The First Amendment …

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. ”

Subversion of the First Amendment …

Most people relate the subversion of the First Amendment to censorship; the control over speech by those in power who wish to remove , prohibit or shape the expression which they may consider to be morally, politically, or otherwise objectionable.

However, one need not prohibit or remove words from presentation to an audience – one could dilute the objectionable message by an overwhelming repetition of a desired expression; or one could strengthen the media upon which the desired message is carried; especially to a targeted audience.

Which message will prevail?

It does not take a genius to note that the democrats successfully cobbled together a coalition of minorities; be they based on class, ethnicity, national origin, color, race or perceived victimhood.

And noting that there were a number of minority-owned media outlets who slavishly promoted the democrat position to their minority audience, it seems that this initiative is both payback for past support and a downpayment for future support. Other than by virtue of paid political ads, it is unlikely that any position other than the liberal democrats will be presented -- at least without the ritual derision of the opposing party.

Therefore, it should be upsetting to all Americans to see the democrats trying to subvert the First Amendment for their political advantage.

According to TheHill.com …

“High-ranking House Democrats are urging the Treasury Department to prop up minority-owned broadcasters suffering from a lack of capital and lost advertising revenue amid the economic slump.”

No Constitutional authority …

There is no Constitutional authority for the federal government to interfere with free speech, the media or the financial affairs of privately-owned companies.

And while this has not stopped legislators and un-elected Administration officials from offering bailout funds to specific classes of companies – thus violating their oath to defend, uphold and protect the Constitution of the United States; to interfere further with the media would be extremely problematical.

“House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) is leading an effort to convince Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to take ‘decisive action’ by extending credit to this sector of the broadcasting industry.”

The far-left liberals …

“Clyburn and other senior members, including House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), argue that minority-owned broadcasters are sound businesses, but that the recession could undermine the government’s efforts to diversify the airwaves.”

If the minority-owned businesses are as sound as argued, then they should require no government assistance at all. Of course, Barney Frank also argued that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were sound – and we all know what happened to them. These legislators have zero credibility.

“A number of members from the Congressional Black Caucus signed the letter, too.”

I consider all of the members of the Black Caucus to be racists: viewing everything through the prism of race and attempting to legislate in such a manner as to convey an unfair advantage to black citizens over their entire constituency. Even worse, I consider them to be far-left Marxists who promote the subversion of the Government by incremental legislation which weakens the Constitution and makes all citizens vulnerable to the whims of the political elite.

“While many jobs are at stake, a more important principle — the government’s fundamental interest in promoting a diversity of voices, including service to underserved communities — is severely threatened,” the members write in a draft of a letter that was scheduled to be sent Tuesday.

This is pure and utter bullshit. The government does not have a Constitutional role to play in promoting any particular position – especially a political one that favors the party in power.

Dare I use the pun: Blackmail?

“The letter comes as some of the biggest recipients of government bailout money, including JPMorgan Chase & Co., Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, jockey to repay government bailout money. As banks seek a way out from the government’s restrictions, other industries struggle and seek government support. Some firms seeking to repay the government argue that the government’s restrictions have burdened their businesses.”

Each of the companies that took federal money did so with the tacit understanding that they may be required to accept the views of Congress or the Administration as the price paid to the devil for being saved. But any legislator or member of the Administration who tries to direct funds conditioned on the support of single-purpose social programs is guilty of a violation of their Constitutional oath and should be criminally prosecuted for extortion.

“ The congressmen suggest the Treasury Department could provide access to capital to minority-owned broadcasters, which they say represent less than 7 percent of full-power radio stations and a ‘negligible’ ownership of television stations.”

The way I read this is: here is the fairness doctrine coming back to support the democrats as the party in power. Definitely immoral, unconstitutional and, in my view, criminal.

“ ‘They are looking for continued access to capital to continue their otherwise fundamentally sound operations,’ the members write.”

“The letter suggests Treasury could set up a credit facility specific to the industry, similar to the government’s efforts to support auto suppliers, or possibly set up a program for bridge financing and government-backed loans until the economy improves.”

“ ‘In addition to the credit crisis, also weighing heavily on minority broadcasters is a significant decline in advertising revenues, particularly the loss of automobile advertising,’ the congressmen write.”

A double subsidy? First subsidizing the advertising activities of the automakers with taxpayer’s hard-earned money and then subsidizing the media? With the Internet and other channels, we know how to research cars when the time comes to purchase one. A trip down “dealer row” will yield any number of colorful brochures and other marketing materials. The idea that any media is owed advertising by any entity and should be compensated for its loss is grossly wrong-headed.

“The members are asking for a meeting with the Treasury Department and minority-owned broadcast entities and representatives from the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters.”

Timothy Geithner needs to draw the line here. If the federal government is not willing to support all small businesses, regardless of their ownership, they should not support any single category of small business. Minority broadcasters do not deserve any more consideration than any other enterprise, especially minority-owned newspapers or sign printers … well you get the point!

The guilt trip is over …

We have a black President. We have black people in positions of power. The white guilt trip is over. The only ones left to promote racism are those who claim to be its victims. Enough is enough. Time to do the right thing – no more subsidizing the unproductive, the terminally stupid, and the corrupt. We need to re-build America’s decaying and crumbling  infrastructure and we need honest and competent people to do the job – regardless of their race, color, creed, national origin or minority status.

The toxic legislators among us …

“Other members signing the letter are Democratic Reps. Bobby Rush (Ill.), Edolphus Towns (N.Y.), Maurice Hinchey (N.Y.), Carolyn Maloney (N.Y.), Maxine Waters (Calif.), Gregory Meeks (N.Y.), G.K. Butterfield (N.C.), Barbara Lee (Calif.), Lynn Woolsey (Calif.) and Bennie Thompson (Miss.)”

I consider some, if not most, of the people signing this letter to be far-left liberal activists, or Marxists if you will, who denigrate and demean the United States and promote divisive racism at each and every occasion. They appear to be dividers not uniters.

Bottom-line …

I believe supporting minority broadcasters would be a subversion of the First Amendment and Constitutionally impermissible. I also believe that this is just the beginning of the democrat’s assault on the media – to insure that their message, and only their message, is heard.

There is no doubt in my mind that we now have a toxic Administration and a toxic Congress. The only solution being a total and complete purging of the racists, socialists and others who seem to be complaining about America on one hand and stealing the taxpayer’s hard-earned money with the other.

Have a different opinion, feel free to comment at the end of this blog entry or send me an e-mail using the link under my picture.

-- steve

Reference Links:

TheHill.com