President Obama opposes any move to bring back the so-called Fairness Doctrine, a spokesman told FOXNews.com Wednesday.

The statement is the first definitive stance the administration has taken since an aide told an industry publication last summer that Obama opposes the doctrine -- a long-abolished policy that would require broadcasters to provide opposing viewpoints on controversial issues.

"As the president stated during the campaign, he does not believe the Fairness Doctrine should be reinstated," White House spokesman Ben LaBolt told FOXNews.com.

That was after both senior adviser David Axelrod and White House press secretary Robert Gibbs left open the door on whether Obama would support reinstating the doctrine.

"I'm going to leave that issue to Julius Genachowski, our new head of the FCC ... and the president to discuss. So I don't have an answer for you now," Axelrod told FOX News Sunday over the weekend when asked about the president's position.

The debate over the so-called Fairness Doctrine has heated up in recent days as prominent Democratic senators have called for the policies to be reinstated. Conservative talk show hosts, who see the doctrine as an attempt to impose liberal viewpoints on their shows, largely oppose any move to bring it back.

Originally posted by Frankidealist35
reply to post by Vitchilo

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Do you have a problem with people stating their opinions on the news or something? People should know that if they're watching the news that people are going to be biased when they give commentary about the issues.

Originally posted by Irish M1ck
reply to post by Vitchilo

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This is unbelievable. Wow, just wow. Every time a new piece of information comes out, whether something good or bad, you guys still manage to criticize it.

"Oh - My - God! An aide told us that Obama wants to take Limbaugh off the air with the Fairness Doctrine. We better talk about this for months and months like we know its a fact and it's the end of the world!"

"Oh - My - God! Obama said he doesn't want to do that. I should be happy, since I was upset about it in the first place, but instead, I'm just going to say he flip-flopped and he lied about it!"

Just more proof that he cant win no matter what.



[edit on 2/19/2009 by Irish M1ck]