Well isn't this lovely? The good ole dems are sick and tired of all those conservatives getting so much airtime and want to do something to get their side of the story out. Being dems, they figure the best way to do this is to have the gov't crack down on opinions in the news they don't like...

http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=333927

Kucinich: Congress To Take On FCC
January 15, 2007

Over the weekend, the National Conference for Media Reform was held in Memphis, TN, with a number of notable speakers on hand for the event. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) made an surprise appearance at the convention to announce that he would be heading up a new House subcommittee which will focus on issues surrounding the Federal Communications Commission.

The Presidential candidate said that the committee would be holding "hearings to push media reform right at the center of Washington.” The Domestic Policy Subcommittee of the House Government Reform Committee was to be officially announced this week in Washington, D.C., but Kucinich opted to make the news public early.

In addition to media ownership, the committee is expected to focus its attention on issues such as net neutrality and major telecommunications mergers. Also in consideration is the "Fairness Doctrine," which required broadcasters to present controversial topics in a fair and honest manner. It was enforced until it was eliminated in 1987.

Kucinich said in his speech that "We know the media has become the servant of a very narrow corporate agenda" and added "we are now in a position to move a progressive agenda to where it is visible."

FCC Commissioner Michael Copps was also on hand at the conference and took broadcasters to task for their current content, speaking of "too little news, too much baloney passed off as news. Too little quality entertainment, too many people eating bugs on reality TV. Too little local and regional music, too much brain-numbing national play-lists." Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein also spoke at the event.
Great! I certainly want the government forcing the media to support a particular ideaology.

Just so you know, the "fairness doctrine" was intended to force broadcast stations to air 'both sides' of controversial issues - and they could be taken to court by people who thought they hadn't presented the issue 'fairly'. Way back in 1985 the FCC found that this was having a chilling effect on news and free speech and might be unconsitutional. Now, leftists view it as a means to control all those annoying conservative people in the news.

CR