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

[Jay]

Fox News is a Communist front organization.

[eric]

It's funny they don't mention this on any of the major news websites like CNN. I bet they will only post the story on their site when the New Hampshire primary is over ..or late tonight when it'sa already too late iun Nw Hampshire.

[Joe Schnable]

Hoped Ron would re-discuss eliminating income taxes; they are just 1/3 of taxes and not needed if war ended promptly..:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWfIhFhelm8

Video indicates without income taxes; federal budget would still be more than 6 years ago! Stop wasteful goverment spending that is driving prices up!

I'm voting for Ron, not the guy that just justified 100 more years in Iraq

[Barry]

Osama Bin Laden died in 2002. They even ran an obituary.
Do some checking. Those so called "tapes" of BL are obvious fakes.
The MSM has been lying to us, since 9/11, and maybe before, we just didn't realize it, yet.

But, we realize it, now.

[Dave in Alaska]

My respect for Jay Leno just skyrocketed! Ron Paul 2008!

[Richard]

Thank You for the honest and truthful article. I am praying today that New Hampshire voters will vote with heart and integrity.
God Bless America
God Bless Ron Paul

[Roger]

TV MEDIA MANIPULATION? Would you like to Know more? then
Read what is on this this web site and you be the judge...
http://www.roguegovernment.com/news.php?id=5888

You will notices that this guy Frank Luntz working for Fox news is putting what is clearly starting to look and feel as an "”Infomercial". I guess this guy really thinks that we are dumb. How much lower Fox TV will go by continuing allowing such thing?
Good Lord they are so desperate it looks as they will do whatever it takes to manipulate their allready shrinking audiences.

[matt]

keep it going Andrew. I am becoming a fan. Much better coverage for our underdog!!!!!

[yaaqob613@gmail.com]

Ron Paul is the only candidate who recognizes that the US Constitutional form of government has been hi-jacked by special interests and no longer functions as our founding fathers intended. All of the other wannabies (both parties) merely want to cash in on the corrupted mess they are responsible for creating and continue to support. We need a thorough and complete house (and Senate) cleaning. Regrettably, if Ron were to be elected, all of his attempts to return the system to its constitutional footing would be blocked by the miscreants in both houses who so love the disgusting mess they have made of the system.

Ron, please come back home to Texas and run for Governor. Once elected, you could lead a secessionist movement and get us out of this mess. As a Republic, we can then begin anew, armed with the experience of our failed past. You CANNOT change Washington...look at the field you are running against. Not one of them want any change except what they can put in their own pockets.

[Rich Moore]

Another WNC Ron Paul supporter here!! Franklin, NC is sprouting yard signs everywhere for Paul. This area is full of dead headed drones who always vote for the most conservative rascals they can and never read or study the issues: Lets hope they see the signs and follow the lead to the polls.

[William Spitz]

Ron Paul and Jay Leno, the greatest comedy team since Jackie Gleason and Art Carney and the joke is on Fox News.

[Derek]

I'd just like to point out something that scared me. I was reading a post earlier talkting about Osama Bin Laden. We know that there was a new tape released last week by the infamous terrorist, and I hadn't realised that we had not heard from him in a while. Well, after the assasination of Benazir Bhutto, I started looking for some of her more recent speeches.
On a program hosted by David Frost, Bhutto makes the assertion that Osama Bin Laden was murdered - already dead. Mr. Frost did not challenge this assertion.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnychOXj9Tg

So, I felt a familiar chill creep up my spine when I thought that the man is dead and they (who knows who now!) are still releasing video. Keeping the fear alive and present. Bhutto was a leader in PAKISTAN, exactly where we all thought Bin Laden was hiding.
Think.

[Roger]

WHY PEOPLE STILL TALKING ABOUT OSAMA BIN LADEN?
Accordingly to Benazir Bhutto BBC Interview Osama Bin Laden Was Murdered.
The entire Interview is on this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIO8B6fpFSQ
her remarks will be on the 6:12 minutes mark.

So why is the Main Media not following up on this? We know she got Killed but I am sure reportes can really get in touch with her advisers.

After thousands of our brave man and women killed on the Wars;
Do no one think this is news the American people need to know?
The parents and families of those that gave their life to fight for us, Don’t they have the right to know?
One ask... Why any media has not follow up on this?

[blktoast@yahoo.com]

I'm a 30-something , handicapped woman living in New Hampshire. I WAS going to vote for John Edwards, only because his campaign called me, but after I saw him on the Tonight Show last night, I did a 180. I don't think Dr. Paul will win NH, but man! I really liked what he had to say!

[James Pavlov]

God Speed Ron!

[Tim Titler]

Thank you for the article and Thank you Jay for having Dr. Paul on the show. This media blackout is just amazing. Thanks for letting some sunshine in.

[Abe C.]

Thanks for this write-up on Dr. Paul. Fox News is a sham and a lot of folks have let them know it. Their media maneuvering seems to have worked against them--as of late Ron Paul has been getting a lot of positive coverage, which is wonderful. It's good to see some semblance of honest media still remains in the US.

Go Ron Paul 2008!

[Scott A. Brown]

What's weird, Mr. Malcom, is your phrase that Paul "tried to pull a Huckabee."

What's weird about that is that I've been watching the two of them for months. Suddenly the Huckster is sounding a lot like Paul. He's talking about ending the IRS, Paul's been saying this for ten terms in Congress. He's talking about ending the war, Paul's been saying this since before it started. He's talking about how his support comes, not from big corporations, but from individual citizens, Paul's got over twenty million dollars in small contributions showing he was definitely there first. Huckabee is finally beginning to make an appearance on the Internet; you know who was there first, you know who virtually owns that space politically. The list goes on, but question is, who is imitating whom?

Paul "tried to pull a Huckabee?"

A Babtist preacher wins the caucus in a state saturated with Christian evangelicals. Not surprising.

A libertarian constitutionalist gets 10% of the vote in the same state? Now, THAT is noteworthy.

(And it was carefully noted here. Thanks for reading.)

[Paul]

Jay Leno, you rock! Now, we just need Vicki Carp or Alex Jones on your show to tell about vote fraud or maybe even the Council on Foreign Relations. You know, some of the things that sway our politician's decisions. The people cannot be silenced, Faux News. Fox has made itself the enemy of the r3VOLution and to the patriots across our great nation!

[Liberty Warrior]

Ron Paul ! Nobody should vote without being informed. Inform yourself and research all candidates. I assure you if you do this, and you want to vote for someone who is consistant in his words and actions with the constitution, someone who you can trust to protect your rights, someone you know will give the powe back to the people, you will conclude that Ron Paul is the best candidate. Do yourself and your country a favor and research everyone and educate yourself on FREEDOM, LIBERTY and PROSPERITY!

WWW.ECONOMICLESSON.BLOGSPOT.COM

[joelfarm]

Thank You L.A. Times for a great article. All we have been asking is to be given a chance to let the American people know that there is indeed a choice other than the status quo. Things must change if we, as a people have a chance to survive. You have shown what true jounalistic coverage should be-fair and balanced.

[Maximillian]

Less Government, Lower Taxes, Cut Spending, Transparent Government,
Respect for the Costitution, No Foreign Endanglement, Personal Freedom .
Is this guy Paul nuts? That is not 'the American way' I grew up with.
Greed, Thievery, Swindle, Corruption at every turn, thats the America I
am used to and I will vote for anyone who will not change 'My America'.
Check Judicial Watch and find the cantidate of real choice. According to
that site, four in the running are among the 10 most corrupt. Now that is
a 'real' choice'. Pick anyone of them so things can stay the way they are.
America! Change is bad! Same of the same is good!
Wake up people and stand for 'NO CHANGE' in 2008!

[1440 minutes]

Thank you, Andrew, for covering Dr. Paul again. WMUR in Manchester, New Hampshire, covered every candidate last night except Dr. Paul. They even mentioned Duncan Hunter and Mike Gravel who aren't registering in the polls, but didn't say one word about Dr. Paul who received almost triple the number of votes that Giuliani received in Iowa.

[Elle]

No matter what seems to "go wrong" I've noticed that the Divine hand of Providence always seems to turn it around for Ron Paul. Jack Cafferty read a letter from a viewer that called Ron Paul a kind of latter-day prophet and I'm beginning to believe that is true.

How wonderful if the other candidates began to change their war mongering "stay the course" platforms to borrow Ron Paul's statesman-like positions. I doubt they'd keep their word if elected, however, as they're owned by special interests. Ron Paul, as I understand it, has never taken money from lobbyists and his historically record-breaking fundraising came strictly from grassroots--no corporations or special interests like the others.

God bless this brave and honest man and may the force continue to be with him. Thank you, Ron Paul!

[Joseph]

(I am European, writing from there)
For fans and sympathizers of Ron Paul it might be of interest that there
was a politician in Germany right after Hitler: Ludwig Erhard, the
minister for economics from 1948 on, responsible for the "economic
miracle" that took place, the policy that got the country out of the mess.
There are the whole lot of similarities between Erhard and Paul.
suggested search words: +Ludwig Erhard+ (ie. entry wikipedia);
+germany economic miracle+ (plenty coming up), best of them is probably
http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/GermanEconomicMiracle.html, the library
of economics and liberty, lucid reading, giving a nice account of all that.

I might come as a surprise, I know. In any, there was a guy over there
after Hitler, ..., and who (he died in 77) is very well remembered, respected,
coming to new appreciation again.
That the German media have missed Ron Paul so far is their own problem,
because, provided enough proper and adequate info about Ron Paul is
getting out over here, he is certainly getting instant well-wishers, standing
ovations. One just has to do a little bit of reading on the net (espec. the one
on - www.econlib.org - and one knows instantly how and why Ron Paul
would be a bigger subject of interest - surprising as it might seem at first.
(Actually, he is therefore a worthwhile subject for blogs in GERMAN! -
believe it or not.) - wish you all well and plenty of luck