If Congressman Mike Pence (R-Indiana) and other Republicans really believed in a liberal press, why would they introduce an amendment to ban using federal funds to try and bring back the Fairness Doctrine? Pence’s introduction of the amendment is an open admission that Republicans don’t really believe the press has a liberal bias. If they did, wouldn’t they want a return of the Fairness Doctrine for more balance in the marketplace of ideas?

But Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) said it best, this debate is a red herring. The Fairness Doctrine is done. If they really want to discuss the issue of restoring a genuinely productive and balanced debate in this country, they should discuss reversing the extreme consolidation of media ownership. Ownership, by the way, who overwhelming donates their dollars to Republican candidates and Republican causes.

This post was written by Mary Mancini