I received this article from Radio Ink, a service I subscribe to for obvious reason. Today It featured the following article.
“June 2, 2010: A group of 30 organizations, including the National Hispanic Media Coalition, Prometheus Radio Project, and the Rainbow Push Coalition, have asked the FCC to “examine the extent and effects of hate speech in media, including the likely link between hate speech and hate crimes, and to explore non-regulatory ways to counteract its negative impacts.” The filing, in the Future of Media proceeding, calls the current media landscape “a safe haven for hate and extremism” and says that is exacerbated by media consolidation.
The groups also say such “hate” is a “profit model for syndicated radio and cable television programs masquerading as ‘news.’” The filing points to smaller numbers of working journalists, adding that the Internet is not a substitute for traditional media and is in any event “inundated with hate speech.”
What constitutes “hate speech” is not defined in the filing, but the groups nonetheless urge the FCC to collect data on it as an “essential task, even if the commission does nothing more than turn that information over to the public, researchers, and other government entities.” That, says the filing, will help the NHMC and other groups to “hold the media accountable.”
The FCC’s authority over content is very limited, extending only to indecency, children’s TV requirements, and political equal time. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has also recently filed a complaint with the FCC related to content that the group considered a “call to violence” by KPRC/Houston talk host Michael Berry.”
While there nothing in this story that suggests they group is advocating new laws restricting free speech — you know where this is heading. In fact, I told you it was coming.
May people have responded to my blogs when President Obama was running for office. They said my criticism of him was unwarranted. They told me that I didn’t know what I was talking about. They told me that I was just some right wing Republican, angry at change.
Well, look out. Everything I’ve been saying is coming true. The President Obama signed Hate Crimes Legislation. He passed Socialized health care, he’s inserted Chicago style politics into the Pennsylvania Democratic Senate race. And, now it appears the FCC may be tipping its hand toward a ‘hate speech’ bill — under the guise of FCC investigation. Perhaps it was begin restricting speech on radio first.
Interesting.
Thanks for sharing this Greg, I’m sharing on Facebook too.
Back in the 1990s I said lets get back to the Constitution, people said I was joking, I was goofy (you get the point). Welcome aboard. And God bless you.
Hate crimes are bad for everyone. While there may be a fine line in what a hate crime really is, every instance should be investagated. Be it something being pushed by FOX news or CNN. Being afraid of openness concerning such investagations just fuels the idea that conservative outlets and views harbor hate. The best defence may be offence in Football but in this case its a open exchange of ideas and views.