Pence, Walden confront House Committee today about threats to talk radio, free speech

Talk radio show host Glenn Beck (GQ)

We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.

Those words of President John F. Kennedy are worth taking to heart today.

This afternoon, Congressmen Greg Walden and Mike Pence are preparing to go before the House Rules Committee to argue that they should be allowed to offer their amendment to the Financial Services Appropriations Bill, which was filed last night.

The Walden-Pence Broadcaster Freedom Amendment would block the FCC from bringing back the so-called “Fairness Doctrine” or implementing “stealth Fairness Doctrine” in the form of proposed broadcast localism regulations, including requirements for onerous local advisory boards, for the next fiscal year.

As reported here throughout the year, these local advisory boards are simply a way for leftwing activists to insinuate themselves into talk radio programming. These boards will very likely be made up of ACORN activists, "community organizers" and other liberal busybodies, who will monitor and critique talk radio programming (which is overwhelmingly conservative).

Contact your Member of Congress and politely demand an up-or-down vote on the Walden-Pence Broadcaster Freedom Amendment.

Call TODAY, Tuesday, July 14 because the Rules Committee is scheduled to meet at 3:00pm EST this afternoon to decide which amendments to allow.

The Capitol Switchboard is (202) 224-3121.

Says Mike Pence: "Let’s get the word out: no more government takeover. This amendment would stop the government from taking over the airwaves and would preserve our cherished First Amendment right to freedom of speech."