The American Spectator : Will Obama Seize the Radio Stations Next?

Text Size

The Obama Watch

Will Obama Seize the Radio Stations Next?

By Peter Ferrara on 4.22.09 @ 6:09AM

When he says he won't do something that usually means he will.

(Page 2 of 2)

FCC regs could then start granting new powers to these boards. Maybe they could have a power to veto broadcast of some or all syndicated national radio talk shows on their local station. Or maybe they could remove shows where they find comments that they deem "racist" or otherwise inappropriate for their local community. Ultimately, the Obama-run FCC could try to grant these boards some of the powers of the station's corporate Board of Directors. Maybe these advisory boards could have a say in or determine who the station hires and fires. Maybe these boards eventually become the new Board of Directors, as happened at GM.

The term "Soviet" as in "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" referred to local councils "in the early political organization of the Russian Revolution in 1917," the dictionary tells us. Maybe these local "advisory" boards will serve a similar function in regard to radio stations.

The Constitutional Right to Listen
The federal courts have long recognized that the First Amendment protects the right of radio audiences to choose what they want to listen to, as well as the right of talk show hosts and callers to say what they want to say. In Rossignol v. Voorhaar, the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals held in 2003 that the First Amendment protects both a speaker's right to communicate information and ideas to a broad audience and the intended recipients' right to receive that information and those ideas.

Similarly, in U.S. West, Inc. v. F.C.C., the Tenth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals held in 1999 that the two components of effective speech are a speaker and an audience, and a restriction on either of these components is a restriction on speech. In de la O v. Housing Authority of City of El Paso, the Fifth Circuit added in 2005 that the right to receive information is as equally protected under the First Amendment as is the right to convey it.

In U.S. v. Playboy Entertainment Group, Inc., a pornography case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that under the First Amendment's free speech clause, the citizen is entitled to seek out or reject certain ideas or influences without government interference or control. Is there is now more constitutional protection for pornography than political speech?

This doctrine should constitutionally limit what the local advisory boards can do. If they start to veto particular nationally syndicated shows that local audiences want to hear, as reflected in ratings, then that should be unconstitutional on these grounds. Indeed, doubly so if it is because of the expression of conservative views, because that would be viewpoint discrimination.

Focusing on these audience rights reframes the debate from one between the local community versus corporate broadcasters and national radio personalities, to one between different segments of the local community, or maybe between local fringe activist groups, maybe some with national ties, and the majority audience of actual station listeners.

Forced Broadcasts
Another possible tack is for the local advisory boards to demand air time for liberal talk show hosts to offset conservative shows. Or the local Muslim activist group might demand that Christian stations broadcast Muslim sermons as well.

Forcing a station to broadcast content it does not want to support should be an unconstitutional violation of the free speech rights of the broadcaster. If a liberal talk show has miserable local ratings, then it should be seen also as not serving the local community.

Hang the Owners
Still another angle for the new Obama FCC would be to focus on regulation of station ownership. The FCC has also long had legal authority for such regulation as well.

The FCC could place flat out limits on how many stations across the country one corporation or individual could own. Clear Channel, the backbone of Rush Limbaugh's show, owns 145 stations nationwide. Citadel owns 23 stations, Cumulus 31, and Salem 28, and they broadcast mostly conservative talk radio. The government sponsors 800 liberal radio stations across the country through National Public Radio. But there is no threat from the Obama FCC to them.

The Center for American Progress, run by former Clinton Chief of Staff and now Obama pal John Podesta, has already publicly called for national station ownership limits. Since this is considered economic regulation, it would be very difficult to argue that this violates freedom of speech, unless it could be shown that the intent behind it was viewpoint discrimination against conservatives and Christians.

Just threatening such regulation could force station owners to drop some successful conservative talk shows and air some unsuccessful liberal talk shows. We could suffer the same result through this means as through the so-called Fairness Doctrine.

Another means of hanging the owners would be through making license renewal proceedings into circuses, complete with clowns from ACORN, leftist labor unions, and assorted fringe pressure groups performing their acts at public hearings. The Democrats have already talked about requiring license renewals every three years rather than every eight. This would sharply increase the threat of stations losing their licenses, and make them kowtow to FCC control more readily.

Fighting Back
Conservatives are not helpless in the face of these threats. The American Civil Rights Union (ACRU) has created a website, www.FreedomtoListen.org, entirely devoted to countering this liberal left attack on free speech. It is a resource for information on what the Left is plotting on the issue, FCC actions, legislative action, and conservative responses. It also sponsors a Freedom to Listen Pledge, which the ACRU asks every federal, state and local candidate to sign. The Pledge states, "In accordance with our constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech in the First Amendment: I will oppose any and all efforts to censor or in any way restrict the people's freedom to listen to the unfettered airing of political views of their choice on broadcast media or the Internet." Through this Pledge, our elected officials can be held directly accountable on this issue.

The ACRU also sponsors Save Radio Free America for talk radio show hosts, stations, and others. The ACRU monitors the Federal Register daily for notices of FCC actions, and provides immediate alerts to members. It also reports on legislative actions. You can follow it at www.SaveRadioFreeAmerica.org. Another organization that does good work on this issue is the Media Research Center, led by Brent Bozell. It provides timely information and analysis at www.mediaresearch.org.

Of course, if you are not happy about what is going on in Washington, it is not too early to start your own organizing for next year's elections. There seems to be a lot of energy out there hungering for something to do to counter the left-wing takeover of America.

Page: < 12

topics:
Barack Obama, Free Speech, Talk Radio

About the Author

Peter Ferrara is Senior Fellow at the Carleson Center for Public Policy, Director of Entitlement and Budget Policy for the Heartland Institute, and General Counsel of the American Civil Rights Union. He served in the White House Office of Policy Development under President Reagan, and as Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States under the first President Bush. He is the author of America’s Ticking Bankruptcy Bomb, now available from HarperCollins.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (90) | Leave a comment

Tom Paine| 4.22.09 @ 7:10AM

Will Obama seize the radio stations? No. Of course not. He's not going to seize the radio stations.

So what's all the fuss about?

Tom Paine| 4.22.09 @ 7:12AM

Ah, yes. I see it now. It's all about ACORN. And Muslim activists. Indeed. Muslim activists are going to be given control of Clear Channel. I certainly see that happening. Very good, Mr. Ferrarra.

Once that paranoia gets rolling, it sure is difficult to stop.

Deborah D| 4.22.09 @ 7:35AM

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.

The way this administration operates -- sleight of hand (look over here while I do something over there)...I don't trust them as far as I can throw them. Obama says one thing (we won't go after Bush adminstration over the torture thing) and then does the opposite. He's a smooth talker, but Americans are catching on. Let's just hope it's not too late.

Darin| 4.22.09 @ 7:38AM

Is Tom Paine an alias for David Mathews?

People are free to listen to any radio station they can pick up (AM, FM, Satellite). They can also listed to a CD, cassette, MP3, or even 8-track. Or they can listen to nothing at all.

Talk radio is primarily conservative because that format makes the station owners money. Liberal talk radio fails miserably because no one listens, so no one advertises, so there is no money.

Forcing station owners to play (or not play) particular types of content is censorship plain and simple. When you have to play item A, you cannot play item B even though you'd rather play B because it actually has an audience.

I don't care if you call it the Fairness Doctrine, Locality Rules, or whatever. It's all about control, and liberals can't have an informed public made aware of what they are doing. Obama says one thing and does another. Talk radio calls him out on this, informs the public, and listeners call them Senators and Representatives. It happened when Bush tried to pass the Amnesty Bill, and talk radio's informing the public led to the bill being killed. It's happening now when Obama's spending plans, and an informed public is not happy about it.

If you don't agree, call into the shows and bring facts. Rush, Hannity, Levin, etc. don't suffer fools who bring only opinions to the table. And if you don't like the content, change the channel.

Big J| 4.22.09 @ 7:45AM

Another fine example of the gander and the goose.

When the Left protests, burns flags, calls a president "the devil", it's free speech. When the Right protests (peacefully, I might add), or expresses political dissent, It's "hatespeech" or raaaacccciiiism, and must be squashed.

The Left would rather kill an innocent, unborn child in the name of "choice" then for a convicted murderer to recieve the death penalty.

The hypocricy is mind-numbing.

Don't forget the Internet. It has become as strong a source for unbiased information as any. Look for Chinese type restrictions on websites which contain certain keywords ("freedom and "liberty" are just a couple of terms that will get a website blocked in that country).

Tom, do yourself a favor and pull your head out of the sand. The longer you wait, the worse the shock will be. For too long Americans have said; "Nah, it'll never happen here. Nobody would ever let that happen". Well, I hate to break the news to you, but it IS happening.

Wake up, man.

jack| 4.22.09 @ 8:14AM

looks like we have another vince foster with fre cfo dead. remember emanuel was on BOD of FRE when it was being looted by Dems. typical chicago politics and a warning to anyone who goes against these crooks in washington.
with reps you get the odd guy trying to pick up men in restrooms,with Dems you get mysterious deaths and massive corruption
fannie and freddie were both used as the personal and political piggy bank of dems for two decades. this was the genisis of our financial destruction. the republicans are saying nothing so they must be involved also.

GED| 4.22.09 @ 8:18AM

No, they will control the internet as well if they are not somehow stopped. The "Cybersecurity Act of 2009. Now there is a move by Congress to grant powers to the President to regulate and control internet in "TIMES OF CRISIS". The RINO Olympia Snow is a co-author.

Uh, Clem| 4.22.09 @ 8:38AM

"There is a little-known codicil in the Faber Constitution...in case of campus emergency."
The more I read the news, the more I'm coming to believe that Congress is filled with frat boys, and the Executive Branch is crawling with Dean Wormers.

Robbins Mitchell| 4.22.09 @ 8:49AM

Note to self: by more ammo at WalMart this weekend

Politicans are Con-men| 4.22.09 @ 9:15AM

Don't buy more ammo at WallMart buy food to feed yourself and your kids.

Forget Politicans get on with your life, do what you can for yourself and your family. Politicans are not god. They are all the same, a bunch of super conmen, sponcered by the elite.

People put too much faith in Politicans, my answer is trust none of them.

Ed| 4.22.09 @ 9:40AM

I'm a "50 years" in the broadcast industry person.
I can tell you if liberal talk radio is what the people want to listen to it would be the more popular of all formats and every station would be programing just that: liberal talk radio. This is not the case--people support, listen and love conservative talk radio. This is the bottom line....YOU CAN NOT FORCE A HORSE TO DRINK...Liberal talk radio has had it's chance and failed. It takes money to operate a broadcast station. You can only sell it when you have the listenership. About the only way you can have liberal broadcasting would be if the government sent a check every month to cover the outlets overhead.

Tim| 4.22.09 @ 10:16AM

Conservative talk makes money, stop it and radio stations go broke. Broke stations need to be bailed out by Obama. ..

Tim| 4.22.09 @ 10:28AM

....and if Obama Bails "Radio" out, he gets to appoint his own moutpiece to every station bailed out.

Oh by the way, who really buys today's "Suicide" story of Freddie Mac CFO, David Kellerman?

Sean Parnell| 4.22.09 @ 10:34AM

The threat outlined by Mr. Ferrara is very real, if not necessarily imminent. There are already reports of various groups (think MoveOn.org) preparing to flood "local community boards" with complaints about conservative on-air personalities and demands for more "inclusive" programming that serves "local interests."

"Localism" is simply the "Fairness Doctrine" on steroids, but more subtle.

Sean Parnell
President
Center for Competitive Politics
http://www.campaignfreedom.org
sparnell@campaignfreedom.org

Anthony| 4.22.09 @ 11:31AM

Simpletons like Mr. Paine create straw dog scenarios in their fevered minds, then accuse conservatives of implimenting them; it's a great ploy that the left has used successfully for years against us.
No Mr. Paine, Benito Napolitano will not send the jackboots into the studios and seize them, that's so old fashioned, so messy, (although Obama's civilian corps are looking for "useful projects" to roll up their sleeves on. WINK, WINK).
Instead, the bureaucratic python that the left has created within our bloated federal government will strangle conservative talk radio and other troublesome media, out of existence. How? Well for one, the jackbooted thugs will come in the form of regulators from the FCC and other regulatory bodies, with their local community content boards. And yes, ACORN organizers and other trusted lefties will serve as sensors, ah, content balancers. Once the existing profitable format has been destroyed, and station managers are overwhelmed with "fairness regulations", a.m. radio will return to the dead days of the '70s. Just the way The One wants it.
Obama's thugery will not come in the form of actual uniformed stormtroopers, but rather from those nameless, faceless suits sitting in cubicles in Washington.
We conservatives however, do believe in Revolution the old fashioned way, so be careful Mr. Paine. We like messy!!

John M| 4.22.09 @ 11:36AM

Do not be taken in by whatever these leftists/fascists/statists say. It is abundantly clear that both the Democrats in Congress and the White House are extremely desirous of shutting down all voices of opposition by any means possible. If they say any differently, they are lying. They will make the attempt as soon as they feel they can get away with it.

Mattled| 4.22.09 @ 11:41AM

My mother had a saying when I was young that basically said take more and more of something (she didn't approve of) until you hypothetically vomit.

I say the same thing about Obama and his policies, and the way he's covered (oohhh what a hunk---oh he is so smart).

Please MSM, more and more------give the American people MORE! They will be so sick of him, the indys and mod's will start to vomit.

He's already lost 12% of Independents. The more they see, the better off we are.

Historian| 4.22.09 @ 12:00PM

We need to be thinking now of how to leverage local control requirements. It isn't as if there aren't local people who would be as good on the air as Rush or Hannity. They also started locally. We have to make sure that the Left doesn't disproportionately control these councils.

We need to be thinking at least two steps ahead of the junta, considering technologies, and what has been done to suppress free speech in places like Venezuela, Nicaragua, Brazil, mainland China and so forth.

If we only react after the fact, we will lose.

Tim| 4.22.09 @ 12:14PM

Tim, stop putting words in my mouth.
Sincerely,
Tim

Louis Jenkins| 4.22.09 @ 12:17PM

Another step in the "Dumbing Down of America." I didn't think America could get any dumber, but it is happening. Obama is a slight of hand politician, and will do what is expedient for him and his followers, so silence the critics (conservative radio and the internet) and replace them with NPR or PBS. We can sit and wring our hands, or let our opinions be known. By shaping what listeners hear on the airways Obama & co. can make "right wing terrorists" appear even more so. What a plan!!

Phil| 4.22.09 @ 12:37PM

If Obama really wants diversity and local content for radio stations why doesn’t he call on the FCC to issue low power FM “community radio service” licenses? Allow licensed operation on a shared basis on certain FM channels. Stations would be limited to between 100-500 W ERP and content must be of a local nature or of a local interest, with no syndicated or rebroadcasts allowed. Thus would be true local radio.

Tim| 4.22.09 @ 12:56PM

He who lives by the sword dies by the same sword.

Meaning that what used to work in the Dark Ages before the Internet and the information explosion
isn't going to work now.

Hence, the same internet and cell phone communications that got Obama and his lefty friends in office will be the same stuff that kicks them out.

The problem is that they can't effectively stop freedom of speech without the stench and caca being smeared all over themselves.

So while its painful to see what is being attempted and done to our great country, I also know without a doubt that it will be brought to an end by some of the same folks who put these clowns in office.

Tom Paine| 4.22.09 @ 1:26PM

Just a quick question.

Is there any evidence whatsoever that Obama intends to "take over" radio stations?

Or is the evidence simply that since there IS no evidence, it must be happening?

There's a certain kind of logic to this.

Obama is a fascist dictator. THEREFORE, anything he does will be shadowy and dark.

Lack of evidence becomes evidence, since Obama would be careful to leave no evidence of his sinister plan.

He must, then, be intending to exterminate Republicans in concentration camps, since there is no evidence he wants to do this.

Oh, foolish people. Liberate yourself from the coils in which you dwell.

The other Tim| 4.22.09 @ 1:27PM

I see a vision of 2016: Rush Limbaugh broadcasts pirate radio from a Free Cuba while on the mainland the FCC debates jamming his signal.

Tom Paine| 4.22.09 @ 1:30PM

Premise: Obama always does the opposite of what he says he will do.

Therefore, when he says he does not want to confiscate people guns, we KNOW that he intends to do just that.

When he says he's not interested in the Fairness Doctrine, it is precisely the Fairness Doctrine that interests him.

We know, for CERTAIN, that anything we might reasonably expect him to deny is something that he intends to do.

We can be sure, for example, he would DENY that the government has the right to obstruct people's freedom of speech. THEREFORE, we can be reasonably sure Obama intends to do just that: revoke the 1st Amendment and prevent people by force from criticizing the government.

Have I got the hang of it? Is this how the thinking goes?

Steve Lazarski| 4.22.09 @ 1:45PM

Hey Tom give it a rest. You're about as bad as "Binna" on the other boards. You don't think that Dem's don't want to shut down radio? How about this:
"Legislation proposed on April 1 is no joke. The proposed bill would grant President Obama the authority to shut down public and private networks -- including the restriction of internet traffic -- as part of a cybersecurity emergency plan.

The bill was introduced by West Virginia Democratic Sen. John Rockefeller and Sen. Olympia Snowe, a Republican from Maine."

Tom Paine| 4.22.09 @ 1:49PM

Obama has NOT announced that the government is evacuating all persons identified as Republicans to camps located in the Colorado mountains.

He has NOT announced that they will be given numbers and separated by sex and ability to work.

He has NOT proclaimed that work will set them free.

He has NOT planned for their hasty and efficient annihilation by means of poison gas.

Therefore, all of these things are in the works. It is all true, and we know it because we have absolutely no evidence for it.

Soon, all conservatives will be chuffed off to the camps, the final solution having been concealed from them.

Tom Paine| 4.22.09 @ 1:51PM

Steve --

You guessed it. I don't believe it. There's so much bizarre paranoia being circulated on these absurd fringes of the internet that I'm simply prevented from taking any of these charges seriously.

I assure you, Daddy Limbaugh will still be there next year.

Michael Tomlinson| 4.22.09 @ 1:51PM

The best way to defend our Constitution and country from BO's and the Democrat's neo-fascism is to elect Republicans and then for them to reverse everything the Clown-in-Chief has done. If all else fails Americans can take to the streets (thanks to Obama and the Democrats tens of millions will be unemployed next year) and shut the country down through non-violent civil disobedience. Now wouldn't that be a twist -- conservatives using the tactics of the left to save America?

Steve| 4.22.09 @ 1:51PM

How much more evidence do you need? There is a BILL IN CONGRESS?

Warrior| 4.22.09 @ 1:53PM

Sun Tzu: "All warfare is based on deception."

Make no mistake about it, this is an ideological war. Conservatives are ill prepared to fight this war and will continue to get "slaughtered."

John II| 4.22.09 @ 1:59PM

Actually, you haven't got the hang of it, Tom Paine, because you're setting up another straw man by projecting deductive logic on people who are reasoning inductively. Your "premise" mistakes the real premise, which has been inductively arrived at by a fair chunk of unpleasant experience: Obama FREQUENTLY does the opposite of what he says he will do.

And so, sensible people of experience conclude, every time the gasbag opens his mouth, we have to be on our guard.

It's called prudence, Tom Paine--a virtue your outbursts suggest you're not too intimately acquainted with.

Tim| 4.22.09 @ 2:13PM

It's not that Obama is that brilliant, rather it's just that the common person hasn't seen how a "Union" works up close and personal.

Obama, like most corrupt DC Union Officials especially the SEIU, say one thing and then suprise you with something else.

For all of those living in middle America, it's the classic Double Speak.

Corrupt Union leaders tell their members one thing or another about their contracts etc until the members actually read the fine print and find out that its total bullshit but they are stuck with it.

Since Obama was a community organizer(same as a union organizer) they will sell you a bill of goods and by the time you figure out the scam it's too late.

The reason why the Unions want to eliminate the secret vote is the same reason why Obama and friends want to eliminate the public desent.

Its all about controlling others. I know we have said it over and over but it is that simple.

Talk to any Union reformer or former union organizer who left the hoods and they will all tell you the same story.

It's the classic bait and switch scam.
It's also vintage....Chicago and New Jersey.

It's not that I am suggesting that these guys are corrupt.....On the contrary, I am telling you that it is an absolute fact that they are!

Tom Paine| 4.22.09 @ 2:30PM

Tim --

Is that public "desent," public "descent," or public "dissent" that Obama wants to "eliminate"?

Tom Paine| 4.22.09 @ 2:34PM

John II --

Straw man? I'm wayfaring in a veritable wilderness of straw men.

When people begin with the premise that Obama is a fascist dictator, "logic" can take them anywhere they want to go. "Induction" is then just another name for paranoia.

The paranoiac begins by believing an evil presence of some kind haunts him. Once he accepts that, ANYTHING can be a sign of the evil -- the less evidence of evil, the more it becomes a sign of evil, whose most salient characteristic is deception, forgery, falseness, and so on.

I think the "paranoid style in American politics" is on display here.

I don't see much thoughtful or interesting criticism of the government.

The real danger is, of course, not to the state, but to dissent itself, as it becomes more and more the pastime of "rhodeo clowns."

Terry| 4.22.09 @ 2:40PM

Here's some paranoia for you: I think these posters, like 'Tom Paine, Dave Mathews,' etc. are part of the Zero's attempt to break down conservative groups. The attempt is fairly obvious. They attack, as liberals always do, with insult as opposed to a reasoned factual argument. The brilliance arises from the conservative/libertarians that rise to the bait. Disregard and ignore them.

No, not that Tim| 4.22.09 @ 2:44PM

Once local content boards are in place, the Tom Paines of this country will come forward and use them to roger us good.

Lily| 4.22.09 @ 2:52PM

So, Ferrara, you're saying that liberals lie? Thanks, we didn't already know that.

CH| 4.22.09 @ 2:55PM

TP is just another common, garden-variety liberal troll whore. Who cares what Mr. moron says?

pete the mediocre| 4.22.09 @ 3:04PM

Tom wrote: "Therefore, when he says he does not want to confiscate people guns, we KNOW that he intends to do just that. "

During the campaign Obama said that he would like to pursue gun control, but that he didn't have the votes in Congress to do it.

He also said that he was against prosecuting anyone from Bush's administration. Yesterday he said that he is leaving that up to Holder.

It is not paranoid to be leery of a man like Obama.

Tim| 4.22.09 @ 3:47PM

Terry,
You are on to something that is a given.
And tweeking their nose back everyonce in a while is OK.

As always, the far left fringe's over reach will be their undoing.

I can't wait for the future public trials for "Treason" and the public executions that will follow the guilty verdicts.

Well got to go to the store ,
I just ran out of TP.

Tom Paine| 4.22.09 @ 3:47PM

Terry --

Would you care to summarize the "argument" that's being made here?

Tom Paine| 4.22.09 @ 3:47PM

Terry --

Would you care to summarize the "argument" that's being made here?

Tom Paine| 4.22.09 @ 3:48PM

CH --

Why so unkind?

Tom Paine| 4.22.09 @ 3:53PM

Pete the mediocre --

You seem to be receiving transmissions from the Planet Earth, sir. For you have hit upon truth:

Obama DID say that he would like to impose more gun control. He was referring to the semi-automatic weapons ban.

He also said there was not nearly enough support for it, and he wasn't going to pursue.

Just last week he said much the same thing, and added that there are too many other issues that need attention.

My point is, the gun issue is one in which he's been quite honest. He's saying, "I'd like there to be fewer weapons capable of killing many people in a short amount of time, but people in Congress won't do it."

That's not a secret plan to confiscate your weapons.

Are you people -- I'm being serious now -- are you people deliberately posting crazy things in order to make me think I'm losing my mind?

CH| 4.22.09 @ 3:59PM

Truth hurts, TP.

Lily| 4.22.09 @ 4:02PM

You THINK you're losing your mind? Too late, you've already lost it.

John II| 4.22.09 @ 4:20PM

Tom Paine. Sorry for the delay in my response. I was polishing my tinfoil hat.

You've misused the term "strawman," but you also used the term "paranoia" with the usual abandon of a lefty ideologue addicted to cliches, whatever you may choose to mean by the term.

In shrink-talk, "paranoia" refers to a delusional sense of danger where there isn't any. But in ordinary parlance, there's another word for a delusional sense of repose where there's danger: stupidity.

Thank you for sharing.

Tom Paine| 4.22.09 @ 4:27PM

John II

I require no tutelage on my rhetoric terms, Sir John. I know what a strawman is.

My remarks above were satirical in nature; the strawman charge was not apposite.

Paranoia is a term used in many discursive environments; the shrink's couch is one, but there are others.

I think that the structure of thinking I've identified (Obama is a fascist, therefore any insane lunacy can be predicated of him) is fairly in keeping with what I'm reading here.

El Rey| 4.22.09 @ 4:32PM

Like any good fascist, Obama won't be able not to try and seize the centers of communications.

Bilwick| 4.22.09 @ 4:50PM

Hey, "Tom Paine" is back. I thought a more appropriate name for him (given his Tory proclitives) would be "Lord Percy State-Fellator," but now I think he should use "Mrs. Obama" (if that isn't who "Tom Paine" really is).

So "Michelle," are you saying that the Annointed One DIDN'T learn misdirection under Alinksy? If so, what did he learn? I'm always interested in how
despite all the socialist mentors, associates, confreres and influences he has had, if you suspect him of being a socialist, the party-line reaction is: "What? Socialist? Obama? Oh, go on, you silly goose!" I mean, given what we know of Obama's philosophy and career (essentially neo-Marxist State-shtupping), why on earth WOULDN'T he seize the radio stations? It's not like he has (as "propgressive" people would put it) the "outmoded private-property fetish."

jim rice| 4.22.09 @ 4:56PM

hm. I'm on both sides of this one.

Seems like the more crazy radio shows (read: Limbaugh) would like the idea of the Fairness Doctrine being done away with...?

I like the Fairness Doctrine tho. It does, correct me if I'm wrong, only pertain to programs being broadcast on publics airways, correct? I think that's a good thing... so I'm pretty sure I disagree with Obama on this one.

I do, however, absolutely without a doubt support limitations on ownership. (Even tho I know that that idea was simply speculation on the part of the author)

Osamas Pajamas| 4.22.09 @ 5:37PM

The commies and socialists hijack private property and call it "nationalization." The fiction is that broadcast frequencies should be owned by hsistory's number enemy of freedom of speech --- the government.

The Nazis and fascists prefer what they call "interventionism," a poly under which they dictate the use and disposal of private property, i.e. they suck out the innards of ownership and still declare themselves to be "defenders of private property."

But obviously, this is the wrong way to look at things. Communism, socialism, fascism and Nazism are all brands of "statism" and it is "statism" that must be fought and defeated. The Democrats already know this and that is why one blowhard lady in Congress has taken to criticizing conservatives and libertarians as "anti-statist" --- as if statism is a good thing rather than a poison. Beware.

John II| 4.22.09 @ 7:03PM

Tom Paine. Again, I apologize for the delay in my response. I seem to have lost track of the time while working on my butterfly collection.

In the expression "I require no tutelage in my rhetoric terms," you misused the terms "require" and "rhetoric." Among the terms at issue, one ("straw man") is of informal logic, not rhetoric, and the other ("paranoia") is of pop psychology, not rhetoric.

Terms of rhetoric would include, by way of example, anastrophe, hendiadys, metonymy, oxymoron, hypallage, and synecdoche, to name a few. You do indeed "require" tutelage in the terms of rhetoric; the subject is notoriously slippery, so that we all "require" such tutelage.

If I may be of help, I would guess that you intended to say, "I want no tutelage in my terms of rhetoric" -- although it might perhaps also serve your purpose better to have said, "I want no tutelage in the witless claptrap I use to slander the people I don't agree with."

I am at your service.

Tom Paine| 4.22.09 @ 7:17PM

John II

I require no tutelage in any of this: a "straw man" argument uses faulty logic, to be sure, but it is a term of rhetoric.

Of course, the terms of the trivium overlap and interpenetrate one another often. This was, in fact, an important subject of study for 500 years.

Anyway, I don't think I'll be needing any tutorials at all.

ds80| 4.22.09 @ 7:31PM

Tom Paine - you seem to get your panties in a wad quite often. Conservative comments must be hitting quite close to home.

ds80| 4.22.09 @ 7:34PM

Remember: all pronouncements from the Lord High Obamessiah come with an expiration date.

[ cue the liberal fulminations over *gasp* criticism of The One ]

John II| 4.22.09 @ 7:43PM

My dear Paine,

In the terms of the medieval trivium, you're confusing rhetoric with dialectic, and I should demand an immediate apology if I weren't in good humor.

Here is my formula for good humor and modesty:

--squeeze one full lime and one full lemon into any glass of your choice, minimally of 8 oz.
--add one or two teaspoons of baker's sugar (the fine-grained stuff)
--add about two jiggers of triple sec
--add at least two jiggers of tequila
--fill the rest of the glass with chopped ice and stir
--let stand for two full minutes
--stir again and sip steadily, feeling the waves of modesty rushing in upon you

I remain,

Your servant

ben| 4.22.09 @ 8:15PM

Tom Paine| 4.22.09 @ 3:53PM

Obama DID say that he would like to impose more gun control. He was referring to the semi-automatic weapons ban.
------------------------------------------------------
Obama-
"My first priority will be to reinstate the assault weapons ban as soon as I take office. Within 90 days, we will go back after kitchen table dealers, and work to end the gun show and internet sales loopholes. In the first year, I intend to work with Congress on a national no carry law, 1 gun a month purchase limits, and bans on all semi-automatic guns."
-----------------------------------------------
It seems to me that Obama is looking at banning more than semi-automatics.

MotherRedDog| 4.22.09 @ 9:58PM

This is just another case of "look over here, yeah over here behind me" while all the time what we're fearing is happening right under our nose. Keep listening close to the rhetoric and you'll figure out just exactly what he's up to. It all fits, but we don't figure out how until it's too late. Let's see now, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac own 56 percent of the mortgages in the US. Over half defaulted in one month. Investigation to begin. Temp CFO hangs himself. Ummmmmmm, not buying it. It's kind of like the guy fired for accessing BHO's passport and the firing, investigation into the guy who unfortunately was shot in the head standing by his car. Amazingly, we never got to know what he knew because he died first. Gee, how'd that happen ya' think?

CH| 4.22.09 @ 10:20PM

Lots of people died around the Clintons, too. Shady.

Lily| 4.22.09 @ 10:21PM

Creepy!

Cow Rie| 4.22.09 @ 10:25PM

Interesting to read some comments that government controlled media, or left wing media will not be listened to and fail. But that's not the point. It will be pushed at the public while limiting dissent of the government. No dissent will be allowed in the left world. They know better....than you. Remember that.

Cow Rie| 4.22.09 @ 10:26PM

Sea World| 4.23.09 @ 3:08AM

Screw the hell out of the left world. I'm sick of the big bad leftists. Bring it on!

Diamon| 4.23.09 @ 11:36AM

Obama: Don't worry Peter, I ain't gonna take your radio stations. Nancy, Harry, take those POS radio stations!! (Scarface).

roy| 4.23.09 @ 6:12PM

you a-holes wake up you can not change God's will he gave us a black president so get over it. stop showing your real color Redneck.

stmichrick| 4.23.09 @ 7:11PM

Mr Pain(e);

Your responses turn on the assumption that no one has suggested 'taking over' radio stations.

Are we to assume then that this Administration's FCC will not make any move aimed at changing the content of talk radio? No localism? No change in licensing requirements that relate to content?

OK, I feel better now.

ds80| 4.23.09 @ 7:55PM

roy - your theology is laughably absurd: that whatever happens must be God's will. Ok. I'll play along: we were given Obama to show us what an incompetent, amoral, un-American leader can do to us. That surely was God's will. So you better wise up and stop with your Obama cult.

Moose47| 4.24.09 @ 12:09PM

roy - "a-holes, Redneck"? Is that the best that you can do? Petty insults? What are you going to say when talk radio is driven out by localism? Can you bring yourself that you have been blind? Or are you simply a progressive lakey?

Michele San Pietro| 4.25.09 @ 12:57PM

Obama is simply snuffing out all most basic liberties, so I wouldn't be surprised if he decided to simply suppress radio stations.

Jeff Clark| 4.25.09 @ 1:03PM

IN RE: " About the only way you can have liberal broadcasting would be if the government sent a check every month to cover the outlets overhead. "
Isn't that kinda like PBS?

tjproudamerican| 4.26.09 @ 1:06AM

Conservatives are hilarious! Thank you for all the laughs! Nothing you write is fact-based or plausible: you really are clowns for the benefit of people who are smarter and better off than you! Sorry about Hee Haw being canceled!

Michele San Pietro| 4.26.09 @ 1:34PM

Better to make people laugh than cry, like the so-called liberals have been doing for ages.

Dovelle| 5.4.09 @ 2:29PM

Poor T.P.! Everybody is picking on you!
If it walks like a rat, looks like a rat, and acts like a rat, chances are, IT'S A RAT. Better set the trap cause you can bet it'll be in the pantry. The cook doesn't think I'm paranoid.

In regards to what Obama has really done please go to
www.newsmax.cm/gaffes/index.html?s=al&promo_code=7ED8-1

Right now HR:45; The Blair Holt Firearm Lic ensing Record of Sales Act 2009 is on the floor of Congress.

Is this all in our immaginations?

Coils are good. Machinery doesn't work without them very well. Sand in your eyes, on the other hand, can blind you, and it's d....d uncomfortable.

Richard Landis| 5.4.09 @ 3:34PM

To Obama or not to Obama. There is still a big question among many about Obama's legal right to occupy the White House because of the controversy over his birth certificate. If he is a U.S. citizen, he does have the right to be there, providing he was properly elected and not placed there in the biggest scam perpetrated upon the American people, but for me, I consider George W. Bush are last elected president. Why? Because of the following.
1. It takes many people many years to plan and implement the things Obama has done. 2. The history of his friends and mentors. 3. His destruction af America when meeting with world leaders. 4. During his campaign, he stated at least twice of which I am aware saying "I stand with my Muslim brothers." This should be A BIG RED FLAG. 5. I encourage everyone to do an indepth comparison study of: The Communist Manifesto, The Humanist Manifesto, and Islam's 100 Year Agenda with our current social and politcal environment.

BJP| 5.7.09 @ 8:27AM

If Obama attempts to seize all radio and television, the I suggest that all American with the exception of the Kool Aid drinking Socialist following of his, will go to Washington DC and seize control of Washington itself, starting with the White House. They should think about it.

RML| 5.13.09 @ 4:49PM

If any of you people wringing your hands over an imminent demise of free speech support the FCC's draconion fines for failing to blip out an inadvertent four-letter word from a live broadcast, then you can shut your hypocritical pie-hole. Interestingly, your beloved Fox has fought such fines, while some key "evil Democrats" favor them -- notably interim FCC chairman Copps.

Frank Provasek| 8.29.09 @ 2:15AM

After some broadcast groups rejected "fact challenged" anti health-plan radio and TV ads from insurance industry front groups, there are calls about the networks being "unfair!"

These same groups would get coverage if Reagan had not repealed the Fairness Doctrine.. Check Google and see how many ads from Democratic and progressive groups were rejected in the past 8 years. I guess you could say, the chickens have come home to roost.

Anti-Bush ads refused as “too inflammatory”

Local Fox Station Bans Anti-Bush Ad

Networks reject anti-Bush ads

NBC Rejected Dixie Chicks Ad Because It Is Too Anti-Bush

CBS Censorship At Super Bowl? Network Bars MoveOn.org commercial

Think Progress » NBC, CBS, ABC Reject Ad Criticizing Bush Policies

ABC refuses to air anti-war ad before Bush visit

ABC Refuses to Run Al Gore's Commercial That Critiques Oil Companies.

RNC tells TV stations not to run anti-Bush ads

Lingerie| 9.12.09 @ 10:59PM

sexy lingerie wholesale lingerie

Gimo| 4.24.10 @ 11:42AM

Maca on ristikukkaisten heimoon kuuluva ravinnerikas juurikasvi. Macaa on käytetty kasvin kotimaassa Perussa tuhansia vuosia. Maca on adaptogeeni, joka lisää kehon suorituskykyä ja kestävyyttä. Tämä maailman korkeimmalla kasvava tunnettu ruokakasvi sisältää 18 aminohappoa sekä erilaisia kasvisteroleja. Maca toimii hormonitoiminnan tasapainoittajana kummallakin sukupuolella. Macan vaikutukset seksuaalisen halukkuuden lisääntymiseen tunnetaan hyvin vanhoissa kulttuureissa ja tämän juuren on todettu mm. lisäävän siemennesteen määrää ja laatua.

rechie| 10.24.11 @ 10:39AM

I would like to thanks for the writing.The devices are very nice and useful also

yanyan| 10.10.11 @ 2:49PM

Well, this is my first visit to your blog. And I feel great here. I like your blog and content here.mesothelioma attorneys

balcuizar62| 10.12.11 @ 10:26PM

I must say you are a superb writer, and I will come back often to read your work.
yaz class action

ruth| 10.17.11 @ 11:37AM

I am first time visiting your site and found it awesome,It's quietly interesting and valuable information for me.

silver spot price

fiance visa| 10.18.11 @ 1:09AM

Thanks for informative and helpful post, obviously in your blog everything is good.If you post informative comments on blogs there is always the chance that actual humans will post.click through.
fiance visa