The Economist: 'Fairness' doctrine assaults free speech

'Fairness' doctrine assaults free speech
THE ECONOMIST

Rush Limbaugh makes an unusual martyr. He's a rich, white and often rather nasty celebrity. He has the look of a man who eats steak for breakfast. He likes to smoke huge cigars. But a martyr is exactly what he will become if some of the United States' most prominent politicians get their way.

Richard Durbin, the Senate's second-ranking Democrat, claims it is time to "reinstitute the fairness doctrine," referring to a federal rule, in place in 1949-87, that guaranteed "ample play for the free and fair competition of opposing views" on the airwaves.

John Kerry, the Democratic nominee in 2004, says that the fairness doctrine ought to come back. "When conservatives got rid of the equal-time requirement ...they've been able to squeeze down and squeeze out" opposing views, he says.

Dianne Feinstein, chairwoman of the Senate Rules Committee, says that she is looking at reinstatement.

This bandwagon needs to be stopped before it can build up any more speed. U.S. talk-radio hosts are a rough bunch. Limbaugh is a great broadcasting talent. He is also a caveman. Most of his allies and imitators are cavemen without the talent: Try listening to Sean Hannity.

And the talk-radio hosts were at their xenophobic worst during the immigration debate. But none of that is a reason for formatting them out of existence. The "fairness doctrine" is a hangover from a prehistoric technological era. It is an assault on free speech.

(more)

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/324920_airwaves25.html