President Bush today called for action on legislation that would block the FCC from reviving the “Orwellian” fairness doctrine and he promised to veto any legislative attempt to reinstate it.

“Supporters of this regulation say we need to mandate that any discussion of so-called controversial issues on the public airwaves includes equal time for all sides,” the president said in a speech at the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Nashville.

“This means that many programs wanting to stay on the air would have to meet Washington's definition of balance. Of course, for some in Washington, the only opinions that require balancing are the ones they don't like.”

The President said that doctrine proponents are targeting conservative radio commentators like Rush Limbaugh or James Dobson.

By insisting on so-called balance, they want to silence those they don't agree with,” he said.

“The truth of the matter is, they know they cannot prevail in the public debate of ideas. They don't acknowledge that you are the balance; that you give voice. The country should not be afraid of the diversity of opinions. After all, we're strengthened by diversity of opinions.

Despite the vigorous objection of Hill Democrats, the Reagan-appointed FCC repealed the doctrine in 1987 asserting that it violated the First Amendment rights of broadcasters and tended to discourage debate on radio and broadcast TV.

After the Democrats regained control of Congress last year, some talked about restoring the doctrine by statute.

But the efforts stalled amid protests from Republican lawmakers egged on by conservative radio talk show hosts who have flourished in the absence of the doctrine.

To insure that the FCC wouldn't restore the doctrine, Republican in the House then introduced a measure that would ban reinstatement. But the Democratic leadership have blocked action on this bill.

Undeterred, proponents of the measure have been gathering signatures on a so-called discharge petition that would require an up or down vote on the ban.

And, according to the President, they need just 24 more votes.

The President singled out Mike Pence (R-Ind.) and Greg Walden (R-Ore.) for pressing this discharge petition effort and “defending the right for people to express themselves freely.”

“I urge other members to join in this discharge petition,” the president said. “But I'll tell you this: If Congress should ever pass any legislation that stifles your right to express your views, I'm going to veto it.”

The president's support for the Broadcaster Freedom Act is “of immeasurable value,” said Pence is a prepared statement after the speech.

“Congress must heed the call of our president and end the so-called fairness doctrine once and for all,” Pence said. “Our freedom of speech and of religion on the airwaves of America demand action now.”