The “fairness doctrine,” a policy that until 1987 required broadcasters to give equal time to opposing viewpoints, has been getting attention lately as Republicans try to keep Democrats from reinstating the rule on the airwaves. Below is a clip of Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., debating Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., about that issue.
Coleman opposes revival of the fairness doctrine and noted that the talk of doing so is unwisely aimed at talk radio, which is dominated by conservatives. “I think it’s very dangerous for government to be in the position of deciding what’s fair and balanced,” he said, later adding that “there’s nothing fair about the fairness doctrine.”
Categories: Illinois, Minnesota, Norm Coleman, Richard Durbin, Civil Liberties, Media, Communications
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The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is airing an advertisement that attacks the “shameful” record on veterans’ affairs by Rep. Marilyn Musgrave. It accuses the Colorado Republican of voting to cut veterans’ funding and their health care, and of opposing bonuses for U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The ad is part of DCCC “troops and veterans deserve better” series aimed at GOP incumbents perceived as vulnerable. Other targets include Thelma Drake of Virginia, Phil English of Pennsylvania, Mike Ferguson of New Jersey and Mark Kirk of Illinois.
Another ad attacks the Republican Party as a whole:
Categories: Virginia, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, AdWatch, Republicans, Veterans Affairs, Marilyn Musgrave, Thelma Drake, Mark Kirk, Mike Ferguson, Phil English
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The House today passed a bill that would prohibit and punish deceptive practices that aim to keep voters away from the polls.
John Conyers, D-Mich.: Protecting the right to vote “is the cornerstone right of our democracy. … Protecting this right, however, has not been an easy task.”
Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill.: “In its finest sense, [the bill] speaks to the voice of democracy. … [N]othing is more American than voting, and nothing could be more un-American than deceiving one from taking the right to vote.”
Categories: Illinois, Michigan, Producer's Picks, John Conyers, Rahm Emanuel, Voting Rights
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Rep. George Miller, D-Calif.: “The Employee Free Choice Act is very simple. It’s very simple. When a majority say they want a union, they get a union. … It’s a great tradition of democracy — that the majority gets to say what they want, and they get to say it in the workplace just like they get to say it in the country.”
Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill.
Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., touting the Employee Free Choice Act on the Senate floor on the same day of the rally: “This is an idea that has been tried and tested.”
Categories: California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Producer's Picks, Labor, Richard Durbin, Edward Kennedy, George Miller
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