Promises to protect Americans’ First Amendment rights

Washington, DC, March 10, 2009: Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) became an inaugural signer of the American Civil Rights Union’s “Freedom to Listen” pledge on Monday, vowing to protect the First Amendment by standing against “any and all efforts to censor or in any way restrict the people’s freedom to listen to the unfettered airing of political views of their choice on broadcast media or the Internet.” The pledge is designed to unify support against efforts to restrict Americans’ constitutional freedom to listen.

With most of America’s major media dominated by liberal and left-leaning programming, conservative talk radio is the American equivalent of Radio Free Europe in the aftermath of World War II. Whether regulations come under the guise of “media ownership diversity,” “viewpoint discrimination,” or “local content,” the effect would be nothing less than censoring Americans’ freedom to listen.

“We are delighted that Congressman Pence, a true champion of free speech, is supporting our pledge,” said American Civil Rights Union CEO Susan Carleson. “We hope that all elected officials-from Capitol Hill to city halls-will join with Congressman Pence in defense of our constitutionally guaranteed freedom to listen.”

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