The Fairness Doctrine

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has, for the most part, supported many of the policies of President Bush. Not all the time, but most of the time.

The Obama campaign has used this against McCain in the election. And that's fair. It's not as it's being presented, but still, McCain's support of many of the President's policies is a fair issue.

So let's talk fair.

You've heard of the "Fairness Doctrine," I'm sure. It was generally applied by the "Equal Time" rule, though that in and of itself was not the "Fairness Doctrine."

However, the "Equal Time" rule that many broadcasters applied was generally good enough to meet FCC policies (the "Fairness Doctrine"). Heck, I even used it once to ask for -- and receive -- equal time to respond to an editorial on my hometown radio station back in the 1970s.

Either way, it meant that if you presented one side of a controversial argument, you had an obligation to present the other side. Not equal time, but an opposing view nonetheless.

Many on the left want to bring the Fairness Doctrine back. But whether or not it's brought back isn't actually the topic.

It's the general idea of fairness.

Like I said, McCain's support of the policies of Bush is a fair issue. My own take is that, if George W. Bush and John S. McCain agree on something, it's probably a good thing. But that's just me.

Let's consider what else is fair.

How about ... the policies of Barack Obama?

Since he has such a short resumé, you don't have as much to look at. So, when you look at what's there, you better look close.

And that's why Obama's votes to raise taxes on those making $42K a year is important. It's not what he's preaching right now, but it's what he's done. I choose to believe what a man has done more that what he says. His votes to raise taxes are fair game.

And, because his record is so small, you have to look closely at all kinds of things to figure out just who this guy is.

As for McCain, I have a friend that used to live in Arizona. She says that well before he came into the national spotlight, he was just like he is today. Like him or hate him, he's honest and is straight with you, not telling you what he thinks you want to hear, but what he thinks you need to hear.

Obama? He's saying things that don't match up to his record.

He's denied a relationship with Bill Ayers, but that doesn't match the facts. And that question is fair.

Obama says he doesn't want to raise your taxes, but he wants to eliminate the Bush tax cuts that will ... get this ... have the effect of raising your taxes. And that's a fair topic.

Obama wants to "spread the wealth around" ... and that's socialism, plain and simple. And that's a fair topic for discussion.

Obama has called the U. S. Constitution a "fundamentally flawed" document. Not a document that contains flaws that can be corrected by amendments, but "fundamentally flawed." His statements are a fair topic for discussion.

I could go on and on. And probably will. Just not right now.

If anyone wants to institute a "fairness doctrine," it should begin with a fair look at Barack Obama.

Anyone American who takes a fair look at Barack Obama will be appalled by what he sees.