Posted by
David Smith on Thursday, September 06, 2007 12:40:29 AM
This post should be titled "Hypocrisy," but that makes it kind of boring. We're talking about Washington politics--what do we expect?
From the article linked above: "While the complaint asserts that DailyKos advocates for the election of Democrats for federal office, the commission has repeatedly stated that an entity that would otherwise qualify for the media exemption does not lose its eligibility because it features news or commentary lacking objectivity or expressly advocates in its editorial the election or defeat of a federal candidate," the FEC said.
Translation: It's alright for Liberal blogs to spout Democratic talking points and advocate the election of Democrats to Washington. But start broadcasting Conservative talk radio and those Democratic Representatives will be expected to deliver the Fairness Doctrine.
The Fairness Doctrine basically asserts that one listener call-in or guest interview that spouts Conservative viewpoints must be balanced fairly by a caller or guest of the opposite, or Liberal, beliefs, no matter how utterly ridiculous that viewpoint may be. It is a tool of many Democratic Representatives intended to stifle the perceived influence of Conservative talk radio on national politics and specific issues.
I should say "Democratic handlers." Saying Democratic Representatives gives these people too much undeserved credit!
So what would the FEC say about talk radio?
Well, first, the Federal Elections Commission doesn't have jurisdiction--that would be the Federal Communications Commission. So now we get to Cherry-pick which government entity supports the Democratic stance. FEC says blogs aren't campaign-related, FCC says Fairness Doctrine is OK. Well, at least the Democratic Congress does!
Just an observation. See if you hear that on Conservative talk radio.