should equal time be given at political speeches?

[rudeguy]

For instance, after Obama said that Republicans didn't want black folks to vote or after Biden said that Republicans were taking foreign money.

Should equal time be given to dispute such lies?

 

[SP33Demon]

Equal time for what?

 

[Londo_Jowo]

For instance, after Obama said that Republicans didn't want black folks to vote or after Biden said that Republicans were taking foreign money.

Should equal time be given to dispute such lies?

It wouldn't matter as those attending the speech will be voting for whomever is speaking or the candidate of the party they represent.

 

[rudeguy]

Equal time for what?

same reason its always given

 

[SP33Demon]

same reason its always given

Are you talking about debates with 2 opponents? Or just Joe Schmoe giving a speech to Joe Schmoe's followers? English, do you speak it?

 

[woolfe9999]

Should equal time be given to dispute such lies?

I don't know. When did you stop beating your wife?

- wolf

 

[werepossum]

If it's something like the upcoming televised Town Hall meetings by BET and a bunch of Viacom stations, then I think absolutely. Otherwise it should be considered a campaign donation in kind. If it's a regular Presidential address like the State of the Union and it isn't overtly political, then I think not. The President is the President and the other party needs to man up and bear it - except when he is campaigning.

If I were making rules I'd say any time less than sixty days before a primary or a general election, the President can be considered to be campaigning.

 

[Thump553]

Absolutely no. Any person has the right on the First Amendment to make a political speech to his/her followers-it's been that way since the origin of this country. Equal time rules applied only mass media regulated by the FCC and basically only apply to media appearances by legally registered candidates.


In fairness the problem you perceive has already been solved without a need to trample upon the Constitution. There are already rules in place that provide if the President is traveling to a political event he does that on his own dime (or his party's) not the country's. So take comfort that your tax dollars are not paying for Obama's rally speeches and fund raisers-I took the same comfort when GWB did the same.

 

[TheBDB]

Everybody already has equal time to dispute anything. We have freedom of speech 24/7...

 

[Scotteq]

For what?


So Lincoln can give his Gettysburg address, and then we can call take a nap for 2 hours so "his" time is equal to that of the speech given by Edward Everett?




Sorry: If there was any real substance to the vapid, partisan shit that passes for "Political Speech" nowadays there wouldn't be any need to do the advertising equivalent of beating it into our heads for hours and hours.

 

[rudeguy]

For what?


So Lincoln can give his Gettysburg address, and then we can call take a nap for 2 hours so "his" time is equal to that of the speech given by Edward Everett?




Sorry: If there was any real substance to the vapid, partisan shit that passes for "Political Speech" nowadays there wouldn't be any need to do the advertising equivalent of beating it into our heads for hours and hours.

Right...I see what you're saying. Plus with all the news sites, blogs and the like...there really isn't much need. I was just a bit miffed after I heard this crap.

 

[Moonbeam]

If people were presented with all sides of an argument they would freeze. Their minds wouldn't be able to handle the data. This is why bigots and the rest of the programmed drones running around and running the world are important. They always do the right thing without having to think.

 

[werepossum]

Right...I see what you're saying. Plus with all the news sites, blogs and the like...there really isn't much need. I was just a bit miffed after I heard this crap.

There's a need if a network or other media is giving one candidate or party time that is not offered to the opposing side - that's equivalent to a donation far above what's allowed by law, and it's unreasonable to expect that the opposition be forced to purchase what his/their opponent receives for free. The President is unique though, and has responsibilities that are unique. If the President is giving an address that is part of his responsibilities, then the party out of power should not expect free air time to rebut; we don't have a President and an Anti-President, and I find it offensive when the opposing party rebuts the State of the Union. I think they should allow the State of the Union address to run unopposed and allow both parties to argue over what he REALLY said afterward. If however the President is clearly engaging in politics and is receiving free media bandwidth to do so - and close to an election every President will be engaging in politics - then the opposition deserves the same air time.

 

[theeedude]

Republicans can give their own response speech and take whatever time they want.

 

[ElFenix]

For instance, after Obama said that Republicans didn't want black folks to vote or after Biden said that Republicans were taking foreign money.

Should equal time be given to dispute such lies?

wait wut?