Ron Paul is in tonight

The following corrects the first two paragraphs of this item as originally posted:

Fox News’ banning of Rep. Ron Paul from last Sunday’s GOP debate in New Hampshire raised considerable uproar over fairness, even beyond Paul’s fervent and vocal supporters who had vowed to boycott the network’s advertisers. Even Jay Leno was outraged and invited Paul back on his late-night program the night before New Hampshire vote.

But Paul is in tonight’s Myrtle Beach. S.C. debate thanks to a tentative invitation issued by Fox before the exclusion dispute and confirmed after his showing in the New Hampshire balloting.

[For whatever reason -- the threat of a boycott of advertisers, the general buzz about unfairness, some threatened FCC complaints, or a sense of fairness --  Fox News -- has caved and will admit Ron Paul to tonight's nationally-televised Republican presidential debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C. based on an invitation issued in late December before the exclusion dispute.

[The reversal in policy was confirmed by the state's Republican Party. Fox's banning of Paul from last Sunday's GOP debate in New Hampshire raised considerable uproar over fairness, even beyond Paul's fervent and vocal supporters. Fox refused to explain its decision and was deluged with thousands of e-mails and phone calls. Even Jay Leno was outraged and invited Paul back on his nationally-televised late-night program the night before the New Hampshire vote.]

Though generally considered a very longshot candidate by independent observers, Paul placed fifth in the Iowa caucus with 10%, ahead of Rudy Giuliani at 4%. Yet Giuliani was invited to the Fox debate and Paul was excluded. In New Hampshire, Paul was polling ahead of Fred Thompson, who was invited though he was not campaigning in that state, but again Paul was excluded.

In the actual voting Paul came in fifth behind John McCain, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Giuliani. In the recent Wyoming caucus Paul finished last behind Romney, Thompson and Duncan Hunter.

Fundraising figures for the fourth quarter of 2007 are not public yet, but the ....

supporters of the onetime Libertarian candidate reported raising nearly $20 million and another $650,000+ this month, which would make him likely the most successful Republican candidate that quarter and the only one to increase donations every quarter last year. With that money he has recently launched an advertising campaign in eight states including California.

Top of the Ticket has been running a reader forum here seeking explanations from readers for the apparent contradiction between Paul's the size and energy of his fundraising prowess and online support and his lack of success in attracting actual votes. Many of his supporters suspect a broad, at best benign or possibly malevolent media conspiracy, to minimize the public's exposure to Paul's strict constitutionalist approach, which would involve bringing home all American troops overseas and dismantling large parts of the federal government.

The positions of Paul, a 72-year-old, 10-term Republican representative from Texas, are explained in detail on his website and he has published a recent book.

Additionally, at least in this blog, dozens of items like this one and this one and this one and this one do not suggest a blackout on Paul news. Nor do the hundreds of reader responses that such items attract.

Additionally, today CNN, following up a story first broken by the New Republic, revealed it had obtained newsletters published under Paul's name in the 1990s. These newsletters contain racist comments. The controversial letters also contain rantings against gays, the Israeli lobby, AIDS victims and Martin Luther King Jr., who is described in one place as a "pro-Communist philanderer."

in another from June 1992 after the Los Angeles riots the letter suggests "order was only restored in L.A. when it came time for the blacks to pick up their welfare checks."

A Paul spokesman, Jesse Benton, denies that Paul wrote them and says the congressman finds the thoughts "abhorrent." In a written statement Paul said, "I have publicly taken moral responsibility for not paying closer attention to what went out under my name."

An earlier controversy in this campaign involved Paul receiving campaign donations from a white supremacist and declining to return them.

Tonight's debate starts at 6 p.m. Pacific time on the Fox News Channel and at foxnews.com.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Ben]

HERE IS THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING A RON PAUL SUPPORTER; WE DON'T CARE ABOUT ALLEGED "RACIST" COMMENTS IN A LETTER BY DR. PAUL. THE MODERN DAY DEFINITION OF A RACIST IS SOMEONE WHO IS PAINFULLY HONEST ABOUT A PARTICULAR RACE. BOO HOO. ALL THAT RUBBISH IS LIBERAL PROPOGANDA, AND IS THE WORK OF THE A.C.L.U. WHICH HAS IT'S ROOTS IN THE COMMINUST PARTY. THAT IS A FACT! SO ONWARD RON PAUL! IGNORE THE BUFFONS IN THE MEDIA AND WATCH THE SUPPORT GROW!

[Brian]

Paul did a great job denouncing the newsletters. He needs the fire - and I hope he brings it to tonight's debate. He needs to go on the attack because the other candidates are stealing his lines and ideas now.

I'm praying Michigan delivers for Paul, with the Democrats and independents there. Then NV, and then SC - and then the Money Bomb on MLK Jr Day on 01/21.

[Brian]

Good for Ron Paul!

The only three things I see they use against this Paul guy is this new letter from 17 years ago he didn't write, money he accepted from a white supremacist, Which when confronted said he'd rather have the money to do something good with rather than a white supremacist to do bad with, and last he has crazy enthusiastic Paulite supporters. That's all they got? I'm starting to like this guy Ron Paul more and more! He seems like the only candidate talking about what's wrong with this country, the others are to worried about discrediting each other.

Can't wait to see him school everyone again. So nice to see a candidate that doesn't have to read off a piece of paper when he gives speeches! Go Ron Paul.

[Brad]

Let The Message OF Ron Paul Be Heard Far And Wide. The Re-Education Of America Must Proceed If We Are To Survive As A Nation. The Constitution Is Not Out Dated.

Racism is not displayed by Ron Paul's Actions or Deeds. It is incongruent with his character.

I Vote For Virtue; I Vote For Ron Paul !!!

[Daniel Linnen]

Actions speak louder than words!
To all of his would be judges...
look at his actions and forget words that are not his and do not align with his actions. Wake up and see the CANADIAN DOLLAR is worth more than ours... our economy is struggling and money is leaving the country because of taxation and liability. RP may be the last chance we have.

[john]

I believe Ron Paul is correct when he says rights are granted to individuals, not to groups. Therefore I also believe Ron Paul is fair, balanced, and a supporter of civil rights activists such as Rosa Parks and ML King.

[TJF]

You didn't mention that there really wasn't actual voting in Wyoming..their caucus is essentially consists of the state GOP picks the candidate who gets the WY delegates.

A vast majority of the country have no idea what Ron Paul is talking about so they assume he is a wacko instead of assuming they should figure out how the world works.

[Neil McLaughlin]

It's so ironic that all Ron Paul haters can come up with is that he's racist. As if he'll enslave black people if he ever can. PEOPLE WAKE UP! WE WILL ALL BE SLAVES IF RON PAUL IS NOT ELECTED! HE IS DEFENDING EVERYONE'S RIGHTS TO LIBERTY - NOT JUST WHITE RICH PEOPLE (see every other candidate including Obama). This is not white versus black or hispanic, this is A WAR BETWEEN THE ULTRA-WEALTHY AND EVERYONE ELSE. May the best men win! Obama sure looks good if you watch him with MUTE pressed. He has great body language, great posture. The only problem is when you actually listen to his rhetoric "We will come together, and bring great change! We will rise above!". Ok pastor Obama.

[D]

What about the voter fraud, you are missing the greatest story of all time, do some real journalistic work for once, even though this story was pretty good. Here I will give you a lead to follow.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4463776866669054201

Be the first with the breaking story of voter fraud in NH, OH wait you can't, I forgot you are owned by the same ZIONIST pigs that own the rest of the media.
No wonder I cancelled my subscription. Oh well, Zeig Heil.

[Rob]

If you want to rehash a story, then how about VINCE FOSTER remember him
or how Hilary made it BIG in the "Futures" market....I believe that is something a lot more relavent (after all she has more of a chance of winning then he does) which voters should be reminded of. Or "White Water." Shall I go on?

Beside RP naively lending his name to some scum-bags who have long since been dealt with, there is no story here.

We have another money Bomb scheduled for M.L. King birthday, (a holiday RP voted for the establishment of, back in the 80's I might add).

Go RP '08

[Doug D]

The media blackout ended after he raised $5 million in the third quarter, and he actually started to get a fair amount of coverage after the two wildly successful money bombs and the large Philadelphia rally (5,000+).

But the media bias never went away. Even though Ron Paul was raising more money than the other candidates, and attracting bigger crowds, and dominating the Internet, and building an unprecedented volunteer network (in size and scope), nearly every news story continued to call him a "long shot" or "fringe" or just outright say "he's not going to win."

What other candidate leading his party in fundraising and grassroots enthusiasm would be called a long shot and written off repeatedly, before a single vote had been cast? Three months ago, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul were tied in the polls, and Ron Paul had a huge cash lead, but it was Paul who was called the long shot and not Huckabee.

[wallace]

Yeah, yeah. Hear, hear! And when the election is over and Ron Paul doesn't win, things will settle down when all these Ron Paul supporters go pick up their welfare checks! Yeah, right on, woo-woo...

[John B. in Florida]

Here we go again LA times huh.... lol. I was wondering when the attack would begin. We're scaring you aren't we. Getting a little too close to taking a few states. It's funny that CNN whips out these ancient newsletters that for all we know could be written by God Knows Who under Pauls' name... and the attack is on.

Funny thing is, the very person CNN digs up to come out and say... "humm... well these articles really are important and should be taken into consideration... blah blah blah.... " Guess who... yup, you guessed it, our very own David Gergen. Known CFR bagman who got outted by Alex Jones on his trips to the Bohemian Grove and their ritualistic sacrafice of a human being. Gergen got real mad when Alex told him he snuck in and witnessed their sacred ritual, probably because he was afraid his attraction to young men might be outted along with it. David Gergen... this is who you give us CNN to denounce Ron Paul... now it all makes sense.

By the way, LA Times, you might want to call me. I have some newsletters printed under the following names that contain more racist, sexist, and politically incorrect mumbo jumbo than you can imagine... those names are CLINTON, OBAMA, HUCKABEE, MCCAIN, THOMPSON, ROMNEY... AND ESPECIALLY GULIANI. Only one I couldn't findany newsletters on were on John Edwards, but nobody likes him anyway.

It's too late for all you big media corporations... the movement has begun... and whether Dr. Paul wins or does not... we WILL TAKE THIS COUNTRY BACK... and you will be tasting my boot very soon.

Ta ta

[Terjen]

You point out that in the recent Wyoming caucus Paul finished last behind Romney, Thompson and Duncan Hunter. But they were the only candidates to receive any delegates. Paul shared the last/fourth place with McCain, Huckabee, and Giuliani.

[Tony]

There are media blackouts, and there is media bias. Ron Paul is clearly a victim of media bias. Look at the difference in the questions he was asked tonight. He had to ask permission to paritcipate in the important debate topics rather than responding to asinine questions about things who claim to be his supporters do or say.

And look at your own article Andrew. You print this slanderous old stuff about newsletters without anywhere mentioning the clear, truthful, and very believalbe responses Dr. Paul has provided, including in an interview with Wolf Blitzer on CNN today. See http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/10/paul.newsletters/index.html#cnnSTCVideo.

Now we'll see if Hannity and Colmes even invite him on the post debate spin show. They are the spin masters of the MSM for sure.

[Mae]

His voting record shows otherwise. I have read a lot of Dr. Pauls writing and those excerpts from the newsletter does not sound anything like him and what he stands for. He is a standup guy and that is why he still has my full support. All the way baby.

[Jenna]

I hate to break it to you guys, but your candidate is boring and has no charisma. I saw him on Leno and thought he was pretty terrible. Add to that, that he wants to cut tons of important government agencies and you have someone who is just too out there to win. There is no way he is going to win. And while the Paulites might disagree with me the reality is that he is still not even close to being a front runner EVEN with tons of money. It's time to pack it in guys.

[Tony]

Another thing, on-line blogs are not the Main Stream Media. So don't take credit for posts on your website as being indicative of fair treatment of Dr. Paul byy the MSM. Clearly a large number of people who have internet access, cell phones with text messaging capability, and who take the time to educate themselves and express their opinions are supporting Dr. Paul. The rest of the nation apparently is not, but that's because they get their news via 60 second sound bites on the nightly news.

Ron Paul is also winning the post-debate text msg poll on Fox as I write this. And of course they're just chuckling about it and I guess will tell us that it's a fluke or spamming or a mysterious paulbot attack of some sort. What hogwash!

And was that so-called Fox forum full of hand-chosen people or what? I think the guy said "we've been waiting for Senator Thompson to have a good night". What kind of a statement is that from a supposedly objective journalist??

(Finally, you admit we're not the msm! About time. Thank you, Tony. As so many commenters have said, the msm is irrelevant and dying. Hope everyone reads this comment of yours.)

[Davo]

Let's just stick to the facts - You Americans (God Bless you) have been so socially engineered (Carnegie / Rockerfella Institutes) you do not know crap from clay,

Ron Paul is FREEDOM dumbos

[Matt]

Well yes there is a media conspiracy, going on for 100 years, enabled
by special interest and the people with the money, like warfare
industry complex, medical industry complex, even educational industry
complex. Ron Paul can and will break that media bias, conspiracy, and
corruptness down over time. Have you watched FOX reports lately?
The reporters look like humanoids with no heart and soul :)!!! The truth
will be known. YOU will KNOW the truth (in your body, not your head)
and that truth will set you free! But initially, dear journalist, it will hurt
as hell!!!

[Doug]

Ron Paul is the real deal. He knows the current fed system is bankrupting our country. The fed allows the printing of trillions of worthless dollars. That is why America is falling faster than Rome. At least the Romans brought treasure back to the coffers to back their currency. The only ones profiting from the plunder today is the multinational corporations and their puppet politicians. It is time to stop plundering other countries and rebuild our own. The true riches of America are the people. We have been ripped off for too long by the foreign bankers that siphon away our riches through the inflation tax and stealing our labor with the income tax. RON PAUL!!!

[Rolland]

The author questions media bias against Paul, shortly after writing: "In the recent Wyoming caucus Paul finished last behind Romney, Thompson and Duncan Hunter."

Let's see, he was also tied with with McCain, Huckabee, and Giuliani in that state's closed caucus. The author's very own spin here is at least some proof of media bias against Paul.

How hypocritical...

[NH_GOP]

Ron was always in for this one.

FOX never 'caved'.

This is SC where he is polling high.,

He was polling 14% of just GOP in NH which is why the vote is suspect!

I wish I had signed up to run, so I could demand a recount.

[Shreyas Sreenath]

Im very sure that Dr. Paul did not write those letters, he is and has been an advocate for civil liberties (heck, his message is about liberty), not to mention that he has won numerous awards on his message of civil rights and liberties. It is obviously apparent how much fox news wants to spin his message of peace and prosperity into something dangerous. Libertarianist constructionism isnt about anarchy, but about peace and prosperity, for all, including minorities. However, Neoconservatism is precisely about expliotation of the American society to fuel the guns and butter and runaway deficit spending economy.
Heed this message well, EMPIRES ALWAYS COLLAPSE, AND REPUBLICS ALWAYS SURVIVE.
RON PAUL '08

[NH_GOP]

Also TNR did NOT 'break' a story about the newsletter.

It is OLD NEWS just being rehashed for an attack in the primary.

The guy who wrote it is a Yalie bonesman...Olin Foundation.

NEED WE SAY MORE?