President Ronald Reagan axed the so-called Fairness Doctrine in 1987, and AM talk radio has thrived ever since. Well, for conservatives that is. And the left is all vexed and miffed because their humorless, talentless talkers can't hold an audience and sponsors. So what's a lib to do but use the government to silence the opposition?
Yesterday's stinging defeat of the immigration bill is sure to be the final goad that will spur the left to try to reinstate the doctrine. Regular Americans literally shut down Congress's phone lines to demand that a stake be driven through the immigration ghoul once and for all. Depending on your point of view, conservative talk radio is either the hero or the villain.
Last Sunday, Chris Wallace, host of Fox News Sunday, interviewed Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) together about the pending immigration bill and talk radio. Wallace began by playing an audio clip of Rush Limbaugh saying: “Talk radio is the American voter. That's what bothers Trent Lott.” Next, Wallace played a clip from Michael Savage saying: “Trent Lott saying today that 'talk radio is running
Wallace: Let's start with the controversy over talk radio, because, Sen. Lott, you stirred up quite a hornet's nest this week when you said this, “Talk radio is running
Sen. Lott: Dianne and I were just talking about that. One of the mistakes that we have made many times on legislation is it's introduced, it comes out of committee, we bring it to the floor. We never bother to explain what we're trying to do and what is in it. … I don't think this Fairness Doctrine that would try to require that there be X amount on both sides is fair. So you know, it's caused quite a stir, but, you know, it goes with the territory.
Lott tried to backpedal from his remarks, but Sen. Feinstein bullied on, carping about talk's “hyperbole” with some “explosive” hyperbole of her own:
Chris Wallace: “But let me ask you about yourself. Do you have a problem with talk radio, and would you consider reviving the Fairness Doctrine, which would require broadcasters to put on opposing points of view?”
Sen. Feinstein: “Well, in my view, talk radio tends to be one-sided. It also tends to be dwelling in hyperbole, it's explosive, it pushes people to, I think, the extreme views without a lot of information.”
Wallace: “Would you revive the Fairness Doctrine?”
Sen. Feinstein: “Well, I'm looking at it, as a matter of fact, Chris, because I think there ought to be an opportunity to present the other side. And unfortunately, talk radio is overwhelmingly one way.” (Fox News Sunday, June 24.)
Feinstein isn't the only prominent Democrat to call for reimposing the Fairness Doctrine. The second highest ranking Democrat in the Senate, Dick Durbin of
The left's fears bring to mind Tony Bennett's hit, If I Ruled the World. So, close your eyes and imagine “Di-Fi and the Dips”: Sen. Feinstein and her backup groaners, Daffy Dick Durbin and John Skiwi Kerry, with their rendition of If Talk Ruled the World:
If talk ruled the world, ev'ry day would bring the end of our fling
They would say we have no new thoughts to bring
And we cling to the lines only Franken can sling
If talk ruled the world, ev'ry lib would find it tough to be heard
Take our word we would lose each debate that occurred
Our world would be a right-wing free place
Where we could weave such liberal schemes
Talk's world would put a frown on our face
Like the voice on AM does when AM's free
If talk ruled the world every lib would find our reign is at end
There'd be misery that no law could end
No my friend, not if talk ruled the world
All our lies would be held up high
There'd be thunder in every lib's sky
If the day ever dawns when talk rules the world
Jan LaRue is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Culture and Media Institute. [1]