At least one senator likes neither Fox News nor MSNBC, and wishes they’d both go away, reports Brian Stelter of The New York TImes.
It’s Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a Democrat representing West Virginia.
According to the article, here’s exactly what Sen. Rockefeller said during a Senate committee hearing on Wednesday, Nov 17, 2010: "“There’s a little bug inside of me which wants to get the FCC to say to Fox and to MSNBC, ‘Out. Off. End. Goodbye.’ It would be a big favor to political discourse; to our ability to do our work here in Congress; and to the American people, to be able to talk with each other and have some faith in their government and, more importantly, in their future.”
The Times notes that the Federal Communications Commission actually has little oversight on cable channels and, legally, probably could not do anything about the senator’s complaint.
Sen. Rockefeller also called for cable to go to an a la carte pricing scheme. The Times quotes him as saying, "“The old adage of ‘500 channels and nothing on’ has never been so true as it is today,”
Senator Rockefeller,
If you want political discourse and false information to stop, get the president to re-enact the Fairness Doctrine. It was the best self policing way to ensure that both sides of a public affairs issue are discussed in a rational manner. As an ex-newsman from the 1970’s, there was no way to get away with slanted “journalism”. It worked well for both sides. The only government interaction came when an offending side would not give equal time, then the FCC would step in and force equal time or a fine. It was abolished by Ronald Reagan and the public information has diminished ever since.
Fairness Doctrine? No. More government control of a private enterprise. Fox and MSNBC offset each other beautifully. If enough people decide one has to go, market forces will prevail and it will die. The Fairness Doctrine was unfair to the broadcasters, placing an undue burden on them to counter every opinion that made it to air. If all news outlets have to do this, all but one will die. There will be no need for two (or more) news outlets.
Let people listen to what they want to. Absolutely no control of either MSNBC OR FOX. FOX, in my opinon does the best job of FAIRNESS of any news we have ever experienced. If people want to watch MSNBC, let them. Rose
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