Equal media time

[FiveBillionAcres]

Can someone explain to me the law about equal media time, specially what law is it? And why won't Bob Barr the quasi Libertarian get media time?

[yesitsloaded]

Some are more equal than others.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

To my knowledge, there are no real laws for equal time any more.  There used to be, but not any longer.

Bob Barr won't get much media coverage because he's irrelevant.

[yesitsloaded]

I don't know about that, the media loves a sideshow.

[Sergeant Bob]

Which still does not make him relevant.

[FiveBillionAcres]

The chances of Bob winning an actual electoral college are slim to none, as always the Libertarian party and it's supporters know this, at this point in time it's about getting a message out more than actually trying to win anything.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

If you're counting on the media to get the Libertarian message out, you're going to be disappointed.

[Lennyjoe]

If you're counting on the media to get the Libertarian anyone other than Obama's message out, you're going to be disappointed

There, fixed it for ya

[Boomhauer]

To my knowledge, there are no real laws for equal time any more.  There used to be, but not any longer.

And free speech is the better for it.

And do you really think that the gov't would enforce equal time laws for Big Media? Heck no...they'd only go after Fox News, radio talk shows (Rush et. al.) and internet news sources...

[seeker_two]

I think what you're looking for is The Fairness Doctrine...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairness_Doctrine

The Fairness Doctrine was a United States FCC regulation requiring broadcast licensees to present controversial issues of public importance in a manner deemed by the FCC to be honest, equitable, and balanced. The doctrine has since been withdrawn by the FCC, and certain aspects of the doctrine have been questioned by courts.

This is the one the libs want to use to go after conservative talk radio....

[MicroBalrog]

If you're counting on the media to get the Libertarian message out, you're going to be disappointed.

And this, ladies and gents, is why we need the wookie suits.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

If you're counting on the media to get the Libertarian message out, you're going to be disappointed.

And this, ladies and gents, is why we need the wookie suits.

If you're counting on wookie suits to get your message out, you're going to be disappointed.

[MicroBalrog]

If you're counting on the media to get the Libertarian message out, you're going to be disappointed.

And this, ladies and gents, is why we need the wookie suits.

If you're counting on wookie suits to get your message out, you're going to be disappointed.

So the media is not going to get my message out and neither will the public schools and neither will the academia.

Alternative media and publicity stunts of all stripes is the way to go.

[RocketMan]

Alternative media and publicity stunts of all stripes is the way to go.

And that is precisely why your candidate will be marginalized.

[MicroBalrog]

Alternative media and publicity stunts of all stripes is the way to go.

And that is precisely why your candidate will be marginalized.

"My" candidate?

Have you considered politics is not all about candidates?

[RocketMan]

The "alternative media and publicity stunts" will color the electorate's perception of your candidate.  Most probably in a negative fashion.  The message will be lost to the people the stunts are aimed at.
So yes, it will end up being all about the candidate.

[MicroBalrog]

I think you miss my point. This is not your fault, it's probably mine from failing to argument it.

Let us consider this logically.

1.My political views are most easily describe as libertaria  naturally, utopia is impossible, but I would like to live in a society that is generally guided by these ideals before I die.

2.Currently, no libertarian candidate is capable of winning any election or primary outside the 22nd Congressional District in Texas and the 10th Congressional District in Georgia. To argue otherwise is blatantly insane.

3.Previously to this election cycle, the only viable policy in the libertarian political arsenal has been to try and inject individual libertarian policies into the public debate, hoping a political party will latch on to them. Vouchers are a great example of this strategy working. This method, however, has a disadvantage of being slow. Really slow. We're talking 'decades and generations'.

4.An alternative to 3, and by no means a replacement, is to utilize those who are more radically minded in the movement to speak out about various issues, hoping that a softer group of more moderate people will grow slowly around them, a lot like how the Progressive movement grew from Socialism and took over America. This, in my mind, should work simultaneously with 3.

Now, it is not possible for libertarians to win elections in this political climates. Therefore, it doesn't harm their chances. They're not being elected anyway. They can't get any more not-elected.

[FiveBillionAcres]

Ok let's get this right, I hold Libertarian values, but if I could vote (I can't because I live in Canada) I wouldn't vote Libertarian 1. Because Bob is a knob and 2. the idea of Obama wining scares me (only slightly) more than McCain wining 3. Bob really is a knob

[MicroBalrog]

Oh, naturally, had I been a US citizen of the appropriate age I'd vote for McCain in this one (though I think Barr would make a far better President.)

But that wasn't what I was talking about - sorry for derailing your thread (though of course there are no equal time laws).

[FiveBillionAcres]

It's too bad the GOP is going ever more left to try and capture undecided votorers but I really think they're losing a lot of people and not impressing anyone, I think it'd be easier to get more people who hold conservative views out to vote than getting people who probably wouldn't vote GOP anyways to vote for them.

[Manedwolf]

If you're counting on the media to get the Libertarian message out, you're going to be disappointed.

And this, ladies and gents, is why we need the wookie suits.

To make people think you're creepy?

Put it this way. The extent to which the Free Staters and Paulians have creeped people out here now is at the point at which people move away from anyone in a public venue wearing a Ron Paul shirt. Because they think they're a nut and possibly dangerous, or that they're going to babble at them like they have in videos, like a political Moonie. A Ron Paul shirt has become the equivalent of a unabomber beard and unfocused eyes, or a person with a beatific smile trying to tell people about reverend moon. People are disturbed, and move away. Or they do not want to get involved if the Paulian creates a scene, which they often do. They'll act out, yell something, or try to get themselves arrested, and people don't want to be anywhere nearby when that happens.

Good job, there!

[FiveBillionAcres]

I'd say it's quite likely that Barr doesn't actually want people to vote for him as it would increase Obama's chances of winning, he's hoping McCain will take up some of the Libertarian party's key causes to avoid getting nadering by him in a swing state, perhaps Florida in a poetic irony... If people come out and vote for Barr instead of McCain because they feel alienated by his (and in general the GOP)'s leftward migration over the last few elections it could result in a loss. McCain's camp seems to be choosing to ignore the right in an effort to pick up the left. It's an inconvenient truth that kicked Al Gore in the balls, a great way to get people to vote is to get them pissed off at the person they're expected to vote for.

[The Annoyed Man]

  The libertarian in Georgia's 10th district? When the incumbant is backing the constitution? And reads the bills that come before him, and actually asks his constituants what they want? Any other time, maybe, but it's been too hard to find the good one! We're keeping him, thanks. (Much to the chagrin of the politico's on watch).

[MicroBalrog]

  The libertarian in Georgia's 10th district? When the incumbant is backing the constitution? And reads the bills that come before him, and actually asks his constituants what they want? Any other time, maybe, but it's been too hard to find the good one! We're keeping him, thanks. (Much to the chagrin of the politico's on watch).

By 'the libertarian in GA-10', I of course imply the honorable Paul Broun.

[The Annoyed Man]

I'd say it's quite likely that Barr doesn't actually want people to vote for him as it would increase Obama's chances of winning . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1oCxXLcXNc

I think it is safe to say that Bob Barr could care less about McCain's campaign, and that he isn't holding his breath for McCain to start picking up on conservative values.

While everyone else is fighting over the "Race card" and the media blows it out of proportion, and the bobble-heads are made to believe that they should demand an explanation and apology for every blunderous statement that spews from the mouths of the two frontrunners - *yawn* - the important issues slip through the cracks.