Supporters of Censorship — “Fairness Doctrine” Update 7
Some believe the Democrats in Congress have no desire to bring back radio censorship, either in the form of the “Fairness Doctrine” or “localism” rules.
In fact, there are several prominent Democrats who have publicly stated their support for bringing back censorship via the “Fairness Doctrine”:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — D-CA
Sen. Dianne Feinstein — D - CA
Update — 12-17-2008
A few more I’ve come across the past couple weeks:
Mayor Carty Finkbeiner — D - Toledo, OH
Rep. Louise Slaughter — D - NY
Another one to add to the list — Feb. 5, 2009:
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Update Feb. 11, 2009:
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Update Feb. 12, 2009:
President Bill Clinton (D)
Update Feb. 13, 2009:
Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY)
Update Feb. 16, 2009:
Jerry Brown, current AG and former Governor, California (D)
Update Feb. 28, 2009:
We have an actual Senate vote on banning the Fairness Doctrine — see the stories here and here for more details.
U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111th Congress - 1st Session
as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the SenateVote Summary
Question: On the Amendment (DeMint Amdt. No. 573 )
Vote Number: 71
Vote Date: February 26, 2009, 02:30 PM
Required For Majority: 1/2
Vote Result: Amendment Agreed to
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 573 to S. 160 (District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2009)Statement of Purpose: To prevent the Federal Communications Commission from repromulgating the fairness doctrine.
Vote Counts:
YEAs 87
NAYs 11
Not Voting 1
Senators voting no on the DeMint Amendment banning the “Fairness Doctrine”:
NAYs —11
Bingaman (D-NM)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Harkin (D-IA)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kerry (D-MA)
Reed (D-RI)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
(Sen. Teddy Kennedy D-MA did not vote as he is quite ill. I do not have any record of his support or opposition to the “Fairness Doctrine”)