Does Rep. Greg Walden have a split personality?
Speaking to broadcasters yesterday, Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) of the House Telecommunications Subcommittee said he could envision the Supreme Court taking away the FCC’s powers over indecency on the airwaves. The FCC’s recent decisions on indecency are being challenged in court by three of the major TV networks.
Walden says that he supports an increase in FCC fines and the Commission’s powers, but says that the vague nature of past indecency rulings could give the courts the opening they need. …
At the NAB-sponsored conference in Washington D.C., Walden also said to expect more government control over ad content and pressure on TV violence. “Keep your hand next to the panic button. Advertising is likely to get blamed for everything. Forget personal responsibility. Paternal government is back.”
The First Amendment gives the Supreme Court all the opening it should need to fight censors like Rep. Walden. That it ignores its duty is only a symptom of the larger problem with government. He warns broadcasters that they need to be more proactive against paternal government while seeking to expand the power of that paternal government. How complicated is “Congress shall make no law…“?
Via: Fark