I ran across a very interesting article by Salem chairman Stu Epperson regarding the recent FCC crackdown on indecendy. Epperson argues that the FCC should keep its hands off the content of radio broadcasts because he’s concerned that while today it’s Howard Stern and Janet Jackson in the spotlight, but tomorrow it might be Rush Limbaugh and James Dobson:

Sure right now an FCC dominated by reasonable people wouldn’t do anything drastic. But let us suppose that with this bill on the books the nation has elected Hillary Rodham Clinton as President. And let us suppose - and it is no stretch of the imagination to believe this - that President Hillary appoints radical liberals to the FCC. With the precedent established that the FCC can revoke licenses over obscene content, these Commissioners determine that conservative views constitute hate speech - and hate speech is obscene.

I think Epperson is taking a very bold position, but it’s a position that comes from his experience in radio, having fought many battles for access to the airwaves during his career. I don’t know how well his message will resonate with other conservative and religious broadcasters, but I think he presents a position that should be considered.