Color me skeptical.
World Net Daily is reporting that another senator’s mouth is making noises that ‘hearings’ on a revived Fairness Doctrine could be imminent.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., told radio host and WND columnist Bill Press yesterday when asked about whether it was time to bring back the so-called “Fairness Doctrine”: “I think it’s absolutely time to pass a standard. Now, whether it’s called the Fairness Standard, whether it’s called something else – I absolutely think it’s time to be bringing accountability to the airwaves. I mean, our new president has talked rightly about accountability and transparency. You know, that we all have to step up and be responsible. And, I think in this case, there needs to be some accountability and standards put in place.”
And as WND helpfully points out, Stabenow’s husband is the former executive VP of Air America who left to help found something called ‘TalkUSA Network’ – which doesn’t seem to show up in any search. Stranger still is Stabenow’s comment that the Senate could hold hearings and ‘bring radio station owners in and hold them accountable.’
The politics of such a dumb move would be disasterous for Democrats and I rather doubt they would commit suicide so spectacularly. Let’s see, the Senate would drag in station owners and network executives for a show trial to berate them for their ‘imbalanced’ programming. Throughout the process, every word would be reported on the very networks, stations and programs the senators seek to discipline. And the senators would voluntarily create a forum that would focus and intensify the conservative opposition to them and their plans.
Somehow, I don’t think so. My assessment is that Stabenow is a none-to-bright backbencher carelessly responding to an interviewer’s questions. If the Senate did hold such hearings, however, it would be a truly golden opportunity to rally the opposition and cement the growing impression that Congressional democrats are completely out of control.
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