"All politics is local."You, of course, remember that old saw though you probably figured that in the new world of globalism, the internet, advocacy journalism and the wide multiplicity of informational venues that the adage no longer applies.
Well, here's a frightening article by Jim Boulet, Jr. that carefully details how it's not local politics on Barack Obama's mind but "localism," a little-known but deadly serious danger to free speech that's already on the books.
...The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule in question is called "localism." Radio and television stations are required to serve the interests of their local community as a condition of keeping their broadcast licenses. Obama needs only three votes from the five-member FCC to define localism in such a way that no radio station would dare air any syndicated conservative programming.
Localism is one of the rare issues on which Obama himself has been outspoken. On September 20, 2007, Obama submitted a pro-localism written statement to an FCC hearing held at the Chicago headquarters of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.'s Operation Push.
Furthermore, the Obama transition team knows all about the potential of localism as a means of silencing conservative dissent. The head of the Obama transition team is John Podesta, President and CEO of the Center for American Progress. In 2007, the Center for American Progress issued a report, The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio. This report complained that there was too much conservative talk on the radio because of "the absence of localism in American radio markets" and urged the FCC to "[e]nsure greater local accountability over radio licensing...
This is a very important article, exposing as it does a tremendous danger to free speech that the Democrats will no doubt be implementing soon...unless you and I join in to stop them.
I print below one of the e-mails I sent this morning to Senators Nelson and Hagel, and to Congressmen Terry, Smith and Fortenberrry. In addition I've forwarded Boulet's article to local Christian and talk radio stations, asking them to contact their political representatives as well.
Dear Representative Terry,
Congratulations on your election victory. It's good to know that the pro-life, pro-family cause has retained a key champion in the Congress. You will, of course, remain in our prayers for wisdom, courage and spiritual strength.
I'd like to point out for your attention a very serious matter; namely the threat to free speech poised by the FCC's doctrine of "localism." Well, to be more specific, the threat is how the incoming Democratic administration may well exploit "localism" in an attempt to stifle conservative voices on talk radio. Please read through this carefully detailed article by Jim Boulet, Jr. (http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/11/obama_declares_war_on_conserva.html) and then do what you can to protect free speech from the dangers he describes.
Thank you so much. And thank you for your service to our community and nation.
