Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has, for the most part, supported many of the policies of President Bush. Not all the time, but most of the time.
The Obama campaign has used this against McCain in the election. And that’s fair. It’s not as it’s being presented, but still, McCain’s support of many of the President’s policies is a fair issue.
So let’s talk fair.
You’ve heard of the “Fairness Doctrine,” I’m sure. It was generally applied by the “Equal Time” rule, though that in and of itself was not the “Fairness Doctrine.”
However, the “Equal Time” rule that many broadcasters applied was generally good enough to meet FCC policies (the “Fairness Doctrine”). Heck, I even used it once to ask for — and receive — equal time to respond to an editorial on my hometown radio station back in the 1970s.
Either way, it meant that if you presented one side of a controversial argument, you had an obligation to present the other side. Not equal time, but an opposing view nonetheless.
Many on the left want to bring the Fairness Doctrine back. But whether or not it’s brought back isn’t actually the topic.
It’s the general idea of fairness.
Like I said, McCain’s support of the policies of Bush is a fair issue. My own take is that, if George W. Bush and John S. McCain agree on something, it’s probably a good thing. But that’s just me.
Let’s consider what else is fair.
How about … the policies of Barack Obama?
Since he has such a short resumé, you don’t have as much to look at. So, when you look at what’s there, you better look close.
And that’s why Obama’s votes to raise taxes on those making $42K a year is important. It’s not what he’s preaching right now, but it’s what he’s done. I choose to believe what a man has done more that what he says. His votes to raise taxes are fair game.
And, because his record is so small, you have to look closely at all kinds of things to figure out just who this guy is.
As for McCain, I have a friend that used to live in Arizona. She says that well before he came into the national spotlight, he was just like he is today. Like him or hate him, he’s honest and is straight with you, not telling you what he thinks you want to hear, but what he thinks you need to hear.
Obama? He’s saying things that don’t match up to his record.
He’s denied a relationship with Bill Ayers, but that doesn’t match the facts. And that question is fair.
Obama says he doesn’t want to raise your taxes, but he wants to eliminate the Bush tax cuts that will … get this … have the effect of raising your taxes. And that’s a fair topic.
Obama wants to “spread the wealth around” … and that’s socialism, plain and simple. And that’s a fair topic for discussion.
Obama has called the U. S. Constitution a “fundamentally flawed” document. Not a document that contains flaws that can be corrected by amendments, but “fundamentally flawed.” His statements are a fair topic for discussion.
I could go on and on. And probably will. Just not right now.
If anyone wants to institute a “fairness doctrine,” it should begin with a fair look at Barack Obama.
Anyone American who takes a fair look at Barack Obama will be appalled by what he sees.
I figure that if we’re gonna have the Fairness Doctrine, there has to be some way of turning it against whiny liberals, and this sounds like the way to do it.
I think the fairness doctrine should be applied to the media as a whole. Every time Oliver Stone makes a movie like “W”, a movie about how awful bubba was should get equal screen time. Everytime Micheal Moore does a “documentary” that clearly espouses socialism, then a documentary that is pro capitalism should get equal play. They should even equally distribute the oscars that go to these movies.
Why not, it’s only fair.
I guess Bush is a socialist too, since he is giving $700 billion to Wall Street. Talk about wealth redistibution.
Hypocrites are funny…
[Silly troll. Bush isn’t socialist. He is like his daddy, though. He will go along with big spending things when he shouldn’t. One of the few mistakes he made in the last 8 years. Yes, the bailout was wrong. But this is what’s called an aberration. Unlike Obama, for whom it’s just another day of socialist philosophy. – B]
Fairness and equal time for george bush? I am laughing out loud. He has no redeeming qualities. He has done his utmost to ruin this great nation in the eight years that he has been sitting in the Oval Office. I know they weren’t his ideas but those of the evil cheney, wolfowitz, perle and others in the PNAC who wanted to take over the world militarily for the neocons. Well, they achieved their goal, The oil companies are swimming in profits, the wealthy got so much wealthier that America is 4th on the list of disparity between the rich and the poor, behind Mexico and our standing in the world has diminished to the point that we have no credibility. It will take years to to get us back to where we were, let alone moving ahead. China is poised to move in the most powerful nation category. Yes, george did it all.
[So, what flavor Kool-Aid is it you’re drinking? – B]
Many socalled Republicans have bought into Democrat philosophy over the years (since FDR) on welfare, Social Security, Medicare, Federal aid to education, minimum wage, etc.
But #4 doesn’t even qualify for troll status since their command of the Bush facts is absent. So, no troll shoes for you this Halloween! Now go out and go trick-or-treating with an Obama mask! When you get back, give all your candy to me.
HEY! I get my share of the troll candy too! In fact, since I’m a girl I should get a little extra. Oh, and my kids need a tootsie roll.
(Must be on everyone’s mind…I blogged about the Fairness Doctrine today as well.)
Hey #4
If Obama gets in Office, then you can bet your last dollar(if you have that much left when he takes over) that within the next year we(the United States of Obama) will become a third world nation. Honey, you can take that to the bank!!!!
Oh and btw he won’t be the first Black President. He will be the First Arab American President that happens to be both Black and White!!!!
You said it, Basil.
“Anyone American who takes a fair look at Barack Obama will be appalled by what he sees.” Wrong! Self-destructive liberals are blind to the evils of socialism.
#4 brings up a topic that I find extremely frustrating. As a conservative, I voted for President GW Bush (twice). That said, I really hate being put into the position of defending him and his RINO policies. He only got my vote because the nutjob and pontificating hippy running against him were so much worse. The modern day Republican party has adopted so many liberal ideas that it is almost unrecognizable from the party under President Reagan. My point…. it is not a conservative’s job to defend the idiocy of RINOs. Our job is to illustrate how much more damage the America-hating socialist would do to the country than the patriotic RINO. Then we have to stop letting RINOs win the primary elections.
Wow! My post was above (#9) was so lacking in humor it seems to have killed all comments. Very sad 🙁
I have candy!
HCG: Nah, we are ALL just busy eating candy
The “Fairness” Doctrine reminds me of a line from C.S. Lewis’ “Screwtape Proposes a Toast”. This is sort of a one chapter mini-sequel to The Screwtape Letters, where an elder demon advises a junior demon on how best to screw up humanity. Actually, having skimmed the whole thing just now, it really does look like a democratic playbook – dead on in its analysis with no exaggeration. The core of the toast is, Let us never forget to always push the idea that equality of opportunity must mean equality of results.
Specifically to the Fairness Doctrine…
“For “Democracy” or the “Democratic Spirit” (diabolical sense) leads to a nation without great men, a nation mainly of subliterates, full of cocksureness which flattery breeds on ignorance, and quick to snarl or whimper at the first hint of criticism. And it is what Hell wishes for every democratic people to be.”
C S Lewis – 1959
I would highly recommend picking up The World’s Last Night (the collection that has this story) and reading it over ASAP. What was a sarcastic description of demons 50 years ago is now policy. The only question is at what point in the past did we exceed Screwtape’s designs?
The Fairness Doctrine is an outright attack on anyone who has an opposing view than those that are in power. This type of policy should never be allowed in any form in the United States. With the vast variety of both right wing and left wing talk shows on am radio another goverment big brother plan is the last thing that is needed. This doctrine will force open discussion of ANY issue off the air just as it has done in the past. Do you really hate the other side so much that you are willing to give up YOUR right to free speech? Once this doctrine is in place what is the next right that YOU are willing to give up to keep the other side from stating their opinion? Your life? Your liberty? Your pursuit of happiness?
One of the reasons that the USA is a great place is that you are allowed to voice your opinion, I may not like your opinion but I’ll stand up and be counted on to defend your right to state that opinion. Ask yourself one question, am I willing to give up my right to state my opinion? If you are, then by all means give it up. But if you think that FREEDOM OF SPEECH is something to be protected, praised and perserved then you must stand up and be counted with those that would defend YOUR right to state your opinion.
COMMUNIST DOCTRINE IS the “fair” DOCTRINE. WE MUST FIGHT THIS COMMUNIST DOCTRINE and STOP IT AS IT IS EVIL. IT IS THE UNFAIR UNFAIR UNFAIR DOCTRINE ! ! ! YOU MUST FIGHT IT WITH EVERY BIT OF YOUR SOUL ! ! ! THE UNFAIR DOCTRINE LIVES IN COMMUNIST COUNTRIES and has NO PLACE IN AMERICA ! FIGHT IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART OR WE ALL DIE !
I believe there would be some type of a revolution if the Fairness doctrine was pushed through and rightly so. Messing with free speech in this country is dangerous.
Demanding equal time on airhead America for conservative viewpoints would boost its ratings. Are you sure that’s a good plan?
When did we excede Screwtape’s designs?
The first time the term “Politically Correct” was used by an American legistlator without blushing.
I’m digging out all my old C.S. Lewis books. I feel the need for clarity of thought.
I like this quote by Scott Adams:
“Fairness is a concept that was invented so that children and idiots could participate in arguments.”