Ron Paul beats Giuliani but loses to Fox News

OK, he didn't get the third place that Ron Paul said he thought his campaign might reach in Iowa. He got fifth, 10%. Which, as we noted earlier, is better than the 4% that Rudy Giuliani got. But then like most Americans, Rudy didn't put that much effort into campaigning in Iowa.

The next big test comes Tuesday in New Hampshire, where the libertarian-like license plate -- Live Free or Die -- gives Paulunteers hope they might score an even larger surprise. Everybody except good ol' boy Fred Thompson has put serious efforts into the Granite state.

John McCain, who won New Hampshire in 2000, seems to be closing in on Mitt Romney there. Rudy is trying hard. If he can tear himself away from being on one national TV show after another, Iowa GOP caucus winner Mike Huckabee will campaign there. But without the large cadre of resident....

Christian evangelicals he had in Iowa, he's trailing and hanging on, hoping for Baptist help come South Carolina.

But before the Big Vote comes the Big Debate. Fox News has invited five famous Republicans to a modified house trailer for a televised debate Sunday. They did not invite Rep. Paul, which has infuriated many people and not all of them Paul supporters, as you may have read in hundreds of comments on this blog recently.

The Manchester Union Leader, New Hampshire's major newspaper, ran a front-page editorial Thursday by its publisher, Joseph McQuaid, criticizing media that do not invite all serious candidates such as Paul because then it's big media and not regular New Hampshire voters making the decision. Fox doesn't return phone calls or e-mails seeking an explanation for excluding Paul, probably because it's very difficult to explain how you invite Giuliani, who's already lost one election to Paul, and the more-famous Thompson, who ran ahead of the lesser-known Paul in Iowa but trails him in New Hampshire polls.

And, frankly, Paul probably leads all Republicans in fourth-quarter fundraising with his nearly $20 million haul. But you won't be able to hear him on Fox Sunday where he would be the only Republican candidate to oppose the Iraq war, advocate pulling our troops home from all around the world to save money for domestic needs and slashing numerous federal departments.

While personally pro-life, Paul, an ob-gyn, would leave abortion or anti-abortion laws to the individual states as part of his strict constitutionalist approach. Paul's followers see the Fox News exclusion as part of a broader corporate conspiracy by the mainstream media to squelch the 72-year-old, 10-term Republican representative.

That doesn't explain how this item and this item and this item and this item, among many others, got into this blog. But that doesn't really matter because no one will hear Paul speak in the debate on Fox News Sunday. Fox says the trailer is too small for more candidates.

Ron Paul supporters have deluged feedback@foxnews.com with complaints. They are urging a boycott of all Fox advertisers and are exploring some kind of alternative event on Sunday. Maybe they could rent a larger trailer and invite Chris Wallace and the five famous Republicans over for a chat. And if those people don't show up, the Paul folks could set out empty chairs and pitch their own platform for the entire program.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[bgodley]

Paul most definitely will take Iows as a win. He did break double digits.

The truth is he will do very well in New Hampshire. He was FIRST place in Iowa among registered Independants. You know what, New Hampshire has almost half of it’s voters registering independant this year - a record.

He will do very well in New Hampshire. Way more than expected. I know that there are still people that love to write him off. They are part of that naysayer crowd that prefers to go with the flow of traffic rather than work against the odds.

Are the odds against Paul large? Yes in ever sense. That is what makes this battle even more exciting and worthwhile. This has given many of his supporters a purpose to involve themselves in the political process. His candidacy has brought many people out of apathy and that is nothing but good.

Is this blind loyalty? No, this is a testament to that great virtue of American ideals - tenacity. The willingness and desire to stick to a purpose no matter how many roadblocks, setbacks and failures.

[Scott]

I will be boycotting all sponsors of Fox News and Fox radio stations for their support of censorship.

[lsr57@yahoo.com]

I think we should look deeper than fox. R Murdoch owns newscorp . Who owns Murdoch ? Surely he licks someones boot .A banker or banking family perhaps

[Judy]

It's unfortunate that Ron Paul has been excluded. All of the other candidates are the same. How does Ron Paul plan to get the attention of the other networks to have them outside of the Debate to talk to Ron about where he differs from his Republican opponents?

[Patch]

Fox News is making a HUGE mistake. If the Ron Paul camp can raise 20 million dollars this quarter, most of it online and in small amounts, they can do a lot of damage to the Fox News advertisers.

Truth is, a boycott is the only thing Fox News will respond to in this situation. But, it has to be something that isn't for a day or a week. It has to be serious enough to make it hard for the Fox News sales team to overcome. Advertising agencies need to get the message.

You can tell when something isn't square, they come up with stupid excuses. The trailer isn't big enough? WHAT? Is this THE Fox News? They can't afford a double-wide? I plan on joining this boycott and being a vocal part of this REVOLUTION!

[R. Nieva]

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LOS ANGELES TIMES FOR PROMOTING FREE MEDIA.

[Mark McLain]

Andrew,

3rd, 4th, and 5th place finish were how many votes apart?

(Pretty close. Good point.)

[Rhonin]

While I am not a Ron Paul supporter, I do believe he should be in the debates. If he doesn't get in, everyone should not watch the debate. Pass that word around on the Web!

[Jessica Murray]

Have you seen how small Ron Paul is? He doesn't need much space.

[IRguy]

Thank you for a great post Mr. Malcolm.

Go Ron Paul!!!

[dave]

Extremely well written article,with no bias , How is that possible that there are real news people out there when the media is so rife with CIA these days
good job keep up the great writing

[WarPropaganda]

Ron Paul said it best himself. Fox is a pro-war propaganda machine and they're afraid of his message. Ron Paul exposes them for the fraud that they are.

I don't think it's any secret that Fox News is more propaganda machine than news service.

[Bob Logan]

I deleted Faux news from all 7 of our TeleVisions. I don't want to hear their fair and balanced propaganda or hear any opinions from their "super spin zone". How dumb do they think American's are? Ron PAUL,Keep telling the truth and informing us of the real facts . Ron Paul is fighting to save America and our constitutional rights. Good luck, you have my vote.

[Bill Hicks]

Dr Paul should volunteer to rent a larger trailer so FOX wouldn't be so cramped.
Out fox, FOX.

[MoodyMemos]

Fox News has the blood of thousands on their hands for orchestrating and hyping this phony war in Iraq. Of course they don't want someone like Ron Paul with his dissenting views on their network.

Have you guys watched Outfoxed on Google video or Youtube? Also, search for "moody memos" to get an idea of how Fox News is influenced from the top ie. Paul Moody each day. Moody's memos are a lot like Rumsfeld's snowflakes.

Fox is a travesty and is one of the greatest threats to the republic.

[Elizabeth]

Dear Mr. Malcolm,

I have been following your articles, and I have to say I have noticed a shift in your writing about Dr. Paul, a pleasantly more objective shift, which I thank you for.

Each of these primary skirmishes are given weight by the media, but what Dr. Paul has brought to America is something that will outlive this election and far beyond; he has woken up an entire generation to the disturbing truth about the monster of a government that has been created in our name, and how we must first shackle and then start to dismantle that monster and replace it with the small, limited government our Founding Fathers envisioned.

Difficult? Yes. Doable? Yes. How will it be done? With a small (3-5% of the population) group of energized citizens working tirelessly to bring it about. Mr. Malcolm, I challenge you to become part of that small group of energized citizens; I challenge you to start reporting on the real meat of the issues that Dr. Paul rails against. I am guessing you know what they are: North American Union, the robbery committed by the Federal Reserve, and many other issues. Use your writing skills to educate your readers as to these issues.

I would like you to consider my challenge to you. Thank you again for your contributions. It is an exciting time to be alive.

(Thanks for the challenge. More importantly, thanks for reading and taking the time to leave a comment. But while we appear criitical at times and perhaps praising at others, we're really not trying to take sides. Read over time--and we've had nearly 1,100 of these items so far and going on 8,000 comments like yours--we try to be an equal opportunity offender and promote discussions like this one. If I was for one candidate and wrote that way, what's to discuss?)

[Sean]

I'm wonder how Ron Paul will do in Wyoming tomorrow. From the news reports, RP is one of the few that have been campaigning there. If he comes in 2nd, they may play it off by not mentioning him at all, and focusing on the winner. If he happened to win Wyoming, the heat against Fox could go supernova . Hard to ignore his absence from the debate if one of the Sundays news stories is him winning a state. (Even one penalized as Wyoming)

[badmedia]

Rudy using the excuse he didn't try is pathetic. He didn't try because he knew he didn't have a chance. To give him a pass for this reason is just mind blowing bull.

If Ron Paul had not tried - And he honestly didn't put much into Iowa at all, would it be a valid excuse? Nope, it's only considered valid because that is what the media wants to be valid.

[Matt]

Excellent ideas Andrew.

[mike]

There was a traffic jam last night in Dubuque that was miles long. The other caucus location was the most people ever to be at Senior high (and mostly Paul and Romney) I wonder how many people lost their vote because of poor planning in the non-rural areas for a large turnout of Ron Paul supporters.
As for Fox news, I'm reminded of what Mark Twain said "Nothing is harder to tolerate than a good example!" I will no longer support them as a news agency because of this apparent and shameless tactic. Maybe they can make room for Alan Keyes, though.

[Jeb]

Being the trailer trash they are, Can't Fox get a double wide so they can fit a skinny Presidential candidate among their forum members? Sheesh, that's a no brainer. So why are they really excluding him?

[scott]

I find your commentary condescending and not really journalism. So even though you cite blogs, the message that Yes, Paul did break through expectations and Yes, the pundits were wrong has not been heard by the vast majority of Americans. Blogs are the whisper in the din of corporate sponsored media.

Its appalling when blatant censorship is applauded by lambasting a candidates supporters. I suggest your tone should change to an unbiased tone if you want to be considered a journalist.

[Brian]

Heres what I just sent in an email to Fox regarding this .....

"This is in regards to your exclusion of Dr Paul in your upcoming forum in New Hampshire. If the issue is really space, thats the dumbest excuse I've ever heard. Why don't you just get a bigger space? I imagine Dr Paul's supporters would even be willing to pay for it for you. Another suggestion ... Ron isnt nearly as large as Fred Thompson in physical size. Get rid of Fred to save space and you could possibly bring in two others. Anyway those are just a couple ideas from a dumb American who obviously isnt nearly as intelligent on these types of issues as yourselves. Best of luck on your future censorship of U.S. politics."

(Funny line, Brian!)

[TESS101]

Andrew, thank you once again for writing about Ron Paul's victory win over Giuliani, and Foxnews corrupt and manipulative/unfair reporting of the Republican New Hampshire Forum. I cannot believe that the GOP is not stopping this. I really believed that our media in the United States of America would be fair and balanced, but I, like many other Americans have been fooled. I am thankful to Ron Paul and his supporters for opening my eyes, and for revealing the truth about Foxnews. I am thankful that the L.A. Times will share information regarding Ron Paul in Blogs. I am sad to see that this very important information regarding our Presidential election process, Ron Paul, and Foxnews isn't making to the front page where it really belongs.

Ron Paul has my vote and support. Foxnews will feel blowback real soon if they do not reconsider inviting Ron Paul as well as Duncan and Keyes to the New Hampshire forum on January 6th. They need to remember that we the Ron Paul Supporters are everywhere just as Hannity stated on his radio talk show.

Integrity is everything, and Foxnews has none.

[Eye Openser]

Hel-lo. Media black out is not limited to Ron Paul. Media black-out is in the nation's busiest court. If Britney Spears wasn't demonstrating the rich are different...their lawyers get into court on a moment's notice while normal litigants wait months...and that Adam Liptak wrote in the NY Times that judges favor actions that support the legal industry...which is certainly true in Family Court, but the good news is sites like www.FamilyLawCourts.com educates the public to fake attorneys, fake therapists and judges supporting all comers in the divorce and custody industry.

So thank Heaven for the Internet. Imagine what we wouldn't know, otherwise.

(Thanks for making us one of your internet stops.)