That's the argument Marin Cogan makes in her New Republic piece. Specifically, says Cogan, the supposed effort by Democrats to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine is a "manufactured controversy." She writes:

To figure out who was causing such agitation, I went searching for the proponents of the fairness doctrine. I looked at Obama's position–and it turns out that he doesn't want the policy reinstated. Then I called the array of Democratic congressmen who had been tagged by conservatives as doctrine proponents. But they all denied any intention to push for its reinstatement.

Speaking to Sen. Dick Durbin's office, Cogan got the reply:

"This is a completely made- up issue." Senator Durbin's press secretary says that Durbin has "no plans, no language, no nothing. He was asked in a hallway last year, he gave his personal view"--that the American people were served well under the doctrine--"and it's all been blown out of proportion."

Really? The Hill, that hotbed of conservative rabble-rousing, quoted Durbin in June 2007 thus:

“It's time to reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine,” said Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). “I have this old-fashioned attitude that when Americans hear both sides of the story, they're in a better position to make a decision.”

Durbin might have changed his tune since last year, but it's not like conservatives were clinging to straw men.

Cogan also cites a Human Events article from June of this year, in which Speaker Pelosi expressed support for the doctrine. Yet, writes Cogan:

Shortly after the Human Events piece surfaced, a Democratic leadership staffer called Pelosi's office to ask if the mention indicated that the speaker had plans to move on new legislation promoting the doctrine. Pelosi's staff, according to that aide, confirmed that she did not. And, even if Pelosi were to allow the legislation to move forward, another staffer says, she would not have the Democratic support to get it passed.

Which might be true. But here's what John Gizzi actually reported in Human Events:

“Do you personally support revival of the ‘Fairness Doctrine?'” I asked.

“Yes,” the speaker replied, without hesitation.

Again, that doesn't mean Pelosi will move legislation on it, but unless Gizzi misquoted her, that's a pretty firm confirmation of her views. Were conservatives supposed to ignore it?

But let's go back to that Hill piece by Alexander Bolton:

Senate Rules Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said she planned to “look at the legal and constitutional aspects of” reviving the Fairness Doctrine.

“I believe very strongly that the airwaves are public and people use these airwaves for profit,” she said. “But there is a responsibility to see that both sides and not just one side of the big public questions of debate of the day are aired and are aired with some modicum of fairness.”

Feinstein said she is not yet ready to submit a formal proposal.

Democrats on the Senate Energy and Commerce Committee have also begun to focus on what they regard as a lack of diversity in talk radio, and may hold hearings later this year.

It's true that Obama has said he does not support reinstating the Fairness Doctrine. And, to be sure, it would be a sign of sheer overreach were Democrats to try to force it through Congress. But a "manufactured controversy"? Hardly.