Don’t let Obama silence our voices!

Barack Obama has said he won’t seek to reinstate the so-called Fairness Doctrine requiring broadcasters over the public airwaves to give equal time to opposing political views.

But he could instead mount a "far more dangerous attack" on free speech and conservative talk radio, a media watchdog discloses.

The tactic: Using a vague rule already on the books to threaten any radio station that airs conservative programs with the loss of it broadcast license, according to Jim Boulet Jr., founder of the Web site KeepRushontheAir.com.

The Federal Communication Commission rule in question is called localism, and it requires radio and TV stations to serve the interests of their local community — by covering local issues and providing an outlet for local voices — as a condition of keeping their licenses.

Writing on the American Thinker Web site, Boulet observes: 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, such as Rush Limbaughs top-rated show.

In September 2007, Obama submitted a statement supporting localism to an FCC hearing.

The head of his transition team is John Podesta, whose organization, the Center for American Progress, issued a report last year complaining that there is too much conservative talk on the radio because of the absence of localism in American radio markets and urging the FCC to ensure greater local accountability over radio licensing.

Podestas choice as head of the FCCs transition team is Henry Rivera, whose law firm is also the former home of current FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, himself an advocate of more stringent localism requirements, Boulet points out.

He warns that a single complaint from anyone can hinder a stations license renewal process or even lead to the loss of the license.

To protect free speech and conservative talk radio, station owners need to become engaged in the localism issue and then take the time to educate their own congressman and senators about the dangers of the FCCs proposals, Boulet urges.

If broadcasters get involved, it just may be possible to block implementation of any localism rules during the few months remaining of the Bush administration.

This delay is critical, since once it is now the Obama administration leading the fight for rules which would shut down conservative talk radio, Republican congressmen and senators will find it easier to fight back.

President Obama's First Target: Close Down Rush, Hannity, O'Reilly, Savage and all the syndicated conservative talkers and then they go after the local programs like “Powers to the People” as well.

I am starting a new site at http://powerstothepeople.ning.com/ where you can send your emails to your Congressmen, Senators and even Obama letting them know (in your own words or you can use the “form” letter that will be on the site) that you are not only against the “Fairness Doctrine” but you also are against them using the vague “localism” rule already on the books to threaten any radio station that airs conservative programs with the loss of it broadcast license.

If we are EVER going to actually get a “Fair Tax” plan passed we must be able to get our message out to the American People. If Conservative Talk Radio is killed off we will lose our strongest weapon and advocacy voice forever, which will doom all of our efforts for a “Fair Tax!”