During his years in the Senate Commerce Committee, John McCain (R-AZ) has not been shy when it comes to addressing issues of importance to the communications community. But during his RNC acceptance speech last night, he joined every other nominee in giving the topic a complete pass.
McCain has let loose virtual prose poems on the topic of the broadcast lobby (read NAB) and its seeming invincibility on the Hill. At a Senate Commerce Committee hearing, a vote went against the NAB, and although we don’t remember the issue (perhaps it was related to LPFM), we distinctly remember McCain noting that it was the only time the Committee turned down NAB. And every spring, McCain issued his stock press release, similar enough from year to year that he may as well have set it to music, about how every April the cherry blossoms bloom, tourists descend on Washington and cable companies jack up their rates.
But not a word of this made it into his acceptance speech. Nor did a whisper about the one broadcast issue included in the Republican Platform, which called for turning back attempts to revive the Fairness Doctrine.
RBR/TVBR observation: All things considered, it is generally better to deal with issues of importance to the broadcasting industry on a lower tier of awareness than that accorded the hot-button issues that do make it into acceptance speeches. The ability of broadcasters to stay below the radar at the conventions is a good thing.
