47% Want Fed-Mandated Media Balance

Nearly one-half of Americans -- 47% -- believe the federal government should mandate equal time for conservative and liberal political commentary on radio and TV stations. However, a majority would exempt the Internet from any enforced balance. That's according to a new national telephone survey by Rasmussen Reports, which also found that Democrats are more agreeable to government involvement in broadcast content than Republicans. And while followers of both parties opposed similar involvement on the Web, Republicans opposed it by a larger margin -- 61% versus 48% of Democrats. The Rasmussen survey further found that 71% believe the current media environment allows pretty much any political view to be expressed.