Ron Paul, muffled by Fox, wows Jay Leno

Last week, Mike Huckabee gave up the last half-day of campaigning for the Iowa Republican caucus and flew to Burbank, Calif., to appear on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." Next day, Huckabee won.

So tonight, the night before the big New Hampshire primary, Ron Paul tried to pull a Huckabee. He flew all the way across the country for his own second appearance with Jay. And Leno, now a developing political kingmaker, greeted him with a most sympathetic hearing. You can see it on your NBC stations in a couple of hours. Paul's supporters, who financed a new eight-state ad blitz for their man, will be very happy with tonight's program.

It's not easy for a 72-year-old, 10-term congressman from Texas, who once before ran for president on the Libertarian ticket, to get much media attention. He's been polling a long time in single digits. But then a couple of things happened. Paul's thousands of outspoken, fervent followers set a new one-day fundraising record and reaped almost $20 million for him in the fourth quarter, likely more than any other GOP candidate. Then last week Paul came in fifth in Iowa with 10%, a lot better than the 4% of Rudy Giuliani, who'd criticized Paul strongly in an early debate.

But the best thing that happened to Paul in recent days was that despite his $20 million and his 10% showing in New Hampshire polls, Fox News excluded Paul from its Sunday night Republican debate with the big five -- Giuliani, Fred Thompson, Huckabee, Mitt Romney and John McCain. So Paul gets 10% in Iowa and gets excluded, but Rudy gets 4% and sits on the left end of the Fox Box desk. Hmmm.

There was quite an uproar and the New Hampshire GOP withdrew its sponsorship of the debate. Paul supporters, mocking the network's "Fair and Balanced" motto, flooded Fox with protests, calls and e-mails and are organizing a boycott of Fox sponsors. Never one to miss an opportunity, NBC's Leno invited Paul to appear and explain.

Introducing his guest as "a long-shot maverick," Leno said, "I'm trying to figure out why Fox News chose not to put you on."

"You know," Paul replied, "we tried to find that out. But they didn't return our call."

"You seem like a gentleman," notes Leno. "You don't seem like that type. But it seems like you should be kicking somebody's ass right now." [Laughter] [Applause] "You're being extremely polite for something I think you got screwed over, quite, you know, ....

I mean, I might not necessarily agree with you, but I think, as an American, we like to see everybody get an equal shot."

Paul speculates that Fox "didn't want to hear the message. Maybe they're intimidated. Maybe they're frightened. Maybe they don't want to hear the truth. Who knows?"

Leno asks about Romney's slide in the polls and attacks by other GOP candidates. "I'm a little bit afraid that they might be doing that for religious reasons," says Paul. "And I don't like that. I disagree with Romney on some of the issues, and he's gone after me onstage, but that shouldn't be the reason that he doesn't do well."

Paul noted that "nobody's ever accused me" of saying different things to different crowds. "I say the same thing, no matter which ear it is and which crowd it is." Paul corrected Leno that he had not collected all that campaign money but that "we" had: his followers and their 1,400 meet-up groups nationwide.

Paul said after his earlier debate confrontation with Giuliani "when he was confused about what causes terrorism [Laughter] I sent him some books, And I said, 'Please read these books.' But so far it doesn't sound like he's read [them]. He hasn't done his homework." [Applause]

Paul, the only GOP candidate opposing the Iraq war, criticized the Bush administration. "The trillion dollars went to the war," Paul said. "It should be here taking care of our people here at home." [Applause] Paul also noted how all candidates now say they're for change but nothing changes. "To me," he added, "that means the only significant change we ought to have is get enough people in Washington that read the constitution, obey the constitution, do only the things that we're allowed to do." [Applause] To read the entire interview, click here.

Meanwhile, across the country in New York, Huckabee was trying to pull another Huckabee of his own on late-night television, this time on "The Late Show with David Letterman."

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Tim]

Just re-registered Republican and I hope a lot of you out there do too. I'm voting Ron Paul. It is a little unfortunate he is crossing a picket line, but it's not like he's writing sitcoms or something. He needs this exposure. Screw FOX, they committed election fraud.

[Jesi]

Ron Paul was excellent tonight as always, and I applaud Jay Leno for inviting him.
RON PAUL 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Peter]

Wow! What a great day!

My home team wins the BSC Championship (L.S.U.)
and Ron Paul gets a fair shake from Jay Leno! And on top of that yet another mentioning from L.A. Times!

This is why I love my country. This is why I love America. Because here, despite all odds, the truth can never be restrained forever. Sooner or later it always comes out!

Thanks Andrew, and have a nice week!

Peter Duffield

[Tony]

Wow... the most fair article from the times ever!
where do I subscribe to the times?

[Andrew]

Ron Paul is an outstanding person - and speaks the truth.
www.DontTaxMeBro.org

[Brian McDaniel]

Correction: To say Ron Paul is "trying to pull a Huckabee" may not be accurate. Jay leno CALLED Ron Paul and invited HIM on the show.

(Well, we'll see Tuesday. If RP wins, he's pulled a Huckabee, been on Jay Leno one night and win the next day.)

[Choose Freedom]

Ron Paul believes in Freedom, therefore he believes in you. The other candidates believes in Government, therefore they believe in themselves. To quote Ronald Reagan "Government is not the solutions to our problems, Government is the problem" What do you believe in?

[beava]

Nice 'fair and balanced' article. Thanks to Jay, many will get to see Ron Paul shine.

[Andy White]

I love Ron Paul

[tim]

Nice coverage. Is the LA Times reporting the story in print?

(Separate operation. Don't know for sure at this hour.)

[Melanie Brady]

Responding to Huckabee’s new messaging, Ron Paul campaign spokesman Jesse Benton stated: “While Mike Huckabee and the other Republican candidates talk about obeying the Constitution and protecting life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, only Dr. Paul has a record – spanning four decades – of demonstrated adherence to traditional conservative principles.”

No other can presidential candidate can claim the following record:

Dr. Paul…

has never voted to raise taxes.
has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
has never voted to raise congressional pay.
has never taken a government-paid junket.
has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
voted against the Patriot Act.
voted against regulating the Internet.
voted against the Iraq war.
does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.
returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.
supported Ronald Reagan against Gerald Ford in 1976.

[Chris]

Good for you Andrew! Thanks for doing your part to give all the candidates a fair chance. On behalf of all the supporters of Ron Paul, I personally would like to offer our sincerest gratitude for mentioning Paul's appearance on The Jay Leno Show, in a positive light.

We appreciate every bit of coverage we can get...especially the positive stuff.

[Mike]

Ron Paul is a "top tier" patriot... http://truthalert.net/Republican%20Presidential%20Candidate%20Rankings.htm

[Bruno Amato]

I am a 46 year old SAG actor and Union Ironworker, and I haven't voted since 1980 when I was an 18 year old in the US Navy, when I voted for Ronald Reagan. I have never been so inspired to vote since first seeing Ron Paul on his first Jay Leno appearance a few month's ago...He is the ONLY candidate who is truthful, and believes in the Constitution, and not only believes in it, he actually follows what it says. I love this guy!!!!! GO RON PAUL!!!!

[Chris]

Nice. One correction though: he said "year" not "ear" in the quote:
"nobody's ever accused me" of saying different things to different crowds. "I say the same thing, no matter which ear it is and which crowd it is."

[RubenBenavides]

Great reporting. Jay Leno was very sympathetic of Ron Paul. He did a great interview.

Of course, Ron Paul is such an ace that he score major points in this interview. His responses were simply remarkable!!! Unequal!!!

I'm sure our next president was sitting tonight with Leno.

[Anthony Knittel]

Excellent coverage Andrew

[Torqued]

Boy, now that is TWO more positive articles I've seen you write about Ron Paul now Andrew, are we slowly becoming a Ron Paul supporter? Just Kidding and good job with this article. I watched the Leno show, and that is pretty much how it happened. I am glad you have decided to turn over a new leaf Andrew Malcolm.

Ron Paul 2008 !!

[Vicky]

Andrew Malcolm, showing what journalists are capable of, wows me.

Thanks for the write up. I am becoming an frequent reader.

Fox News made me cry, you and Jay made me smile.

[blakmira]

Andrew,
Thank you for writing about Ron Paul appearing on Jay Leno tonight. Yes, he did "wow" Leno. He was absolutely brilliant; electric! It showcased what a decent, personable, good, wise soul he is. How can anyone who hears him speak not see that he makes perfectly logical sense on every issue and knows exactly what he's talking about?

However, your wording that Ron Paul "tried to pull a Huckabee" (by appearing on Leno the night before a primary) sounded a bit off, especially since you do also mention it was Leno who invited him on. I'm assuming you're merely inferring that Ron Paul should place #1 in New Hampshire as Huck did in Iowa the day after Leno.

Fair enough, since Huckabee's certainly been pulling "a Ron Paul" lately, which hasn't gone unnoticed. CBS News website even observed this as 'it's not plagiarism, but...' in their article today entitled "Huckabee Sounding A Little Like Ron Paul."

Sure, other candidates are beginning to parrot Dr. Paul's message of liberty and limited government, but Ron Paul is the original Champion of the Constitution. Oh yeah, he's the Real Deal. And nobody can take that away from him -- or us!

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign -- that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift

[Chuck]

I can't wait to watch. THANKS JAY! Anderson Cooper also needs a thank you for broadcasting all the Ron Paul supporters, even though he ignored the fact Ron Paul is running for president. Ron Paul is a good lesson for Unions also. When everyone is under the same decision, each persons vote and voice is lost. There are too many people in this world to agree on one thing. Let us all be free to choose our own path. Ron Paul 2008.

[Nathan]

Andrew, you're ok. Many Paulunteers don't appreciate your sense of humor, but I do.

(Me? A sense of humor? Oh, go on with you.)

[Mike]

Andrew, much as I love the amount of coverage you give Dr Paul on your blog, I'm left wondering... as this is a blog, how much of your comment makes it through to the hardcopy version? It seems a long time since I saw a full-on story on Dr Paul that would be circulated via hardcopy.

I get the feeling your readership is mostly Dr Paul's supporters, though I'm hoping it's a bit broader than that, and your fair and balanced writings are being read by those not yet aware, or supportive, or Dr Paul.

Please keep up the good work!

(This is an online blog. A few excerpts appear in the print edition each Sunday. We live online and with our rapidly growing readership, our items routinely have thousands more readers than individual stories in the paper.)

[NCMarc]

Great interview on Jay, should help out a little. He's in 3rd place so far with 2 small towns started voting at midnight. Very good sign. Rudy? He's in last place.

(Actually, Dr. Paul got 0 votes in the first town to vote. See item above.)

[Wendy M]

Thank you again, Andrew! Whether you are a Ron Paul supporter or not, you'll be one of the greatest patriots of the new r3volution. You have been fair and truthful in your blog posts and I, for one, appreciate it very much.

Dr. Paul was awesome on Leno tonight. Especially pointing out that he is the only candidate who really represents a change. America needs change desperately. America needs Ron Paul!