[BC] Fairness doctrine by another name? aka censorship?

[Mike McCarthy]

>Not true.  When Limbaugh is on 660 stations, many of which rebroadcast him 
>into the same markets, that's not democracy.  I'd like to hear some other 
>voices, rather than just a handful over and over. Btw, many leftie talkers 
>have NOT had a fair chance, despite getting good ratings and making 
>money.  The "marketplace" didn't decide-- conservative owners did.

Here's a reality.  Our owner is a liberal.  He made his money in business 
thinking like a business man.  His CFO, now CEO is like many who throw 
nickels....  We're a conservative business by in large where we don't waste 
anything knowingly.  Money is an object and Rush is a gold mine in many 
regards despite the political leanings of an owner. "If it sells, sell 
more" is what's been happening. But I think that's changing...

Last year before the election, our owner directed us to blow up a music 
format on FM which was just gaining traction to simulcast lib-talk content 
with our AM from 5AM to 9PM.  Why?...because he was fed up with the 
conservative talkers controlling the voices in one of the most democratic 
cities in the country. He has a "voice" which could not be silenced by 
anyone.  He owns the stations straight up. It's his money and PI$$ on Wall 
St. and Madison Ave. if they don't like the lefty talk we air.  Our 
listeners are more passionate and supportive of our local clients than Wall 
St. will ever be and is reflected by the type of advertisers we carry.

While I think some fairness is in order to balance the scales a little more 
than they are now, the feds should not slap a 50/50 number on anyone. I'd 
rather see a requirement to air local content more than mandating a balance 
of opposing views.  I think the latter would come naturally in any event if 
local originated content is required at least, say 25% of the total day of 
broadcast (6 hours) with a balance spread across all dayparts. Not just 
buried overnight from 11PM to 5 AM.  Live morning or PM 
drive?  Mid-day's?  Doesn't matter.  As long as it's local.

At which point the big car companies, insurance companies, beer companies 
and other major players who have been buying network right for so long will 
realize they've NOT been talking to >40% of the population...and get their 
Madison Ave. ad agency ASSES out of Wall St. and onto Main St.

MM