Rasmussen: 31% favor restrictions on political blogging

[Newsjock]

http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/47_favor_government_mandated_political_balance_on_radio_tv

Nearly half of Americans (47%) believe the government should require all radio and television stations to offer equal amounts of conservative and liberal political commentary, but they draw the line at imposing that same requirement on the Internet. Thirty-nine percent (39%) say leave radio and TV alone, too.

... Fifty-seven percent (57%) say the government should not require websites and blog sites that offer political commentary to present opposing viewpoints. But 31% believe the Internet sites should be forced to balance their commentary.

... Even Democrats say hands-off the Internet though but by a far smaller margin than Republicans and unaffiliated voters. Democrats oppose government-mandated balance on the Internet by a 48% to 37% margin. Sixty-one percent (61%) of Republicans reject government involvement in Internet content along with 67% of unaffiliated voters.

Only 45% of Americans say they are following recent news stories about the Fairness Doctrine even somewhat closely, while 15% say they are not following the story at all.

[yurbud]

1. difference between TV & radio vs. internet: limited vs. unlimited outlets.

[StClone]

2. But they aren't bother by 527s?

If blogger's 1st Amendment rights are abrogated will 527 groups be ignored? Bloggers offer many views, many insightful and relevant, many erroneous. But watching McCain ads attack Obama proves the appalling loose restraints on nationwide TV presidential campaign ads.

[Richard D]

3. 31% . . .

. . . isn't that hovering right around his approval rating?

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. There is no way I am sharing DU with freepers

That thought makes me throw up - and not a little in my mouth, but a lot all over the room. We are talking projectile vomiting.

[DCKit]

8. Psssst. They is hear.

You gotta admit they are entertaining and most would have to do the whole K-12 thing all over (and pay attention this time) to get over on us for more than a few dozen posts.

[KharmaTrain]

5. Be Wary Of the New "Fairness Doctrine" Crap

There are a group of GOOP Congresscritters led by Mike Pence who are trying to ram through a bill in the House that would make it difficult for a station to drop a format...specifically hate radio...attempting to "grandfather" hate radio onto the dial even if the owner wants to change the format or sells the station.

[Clear Blue Sky]

7. I don't like the whole idea of this "fairness doctrine"

There could be unintended consequences. This could be used against us depending on who is in charge and enforcing the law. Rights given up, such as free speech, may be hard to get back in the future.

[KharmaTrain]

9. I Couldn't Agree More

I worked with the Fairness Doctrine in the 80's. It never dealt with talk radio and news, but with public affairs and advertising...to prevent a station from freezing out a candidate from buying air time by either refusing to sell to them or fixing the rates. The corporate broadcasters sure don't want a return to those days as a lion share of the money campaigns spend are on these people...they loathe the thought of going back to selling rates at the lowest "card" rate.

With the political and economic growth of the netroots, a future focus should be on developing other alternatives to the hate media...using the many great talents that have risen in recent years and build a better, stronger Progressive radio and television presence. Nova-M is a great step in that direction, but there needs to be more.

"Fairness" isn't what's needed...a revision of Telcom '96 that breaks up the monopolies of the public airwaves by large corporates and returns it to local and diverse ownership.

Cheers...

[bemildred]

6. Reluctantly ....

I think we should have the government butt out, free speech all the way. Just when we are overcoming the information control foisted on us by the broadcast media and it's limited bandwidth, that is not the time to give the government a lever to interfere in our right to say whatever we like on the internet too.

[liberal N proud]

10. 31% of Americans would support fascism

Lets send them to China, they would love the oppression.

[SoCalDem]

11. Gotta love the "dirty thirty"..we can always count on them to be on the "other side"

of EVERYTHING :rofl: