PHOENIX MAYOR BLAMES BROADCASTERS FOR IMMIGRATION LAW

The mayor of Phoenix, Arizona’s largest city, said on Monday that passage of the state’s controversial new immigration law came about largely because broadcasters in the state were allowed to air only one side of the debate surrounding it. Mayor Phil Gordon told a meeting of the Center for American Progress that the decision to scrap the Fairness Doctrine in 1987 changed the entire tone of talk radio and later affected TV commentary on cable as well. “Language that was never acceptable became mainstream,” he said. “Those that were deemed to be in disagreement with [radio and TV talk-show hosts] were demonized as traitors and extremists, and [inspired] hateful language that we have never heard or seen.” Gordon opposes the new immigration law.