Schumer Drops An F-Bomb…

Thursday, November, 6, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

New York’s ‘Senator Soundbite” a.k.a. Charles Schumer sent shockwaves reverberating throughout Radio when he dropped the dreaded F-bomb - the fairness doctrine.  Schumer, who never met a camera he didn’t talk to, dropped the word during an interview with Fox.  Schumer said that the same people who say the FCC should be able to regulate “pornography” on the air don’t want it (FCC) to intervene to promote fairness and balance, calling that inconsistent.  For those not familiar with the doctrine, dropped by the FCC in 1987 as unconstitutional, it requires broadcasters to air both sides of controversial issues.  When it was dropped Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and a legion of other yackers opened bank accounts in Switzerland.  Don’t think this Schumer soundbite was instigated by new President-elect Barack Obama, who already told the media that he has no interest in bringing the doctrine back.  No, this was pure ‘Chucky’ talk but a lot scarier than the cult movie…

Opposition to Schumer’s fairness idea quickly hit the fan.  The National Religious Broadcasters, for one, are concerned, “I was stunned by Senator Schumer’s suggestion that by keeping filth off the air, the federal government has somehow become empowered to take over the control of legitimate programming content of broadcasters.  That paints a very grim picture for the future of broadcasting freedoms, particularly for Christian broadcasters” says Craig Parshall, senior VP and general counsel for NRB and author of its brief supporting the FCC on indecency enforcement.  Game on!!!

Even Supreme Court Justice Scalia is opposed to the return of the fairness doctrine saying “free speech should never be sacrificed on the altar of a false choice.”  Scalia opines that neither the Supreme Court nor the Constitution makes censoring “politically incorrect” ideas the quid pro quo for being able to regulate “profanity and smut” on broadcast TV and radio.  Are you listening Senator Schumer??? 

  10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1869] Tee for two: Rutgers beats Princeton 6-4 at New Brunswick (NJ) in the first college football game. There were 25 players on each side, touchdowns were worth one point and the game resembled soccer more than football…
2. 1923] A patented shave: Colonel Jacob Schick patents the first electric shaver…
3. 1935] The birth of FM: Edwin H. Armstrong announces the development of FM broadcasting. Bless you Edwin H. Armstrong…
4. 1956] Election Day results: President Dwight David Eisenhower is re-elected with a victory over Adlai E. Stevenson…2001] Michael Bloomberg defeats Mark Green in the New York City mayoral election…2005] Bloomberg is re-elected, beating Fernando Ferrer and because of his arrogance, Bloomberg will be eligible for a third term in 2009…
5. 1967] Premiered on this date: Phil Donahue begins his TV talk show in Dayton (OH) and stays on the air for over 25 years with it.  Donahue takes on Bill O’Reilly in this clip…
6. 1973] Body snatcher: Singer Gram Parsons’ manager Phil Kaufman is fined $300 for stealing Parsons’ body from LAX. Kaufman claims it was Parsons wish to be cremated…
7. 1995] Banned in Cleveland: Browns’ owner Art Modell announces a plan to move the team to Baltimore. Mike Ditka comments.  It gets worse when the Baltimore Ravens win the Super Bowl…
8. 1995] Leaving his Mark in New York: The Rangers’ Mark Messier scores his 500th NHL goal against Calgary.  Here’s a tribute to #11…
9. 1995] Michael leaves his mark: Michael Jordan scores 50 points for the 29th time in his NBA career…
10. 2002] Gotcha: A jury in Beverly Hills convicts Winona Ryder of stealing $5,500 worth of merchandise from Saks Fifth Avenue. Winona is placed on probation for 3 years…

Music Memories:

• 1965] Premiered on this date: Bill Graham opens Fillmore West in San Francisco with Jefferson Airplane and The Grateful Dead opening the original venue.  In this clip Graham says farewell to FW…
• 1965] Released on this date: “It’s My Life” - Animals…
• 1965] Live on ‘Shindig’: The Rolling Stones, Fontella Bass and the Strangeloves…

Commentary:

The death of Michael Crichton came suddenly on Tuesday.  Although the victim of cancer, his passing was unexpected.  Crichton was a medical doctor before becoming famous for novels like “The Andromeda Strain” and “Jurassic Park.”  Crichton also created “ER.”  Steven Spielberg said “Michael was a gentle soul who reserved his flamboyant side for his novels.  There is no one in the wings that will ever take his place.”  Crichton was 66…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“:

Rebecca Romijn (36), Ethan Hawke (38), Maria Shriver (53), Glenn Frey (60), Sally Field (62), P.J. Proby (70), Eugene Pitt (71), Stonewall Jackson (76) and Mike Nichols (77)…

Timeline Countdown: 5 days until Veteran’s Day, 21 days until Thanksgiving and 45 days until the arrival of winter…

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