Senator DeMint (R-SC) is co-sponsoring a bill to prevent liberal Democrats from re-instituting the so-called "Fairness Doctrine", which would require broadcasters to present programming that supports both liberal and conservative positions. In other words, a radio station broadcasting conservative programming would be required to broadcast an equal amount of liberal programming. Senator DeMint and his cosponsors are absolutely correct in taking a stand against this Doctrine.
The Doctrine would clearly impose a burden on the broadcasters, insofar as radio programming is determined by the market, i.e. what people want to listen to; therefore forcing stations to run program mandated by the government will cost them listeners and therefore advertising money. Infinitely more important, however, is the blatant infringement of the First Amendment that such a rule would constitute, because, essentially, determining what constitutes "acceptable" programming would become, much like Pravda in the old Soviet Union, the prerogative of the government. The protection of free speech, especially political speech, is a bulwark of the American political system. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black (a Democrat) once said: “The Framers knew that free speech is the friend of change and revolution. But they also knew that it is always the deadliest enemy of tyranny.” Not to put too fine a point on it, but perhaps we can interpret his words as a warning of impending tyranny when the government tries to restrict freedom of the press.
Here is Senator DeMint's press release on his Broadcaster Reform Act, along with more historical information about the Fairness Doctrine.
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