Today Media Research Center (MRC) president and NewsBusters publisher Brent Bozell denounced the Obama administration for its plans to delve into the private sector for the purposes of researching and regulating the national news media.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced plans for a two-day workshop in December to examine the state of the news industry - which could lead to recommendations for legislation to regulate print, television, and even online media on everything from changes in anti-trust land copyright law to media tax breaks. Some of the proposals being pushed by opinion leaders include direct government funding of media outlets, while other ideas like relaxing anti-trust regulations would still need government approval.
Mr. Bozell issued the following statement in response:
To the degree that the government inserts itself in the news media, so too do we lose a similar degree of freedom. Every time a news outlet asks for special treatment from the government, that news outlet is compromised.
The Federal Trade Commission has no authority whatsoever to insert itself in the news media. It is not the business of the government to get involved in the free press, period. The 1st Amendment is clear on that.
These Obama socialists are out of control. One by one they are making power grabs on every facet of American life, but everything pales in comparison to any attempt to control the news media.
That's flat out fascism. Hugo Chavez would be proud.
