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Monday, October 27, 2008

New ATI-News/Zogby Poll Shows Independent and Undecided Voters Reject So-called 'Fairness Doctrine'

New ATI-News/Zogby Poll Shows Independent and Undecided Voters Reject So-called 'Fairness Doctrine'

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Obama supporters and Democrats are at odds with Independents and undecided voters when it comes to clamping down on free speech over the air waves, according to a just-released ATI-News/Zogby poll. "Barack Obama has shown a stunning lack of tolerance for free speech throughout the course of this campaign," said ATI-News president Brad O'Leary. "His presidency, combined with supermajorities for Democrats in Congress would almost certainly bring back the so-called 'Fairness Doctrine' and allow the Democrats to snuff out any broadcasters with whom they disagree."

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030425/ATNLOGO)

The poll surveyed 1,203 likely voters nationwide and was conducted October 23-26. It has a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points.

ATI-News/Zogby asked likely voters: "Some say the Fairness Doctrine could result in popular radio shows, such as Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, to be taken off the air in some markets. Knowing this, do you support or oppose reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine?"

Those who say they will vote for Barack Obama support reinstating the Fairness Doctrine 53 to 37 percent (10 percent are not sure). Meanwhile, Independent voters oppose reviving the Doctrine 49 to 40 percent, and undecided voters reject it 50 to 17 percent (33 percent are not sure).

Originally instituted in 1949 by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Fairness Doctrine was soon recognized as a tool for silencing any opposing views - particularly conservative views.

The FCC repealed the Fairness Doctrine in 1987 admitting the doctrine "had the net effect of reducing rather than enhancing the discussion of controversial issues of public importance."

According to O'Leary, Obama and the Democrats would rather silence their detractors through oppressive regulation than compete on an even playing field. To make his case, he cites several examples:

* When Chicago radio station WGN scheduled journalist Stanley Kurtz
to talk about Obama's ties to Ayers, the Obama campaign recruited
100,000 supporters to act in a cult-like manner and besiege the
station with protests.

* When "Joe the Plumber" questioned Obama about his plan to raise
taxes on small businesses, Obama supporters sought to destroy Joe and
publicly embarrass him by digging through his tax files, work history
and personal life.

* Obama forces also tried to hush a national organization that ran
TV and radio ads attacking the candidate's position on an issue. In
that instance, Obama's general counsel fired off a letter threatening
the licenses of stations that didn't pull the ad "for the sake of FCC
licensing and the public interest."

* After seeing a dip in the polls in September, the Obama campaign
dispatched prosecutors and law enforcement officials in Missouri to
act as so-called "truth squads" to target anyone who runs ads on TV
or radio critical of Obama.


"There is nothing 'fair' about the Fairness Doctrine, and re-establishing the Doctrine would have the chilling effect of silencing America's 2,000 talk radio show hosts that discuss politics," warned O'Leary.

"There is very little doubt that if Obama ascends to the presidency and Democrats achieve super majorities in both houses of Congress, the Fairness Doctrine will become law and freedom-of-speech will be purged from our nation's airwaves."

Brad O'Leary serves as President of ATI-News and is the former President of the American Association of Political Consultants. From 1993 to 1997, Brad hosted a talk show program on NBC Westwood One that boasted two million listeners a day. For complete poll results, go to www.AmericanFreeSpeechRadio.com. To interview Brad O'Leary, call Peyton Knight at 202-828-1202.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030425/ATNLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: ATI-News

CONTACT: Peyton Knight, +1-202-828-1202, for ATI-News

Web Site: http://www.americanfreespeechradio.com/


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