Obama opposes Fairness Doctrine

Michael Calderone
Politico

Until now, the Obama administration has remained mum when it comes to the Fairness Doctrine.

But now, White House spokesperson Ben LaBolt tells Fox News that "as the president stated during the campaign, he does not believe the Fairness Doctrine should be reinstated."

Indeed, that was candidate Obama's position last June.

However, since being elected, both Robert Gibbs and David Axelrod haven't answered questions about the Fairness Doctrine when posed on television or in the briefing room. And in past weeks, White House press staffers have been unwilling to answer my queries on the subject, either.

While there's been silence from the White House, it's been a hot topic on talk radio.

Recently, Democratic Sens. Tom Harkin and Debbie Stabenow have talked about reviving the defunct policy that regulated opinion on the airwaves. And it was reported yesterday that Henry Waxman was considering whether the Fairness Doctrine could apply to the Internet.

There's been a fear — especially among conservative talk radio listeners — that a Democratic administration and Congress would push for the Fairness Doctrine.