Fairness Doctrine blocked by U.S. Senate

By Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service
During a press briefing on the fairness doctrine, Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) said that,
“we can celebrate a victory of sorts today, after taking a message to the American people about radio censorship, the potential of muzzling radio talk show hosts. We were able to force a vote this week on the Broadcasters Freedom Act that would bar the FCC from bringing up what is misnamed the fairness doctrine.”

Democrats have offered an alternative to the bill which DeMint said, “closes the front door to the fairness doctrine, the democrat majority has opened the back door for additional mischief by allowing the FCC, and actually telling the FCC that they shall promote and encourage diversity and communication media.” The senator went on to state that, “right now the vote is going on on the floor , but because of the pressure from the American people, both parties are supporting the prohibition against this censorship of free speech and freedom of the press.”

Congressman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) said that fairness doctrine needs to be stopped from coming back because we don’t need the FCC “becoming the nanny police for freedom of speech in America.” Walden said that together with Representative Mike Pence (R-Ind.), he had a provision in the spending bill that “would have precluded the FCC from spending any money to put the fairness doctrine back in place.” However, this language was taken out when the omnibus passed in the house yesterday. Walden stated that he “calls on the House leadership to not strip the language” out of the senate bill.

Following today’s press briefing, the amendment passed by a large majority 87-11.

Today at TRNS

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Today Talk Radio News Service the Washington Bureau will be covering Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) news conference on the economic stimulus package. Additionally, the Bureau will have coverage of the 2009 National Health Policy Conference, and will cover an event on "Human Rights and Civil Society in Iran" at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. UN Correspondent Tala Dowlatshahi is covering a briefing on Sierra Leone war crimes.

Peter Brimelow talks about the fall of the Republican Party

Peter Brimelow talks about the fall of the Republican Party at the National Press Club. January 29th, 2009.

By Michael Ruhl: University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Senate Republicans offering "American option" for economy

In a meeting today at the Heritage Foundation, Senator Jim DeMint (R- SC) stated that the economic stimulus plan which President Obama is presenting is "indifferent to obvious economic principles." DeMint believes that it is designed to treat the symptoms and not the causes of the failing economy, and will not create economic stability.

"Only about 11% could actually be called economic stimulus, its a grab bag of spending wish lists that's been hanging around here for years," he said.

The Senator went on to present the plan which the Republicans have created, the "American option," which seeks to made current tax rates permanent in order to create stability and predictability which will allow for economic growth and job creation.

"We know it will work, the facts are with us. Basically, it goes back to the idea, let's leave the money in the economy, let's not take quite so much out. Let's leave it with the people who are working, producing, and investing, and saving; that's going to actually create the jobs," he stated.

The Democratic Party does not tolerate voter fraud

The Democratic National Committee held a conference that discussed the Republican hypocrisy of voter registration. In light of the arrest of Mark Jacoby, whose company Young Political Majors, has been accused of tricking residents of California into registering Republican, Jacoby has ties with the California Republican party and the Republican National Committee.

California Democratic Party chairman, Art Torres, said that the Democratic party does not tolerate voter fraud. Torres went on to say that “The RNC needs to immediately eliminate their ties with the committees that have been accused of voter fraud, and unfortunately, instead of doing so they have accused the Democrats of starting it.”

DNC General Counsel, Joe Sandler, brought up the issue that the RNC yells voter fraud against the Democrats, but when a Republican official is asked to list incidents of voter fraud, they are unable to do so. Sandler also criticized Republicans saying “The RNC needs to stop accusing the Democrats of voter fraud when most, if not all of the cases are on their side.”

With 14 days left until voting day, Sandler believes that this is not the last time the public will hear about voter fraud. “This is all the RNC has left, to yell voter fraud and blame it on the Democrats,” Sandler said at the end of the conference.