By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Liberals who want to censor Rush Limbaugh and conservative talk radio are trying to bring back the Fairness Doctrine. Congress and Barack Obama better not take such an anti-free speech action.

Until about 20 years ago the federal government required TV and radio stations to air differing views on controversial subjects.

But since the rules ended, the market of ideas and of advertising have prevailed.

In short, conservatives talkmeisters like Limbaugh have found large audiences on the radio.

They have attracted advertisers with strong, conservative attacks on liberal positions.

Not everyone enjoys that, of course. It's one reason House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supports bringing back the Fairness Doctrine.

They want conservative talk to be "balanced" by liberal talk.

Fortunately, Obama doesn't agree, at least at this point, especially since he needs to pretty much put his full attention on the teetering national economy.

Of course, the domination of conservatives on radio makes Limbaugh and others look foolish when they complain so much about the "liberal media."

Mike Shanin, a conservative KMBZ radio talk-show host and my colleague on the "Ruckus" civic affairs show on KCPT-19, made a great point in The Star recently:

"This kind of regulation chills the discussion of controversial issues."

We don't need that kind of censorship in America today.