Salon editorialist Camille Paglia might very well be the last remaining liberal in the true sense of the word—as opposed to the liberty-suppressing “progressive” leftists who now occupy the White House and dominate both Congress and the mainstream media.
Why? Because Paglia is actually a liberal/Democrat who opposes the “Fairness” Doctrine! I know, I know, you’re shocked. I was too.
The blog Freedom’s Lighthouse posts this statement by Paglia:
If there’s anything that demonstrates the straying of the Democratic Party leadership from basic liberal principles, it’s this blasted Fairness Doctrine—which should be fiercely opposed by all defenders of free speech. Except when national security is at risk, government should never be involved in the surveillance of speech or in measuring the ideological content of books, movies or radio and TV programs.
Broadcasters must adhere to reasonable FCC regulations restricting obscenity, but despite the outlandish claims of Democrats like Sen. Charles Schumer, there is no analogy whatever between pornography and political opinion. Nor do privately owned radio stations have any obligation to be politically “balanced.” They are commercial enterprises that follow the market and directly respond to audience demand. The Fairness Doctrine is bullying Big Brother tyranny, full of contempt for the very public it pretends to protect. […]
Instead of bleating for paternalistic government intervention, liberals should get their own act together. Radio is a populist medium where liberals come across as snide, superior scolds. One can instantly recognize a liberal caller to a conservative show by his or her catty, obnoxious tone. The leading talk radio hosts are personalities and entertainers with huge rhetorical energy and a bluff, engaging manner. […]
Talk radio is a major genre of popular culture that deserves the protection accorded to other branches of the performing and fine arts. Liberals, who go all hushed and pious at Hays Code censorship in classic Hollywood, should lay off the lynch-mob mentality. Keep the feds out of radio!
Wow, how refreshing! Can you imagine any other liberal/Democrat actually opposing the free-speech-suppressing, First-Amendment-violating government-imposed “Fairness” Doctrine? ‘Cause I can’t. Doesn’t happen! If you are a liberal/Democrat and oppose it, then please, at the risk of isolating yourself from your ideological brethren, let me know!
Freedom’s Lighthouse also provides the audio from Paglia’s most recent appearance on the Mark Simone Show, during which she “blasts her fellow Democrats for even suggesting the idea of limiting Talk Radio or monitoring it in any way. She says they are ‘betraying the very soul of the party’ by suggesting such a thing.”
Ms. Paglia, hunker down in your bunker now. Because the Democrat destroyers of free speech (under the guise of “the public good,” of course!) will be coming for your head very soon!
Recent Comments