Posted by
The Old Whig on Wednesday, July 11, 2007 11:39:54 PM
Time was, Conservatives were the people considered to be obsessed with Tradition. The Left has for years mockingly derided folks on the Right as having an obstinate attachment to what once was but is no longer.
Until now, that is. It seems the familiar roles we've played have been switched in recent days. I mean the resurfacing of interest in the Fairness Doctrine by the Democratic, Liberal Elite. This reformation on the Left is most likely the result of the failure of the Immigration Reform Bill--a failure due in large part to the success that talk radio had in energizing the grass roots and flooding--no, swamping--Washington DC with calls, faxes and email.
During the debates, Senator Trent Lott was quoted as saying that talk radio runs this country, and we need to do something about that problem. Sen. Lott made some quick clarifications of his statement that satisfied some conservatives, but the seed had been planted. In the first days following the bill's defeat, the Liberals were overheard plotting talk radio's demise. "Talk radio is overwhelmingly tilted to the right, and legislative action is needed to correct the imbalance." The Fairness Doctrine was trotted out as the solution to this "unfair" situation that has left Liberals without a viable voice on talk radio.
The Fairness Doctrine was first implemented in the 1940's as a means to ensure that no one political viewpoint dominated the time of the three networks that existed at the time. Except, that it failed to do that. The FCC eventually saw that the Doctrine was actually stifling political discussion rather than encouraging debate. The Doctrine was finally shelved in 1987, put away with all the other failed experiments.
Which must really be frustrating to the Liberals. First they are soundly defeated
by Newt Gingrich and the Republicans in 1994. Now that they have
again retaken control of the House and Senate, they are finding
difficulty pushing their agenda through because of the influence of
Conservative talk radio.
The Liberals want a return to yesteryear. They can be heard crying for the glory days when they held the reigns of government uncontested and unquestioned. "Why can't we return to that good ol' fashioned, traditional America where Conservatives had no influence over public policy?"
Liberalism is a fading thought. Conservatives have long been criticized for espousing ideas whose time has passed. But isn't it funny how conservative the Liberals have become now that they realize their political power is waning? The Fairness Doctrine may have been a good idea once but, like Liberalism, it's time has truly passed. The best direction now for Conservatives is forward.