Because what’s fair is the government, instead of actual listeners, telling radio stations what to put on the air.

Washington (AP) Senate Democrats have blocked an amendment to prevent the return of the Fairness Doctrine.

It’s an old federal rule that required broadcasters to air opposing views on issues.

Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman and other Republicans say a return to the rule would give the government too much power to regulate content. The House recently passed an amendment banning the rule’s return.

Coleman brought up the amendment today a defense authorization bill but the Democratic committee chairman blocked a vote.

Coleman says he disagrees with people who want to cut off talk radio because it’s conservative and says the people should decide.

You know who is loving this push for the fairness doctrine though?  Ed Schultz.  Why?  Because if radio stations have to start balancing popular conservative talk shows like Limbaugh and Hannity with liberal talk Schultz is going to be the go-to guy.  Because as much of a ponce as he is, Schultz is about the only liberal talker decent enough to listen to.

So, for him, it’s about money more than anything else.  This stands to be a windfall for Big Eddie.  Plus, the Democrats pay him to parrot their positions anyway.

North Dakota talk show host Ed Schultz says Republicans’ efforts are overreactions. He says he’s going to Washington next week to talk to Democrats about the issue.

Schultz says liberal talkers have not been given a market opportunity in many parts of the country. He’s frustrated because his show is not airing in such major markets as Boston and Philadelphia, where he says certain companies are keeping progressive shows out.

Ed is full of it when he claims that he’s being “kept out” of certain radio markets.  It’s true that he is being kept out, I guess, but it’s not an ideological thing.  It’s just that not many people actually like listening to him compared to other talk radio shows.

McQ at QandO analyzed the data on this some time ago:

...in markets where I could determine Schultz and Hannity/Limbaugh went head-to-head, Schultz was in 50, won 7* and lost 43. . . .

While Schultz isn’t represented in NY, the largest radio market, Air America is, and they get buried. The Limbaugh/Hannity station, WABC pulls a 3.7 while WWRL, the AA crew, pulls a .6.

But Schultz does show up in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th markets and gets buried in them. Number 2 is LA and even progressive LA isn’t interested in progressive talk. KFI, which carries Limbaugh and mostly local hosts pulls a 4.2. KABC, which is all conservative talk and includes Hannity has a 1.8. KTLK which has the AA gang (Bill Press, Stephanie Miller, Tom Hartman, Randi Rhodes, Mark Germain, Ed Schultz, Rachel Maddow and Alan Colmes) pulls a dismal 0.7.

In number 3 Chicago, it’s about the same. The top rated talk show is WGN with all local talent (5.3). WLS which carries Limbaugh and Hannity comes in second at 3.4. Coming in at #6 in a six station race is progressive talk radio with the AA gang and Schultz. Rating? 0.5.

Detroit, another market in which you’d think progressive talk radio might do well. It’s the #10 market in the US. Limbaugh/Hannity? A 5.9 on WJR. Schultz and the AA crowd? 0.6 on WDTW. 4th in a 5 talk radio market.

Probably most enlightening is the #4 market, San Francisco. If progressive talk can’t make it there, it can’t make it anywhere. And, as it turns out, progressive talk is tops in SF. It’s just not the progressive talk with Schultz. Instead it is local progressive hosts along with a mix of medical and legal shows which leads the ratings. KGO pulls a 5.5 in the market. And how do Limbaugh/Hannity do? Well not bad considering. KFSO, where they are carried, comes in at 3.2. And Schultz and the AA gang? 1.1 on KQKE. That’s number 4 in a 5 talk station market.

What’s that tell you?

It tells you that despite all this twaddle about ’structural problems’ in talk radio, that where at least Limbaugh and Hannity and progressive talk go head-to-head, listeners have consistently and overwhelmingly chosen the Limbaugh and Hannity.

The Fairness Docrtine may as well be called the Keep Ed Schultz Employed Act.