Radio host Neal Boortz, a self-described libertarian, predicts that if Hillary Clinton becomes president, she will seek to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine to rein in conservative and libertarian talk radio.
The Fairness Doctrine, first implemented in 1949, stipulated that radio and later, TV stations must give equal time to opposing viewpoints on controversial subjects. The FCC repealed the Doctrine in 1987.
In an interview with Talkers magazine, Boortz who has 3.75 million listeners per week on 200 radio stations was asked if there is a danger the Doctrine would be reinstituted.
"Absolutely, he answered. "Its drop dead. If Hillary Clinton or a Democrat of her type becomes President of the United States and the Democrats control the House and the Senate, the Fairness Doctrine will pass.
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"The only thing that I can see stopping it would be the lack of a filibuster-proof majority in the U.S. Senate.
"The left cannot tolerate talk radio. They tried this venue and they failed. They fail time after time after time. Look at Air America. These people had to pay radio stations to carry their programming. No wonder they ran out of money so quick . . .
"So the only tactic they have left is to destroy talk radio through this phony Fairness Doctrine.
Opponents of the Fairness Doctrine say that if it were reinstated, stations that air conservative viewpoints would have to give free air time to liberals. As a result, many stations might then opt not to air the conservative talkers.
Boortz asserted that the Fairness Doctrine "would be used to destroy people like Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh right away.