Obama Won't Silence Rush Limbaugh, Despite Right-Wing Claims

Mother Jones:

Will the Obama administration force Rush Limbaugh off the air? Some conservative activists are claiming such a tragedy is nearly at hand, and they've been trying to whip up a frenzy. Limbaugh and his brethren believe Democrats are plotting a revival of the Fairness Doctrine, a controversial policy once enforced by the Federal Communications Commission to ensure broadcasters presented balanced views in their coverage of controversial subjects. While perhaps well intended, the Truman-era rule ultimately encouraged broadcasters to avoid touchy topics altogether, rather than seek out contrasting viewpoints. Many broadcast journalists saw the rule as a major violation of their free-speech rights. The FCC voted to abolish it in 1987. Democrats attempted to revive the rule, but President George H.W. Bush threatened to veto the legislation (as Ronald Reagan had in 1987), and those efforts failed. Since then, the Fairness Doctrine has largely been relegated to textbooks on media law--that is, until it was resurrected as the latest conservative bugaboo.

Read the whole story: Mother Jones

Comments

[supergranny]

04:02 PM on 11/12/2008

I know in the celebration of SIsterhood and National Victim Day, maybe Limpy will come out that he was molested just like Foley and Haggard, and that's why he's so darn angry and misunderstood.

[gr8fulted]

03:15 PM on 11/12/2008

Is Limbaugh even relevant anymore?

[VikingQuest]

03:47 PM on 11/12/2008

He has a big enough audience to get a $400 million dollar contract at $50 million per year . . . I would say yes?

[Chavez08]

04:10 PM on 11/12/2008

He doesn't have the audience, he has the support of criminal billionaire robber-barons, and that's about all. That casino thug that filed bankrupcy last week is a typical example representative of the cash-well used to feed that fascist wind-bag.

Don't confuse big-money sponsorship with popularity.

[VSamuels]

02:05 PM on 11/12/2008

As, the republican party prepares to meet and discuss going forward, the hatefilled right does pose a real and problematic issue for them. Specifically, they must tone down their rhetoric and finger pointing at everything liberal and re-brand themselves into 4 or 5 central leaders who do not come with the baggage of Newt, the social flip flopping of Romney or the polarization of Rudy. Unfortunately for them, and fortunately for us, these new leaders must take on the pull to the right that underscores hate radio and firmly reject it along with its labeling tendencies to discount those who aren't screaming bloody mad at the liberals.

Limbaugh and Hannity et. al., are like the junkyard dogs who have been allowed to outgrow their usefulness; during good times---its less of a problem what they say as the republicans are in charge, but in lean times they become a loud reminder of why the republicans are now in the minority. Those leaders who stand up and challenge those on the far right and debate them along the facts will ultimately be the winner. Palin isn't one of such persons, so it will be interesting to see who moves forward to shut them down and get a hold of the message now in the hands of radio disc jockeys.

[BeasleysMom]

11:11 PM on 11/12/2008

I was glad when Obama appointed Gibbs as his communications director. I throughly enjoyed seeing Gibbs take down Hannity over having a rabid anit-semetic on his show.

I sincerely hope that the gops see that the hate talkers only get in the way of reconstructing a relevant party that can again compete both locally and nationally. A two party system is the best way for governance, but only if both parties are rational and civil--something that is sorely lacking in the gop right now.

[rockyersocksoff]

01:52 PM on 11/12/2008

Well, make up your minds!

Is Obama coming for your guns, your wallets, your Bibles, your children, your heterosexual marriages, or your fascist mouthpiece?

I mean, not even LBJ could have THAT big of an agenda.

[VikingQuest]

02:01 PM on 11/12/2008

Wallets, probably.
Guns, probably.

The rest, nope.

[bbrecht]

04:20 PM on 11/12/2008

Yes, to pay for the 3 trillion dollar bail out of failed republican policy.....

[Chavez08]

04:28 PM on 11/12/2008

How does your lawn grow under the shadows of all those Black Helicopters?

[eniobob]

01:39 PM on 11/12/2008

The facts will.

[FogBelter]

01:30 PM on 11/12/2008

I want Limbaugh out there in all his glory. I want him attacking Obama everyday, because the best way to end Rush's influence is to have him attacking while the American people start feeling the benefits of the Obama Administration wash across the Nation. Ultimately, Rush will rob himself of all credibility and look like some Endtimer wandering the streets with a sandwich board reading "The End Is Nigh!"

[VikingQuest]

01:55 PM on 11/12/2008

"have him attacking while the American people start feeling the benefits of the Obama Administration wash across the Nation"

Considering the trap Obama is walking into, my guess is you won't see a damn thing looking up for at least a couple years if that.

[AlphaDoc]

03:24 PM on 11/12/2008

>Rush will rob himself of all credibility<

LOL! As if he has any.

[FogBelter]

01:52 AM on 11/13/2008

Amongst his monkey throng he does.

[VSamuels]

12:55 PM on 11/12/2008

None of us have crystal balls, but one thing that I believe is more than certain, is that in an Obama administration the Justice Department will be fully staffed and that the laws for both libel and slander will be enforced. There isn't always a need to re-invent or go back to a former period to move ahead, simply applying some 'meat' to the laws simply ignored by an inept Justice Department which has had its 3 top posts unfilled for the past 8 or 9 months, and giving it the go-head to pursue an agenda that enforces current law will attack many of the current problems.

There must truly be some point where public figures as well as average citizens dialogue with each other without the fear of being maligned on air or in the press, and it first begins with leadership that doesn't do it themselves and prevents it being done by others.

[VikingQuest]

01:56 PM on 11/12/2008

If there is one thing we know, it is that Lawyers give Democrats a whole lot of money so they continue to sue everything that moves.

[Chavez08]

04:37 PM on 11/12/2008

Absolutely!! Keep those crooked Dems away from the money! The Wallstreet Republicans don't need the competition.

I like your style, Viking! You really know how to speak for the Skinheads - "Truth Be Damned"!

Rock on, My Brotha!!

[noamjunior]

12:53 PM on 11/12/2008

the problem isn't that Rush is allowed on the air (it is his right)
the problem is that when I turn on my AM radio at 1 pm, Rush is the ONLY political commentary I can hear, and he is on 5 different stations accross the dial
that is a monopoly, is illlegal, and should be investigated

[VikingQuest]

01:57 PM on 11/12/2008

Air America had their chance, there is a reason they went bankrupt.

Are you saying there should be a law that makes stations become unprofitable with Air America programming while Rush has a massive audience?

[bbrecht]

04:23 PM on 11/12/2008

I think the point is that media monopolies need to be crushed. Its a disservice to all, to have a small number of companies own the majority of media.

[daveincolorado]

12:48 PM on 11/12/2008

This guy is one reason teh republicans won't change anytime soon. He is kind of the personification of the recent republican party and the more he is still 'there', the worse off for the right wing of politics. He represents what is wrong with the current republican viewpoint.

[VikingQuest]

02:00 PM on 11/12/2008

"He represents what is wrong with the current republican viewpoint"

What?

What's wrong with the current viewpoint is they say one thing and do another (expected in politics I guess).

The main ideas used to be:

Smaller government
Less spending

That message still works but actions speak louder than words, if people wanted to grow government and increase government spending they might as well vote D since Bush & current Rs have offered no alternative.

[TheGuide]

12:42 PM on 11/12/2008

What make anyone think Limbaugh is front and center on Obama's mind?

[wm1066]

12:38 PM on 11/12/2008

Maybe when our Justice Department gets put back on track again they wont let Rush get away with half the crap he has gotten away with. And he wont be able to buy his way out of jail.

[Hobay]

12:25 PM on 11/12/2008

Things were a lot better on the radio under the Fairness Doctrine. So was Journalism itself. I would love to see an updated version. I have always heard about the free market, switch the channel, etc. Sorry, the other channel is just as Clear. No "marketplace of ideas" exist when these airwaves are virtual monopolies.

Pollution of the public airwaves is pollution the same as pollution of the public air and water.

[realityczech4u]

03:25 PM on 11/12/2008

Pollution of the public airwaves is pollution the same as pollution of the public air and water.

--------------------------
The First Amendment is what protects us from the totalitarianism of people with mindsets like yours. Pollution of the air and water is identified scientifically. "Pollution of the airwaves" consists of nothing more than things you don't want to hear. Who set you up as arbiter of what should and should not be heard, Herr Hobay?

I don't care for talk radio myself. My solution? I don't listen to it.

[CubFanHere]

12:15 PM on 11/12/2008

If Rush was on fire I wouldn't walk across the road to urinate on him to put the fire out. He's a disgusting person.

[Georgia1992]

12:32 PM on 11/12/2008

Add Sean Hannity to that list.

[realityczech4u]

03:28 PM on 11/12/2008

Myself, I wouldn't give Limbaugh the sweat off my b alls if he were dying of thirst in the desert. But I also would not deny those who wish to listen to him, the right to do so.

[Mulvaney]

11:49 AM on 11/12/2008

I have a relative who does not have a television or get a newspaper, but receives all of her news from Rush. So be it. But I was amazed that it took so long, even in liberal Northern California, for commercial stations to reach out beyond Limbaugh and Savage to air alternative voices -- the ultimate fairness doctrine is being able to switch the dial and listen to Thom Hartmann, Rachel Maddow, or Stephanie Miller. Hate is not the only thing that should be commercially viable and I hope that more stations (and advertisers) across the country will realize that there is a market for progressive values.

[realityczech4u]

03:30 PM on 11/12/2008

So your tidy little world is divided into "h ate" and so-called "progressive" values. Interesting.

[Jazzcomedian]

11:05 AM on 11/12/2008

The more nonsensical hate and vitriol the right wing spews, the more they'll be marginalized. Particularly if the Obama administration governs with the smart, high road approach lhe displayed with his campaign--which I have no doubt will be the case. O'Reilly, Hannity, and Limbaugh etc., will be preaching to a static or shrinking audience. Their constituency is the uneducated, and uninformed tightwads and bullies of the nation. Finally they are officially irrelevant to the direction and governing of this country. I'm gonna enjoy watching them fulminate to diminishing effect like the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz after the water was poured on her. They're melting.

I hope the GOP and their right-wing ilk continues to not learn any lessons from the election, and continues with their alienating, negative ranting. It'll redound to the benefit of President Obama and the thinking majority of voters which has spoken. Idealism and intelligence has returned to America, and like confidence regained we will guard it zealousy.

[Evinsmom]

11:19 AM on 11/12/2008

These guys are their own worst enemy. As long as the Republicans have these yahoos as mouth pieces, they are never going to expand their base and make any sort of comeback.

These guys are all about marketing themselves. They get the large contracts because they rant and spew hatred which gets them attention. For them to change their appraoch would mean losing their audience base. They've pretty much painted themselves into a corner. They'll be irrelevant as time goes on.

[Aroura]

11:58 AM on 11/12/2008

Although I agree, there is one major factor everyone seems to be overlooking.
Even a small group can cause major problems if they really really want to. Rush, Hannity and company stir up the strongest and most vile forms of hate, fear and loathing. These are the people who inspire confused, mentally ill people to stand on rooftops and shoot people at random. Or worse.
I don't suggest we restrict their freedom of speech, but I do suggest we remember they exist, and be alert to their particular poisons.