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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGive me an effing break -- FCC commissioner claims Harris on 'SNL' violates 'equal time' rule
A Federal Communications Commission (FCC) commissioner has claimed that Vice President Harriss recent appearance on Saturday Night Live, commonly known as SNL, violates the equal time rule.
This is a clear and blatant effort to evade the FCCs Equal Time rule, Commissioner Brendan Carr posted on the social platform X on Saturday in response to a post from The Associated Press about Harris being on the show that night.
The purpose of the rule is to avoid exactly this type of biased and partisan conduct a licensed broadcaster using the public airwaves to exert its influence for one candidate on the eve of an election. Unless the broadcaster offered Equal Time to other qualifying campaigns, Carr, a Trump appointee, continued.
The FCCs equal time rules let rival candidates ask for equal air time.
Carr, the senior Republican on the commission, was appointed by former President Trump.
https://thehill.com/homenews/4968217-fcc-commissioner-claims-harris-on-snl-violates-equal-time-rule/
a kennedy
(32,177 posts)🤬 🤬 🤬 🤬 🤬
kelly1mm
(5,287 posts)NBC gave Donald Trumps campaign commercial time free of charge during Sundays NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commissions equal time rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.
The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic depression that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.
The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its cold open sketch on this weekends episode of Saturday Night Livethough it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time."
msongs
(70,214 posts)raging moderate
(4,508 posts)I don't remember any complaints from Republicans when John McCain made a similar appearance years ago.
former9thward
(33,424 posts)wnylib
(24,530 posts)I did find a report about him cancelling an appearance due to a hurricane and his request that his supporters give aid to the victims.
former9thward
(33,424 posts)I don't watch SNL so I can't testify personally.
But here you go:
https://money.cnn.com/gallery/media/2015/11/05/snl-donald-trump/3.html
wnylib
(24,530 posts)about Obama appearing on SNL in 2007 for the 2008 campaign, but could not find a video or other article on it. That would have been sitting the primary between Obama and Clinton. No mention of him appearing as the DEM candidate when he was running against McCain.
There are several references to imitation Obamas in snl skits, but not the real Obama.
wnylib
(24,530 posts)that does appear with the link, "Obama" seems to be an actor wearing an Obama face mask, looking at an imitation Clinton. That would have been the primary season with Obama running against Clinton.
Once he was the chosen Dem candidate running against McCain, I can't find anything on him appearing on SNL.
former9thward
(33,424 posts)Wearing a mask. Try again.
DFW
(56,693 posts)It was a Halloween party where someone came up to a tall skinny guy with an Obama mask, complimenting him on how good a mask it was. He took it off, and it was the real Obama.
IrishAfricanAmerican
(4,181 posts)I've been watching all of the old SNLs the past year, working my way from the beginning to current. I'm currently on 2008 as luck would have it and, yes, he did appear in a cold open that year.
wnylib
(24,530 posts)Klarkashton
(2,187 posts)Otherwise if it was trump on there it would be 1A!
SharonClark
(10,333 posts)crazy anti-Biden and anti Harris nonsense on his X account. Just ignore him.
Cha
(305,606 posts)Equal Time.. Balderdash!
So SNL likes Kamala Harris and Hates TSF.. BFD. It's New York!
kelly1mm
(5,287 posts)NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.NBC gave Donald Trumps campaign commercial time free of charge during Sundays NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commissions equal time rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.
The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic depression that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.
The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its cold open sketch on this weekends episode of Saturday Night Livethough it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.
newdeal2
(1,033 posts)Cha
(305,606 posts)What about all the times OrangeHitler is on Fux News?
wnylib
(24,530 posts)It only applies to network stations like NBC, CBS, and ABC.
yaesu
(8,268 posts)"Some viewers also noted that Harriss mirror image comedy sketch was conceptually identical to a sketch Trump featured in with ex-SNL comedian Jimmy Fallon on Fallons the Tonight Show in 2015."
wnylib
(24,530 posts)SNL took a lot of flak over that.
How much time did Clinton get on SNL in 2016?
C_U_L8R
(45,717 posts)The one Republicans did away with years ago? If there was an equal time rule, Fox News and rightwing hate radio would not exist.
former9thward
(33,424 posts)You may be thinking of the fairness doctrine. The law containing the rule is 47 U.S. Code § 315 The law exempts talk shows and news programs.
wnylib
(24,530 posts)dweller
(25,115 posts)for equal time ? Or is Carr asking for him ?
How about all the times the Pisswig has called into Fauxsnooze and was given airtime ? Not a problem ?
🤔
✌🏻
kelly1mm
(5,287 posts)NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.NBC gave Donald Trumps campaign commercial time free of charge during Sundays NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commissions equal time rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.
The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic depression that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.
The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its cold open sketch on this weekends episode of Saturday Night Livethough it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.
dweller
(25,115 posts)Like he did for Biden
Hows that stock market these days ?
Idiot
✌🏻
Dave Bowman
(3,689 posts)kelly1mm
(5,287 posts)NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.NBC gave Donald Trumps campaign commercial time free of charge during Sundays NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commissions equal time rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.
The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic depression that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.
The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its cold open sketch on this weekends episode of Saturday Night Livethough it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.
greatauntoftriplets
(176,917 posts)Democrats question FCC commissioners role in Project 2025
by Nick Robertson - 07/17/24 1:10 PM ET
Brendan Carr, Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, answers a question during a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to discuss the Presidents F.Y. 2025 budget request for the commission on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
More than a dozen House Democrats sent a letter to the inspector general of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday, questioning Commissioner Brendan Carrs role in helping craft Project 2025, a conservative policy document.
The letter, led by Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), claims Carr violated ethics rules and may have misused his office.
Project 2025 is a Heritage Foundation document outlining policy initiatives for a second Trump administration, and included multiple contributors and backers close to former President Trump. Trump has personally distanced himself from the project, though Democrats have consistently hit the former president for his ties to its authors.
dalton99a
(84,536 posts)ColinC
(10,817 posts)Let's do it!
sir pball
(4,943 posts)Quoth 47 U.S. Code § 315:
If any licensee shall permit any person who is a legally qualified candidate for any public office to use a broadcasting station, he shall afford equal opportunities to all other such candidates for that office in the use of such broadcasting station
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/47/315
sheshe2
(87,755 posts)They gave him equal time by reenacting his rally performance where he was fellating his microphone.
Even Steven
Cha
(305,606 posts)ask to be on.. apparently according to that Veep Kamala Asked.
MAGgots are so childish with these tantrums. Time to put on their big boy pants and act like adults for a change.
duncang
(3,687 posts)Voltaire2
(14,754 posts)Deuxcents
(19,895 posts)They gonna complain about everything because thats all they got.
onenote
(44,729 posts)The rule is triggered by an "appearance" by a candidate in an advertisement or other non-news, non-talk programming.
It primarily serves t ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity ...which is the correct name of the rule, not equal time...to purchase advertising during a campaign and that they are charged the "lowest unit rate" for such advertising. It also applies to "free" appearances, such as an appearance on Saturday Night Live.
Carr was full of shit when he suggested that NBC or SNL had violated the rule. The only obligations a station has when there is an appearance that triggers the rule are to put a notice about the appearance in the station's public file and to honor a request from a competing candidate for an equal amount of time at the same cost.
Also, the Daily Beast article is mistaken when it says NBC filed a notice with the Federal Election Commission. There is no requirement for the NBC to notifiy the FEC. What NBC was required to do ... and what they have done...is to instruct their affiliated stations to put a notice about the appearance in each station's public file.
Deuxcents
(19,895 posts)OAITW r.2.0
(28,450 posts)just kidding. Give Trump equal time next weekend!
BBbats
(110 posts)I remember(I could be wrong) a tidbit of something I heard or read that stated that during the Reagan administration TV stations stopped showing Ronald Reagan's movies because they would have to allow the other side "equal time".
I do remember never seeing " King's Road" or "Bedtime For Bonzo" on during those eight years. They were staples on UHF TV in the 70's.
Could be a real ,although stupid ,FCC rule.
al bupp
(2,357 posts)But maybe NBC could claim they for all they knew, if given the chance, TFG would just try to violate the sound equipment.
kelly1mm
(5,287 posts)NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race .NBC gave Donald Trumps campaign commercial time free of charge during Sundays NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commissions equal time rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.
The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic depression that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.
The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its cold open sketch on this weekends episode of Saturday Night Livethough it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.
Silent Type
(6,873 posts)Jim__
(14,471 posts)NameAlreadyTaken
(1,579 posts)appearance on SNL in 2008 also a violation of said rule?
Retrograde
(10,685 posts)so it was OK
former9thward
(33,424 posts)lees1975
(6,017 posts)The equal time rule is not the same thing as the fairness doctrine, which is no longer a rule. All NBC needs to do to make sure they comply is to find out how much time they've given to coverage of Trump's appearances, rallies, press conferences, and compare that to what they've given to Harris. It wouldn't even be close. They've violated equal time in his favor to the 100th power.
It's a nothing burger, and the fact that the media is giving it any attention at all is evidence of their bias.
cadoman
(915 posts)Looks like Fallon invented it and has used it with Romney and others?
Hollywood Reporter has the clarification:
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/kamala-harris-snl-appearance-violate-equal-time-rule-1236052572/
So if tsf didn't request it he wouldn't get it. I'm sure he knew his chemistry with the crew would be rotten.
Beware of MAGAT FEC commissioner Brendon Carr--he will likely need a lot of fact-checking in the coming hours:
https://x.com/BrendanCarrFCC
Sympthsical
(10,294 posts)I forget which election - maybe the 2016 primaries - and the solution is typically to offer free ad time to the other candidates.
SNL doesn't have to offer Trump a sketch. NBC just has to offer comparable value if requested. They could just toss him a free ad during a football game and call it a day.
Cha
(305,606 posts)and Not TSF's mic Sexual Attack.. Maybe it will get even more people to watch the SNL skit and see what a great job Kamala Did?!
LudwigPastorius
(10,914 posts)Then again, I'm not a fan of much else he does either.
Tanuki
(15,360 posts)"Meet the Project 2025 Co-Author Who Wants to Run the FCC If Trump Wins
Brendan Carr knows whos calling the shots in the modern GOP, so when hes not fawning over Trump a prerequisite for any potential appointee hes busy buttering up the worlds richest internet troll: Elon Musk.
....
What you might not know is that just one of Project 2025s authors currently works for the federal government: Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission.
Carr has sided with big companies and against the public interest on nearly every important issue to come before the FCC. Hes also learned what it takes to get ahead in Trumpworld: telling lies, cozying up to the far right, insisting Trump can do no wrong, sucking up to billionaires and telling more lies.
.....
Commissioner Carrs contribution to Project 2025s Mandate for Leadership is wrongheaded if relatively milquetoast compared to other chapters. He rants TikTok (which is not under the FCCs jurisdiction) and China, unwisely calls for the elimination of Section 230 of the Communications Act, and endorses ways to enrich Elon Musks Starlink and right-wing broadcasters like Sinclair.
He makes it clear that under a future Chairman Carr, the FCC would do the bidding of big business unencumbered by notions of serving the public interest, helping those experiencing poverty or addressing racial disparities."...(more)
Clouds Passing
(2,420 posts)TrunKated
(241 posts)Straw Man
(6,780 posts)Didn't that get tossed along with the Fairness Doctrine?
Freethinker65
(11,150 posts)Harris's campaign didn't demand equal time even though it was obvious Trump called those fake "press conferences" to spew his stump speech material to a national TV audience and disparage Harris (and before her, Biden).
DJ Synikus Makisimus
(751 posts)'Ya know, after the election. Hell, let him produce his own comedy show like the one in MSG and demonstrate once more how racist, misogist, classist, homophobic, transphobic and xenophobic Republicans are. Good fodder for commercials in case of runoff elections.
BTW, what is the penalty (if any) for broadcast networks who violate the fairness rules?
kelly1mm
(5,287 posts)NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.NBC gave Donald Trumps campaign commercial time free of charge during Sundays NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commissions equal time rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.
The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic depression that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.
The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its cold open sketch on this weekends episode of Saturday Night Livethough it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.
Mountainguy
(994 posts)So go ahead, do something about it.
cadoman
(915 posts)And the skit here is literally an interview format.
kelly1mm
(5,287 posts)NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.NBC gave Donald Trumps campaign commercial time free of charge during Sundays NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commissions equal time rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.
The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic depression that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.
The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its cold open sketch on this weekends episode of Saturday Night Livethough it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.
Raven123
(6,095 posts)Metaphorical
(2,331 posts)Three points:
* Trump would no more appear on SNL than he would endorse Kamala Harris for President. This is a man who hates being the subject of ridicule, and they would ROAST him alive.
* The FCC would have to explain then how networks have given Trump IMMENSE amount of free air time, far in excess of Harris.
* A single commissioner can complain, but it takes a committee to make a formal complaint (and levy fines), with two Democrats and two Republicans on the current committee. So this is basically a personal opinion.
jimfields33
(19,175 posts)Im sure hed go on for a third if offered.
dpibel
(3,360 posts)It's truly amazing.
jimfields33
(19,175 posts)RidinWithHarris
(790 posts)He probably was, and just didn't want it.
kelly1mm
(5,287 posts)NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race. NBC gave Donald Trumps campaign commercial time free of charge during Sundays NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commissions equal time rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.
The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic depression that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.
The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its cold open sketch on this weekends episode of Saturday Night Livethough it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.
grobertj
(240 posts)Tree Lady
(12,205 posts)news shows he turned down like CBS, they would all put him on.
live love laugh
(14,456 posts)ananda
(30,852 posts)Bristlecone
(10,497 posts)ailsagirl
(23,833 posts)Apparently
former9thward
(33,424 posts)W_HAMILTON
(8,515 posts)If you think this isn't just a Republican whining to appease his cult leader, please cite all the public comments made by sitting FCC commissioners about how McCain/Palin appearing on SNL broke the rule.
former9thward
(33,424 posts)W_HAMILTON
(8,515 posts)The rule is regarding COMPETING POLITICAL CANDIDATES and requires COMPARABLE TIME AND PLACEMENT.
Furthermore, the rule isn't simply enforced by the FCC -- it requires a complaint from an interested party to be investigated and potentially enforced. Jonathan S. Uriarte, an FCC director, said that no complaint had been received as of earlier today.
So, yes, I will repeat it for you one more time: this is just a Trump-appointed Republican hack doing what we expect Trump-appointed Republican hacks to do.
Can't wait for Kamala to get elected and start to ... drain the swamp!
former9thward
(33,424 posts)And my posts. Please do a cut and paste where I complained a rule had been violated. My only comments were to people who said that Republicans had broken the rule in various years on SNL. No one has since they have had both Rs and Ds. Try again.
W_HAMILTON
(8,515 posts)Obama appeared in 2007, when he was competing for the Democratic nomination.
McCain appeared in 2008, just days before the actual election.
Hence my COMPETING POLITICAL CANDIDATES and COMPARABLE TIME AND PLACEMENT comments.
Get it yet?
former9thward
(33,424 posts)Told by who? You? A poster just told me Obama never appeared on SNL. I guess that makes you wrong since I have "been told repeatedly"
W_HAMILTON
(8,515 posts)former9thward
(33,424 posts)W_HAMILTON
(8,515 posts)No need -- everyone can read for themselves the responses to you that apparently you have not if you are making that request of me.
PS - My responses are sufficient. They exactly explained why you are in the wrong here, even if the others that told you this before me did not get through.
Wiz Imp
(2,059 posts)Proof at this link.
https://snl.fandom.com/wiki/Barack_Obama
On Saturday Night Live, he has been impersonated by Fred Armisen for more than 30 times until May 12, 2012 and by Jay Pharoah from September 15, 2012 and Obama himself made a cameo during the "Halloween Party" cold opening sketch on the November 3, 2007 episode where he also started the show by uttering the famous line, "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!".
former9thward
(33,424 posts)So what?
DiamondShark
(1,114 posts)former9thward
(33,424 posts)DiamondShark
(1,114 posts)former9thward
(33,424 posts)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-time_rule
DiamondShark
(1,114 posts)Maybe you should have mentioned it originally...
NoMoreRepugs
(10,586 posts)spanone
(137,578 posts)kelly1mm
(5,287 posts)spanone
(137,578 posts)kelly1mm
(5,287 posts)Raven123
(6,095 posts)Would be interested in knowing if TFG was offered time and refused.
kelly1mm
(5,287 posts)NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race. NBC gave Donald Trumps campaign commercial time free of charge during Sundays NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commissions equal time rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.
The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic depression that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.
The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its cold open sketch on this weekends episode of Saturday Night Livethough it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.
Lulu KC
(4,520 posts)I have been there, too! I hear you!
Initech
(102,150 posts)Trump trashed SNL for 8 years straight because they made fun of him. This wasn't a problem until he stole the presidency. The only thing SNL owes him is a straight up middle finger. 🖕
kelly1mm
(5,287 posts)NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race. NBC gave Donald Trumps campaign commercial time free of charge during Sundays NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commissions equal time rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.
The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic depression that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.
The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its cold open sketch on this weekends episode of Saturday Night Livethough it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.
vapor2
(1,561 posts)onenote
(44,729 posts)Blue_Roses
(13,413 posts)I've never heard of this rule and there have been several presidential candidates on SNL.
kelly1mm
(5,287 posts)NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race. NBC gave Donald Trumps campaign commercial time free of charge during Sundays NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commissions equal time rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.
The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic depression that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.
The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its cold open sketch on this weekends episode of Saturday Night Livethough it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.
Blue_Roses
(13,413 posts)I'll check it out.
Johonny
(22,132 posts)As the butt of jokes.
And I bet SNL offered Trump a chance to appear.
Montauk6
(8,709 posts)And given his various appearances over the years, I'd say Mamala has a balance!
Lulu KC
(4,520 posts)So give him five minutes on ..what? Americas Funniest Home Videos?
Emrys
(7,988 posts)https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/03/harris-appearance-snl-equal-time-rule
The Unmitigated Gall
(4,564 posts)The Fairness Doctrine.
Fuck them.
Mossfern
(3,204 posts)He'd be booed off the stage.
kelly1mm
(5,287 posts)Jit423
(340 posts)If we have one, does it only apply to Democrats?
kelly1mm
(5,287 posts)"The equal-time rule (47 U.S. Code § 315 - Candidates for public office[1]) specifies that American radio and television broadcast stations must provide equivalent access to competing political candidates. This means, for example, that if a station broadcasts a message by a candidate, it must offer the same amount of time on the same terms to an opposing candidate.[2]
Details
This rule originated in §18 of the Radio Act of 1927 which established the Federal Radio Commission; it was later superseded by the Communications Act of 1934, with the FRC becoming the FCC, the Federal Communications Commission. A related provision, in §315(b), requires that broadcasters offer time to candidates at the same rate as their "most favored advertiser".
The equal-time rule was created due to concerns that broadcast stations could easily manipulate the outcome of elections by presenting just one point of view and excluding other candidates."
Response to CatWoman (Original post)
edisdead This message was self-deleted by its author.
Orrex
(64,177 posts)Well, they can let Trump appear on SNL next week.
oldmanlynn
(460 posts)Since then there is no equal time doctrine or rule.
onenote
(44,729 posts)Google is your friend.
JohnSJ
(96,683 posts)dchill
(40,594 posts)... somehow helps him. That's pretty funny, actually. I think it helps Harris/Walz. YOMV.
pamdb
(1,373 posts)1. Hasn't the presidential candidate (democrat) been appearing on SNL for a few years?
2. They gave trump 2 two minute spots yesterday so he could lie all he wanted.
3. Cry me a river.
k55f5r
(448 posts)For bringing back the fairness doctrine. Republicans, be careful what you ask for.