According to this article at The American Spectator, Grandma Pelosi wants to "aggressively pursue" reinstatement of the un-Fairness Doctrine.
The decision to press for re-establishment of the Fairness Doctrine now seems to have developed for two reasons. "First, [Democrats] failed on the radio airwaves with Air America, no one wanted to listen," says a senior adviser to Pelosi. "Conservative radio is a huge threat and political advantage for Republicans and we have had to find a way to limit it. Second, it looks like the Republicans are going to have someone in the presidential race who has access to media in ways our folks don't want, so we want to make sure the GOP has no advantages going into 2008."
That last comment appeared to be a veiled reference to former Sen. Fred Thompson, who appears to be gearing up for a presidential run. Over the past year, he has built a following both over the AM airwaves through the ABC Radio network, as well as through almost daily appearances across cable TV on the TV show Law & Order, where he plays a tough-talking district attorney.
According to another Democrat leadership aide, Pelosi and her team are focused on several targets in the fight, including Rush Limbaugh and the Salem Radio Network. In fact, Kucinich's staff has begun investigating Salem, one of the fastest growing radio networks in the country, which features such popular -- and highly rated -- conservative hosts as Bill Bennett and Michael Medved, and Christian hosts such as Dr. Richard Land.
"They are identifying senior employees, their political activities and their political giving," says a Government Reform committee staffer. "Salem is a big target, but the big one is going to be Limbaugh. We know we can't shut him up, but we want to make life a bit more difficult for him."
The fact is that Democrats can't compete on talk radio so they want to muzzle it. They know there's nothing "fair" about the Fairness Doctrine, and, as I've discussed numerous times (see here, here, and here), it's most likely the Supreme Court would find the Fairness Doctrine unconstitutional.
Not only that, but Democrats know they can't touch Rush Limbaugh. Unlike Don Imus, the Left's latest scalp, Limbaugh works for no one but himself. He owns his show and is a part owner of the group which syndicates his show. On top of this, the most popular radio show in the country is unlikely to be brought low by any attempt by mere Democrats to humble him.
But don't expect that to stop Pelosi and company.
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