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Society|Sat, Jul. 05 2008 09:31 AM EDT

Christians Decry Congressional 'Fairness Doctrine'

By Aaron Leichman|Christian Post Reporter

Christian and pro-family groups are up in arms over recent efforts by the Democrat-led Congress to re-instate a “Fairness Doctrine” that would require conservative and Christian radio talk stations to give air time to opposing views.

Christian groups say the law, which was discontinued in 1984 after the Supreme Court ruled it unnecessary to give opposing views airtime in an increasingly information rich world, would marginalize the freedom of Christian and conservative radio stations.

“If resurrected, Christian radio stations discussing topics like abortion likely would have to give airtime to a pro-abortion voice like Planned Parenthood,” Focus on the Family Action said in a statement.

On Wednesday, Focus on the Family helped mail out thousands of petitions to Democratic Congress members urging them to drop their support for the Fairness Doctrine and instead help support a measure by Indiana Republican Mike Pence that would guarantee free speech on the air.

“Oppose the Democrat leadership’s plan to censor the airwaves of American talk radio and American Christian radio," the group said in a statement. "Sign the discharge petition for broadcast freedom and help us send the Fairness Doctrine to the ash heap of broadcast history, where it belongs.”

Ashley Horne, federal policy analyst for Focus on the Family Action, emphasized the importance of letting the voices of people be heard.

"The Democrat members of Congress need to hear from their constituents while they are in their home districts for the Independence Day recess," she said in a statement. "Members will listen to their constituents who speak up on this important legislation.”

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  • Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:46 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    The next election is about far more than 'change' for the sake of change.

    For you Christians who niavely support Obama you need to hold his feet to the fire.

    McCain has already stated that he is against this and that he will fight for protecting our freedom of speach.

  • Tue Jul 08, 2008 2:10 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 1

    Those with anti-Christian views already have equal airtime. They've got their own little radio stations and programs. Isn't that enough? Or is it that they don't have as much influence as Christians do, and they're just jealous that no one's listening to them?

  • Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:08 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    Does this mean that Dr. Richard Land and Dr. James Dobson will be able to demand equal time on NPR?

  • Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:06 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    It's like this...if we don't do something 'they' could just get away with it. Most here on all sides of many issues seem to agree this 'fairness doctrine' is just plain stupid.

    The American Center for Law and Justice is gathering the signatures to force the vote to kill the 'fairness doctrine' and you can sign the petition at www.aclj.org. Here's something from their site:

    "If you don’t believe there’s pressure to reinstate the troubling Fairness Doctrine, consider comments made yesterday by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. She admitted to not only a personal desire to see a return of the Fairness Doctrine, but also to leading the effort to block debate on the Broadcaster Freedom Act – the bill which would ban a return of the Fairness Doctrine."

  • Mon Jul 07, 2008 4:41 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    I just have to say, as someone who is normally considered liberal-minded because I am a politically pro-gay and pro-choice Christian, that this is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. That is like saying that Fox News and CNN have to give each other 'equal' air time on their own stations! This is absurd. If a person tunes in to a radio station to hear a certain opinion. If they want another one, they will turn the station. These kinds of things just make me roll my eyes. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. People who push things like this make anyone who is liberally-minded look like a fool. I am as ashamed of the backers of this as I am of Fred Phelps' anti-gay "God hates Fags" routine.

    Apologies across the board.

  • Mon Jul 07, 2008 1:16 pm Agree: 4   Disagree: 0

    Mark Tanberg- I don't like Journalists who think their job is to change the way America thinks. Journalism is about reporting what is going on.... "just the facts ma'am".

    With that said...the unfortunate thing is that the loudest voices in the Democrat party are the radical, pro-choice, pro-gay liberal wingers.

    Take the court in CA that 'legalized' gay marriage. How many of them are Democrat? The Democrat party is a car out of control. (The Republicans are close behind.)

    The liberal news media is not doing any favors to the Democrats by focusing their reporting on the highly liberal actions of some Democrats. The liberal media is painting with a broad brush so that Democrats look like people who need to be on medication to those of us who hold to more concervative views. At the same time the liberal media is painting with a broad brush the Republicans as a bunch of war mongers always looking for a fight and how dare we go into Iraq who has been funding terrorism for over 40 years (but they don't seem to know that part. Ever wonder how the #2 terrorist from Afganistan was found in a hospital in Iraq shortly after we went in? The liberal news media wouldn't even connect the dots....

  • Sun Jul 06, 2008 2:41 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    @ blue1018
    "I can not STAND journalists like this one who still wish to group all democrats as radical, pro-choice, pro-gay liberal wingers. I understand the context of this article, and I do agree that free radio is an important right to many, but once I saw the redundant Democrat, Democrat, Democrat I wanted to scream!"
    I am a Christian Repulican and I agree with you in the sense that Christians get labeled and disregarded when they voice opposition to what is going on in either party. I could be a Democrat if they would take a stand against abortion and uphold the constitution instead of always trying to gut it. Defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman would bring me over as well. That said theres a lot of work to be done by Christian Democrats to change the party into a moral one and no less on the Republican side that is run by fools who worship money rather than God. Our fight is against the ideas that have set themselves up as anti God and deify humanism over the almighty, those forces are both Democrat and Republican and it's they that we should be warring against with every fiber of our Christian being.

  • Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:15 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Well, I think that the fairness doctrine is a ridiculous idea anyways, but if conservatives must show liberal views, then every single liberal talk show must show conservative views. And every single religious show must show opposing views. (Personally I would have no problem with this, indeed I would rather like to have opposing views presented so that they can be exposed for the garbage that they so often are).

    If it is one sided, then it is not fairness, it is un-fairness.

  • Sun Jul 06, 2008 10:36 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    wbmoore--

    BINGO! And if the people let these tyrannical Democrats bring back the "Fairness Doctrine" you can mark that moment as the death of free speech in America. Because once they have a stranglehold on the media, they will then effectively shut down all opposition and opposing views. You will then have a truly one party state in this country, with only the "voice of the party" on the airwaves, and then we will be no different than Castro's Cuba, Mao's China, Stalin's USSR or Chavez's Venezuela.

  • Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:11 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    Chris, I suspect what will most likely happen is that Christian radio stations will be required by force of law to allow liberals to present their rebuttal, but these same liberals will not allow conservatives to have their say, since they will be in charge of the commissions that decide if there is sufficient access to differing viewpoints.

  • Sun Jul 06, 2008 6:21 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    chris333, I think the issue is what happens if there is no one willing to present the opposing view, will the say conservative view be allowed to be presented anyway or will it not be allowed to be presented because there is no opposing view to be presented. Considering how liberal a view the major networks present, for many the only way one can get the news from a conservative view point is through the conservative radio talk shows. As a result many conservatives see this as a backdoor way to shut them down.

  • Sun Jul 06, 2008 2:32 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    Is this fairness bill going to force all media to devote a portion of time to opposing views? Will liberals have to give time to hear opposing points as well?

    Personally, I think the proposal is ridiculous, but I don't see why it should be so bad. I would love to have the opposition come give a point for point argument for their side, and then blow it out of the water.

    I don't see why anyone should worry. This sounds like a good chance to expose the lies for what they are.

  • Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:12 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    If what is being reported in the Daily Mail in Britain is true, then I think this is what we have to look forward to in schools in this country. It is reported that children 11-12 years old had to dress up and kneel on prayer mats and pray to Allah, as part of a religious education class. Two children refused and were told off and given detention.
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1031784/Schoolboys-punished-detention-refusing-kneel-pray-Allah.html

    too much!

  • Sat Jul 05, 2008 10:02 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 0

    What Rush Limbaugh did is simply tit for tat since the Democrats were crossing over to vote for McCain in an attempt to pick the Republican nominee. What's good for the goose...

  • Sat Jul 05, 2008 9:19 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    I believe the ACLJ is collecting signatures to bring this issue to a vote. It can be forced to a vote. Polozi doesnt' want to do that. Bringing the issue to a vote will get rid of the 'fairness doctrine'.

    I find it refreshing that everyone here on all sides of the fence seem to agree the fairness doctrine is a bad idea. Find some wood and knock on it...FAST!

  • Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:17 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 3

    Rush Limbaugh asking voters to cross over and manipulate the Democratic system was disgusting. Our military people sacrifice their lives for honest elections and the 400 million dollar man( Rush) slaps them in the face.

  • Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:55 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 0

    THe problem is, many Christian radio programs and stations are paid for by people donating money. Why would someone donate money to hear radical leftist sin mongers speak?

  • Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:31 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    Look it, it's simple, let capitalism work. Radio hosts are successful because people want to listen, whether they agree or not. The "Fairness Doctrine" insinuates that people are too stupid to make decisions for themselves. This is the same liberal bias that the believes the few "elite" should make decisions for the majority. No good thing can come from the "Fairness Doctrine". If you want to have opposing view points on various issues, go start your own talk show. If people listen, then you will succeed.

  • Sat Jul 05, 2008 6:26 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 0

    blue1018--

    Given that the radical left has taken firm control of the Democrat Party, and given that they hold to a radical anti-war, anti-capitalist, anti-life, pro-gay platform...why would you be surprised that people associate those things with the Democrats? They are the party of antichrist. They support evil at every opportunity while constantly attacking the very country (and its history) to which they owe all of the freedoms they exercise. They stand up on the side of every social evil imaginable and then try to cling to some notion of being a party of "social justice" - the good guys - clinging to the notion that they have some kind of noble pedigree because they got one right on Civil Rights forty some odd years ago. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

  • igh »
    Sat Jul 05, 2008 6:05 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    hlerwin, the minds of God and those who deny his Christ will never ever and I MEAN NEVER will come to terms, they will never agree never ever be at peace with one another. God is Holy and that is even something we cannot even grasp fully because it is so far above us like a molecule to a mountain! So there ya go, fair speeches and words cannot reconcile anything man to God. But God can reconcile man to himself!!! Its the way it is, we cannot please God with a mountain of gold and jewels, or with good deeds, or anything else. Only one thing pure and Holy can Reconcile us to God the Father and that is his Holy Son Jesus. His blood covers our sins , he is our Justification or total Payment to the Father. And that by only Faith. Just have to believe you are indeed a sinner that needs to be reconciled to God and that Jesus paid the price. Easy.
    Others dont love God and will do anything to rebel and show there contempt for God. The Saved will do anything God asks them to, and returns his Love. 2 sides, one winner so to speak. You have to choose as does lina what side you will be on.

    Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
    Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
    Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
    Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
    Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
    Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
    Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
    Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
    Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
    Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

  • Sat Jul 05, 2008 5:28 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    I can not STAND journalists like this one who still wish to group all democrats as radical, pro-choice, pro-gay liberal wingers. I understand the context of this article, and I do agree that free radio is an important right to many, but once I saw the redundant Democrat, Democrat, Democrat I wanted to scream!

  • Sat Jul 05, 2008 4:43 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    The only good thing that can come if this Fairness Act is passed is that hopefully liberal radio shows would be forced to present opposing viewpoints as well.

  • Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:47 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    The “Fairness Doctrine” is more communism encroaching on Americas freedoms. Democrats are dismantling our constitution incrementally. Democrats=socialist/communist are atheist. The ones that claim to be Christian do not believe scripture. They try to change the Bible to fit their worldly lives.

  • Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:31 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Tomas, What is it that you detest about conservative talk radio??

  • Sat Jul 05, 2008 1:26 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 1

    As much as I detest conservative talk radio (and I really mean detest), I cannot stand for such a blatant violation of American's right to free speech. There is NO way that Al Franken will be subjected to having to allow conservative voices on his show. This will not work both ways, and I am sorely dissappointed in the Democratic Party for supporting this. I will continue to research this, but as of now, I will not be voting Democrat until I get to the bottom of this and figure out why they would ever support such a thing.

  • Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:27 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    Ah-h-h, but you see, you must look at how the fairness doctrine worked before it was removed in 1984. Whoever controls the FCC commission or the courts hearing the lawsuits, determines whether a broadcaster is being "fair". And this *never* goes in favor of conservatives, and especially not Christians.

    Therefore the imposition of "fairness" will be a one-way "fairness" - to get conservatives to have to broadcast leftist opinion. But when conservatives or Christians challenge the major media in broadcast or print mediums, the FCC and the courts will find that "they are balanced" and do not require any equal time for conservative opinion.

    It's all about *who* decides what is *fair* - and that who, you can be guaranteed, will be a board or commission that is dominated by leftist radicals. This is how the left works in every totalitarian regime. They seek to maintain a majority on every board, chair, commission, etc. This insures that they always win, while maintaining a pretense of non-partisanship or "fairness".

    People need to wake up to how the left works, and how they maintain and control power and public opinion. They are as insidious as they are power mad. And their motivation is always malevolent.

  • Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:50 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    ...let's look at this from a $$$ point of view. What if the fairness doctrine extended into the commercials played? Diet centers could demand equal airtime for all food ads run, churches could demand equal airtime for all 'club' and 'bar' ads run....oh, my!

  • Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:47 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    As a former broadcaster, I can tell you there is nothing 'fair' in the 'fairness doctrine'. It would be an absolute nightmare for all broadcasters.

    Let's look at it. The courts could eventually rule that the music played is subject to the fairness doctrine. All rock, country, easy listening, rap, hip-hop stations would have to give equal airtime to anyone with an opposing view to the lyrics of the songs. What a mess!

    Pro womens rights, gay and lesbian rights, racist (black, white and others) would have to give equal airtime. The courts would be jammed with lawsuits from Christian groups wanting equal airtime.

    The 'fairness' doctrine prople are overlooking one small factor...there are way more Christians who will be seeking equal airtime then there are of all non-Christian groups combined!

  • Sat Jul 05, 2008 10:49 am Agree: 4   Disagree: 0

    It would be interesting to consider this on both sides of the fence: let's let Christians get on the pro-gay stations and ask how the relationships were with their parents. It's documented in 99% of cases that people involved in a homosexual are really just trying to fulfill a relationship with one of their two parents that they never had growing up. Jesus can help repair those wounds without resorting to a disordered lifestyle.

    If we're forced to accept this, let's implement it on both sides.

  • Sat Jul 05, 2008 10:29 am Agree: 3   Disagree: 0

    JHS--

    Leftist definition of "hate": anything that opposes them or the implementation of their radical ideology.

  • Sat Jul 05, 2008 10:28 am Agree: 2   Disagree: 1

    Yes, it's in keeping with the totalitarianism of the left, who seek to silence all opposing voices, that even though they own all the major news media - ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, CNN, PBS and every major news paper in the country as well as NPR, that they fear AM talk radio. One outlet of conservative opinion out of all the rest of the media that the left controls, and they don't want it heard. Why is that?

    This is no different than what Chavez did in Venezuela, or any other Marxist totalitarian regime has done before him. Silence all opposition. Shut down all views that might counter their media-supported left wing ideology.

    I have never seen the left-wing media so in the tank for a candidate as they are for Obama. Without talk radio, there would be no one to give opposing views about this charlatan. And that's just what the left wing wants.

  • JHS »
    Sat Jul 05, 2008 10:11 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 10

    they did not have the right wing hate mongers like hannity or limbaugh in 84'. This has been long over due. The air waves belong to everyone, not just the right wing neo con bible thumpers.

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