Sen. Manchin Bemoans Demise of Fairness Doctrine

Debate over the so-called Fairness Doctrine was renewed at a Senate Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee hearing May 17 when Sen Joe Manchin (D-WV) quizzed Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai on the issue. The hearing was wrapping up when Sen Manchin interrupted the closing comments of subcommittee chairman Sen James Lankford (R-OK) to ask if he could say something more. That something was suggesting that the current "toxicity" in the political arena could be traced to the doctrine's demise. He said that the "how can we destroy each other" mentality was not who legislators really were. Sen Manchin said he had talked with a former senator who had been around before and after the doctrine and cited the doctrine repeal as the turning point for divisiveness. Sen Manchin said that up until that time, the radio and TV shows had provided both sides. "Everything had to be equal." Sen Manchin said something had to be done to save the country from "destroying itself," suggesting legislators were actually all good friends, but were being pushed apart.