Heritage Confirms My Take on Muzzleing Talk Radio

This morning on the Heritage Foundation's Morning Bell report is an article about about the Durbin Doctrine. It is the Fairness Doctrine revisited and loosely disguised in other legislation.

http://blog.heritage.org/2009/03/16/morning-bell-the-durbin-doctrine-assault-on-free-speech/

I wrote about this on February 27th in an article entitled, "Obama's Hidden Agenda".

http://beforemy1stcupajoe.blogspot.com/2009/02/obamas-hidden-agenda.html

In that article I wrote:

[Congress is] Doing Obama's dirty work, He is never connected to any legislation. The true meaning of his intent is hidden in otherwise obscure legislation. There is a real agenda. Controversial legislation hidden in more palatable bills. Something Obama can sign with cover because the main legislation is so vital it must be signed immediately.

The Stimulus Bill was passed so fast that there was no time for Congress to read it. There is so much hidden in that bill that it will take years to decipher the bills true scope. Now he is turning to a long Democratic wish list.

The Senate bill, S 160, is legislation dealing with representation for the District of Columbia. It is the loss leader for the Fairness Doctrine, a bill to limit the voices of opposition. Sen. Jim DeMint proposed the cover amendment, insuring that the Fairness Doctrine will not be revisited. The amendment was passed by a vote of 88 to 11. Approved by all Democrats (aren't they fair) Now the pundits such as Rush Limbaugh or Michael Savage haven't got anything to complain about.

80. S.AMDT.573 to S.160 To prevent the Federal Communications Commission from repromulgating the fairness doctrine.
Sponsor: Sen DeMint, Jim [SC] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (9)
Latest Major Action: 2/26/2009 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 573 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 87 - 11. Record Vote Number: 71.

But wait...another amendment had to be offered to S 160 and moments later the language was skewed to better suit the Democrats with amendment S AMDT 591.

86. S.AMDT.591 to S.160 To encourage and promote diversity in communication media ownership, and to ensure that the public airwaves are used in the public interest.
Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] (introduced 2/26/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 2/26/2009 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 591 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 57 - 41. Record Vote Number: 70.

The same legislation can both end the fairness doctrine and reinstate it in the very same instance, only now it isn't called the Fairness Doctrine. That has been defeated by the first amendment S AMDT 573 and reborn as S AMDT 591 an amendment to the same bill and now referred to as the "diversity in communications media ownership" clause.

It is nice to be ahead of the curve sometimes and to have what you believe be confirmed by such a highly regarded entity as the Heritage Foundation. Not a bad start for a Monday!