Thread: Sen. Stabenow wants hearings on radio 'accountability'; talk

Sen. Stabenow wants hearings on radio 'accountability'; talks fairness doctrine

February 05, 2009
Categories: Talk Radio

This morning, radio host Bill Press brought up the recent closing of liberal station Obama 1260 when speaking with Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, and talked about whether there needs to be a balance to right-wing talk on the radio dial.

BILL PRESS: Yeah, I mean, look: They have a right to say that. They’ve got a right to express that. But, they should not be the only voices heard. So, is it time to bring back the Fairness Doctrine?

SENATOR DEBBIE STABENOW (D-MI): I think it’s absolutely time to pass a standard. Now, whether it’s called the Fairness Standard, whether it’s called something else — I absolutely think it’s time to be bringing accountability to the airwaves. I mean, our new president has talked rightly about accountability and transparency. You know, that we all have to step up and be responsible. And, I think in this case, there needs to be some accountability and standards put in place.

BILL PRESS: Can we count on you to push for some hearings in the United States Senate this year, to bring these owners in and hold them accountable?

SENATOR DEBBIE STABENOW (D-MI): I have already had some discussions with colleagues and, you know, I feel like that’s gonna happen. Yep.

Although Obama has been publicly opposed to reinstating the fairness doctrine, conservative radio has talked nonstop about the fear of it returning (or perhaps something like it with another name) while there's a Democrat in the White House and a Democratic majority in Congress.

UPDATE: A commenter points out that Stabenow is married to Tom Athans, a liberal talk radio executive.

www.politico.com

Any ideas on how we can fight this if we have to? Why are the so-called tolerant ones the most intolerant. I swear they're closet commies!

SENATOR DEBBIE STABENOW (D-MI): I think it’s absolutely time to pass a standard. Now, whether it’s called the Fairness Standard, whether it’s called something else — I absolutely think it’s time to be bringing accountability to the airwaves. I mean, our new president has talked rightly about accountability and transparency. You know, that we all have to step up and be responsible. And, I think in this case, there needs to be some accountability and standards put in place.

It is the airwaves that bring accountability and transparency to the Washington Senator, and you and your cronies don't like it.

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

Sen. Stabenow wants hearings on radio 'accountability'; talks fairness doctrine
.
UPDATE: A commenter points out that Stabenow is married to Tom Athans, a liberal talk radio executive.

I WONDER cant this be considered a conflict of interest.
There is a reason that liberal radio has FAILED IN THE PAST.
NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE like it because they are more conservative than others

time for a call to Stabenow's office

It is talk radio. If liberals think it is not balanced enough...all they have to do is call in and express their opinion. But liberals dont seem to do this.

I just came across this and couldn't resist posting it. Maybe talk radio in Detroit publicized this story and the Senator didn't like it?

Jail for Woman in Sex
Sting with Senator's
Husband
Last Edited: Thursday, 05 Feb 2009, 9:50 PM EST
Created On: Thursday, 05 Feb 2009, 9:44 PM EST

By The Associated Press
TROY, Mich. - A woman who was accused of having a paid sexual tryst with the husband of Michigan U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow has been sentenced to jail time for violating her probation.

21-year-old Alycia Martin was busted in a prostitution sting in August 2008. (Photo Credit: FOX 2 News)

Twenty-one-year-old Alycia Martin was sentenced Thursday to five days in jail for failing to pay court costs or submit to drug and alcohol testing.

The Detroit Free Press reports Martin was led from court in tears.

Defense attorney Frank Cusumano Jr. says Martin can't afford to pay court and testing fees.

He says Martin is sober and eight months pregnant and that jail time seems excessive.

Martin was charged with prostitution but pleaded guilty last year to a lesser charge of trespassing.

Tom Athans was questioned after the Feb. 26, 2008, sting but was not charged.
http://www2.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/j ... _sex_sting

For the liberals it has nothing to do with equal time or fairness. They simply want their side to remain hidden because they know America is not a far-left society. For years they had the added benefit of one-sided news reporting that always omitted the truth. Just like today, however thank goodness for Sean Hannity, Rush, Mark Levine etc. If not for them we would be even worse off. Can you imagine if we relied on Brian Williams,Katie Courac etc. Unfortunately that is what the far-left wants.

Oh wow that is great. Actually I kind of remember hearing something about this. You're right I probably heard it on talk radio!!! What a hypocrite!

Fairness doctrine, "localism" or whatever the Democrats prefer to call it, since they can't win the battle of ideas, they want to squelch what voices of opposition remain. It's not enough that most of the MSM is in the tank for them.

It's only a couple of weeks into Obama's tenure, and already the Democrats are getting drunk with power. Can anyone say "overreach."

Originally Posted by jamesw62

I WONDER cant this be considered a conflict of interest.
There is a reason that liberal radio has FAILED IN THE PAST.
NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE like it because they are more conservative than others

time for a call to Stabenow's office

I would think it would be a conflict of interest too!

Tom Athans
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Tom Athans (born 1961) is a notable member of the Democratic Party from the state of Michigan. He is a co-founder and former CEO of the liberal-progressive Democracy Radio, an organization that produced and supported liberal talk radio shows that formerly included the Ed Schultz Show. He is now the executive Vice-President of another liberal talk radio organization Air America. Athans is married to Senator Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat of Michigan.

Contents [hide]
1 Democracy Radio
2 Air America
3 TalkUSA
4 Personal
4.1 Prostitution Scandal
5 References



[edit] Democracy Radio
The company was founded in 2002 by Tom Athans and Paul Fiddick. The plan was to help develop and nurture programming and enlist radio networks and stations to air left-leaning radio hosts. At one point, Democracy Radio produced talk shows for Ed Schultz and Stephanie Miller, among others. On June 8, 2005, Democracy Radio sold its stake in The Ed Schultz Show to a new company headed by veteran radio executive Randy Michaels, the former CEO of Clear Channel Radio. On November 4, 2005, Athans stepped down as CEO of Democracy Radio, ending the organization.


[edit] Air America
After stepping down from Democracy Radio, Athans became the Executive Vice-President of Air America, a much larger but similar organization. Athans is in charge of developing new programming to expand Air Americas lineup. He will also head Air America’s Washington, D.C. corporate office.[citation needed]


[edit] TalkUSA
After Air America underwent bankruptcy procedures in 2006, Athans co-founded TalkUSA Radio, a liberal radio network.[1]


[edit] Personal
Athans was born in Detroit and graduated from Wayne State University. He currently resides in Lansing with his wife, Senator Debbie Stabenow, and his daughter, Gina, Athans' child from a former marriage. He has two grown step-children.


[edit] Prostitution Scandal
On April 2, 2008, the Detroit Free Press reported that Athans had been implicated in a prostitution sting.[2]

Thomas Athans, the husband of U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow and cofounder of a liberal talk radio network, told Troy police detectives that he paid a prostitute $150 for sex at a Troy hotel in late February, according to a police report obtained Wednesday by the Free Press under the Freedom of Information Act. Athans, 46, was not arrested or charged, but agreed to fully cooperate with police in their investigation of Internet-based prostitution at hotels in the city, according to the report. Athans was pulled over by police on I-75 minutes after leaving the Residence Inn on Livernois, just east of I-75 and south of Big Beaver, the evening of Feb. 26. He was driving a Cadillac DeVille registered jointly to him and Stabenow at their address in Lansing. He was ticketed for driving on a suspended license. When questioned during the stop, he acknowledged he had been at the hotel with a woman he met on the Internet. On further questioning, he acknowledged he had paid the woman $150 for oral sex.


[edit] References
^ "Police: Senator's husband paid prostitute". CNN. 2008-04-02. http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/02/ ... index.html. Retrieved on 3 April 2008.
^ Report: Stabenow's husband paid prostitute in sting | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Athans"
Categories: 1961 births | Air America Radio | Living people | People from Detroit, Michigan | Wayne State University alumni | Spouses of United States Senators | Spouses of members of the United States House of Representatives | Sex scandals
Hidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since April 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Athans