:32 PM

Nov 2012

Oddly enough the person I was talking to, however experienced they are in politics, didn't even know about Reagan's 1987 Fairness Doctrine massacre.

I think it's a pretty important topic.

banned from Kos

(4,017 posts)

8. Garbage. Let the crazies have AM talk radio.

Reply to NoodleyAppendage (Original post)

Sat Nov 3, 2012, 07:34 PM

Nov 2012

The Fairness Doctrine is a vestige from when there were only three networks.

Now there are hundreds.

NoodleyAppendage

(4,619 posts)

9. The AM talk radio listeners vote too

Reply to banned from Kos (Reply #8)

Sat Nov 3, 2012, 10:13 PM

Nov 2012

Ceding any territory to the conservatives as being "lost" is a mistake. Give them NO quarter, NO rest. We must keep their propaganda in check at any and all levels.

dreamnightwind

(4,775 posts)

10. Not garbage

Reply to banned from Kos (Reply #8)

Sat Nov 3, 2012, 10:27 PM

Nov 2012

"Let the crazies have AM talk radio."

Now that's what I call garbage.

The fairness doctrine wouldn't fix everything, but it would help. Seems pretty obvious.

L0oniX

(31,493 posts)

11. It's been the Jerry Springer-ization of news since.

Reply to NoodleyAppendage (Original post)

Sat Nov 3, 2012, 10:30 PM

Nov 2012

Blanks

(4,835 posts)

12. I say let it run it's course.

Reply to NoodleyAppendage (Original post)

Sun Nov 4, 2012, 02:20 PM

Nov 2012

We shouldn't have to have laws that require 'News' people tell the truth. They need to be exposed for the damage that they do. It should be pointed out that they have deceived and then been proven wrong.

I agree there are thousands of news sources at our fingertips; requiring all of them to provide equal time would be unrealistic and only enforcing the rules on some of them would be unfair. Shit like Glenn Beck's theblaze.com would spring up and add more voices to the chorus if Fox News began being 'fact-checked'. Right-wing 'news sources' would spring up like a new row of sharks teeth every time a crack-down occurred.

They need to be exposed for the hacks that they are; I believe their base is shrinking and will continue to shrink.

hughee99

(16,113 posts)

13. The Fairness Doctrine would have affected political discussion shows, but not "the news".

Reply to NoodleyAppendage (Original post)

Sun Nov 4, 2012, 02:36 PM

Nov 2012

Faux can still spend all day covering Repukes talking about Benghazi and not talking about Mitts tax records or anything like that. They would still have the freedom to selectively decide WHICH news they report.

Sorry, but the Fairness doctrine won't result in the type of discussion you are hoping for, where both sides are given equal time to discuss the important issues of the day. IMHO, the return of the fairness doctrine is a political loser

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