Incoming FCC Chairman: No Censorship
by Brian JenningsThere was good news coming out of the Senate Commerce Committee Tuesday. Julius Genachowski, President Obama’s choice to head the Federal Communications Committee made a strong statement that he does not favor censorship of the broadcast airwaves. It is the most definitive and concise statement heard from the Chairman-to-be and from the Obama administration. We welcome it. Let’s hope the far-left backs off its call for a return of Fairness Doctrine-like regulations aimed at conservative talk radio. I doubt they will, but at least Genachowski is on record as opposed to the Fairness Doctrine and controversial localism mandates that would censor free speech determined by the marketplace.
Genachowski made the statement in response to a question from Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas.
Generally, the Senate hearing was a lovefest and accolades were also handed out to Robert McDowell, a Republican who has been re-nominated for another term on the commission. McDowell has stated unequivocally that he does not favor regulations such as mandated programming advisory boards considered under localism regulations that the FCC issued for proposed rule-making in January 2008. Let’s hope that report finds itself shredded and trashed forever.
The radio industry led this fight and now has Mr. Genachowski on record as stating, “I strongly believe in the First Amendment and don’t think the FCC should be involved in censorship based on political speech and opinion.” As a longtime talk radio programmer, I would liked to have heard Mr. Genachowski also say he does not favor FCC mandates to set up “community advisory boards” for radio stations. The FCC stated that such boards would further localism interests in its January 2008 report. We presume that since Genachowski stated he does not favor localism mandates that would censor political speech, he would also not favor local advisory boards. It’s utter nonsense that in the United States an agency would suggest broadcast stations must have “community advisory boards.” We have our advisors – you the listener. If you don’t like what you hear, our ratings reflect that. And, that is the only valid form of censorship in America.
Be vigilant for free speech and let’s make sure Julius Genachowski is true to his word. And, watch out for the new wave of political correctness that has swept the world and is now taking stronger hold in America – legislation against hate speech. Who decides what is hateful? The National Hispanic Media Coalition has asked the FCC to investigate alleged hate speech by John and Ken of KFI, Los Angeles, Lou Dobbs of CNN, and Michael Savage of the Talk Radio Network. Beware of further assaults on broadcast speech rights.
Brian Jennings is author of Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio.
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
| 
Follow Us on Twitter
Subscribe via RSS
Got a Tip?
58 Comments
While there is a town in Kansas called "Hutchinson" (just northwest of Wichita), Kay Bailey Hutchinson is actually from TEXAS.
don't be fooled by this; the Obama administration knows the Fairness Doctrine is radioactive- and are pursuing stealth methods like 'diversity'and 'local ownership'. There was money allocated in the Spendulus bill for so-called local ownership, and local content…
They know darn well that conservative talk is killing them, and will stop at nothing to shut it down. They're just going to be sneaky about it…
With the THE ONE, you always have to keep a eye on the back door. They will try a end run around the consittiution every time.
But also, you've got to figure in that this is "the gang that can't shoot straight".
But they'll luck into a winning move, I'm affraid.
It's Kay Bailey Hutchison, not Hutchinson. From the great state of Texas.
It certainly has been the method of this administration to say one thing and then do the exact opposite. Let's see if they don't go for some kind of "break-up" of syndicates and return to "local" ownership.
it will be a slow death- first the Mike Reagans and Dennis Pragers, then the Michael Medveds and Dennis Millers, then the Hannitys and Levins, and only Rush will be left standing… as the FCC takes away license from Clear Channel and Evergreen in favor of local groups- who will receive taxpayer money, so they won't need the advertising revenue that is lost- and will then have the ACORN hour brought to you by Worker World News…
unless, of course, they lose the House…
Absolutely. Obama and his crew are combinations of the worst things in life including lawyers (sorry Lawhawk!) and the key to these people will be SEMANTICS. Words will be manipulated like never before.
He does not have to say he is, or is not in favor of the Fairness Doctrine, or censorship in any form. Why? Because there will probably be a czar named soon who is really going to be performing the duties of the FCC, and this dude will just be a figure head. There is something to be said for this Administration's previous actions. It is called a pattern. What is in now? Are we not at 20 czars now?
Second, for all you panicked about the Fairness Doctrine or censorship, look up the word localism. After that, look up Cap and Tax, TARP, and listen to Obama's speech today on increasing the powers of the feds. This is the way we are going to be censored no matter what.
My current local AM talk radio station has already been asking us to call our Congressional representatives to help them stop a new tax being instituted. This is true! Now add to this the additional taxes we all know are coming like an avalanche. Next, add the lack of advertising everyone is encountering. From NFL teams to local radio stations, businesses are having to let people go due to advertising revenues not coming in. Raising the prices of goods and services will be something many radio and tv stations will be forced to institute. As it is harder and harder to turn a profit, radio and tv stations will be forced to go to banks for a loan, or will ask for extensions on current loans. But who is now controlling many banks and seeking to control more? Ding, ding, ding! Yes, it is the federal government, and so now there will be selective picking and choosing of who will receive money, and who must go bankrupt.
You do not believe me? You think my tinfoil hat has shifted? I refer you to El Rushbo about a week ago, and this is how he said Obama would stop talk radio and tv not in the tank. It will not be through the Fairness Doctrine, or the FCC just yet. It will be through localism, financial attacks, and my bet eventually from those who issued that charming DHS memo that I am positive I am on. See, I am one of those nutjobs who loves this country, attended a tea party, owns a gun, loves the military, favors pro-life, and I am a Conservative female. That last category is the really, really dangerous types! Insert Vincent Price laugh here!
This dude was just window dressing.
We are all going to need lawyers on our speed dial I am convinced. You are not going to be able to blink without one. But we do need to reign some in. Not Lawhawk, but some others like one John Edwards. Yuck!
Anti-Semantite!
Words have no meaning, haven't you heard?
At first glance, I thought Robert Sean Leonard had been appointed to the FCC.
Of all the issues brought up since the Election Cycle began, on this forum and on others, the only one that gets me seeing red is the call for the Fairness Doctrine. The idea that any one party has the authority to control the free will of the open airwaves is whole-hog against the American experiment.
People listen to, read and watch what they approve of. Taking that freedom away is more distasteful to me than any other idea put forth.
I hope, in this one instance, that the new Chairman to be holds this line, and keeps an open mind on the discussion. Keeping both sides of the issue on the table is more important to me, as an American, than simply having an agreeable viewpoint at every turn.
I'm a serious Conservative on a lot of issues, but I still own An Inconvenient Truth. The litter box wasn't level. It made the perfect shim.
My cat's a Libertarian.
JamesB: No apologies necessary. I'm just sitting back waiting to see how long it takes for this guy to end up under the bus. Then we can go after Obama for vehicular homicide.
2Soccergirls: Old joke–"What's the difference between a catfish and a lawyer? One's a scum-sucking bottom-feeder, and the other is a fish." I had a whole collection of those in my waiting room.
Buckwheat: Obama will be appointing Humpty Dumpty to the Supreme Court. He's a rabid antisemantic. He agrees that words mean what he wants them to mean, nothing more, nothing less.
I don't know, this announcement comes across as a "bone tossing" to me.
– “I strongly believe in the First Amendment and don’t think the FCC should be involved in censorship based on political speech and opinion.” —
And in this Age of Orwellian Thought, that translates to:
–" We'll just tax the hell out of you, and bring down HATE SPEECH clauses on your heads."–
Notice the gentleman said he doesn't THINK the FCC should be involved….makes me think the FCC is ceremonial, just like Sec State, CIA, and everything else that doesn't have a czar.
I do not believe anything this new Firefly appointee says anymore than I would Dan Rather. No one in Friefly's administration, starting with Firefly, has provided any reason why the "benefit of doubt" should be extended to any of them.
[...] post: Incoming FCC Chairman: No Censorship This entry is filed under America – Blogs, Big Hollywood. You can follow any responses to this [...]
You are right and I know better. Thank you.
Lawhawk, that's the craziest thing I've ever heard. When has anyone ever killed someone with a bus in Chicago? Everyone knows Chicagoans prefer the satisfying crackle of a Tommie gun.
I don't buy it. Obamaphiles talk out both sides of their mouths, just like the messiah.
Remember when Obama Wasn't against offshore drilling??? Yeah it happened over the course of the1 or 2 questions he ever got over it just before the election. Get ready for Obama's 'National Security Force' as well. He's got a lot on his plate at the moment, what with the need to takeover health care by July sometime. But once that boondoggle is passed, expect him to plow through every other power-fantasy he ever had since he was doing Coke. He blows up the deficit and national debt, yet blames it on everyone else and 'decries' it as unsustainable. Just what does That mean as he continues to transfer GDP to Govt? It means nothing, other than he's a shameless liar who takes deception to levels only dreamed about by Bill & Hillary Clinton.
I believe they will try to shorten the term of a broadcast license, provide tax incentives to broadcasters to release some of their stations for minorities, and perhaps consider localism quotas – although I think the diversity of ownership issue is the key one. Bottom line: Redistributes the media…common theme, huh?
Yes it certainly is. Of course he only wants to redistribute the part that opposes him even though he was going to "unite" the American people.
You people who claim to be so patriotic have no faith in American Institutions. Not because the previous President ignore many laws means that the Obama Administration will do the same. Have some faith in your country for once please…
Ayup, I grew up about 30 minutes from the Kansas Hutchinson and have family living there today. Kay Bailey has nothing to do with it.
Did you for the last 8 years? I'll bet you were screaming bloody murder about the national debt among other things, and I can see how well putting your guys in power has curtailed that. It's gotten so drastically bigger, that debt, that we, you and I, may be among the first generation to die WORSE off than our parents in this country. And our children may very well die worse off than we die. That's the truth, and your people in power managed all this in just 6 months.
What happened to Change? This is classic spend, spend, spend politics at its best and most bloated, and I think some one the Hill are starting to understand that no amount of tax can even begin to pay for this stupid spree.
I cannot say anything against lawyers, the fam is chock full of them. Plus one of the yutes wants to be a Constitutional lawyer. She wants to protect crazy things like free speech and such. LOL! We homeschooled and she was able to take some classes on her own like how to apply the Bill of Rights to real cases.
We are hiring a contract lawyer to make sure none of their student loans, or scholarships have anything remotely connected to Ameri-Corp. I am not kidding. That is one scary piece of legislation!
LOL! to the joke!
It has nothing to do with faith in America or its institutions. It has to do with knowledge of the Left. The Left believes in censorship. It is a belief exemplified in their every incarnation in history. There are no exceptions.
Ultimately, this is the most Patriotic option. There is no Patriotism in following the status quo. The best way to show your true colors is to question those in power. I understand, to a wide degree, the want to bring equality to all people. I honestly do. What I don't understand is how equality can be forced onto a people born free; when freedom is the greatest equalizer envisioned. What makes our country strong isn't the power elite, it is the millions of working class people who struggle at the bottom – not struggling in any derogatory sense, but struggling to make a better life. Booker T. Washington said, "Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work." He wasn't wrong. Hard work doesn't mean sacrificing the spoils of that toil, it means reaping the benefits.
President Obama isn't out to destroy the country, I don't believe that. What I do believe is that the whole administration hasn't faced the risks associated with their legislation. They are struggling, all administrations do, but their struggle is sophomoric. National politics isn't the stage to learn as you go. Is there fudge room in this? Of course. But, when at every turn the administration seems to be backing itself into a corner, there is a problem. Does this hallmark a revolution? Not at all, what is should be hallmarking is a return to humbleness. Rather than forging ahead with the next sweeping change. I, singly, can handle a lot of change – but we need to take the sum will of the people into account. And they are preparing a tidal shift. I hope the Republicans can take back some measure of control in 2010 – not because of partisan politics, but because the unchecked power of a single party holding all the cards is a prescription for disaster. The idea that EITHER party has total control should be distasteful to Patriotic Americans regardless of political stripe. The system has worked as well as it has, due to checks and balances. Removing those checks leaves the other guy weakened, and disenfranchised.
I've not lost faith in the American Institutions, far from it, my faith has been strengthened, as I can see how important those institutions were in the past, and how much importance they are gaining in this – the brave, new, future.
Ditto!
I heard duckspeak during this.
[...] Incoming FCC Chairman: No Censorship by Brian Jennings [...]
I was with you until the part where you do not believe President is out to destroy the country. Have you read his books, his blurbs for Ayers' books, Michelle's thesis, and the mighty fine works of his in the IL legislature? Read Alinsky? Any Black Liberation Theology authors? Reverend Wright's "Trumpet" articles, and listened to any of those sermons? The L.A. Times story about what he said while meeting with some swell guys who just love Israel. (sarc)
Bill, I hate to rain on your parade, but this man does not like America. Period. You are very correct about most of what you said, but this has been a laid out plan with a goal. They appear sophomoric because most of these people in his Administration have never held a private sector job. They do not mingle with the middle class either. They despise the Constitution, our military, capitalism, and our uniqueness of being a strong republic. Obama's first European speech told us all we needed to know. America is bad. Do not even get me started on the last on in Cairo!
Hallmark needs to be making some "revolution" type greeting cards, because Bill, one is about to happen. This is not Kansas anymore, and we are fresh out of ruby red slippers. We have crossed the rubicon, jumped the shark, and ticked off red-blooded Americans for the last time. We are partial to our Constitution, and our freedoms. Like you said, one party ruling can, if not supportive of the Constitution, severely damage the country.
So glad you have faith in America. I am very glad you are not apathetic! Please root for more than just "some measure of control in 2010". We are going to need a lot of "measure" to stop the insanity and reverse it!
My mom and dad used to tell me about the accessories that went with the tommy guns. Cement overshoes. Maybe we should have stayed in Chicago.
The so called "Fairness Doctrine" is neither fair, nor a doctrine. When people are free to express their ideas to the public by whatever means we become educated. When the first amendment right is assaulted, what we then get is official propaganda from the powers that be. That will be one of the first steps by some in the government to destroy the freedom we have cherished for the last 233 years and have preserved with blood and sweat through several wars. Our allegiance must be to the country first for all of us. Those who's allegiance is to their political party first, are a bunch of rotten bastards. Liberals can not produce a "Talk Radio" program consistantly because their subject matter holds water like a sive. The truth always comes out even under a dictatorship becauase while the truth takes care of itself, it is difficult to keep all the lies in order. So let the liberals defend their ideas in the open discussion available through free speach regardless of the media used, if they can, that is. They havent been able to make intellegent conversation so far on Talk Radio.
"Have some faith in your country for once please…"
Having faith in your country and having faith in the Federal government are two different things.
I have said this before and I will say this again.
I have never fired a gun. But the day they pass any sort of "fairness doctrine" is the day I go buy a gun.
I am not planning on doing anything with it. But, a government that is bold enough to legally silence dissent is not a government I trust.
Remember liberals do not consider it censorship if you stop people who disagree with them from speaking. Rather, censorship is when a liberal is criticized. Thus, an Obama appointee saying he opposes censorship does not mean he opposes preventing conservatives from expressing their views.
Gee maybe we need a "fairness Czar".
Gee, and here I was told by the Left oh so many times that DISSENT IS PATRIOTIC.
Sorry, but I question everyone in government. It's my DUTY to do so.
we keep this up and we'll need a "Tsar Tsar", right? (and we have to make sure we find someone with the last name of Binks for obvious reasons…)
(Heck, I didn't realize President Bush had 4 "tsars" of his own… and now we've got 28?
lol..Good one..
I vaguely remember W naming a couple of czars but even I had no clue that we now have 28. I don't know why these "appointed" people have to have a title anyway. Why can't we just call them the "person in charge of".
"Be vigilant for free speech and let’s make sure Julius Genachowski is true to his word." Subsitute Barack Obama and see how that comes out. I don't think for one NY minute that this guy will have to live up to his word as Obama is a sneaky snakeoil salesman who lies through his teeth and will do anythig to suppress, marginalize and eliminate those in disagreement with Obama's socialist agenda including Conservative Talk Radio. Check out the war on the Inspectors General that uncover bad stuff about his friends. Obama has fired more Inspectors General than any other President in history and it only has been a few months into his term.
Can we investigate the his-panic's (male fear) for their hate speech concerning la raza (the race) what they want to do gringo's (whites) and their hate for the black man! Maybe then then will shut the f@ck up!!!!!!!!!!!!1
The blind leading the blind
[...] JUNE 18, 2009: This just in from Brian Jennings, Big Hollywood: Incoming FCC Chairman: No Censorship. To quote Jennings in his article, “Be vigilant for free speech and let’s make sure Julius [...]
You are not making any sense. Don´t you even know what "political correctness" is?
You are saying that Palin is approving of "pc-ness" if she complains about being insulted in public. That does not even make sense using your definition, unless you mean to tell me that every standard of behavior is "pc".
In truth, political correctness is a means of changing perceptions, controlling thought and thereby gaining political power. Minimizing offense is rarely the point. It was explicity designed for that reason by the left, by people who created and used the phrase "politically correct" without any irony.
"Political correctness is communist propaganda writ small. In my study of communist societies, I came to the conclusion that the purpose of communist propaganda was not to persuade or convince, nor to inform, but to humiliate; and therefore, the less it corresponded to reality the better. When people are forced to remain silent when they are being told the most obvious lies, or even worse when they are forced to repeat the lies themselves, they lose once and for all their sense of probity. To assent to obvious lies is to co-operate with evil, and in some small way to become evil oneself. One's standing to resist anything is thus eroded, and even destroyed. A society of emasculated liars is easy to control. I think if you examine political correctness, it has the same effect and is intended to."
- Theodore Dalrymple, 2005
[...] List Deadline Live with Jack Blood: Michael Savage Off UK Ban List Brian Jennings, Big Hollywood: Incoming FCC Chairman: No Censorship. Jeffrey Jena, Big Hollywood: Let’s Ban Some Brits SeattlePi.com: Britain publishes list of [...]
[...] Radio Talk Show Host Michael Savage Pushes Back | Updated 5/15/2009 Brian Jennings, Big Hollywood: Incoming FCC Chairman: No Censorship. Noel Sheppard, NewsBusters: Schumer: Talk Radio Needs to be Regulated Like Pornography Jeffrey [...]
[...] JUNE 18, 2009: This just in from Brian Jennings, Big Hollywood: Incoming FCC Chairman: No Censorship. To quote Jennings in his article, “Be vigilant for free speech and let’s make sure Julius [...]
[...] Radio Talk Show Host Michael Savage Pushes Back | Updated 5/15/2009 Brian Jennings, Big Hollywood: Incoming FCC Chairman: No Censorship. and Obama’s Latest Assault on Conservative Talk FOX News: Concerns Raised Over Makeup of [...]
[...] Radio Talk Show Host Michael Savage Pushes Back | Updated 5/15/2009 Brian Jennings, Big Hollywood: Incoming FCC Chairman: No Censorship. and Obama’s Latest Assault on Conservative Talk BitsBlog: Ya Say You Want a Revolution? Well, You [...]
[...] Radio Talk Show Host Michael Savage Pushes Back | Updated 5/15/2009 Brian Jennings, Big Hollywood: Incoming FCC Chairman: No Censorship. and Obama’s Latest Assault on Conservative Talk BitsBlog: Ya Say You Want a Revolution? Well, You [...]
[...] Blame ‘U.S. imperialism’! The Middle of My Mind: Czar He Blows! Brian Jennings, Big Hollywood: Incoming FCC Chairman: No Censorship. and Obama’s Latest Assault on Conservative Talk BitsBlog: Ya Say You Want a Revolution? Well, You [...]
[...] reading: Brian Jennings, Big Hollywood: Incoming FCC Chairman: No Censorship. Noel Sheppard, NewsBusters: Schumer: Talk Radio Needs to be Regulated Like Pornography Just [...]
[...] reading: Brian Jennings, Big Hollywood: Incoming FCC Chairman: No Censorship. Noel Sheppard, NewsBusters: Schumer: Talk Radio Needs to be Regulated Like Pornography Just [...]
[...] & Critics: Sean Penn visits Hugo Chavez Brian Jennings, Big Hollywood: Incoming FCC Chairman: No Censorship. Capitalism Magazine: The “Crony” in Russian “Capitalism” is Socialism [...]
[...] on Copenhagen Monsters & Critics: Sean Penn visits Hugo Chavez Brian Jennings, Big Hollywood: Incoming FCC Chairman: No Censorship. Capitalism Magazine: The “Crony” in Russian “Capitalism” is Socialism [...]
You must be logged in to post a comment.