Re: elected officials on the air ...

[Sptseditor@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/4/00 12:31:21 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
lawyer@world.std.com writes:

<< Well, there used to be a "fairness doctrine" by which the FCC required 
 equal time to all candidates.  I don't quite remember when it was 
 abolished, but it was.  >>

Counsel, are you sure about this? I somehow remember there being some rules 
on the books still about equal access to the media in campaigns -- whether 
that is monitored on a state-to-state basis or by the FEC, I am not sure. (I 
would think that it would be something which might possibly be controlled at 
the local level, but I am not sure.) 

Admittedly I have not heard Jim Braude doing anything resembling campaigning 
on the air, and he could be the nicest guy in the world for all I know; I 
just think that putting the guy on the air daily for three hours in an 
issues-oriented show like he has with Egan (of course, a lot of the issues 
discussed are fluff) opens what I think is an unwelcome can of worms. 

-Sean