Should Ron Paul be allowed at Sunday's debate?

There seems to be a debate going on between Fox News and New Hampshire Republicans over precisely who will participate in this weekend's presidential debate.

Rumor has it that online fundraising sensation and Texas congressman Ron Paul and San Diego congressman Duncan Hunter will be excluded because their N.H. poll numbers are not in double digits, although Paul's fourth quarter fundraising numbers were way into double digits, nearing $20 million, according to his website. In the first 240 minutes of the new year, nearly $11,000 more came in.

Over the weekend a Fox News spokeswoman told Top of the Ticket that the New Hampshire Republican Party was making the choice of candidates to participate in the televised GOP presidential debate on Jan. 6 with Chris Wallace moderating. She even provided the chairman's e-mail: fergus@nhgop.org to confirm that. Alas, the chairman never responded to us.

Then, on Monday, that state party chair, Fergus Cullen, issued a statement saying that limiting candidates was not in the party's tradition, suggesting the media should not be in the ....

business of excluding serious candidates and talks were continuing with Fox.

So whose decision is it?

Understandably, neither side apparently wants to incur the online wrath of Paul's passionate parishioners, who scour the Internet around the clock and descend like locusts on any opportunity to praise Paul or right perceived wrongs on any website or blog they can find. If word got out that Fox/News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch's e-mail was rmurdoch@newscorp.com, his mailbox would be full in a flash.

Paul's supporters have set up a special protest website to marshal support, as well as urge his fervent followers as follows:

"We need to send a message to Fox's Rupert Murdoch & his fellow Neocon buddies that he is not Musharraf and the U.S. is not Pakistan, yet!  Fox News cannot just stifle public opinion, debate and impact a primary election by excluding Ron Paul just because they don't like his message of freedom and liberty. Cover them up with e-mails and they will just say it was a mistake or miscommunication.  Be respectful as all of the e-mail addresses below are just employees trying to keep their jobs with the world's largest media monopoly."

The mainstream media -- or msm -- are a particular target of Paul's vociferous followers, an eclectic mix of libertarians and disaffected Republicans, Democrats and, until now, non-voters. Outspoken to say the least, they disregard stories like this one and this one and this one and this one and this one and this one. They believe that major newspapers and broadcast networks have conspired to pay insufficient attention to Dr. Paul, a 72-year-old ob-gyn and 10-term House member, citing his low numbers in polls, which Paulites believe are self-fulfilling frauds designed to cause voters to invest their votes in more traditional candidates with a seemingly more realistic chance of winning.

Only when these followers, led by a mysterious amateur musician and fundraiser, began making their average $100 campaign donations by the thousands last fall, setting a new one-day online record in excess of $6 million and making Paul the only Republican candidate to increase his donations every quarter in 2007, did the media begin paying attention. But no amount of attention seems sufficient for Paulites, who complain when there is no coverage and then complain again about any coverage they do get. Watch the comments section below.

They gather in chatrooms and more than 1,200 meet-up groups across the country to paint signs, write letters, organize marches and protests, support each other and otherwise promote the Ron Paul Revolution, which they believe will arrive when primary voting starts.

Some 300 young Paul supporters have been in caucus-training camps in Iowa in recent days and are shooting for maybe a stunning third-place there ahead of more famous fellows like John McCain, Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson. And they hope to possibly do even better in New Hampshire where the state slogan "Live Free or Die" would seem to lend itself to their cause.

But first fights first. Iowa this Thursday. The Fox forum on Sunday. Then on to New Hampshire and beyond, carrying Dr. Paul's antiabortion, antiwar, strict constitutionalist banner.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Jon]

Excellent story, Rupert murdoch is going to be upset with you....but the Revolution LOVES you.

[Brian]

That was pretty funny Andrew. I must admit, even though you don't paint me, as a Paul support in the best light, I still laughed.

[Keith]

Ron Paul is a threat to both Parties because he is a champion of the Constitution! Therefore people fear him. Let the man debate!

[Jeremy]

Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter should be allowed at the Fox Forum. Especially Ron Paul, I am biased of course because I am a supporter. But, objectively, In the last USA/Gallup poll conducted on December 19th it showed Ron Paul at 9% tied for 4th with Mike Huckabee, Fred Thompson was in last with 4%. Giuliani was at 11%, Paul was within the margin of the error at that being at 9%. So even the polls that underestimate the young support of Ron Paul is accurate, Ron Paul could finish 3rd in New Hampshire. This is a New Hampshire forum, but Huckabee, Giuliani, and Thompson are invited.

There is an underlying person here, not one vote in this country has been casted for the GOP nominee and Ron Paul is being excluded despite possibly being 3rd in the polls in New Hampshire, and before this Ron Paul was showing an upward trend in the state, so two weeks later, who knows where they are at. To exlude Ron Paul just goes to show the biasness of the Fox News Network, and proving to be anything, but Fair & Balanced. Duncan Hunter should be excluded because no candidate should be excluded before the first primary in the country. But, especially Ron Paul given his support in the state SHOULD NOT be excluded.

[Kevin Houston]

Hey thanks!

That was a really fair and objective article; it's nice to see effort pay off.

I, for one, am very heartened by the NH GOP chair's statement denouncing Fox News' decision.

But it does seem to be misplaced for Ron supporters to say that *all* media are biased and unfair. It is beginnning to look more and more that the problem is Faux Snooze.

We will absolutely put an economic hurt on any product or sponsor of that network if this decision is not reversed.

Later

[Talcott]

"Understandably, neither side apparently wants to incur the online wrath of Paul's passionate parishioners, who scour the Internet around the clock and descend like locusts on any opportunity to praise Paul or right perceived wrongs on any website or blog they can find."

Anyone who has a problem with that, might want to get

acclamated to the new paradigm.

And the new word game by MSM, calling Ron's supporters a cult,

will falll to the side just as every other absurd label.(you did it

with aliteration)

Dr. Ron Paul President

Allow me to alter the qoute to be positive(something rarly seen

by the smug Andrew)

Understandably, neither side apparently wants to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY and incur the online RESPONSE of Paul's passionate SUPPORTERS, who READ and RESPOND like RATIONAL PEOPLE, on any opportunity to praise Paul or right perceived wrongs on any website or blog THAT is MISREPRESENTING, LYING or PROFILING Dr. Paul.

Ye

[God Bless America!]

Quotes: "But no amount of attention seems sufficient for Paulites, who complain when there is no coverage and then complain again about any coverage they do get." " Watch the comments section below. "

Paulite? I am your fellow american brother or sister
Comments? You've said enough for all to view.

[jOHNNYwRATH]

We'll see in 2 days..polls are worthless.

"War is when the government tells you who the bad guy is, revolution is when you decide that for yourself."

[Tom]

Ron Paul does not fit the FAUX news agenda. http://youtube.com/watch?v=J8oO_OD3PtI

[Wesley]

This is good journalism and I would just like to thank you for reporting the facts and not add any personal opinions like your idiotic colleagues have been doing. As a American who believes in freedom, I believe all Presidential candidate's messages should be heard on a level playing field. This blatant censorship by Fox News only serves to demonize the media, particularly Fox News at the moment. Either they reconsider or fact a huge backlash. Hint to ABC, NBC, and CNN, and CBS: Fox News is primed for the kill.

[Steve Wimer]

I'm voting for Ron Paul. I'm certainly not impressed with the Neocons, phony conservatives who took the conservation out of the Republican party with overspending on a losing war and underfunding environmental protection. President Bush is a freaking idiot. The Democratic party has swung too far to the left, again, to earn my vote, catering to illegal aliens.

[Amfortas]

I haven't been invited either. No competent, truthful people are running in this election. To a man and a woman they are all corrupt and anti-male. The American chap is just not represented.

American manhood is being whittled away, jailed, villified, falsely accused, families taken from them, livlihoods ruined. And no politician is even slightly concerned that American society is disintegrating.

The 'Family' is being systematically destroyed in America; men, the balwark of freedom, are being replaced by State officials. Power is residing, not in 'We the People', but in we, the corrupt rent-seeking scum.

Vote #1 Amfortas. I am running on the 'Durn Furriner' ticket, as it seems there are no American nationals who seem to want to step forward to stop the decline of America, and far too many incompetent, corrupt scum hogging the stage.

They want the power and the money. I want Justice and Truth and Integrity for the American People. See my interview on MensNewsDaily.

Vote #1 Amfortas.

[ThomasJ]

I do not have a problem with the LA times. You guys are one of the few actually "Fair and Balanced" media outlets I have seen. I have read through some of your other articles on other candidates.

When we speak of main stream media bias it is usually CNN, CBS, FNC, PBS etc.... There are a few newspapers that are blatant in their bias.

A media outlet that is privately owned has every right to be as biased as they see fit. They should not act like they are not biased though.

That is the big problem with Fox, They are horribly biased for the war-mongering neo-cons. Then they ring that slogan in "Fair and Balanced" yadda yadda

If CNN wants to shove Democrats down people's throats that is fine. They shouldn't on the other hand act like they are not doing just that. (YouTube debate anyone?)

LA times? You guys are in the clear as far as this Ron Paul Revolutionary is concerned. I don't agree with everything you guys print but at least you try and get the facts strait which is more than I can say for the ones listed above.

[Robert Paul]

Mr. Malcolm,

Your post contains many statements about Ron Paul supporters that don't apply to all of them. For example, you wrote, "They believe that major newspapers and broadcast networks have conspired to pay insufficient attention to Dr. Paul..."

Some of them believe this, but some do not. Maybe your assumption is understandable given your focus on the comments here, but it isn't fair to paint all Ron Paul supporters with a broad brush.

(Good point, Robert. Did not mean to do that, but can see how you might think so.)

[Anthony]

Almost "Fair and balanced"... You left out a few things, like the fact that Fred Thompson is only polling at 3% in New Hampshire and he was invited to the forum...oops, forgot that fact. The fact that news organizations depend on polls that are admittedly unreliable and unscientific shows their lack of credibility as true sources of facts. As far as the speculation that Paul's followers will never be satisfied: We will be satisfied when the media stops treating Ron Paul like a sub-par candidate and gives him respect, which is rare. For a long time, people would chuckle at the mention of his name in an elitist snob fashion. This is what sets off Paul supporters and all they want is some good media coverage instead of media coverage on brothel owners and white supremacist donations. I guess honesty isn't for sale in our country anymore.

[a Rocket Scientist]

I'm unfamiliar with the LA times? Does the LA time print this Blog in it's newspaper? This one, and this one, and this one and this one too are blogs. Only one article in print in Los Angles.

Where were all the articles about all the Republican Straw Polls? Lots of articles about what ignorant voters who aren't paying attention to the primaries being able to pick a name they recognize. (MSM polls) None about all the Republican Straw Polls?

Where were all the articles about the Republican Debates, and who won those debates as indicated by the post-debate polls of the few viewers who watched them?

With Google news, the number of MSM articles about Ron Paul has been almost nonexistent when compared to other MSM darlings. 35000 articles about Mike Huckabee last month, only 9000 articles about "Ron Paul". Most of which are "also running is Ron Paul"

The MSM is giving huge political donations to certain candidates, far more than anything raised by any candidate. This huge political donation is in the billions of dollars of air time, masquerading as news. In violations of FCC and FEC, they have violated the public trust and elections laws, by giving massive donations to certain candidates. Just like many corporations donate to both parties, or both candidates in the general election, it's all about getting this for that. Buying influence.

Ron Paul's web site got 56% of all the Republican Candidates web sites last week. 38% of all web traffic to any candidates web site last week, Democrat or Republican. If the MSM was upholding the public trust to inform the public about their choices in the primaries, these numbers would be so high.

(Well, you found one more item on Ron Paul right here, which is not unusual. Gotta start somewhere, eh?)

[Louis Nardozi]

You may wonder WHY we're so fervent. Read below for explanation.

The dollar slid across the board on Friday as data showing a 9 percent decline in sales of new U.S. homes last month heightened concern about the economy, putting the greenback on track for its worst week in more than a year.
The housing report, which was weaker than economists had expected, also bolstered the case for more Federal Reserve interest rate cuts in 2008. Earlier this week, the S&P/Case-Shiller index showed a record decline in U.S. home prices in October.

This is what's happening to YOUR house. All the 'money' and 'equity' you thought you had saved - eliminated! The equity through falling house prices - and the money because we are DEBASING OUR CURRENCY. That low fed rate you're reading about gets created by printing money and lending it to people. With more money, the money YOU have is worth LESS. So your money is worth less and your property is worth less - where can you turn to keep ahead of inflation? I think you BETTER turn to Dr. Paul. He's the ONLY one running that has a HOPE of being able to deal with this.

[Brian]

"If word got out that Fox/News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch's e-mail was rmurdoch@newscorp.com, his mailbox would be full in a flash."

That's cute, but dishonest.

You're intention is to spam Murdoch. So instead of just coming out and saying, "Hey, I hate Murdoch, let's spam him. Here's his email address!" you adopt this passive-aggressive, too cute by half approach.

Another note: If Andrew Malcolm knows it, you can be sure that that's not the address Murdoch actually uses. It's more likely a dumpbox, read by no one, meant precisely to channel PaulBots and other freaks.

[Joshua Frye]

Um. Did he just give us Rupert Murdoch's Email?

I feel a little bad for his secretary. Though, not at all for him. Had Murdoch any sense of "Fair and Ballanced" he might earn the respect that cannot be bought... and we would all respect Fox News instead of mocking it. It's too bad many American's are intelligent AND moral.

If, however, this country is not smart enough to see through Media propaganda and false polling practices, then perhaps they deserve the Bush's and Clinton's of the world.

[MacTaggart]

Andrew, I don't care what anybody says...you're a good egg.

[Aaron]

A better question would be does America deserve Ron Paul?
It is time people this is where the rubber hits the road. It's time to prey for your enemies and thank God for the blessings of wisdom that will fill the borders of USA. I believe in Americans maybe more than they believe in themselves. I know the past has been checkered. The best way to right the past is today. You know "No time like the present to cure the future" OK I love Americans there full of life and nectar they put smiles on faces and cure the common cold. That is what i believe "God" made Americans, not for unjust wars or helping corporations kill their own, so it's time........
Fight America God has given you a leader that can bring the promised land to earth, so join him and fight with and pray for him, give thanks for him and do what any good American would do. I believe in America my neighbor my brother and my best friend. With love from Aaron in Calgary

[Tim]

"Texas congressman Ron Paul and San Diego congressman Duncan Hunter will be excluded because their N.H. poll numbers are not in double digits"

Paul has consistantly polled above Fred Thompson - so polling numbers cannot be the reason.

Thanks for the coverage! (Freedom is popular and unifying, but Paul supporters have a wide range of opinion on media coverage and other topics)

(Agreed.)

[Aaron]

A better question would be does America deserve Ron Paul?
It is time people this is where the rubber hits the road. It's time to prey for your enemies and thank God for the blessings of wisdom that will fill the borders of USA. I believe in Americans maybe more than they believe in themselves. I know the past has been checkered. The best way to right the past is today. You know "No time like the present to cure the future" OK I love Americans there full of life and nectar they put smiles on faces and cure the common cold. That is what i believe "God" made Americans, not for unjust wars or helping corporations kill their own, so it's time........
Fight America God has given you a leader that can bring the promised land to earth, so join him and fight with and pray for him, give thanks for him and do what any good American would do. I believe in America my neighbor my brother and my best friend. With love from Aaron in Calgary

[Pliny]

All candidates should be allowed to participate and participate equally, especially before a single real vote has been cast. I'm tired of the media trying to shape public opinion with polls (by giving polling data so much emphasis while still commenting on how people aren't paying attention) and by censoring messages that the media doesn't like (I'm looking at you, O'Riley, Hannity, etc...).

(Well, to be fair, polls, which are just momentary advance snapshots in time, are all there is until the real votes come in, which will be soon. And this forum isn't censored, except for obscenity, etc. Welcome and thanks for reading.)

[Wolfgang]

Dear Andrew:
Are mainstream media companies run as businesses? In-arguably yes.
Do you believe that the mainstream media has an affect on our perception of the candidates? I do.
Do you believe that if the mainstream media did have an affect on our perception of the candidates, 'it' would use that affect to champion a candidate that enhances 'its' bottom line? I certainly do.
Ultimately, this presidential election cycle is going to cost any mainstream media company that pushes an agenda a huge amount in the long run. It is bad business for the mainstream media companies to try to fool the internet generation.
I can't wait to watch the fallout.

(Well, Wolfgang, you certainly have a wider range of choices to obtain your information with the internet now. Glad you chose to read ours. Thanks. Hope to see you and your thoughtful comment again.)

[John]

As a Ron Paul supporter I must say I found the information you provided to be quite useful and delivered in a manner that caused me to smile.

Oh, and yes I have been up all night scouring the internet.

Happy New Year.

(Same to you. As you can tell by the posting time, I wasn't exactly out partying either. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. Hope to see you back here.)

[Geoffrey Kassin]

Dear Sir

As for this weekends debate why would you want disclude any body who can raise $6,000,000 in one day, why would you want to disclude anybody who still considers them selves a candidate, why would you want to disenfranchise a potential 75,000 - 90,000 viewers. If Fox got behind Ron Paul they would triple there viewers overnight not just Ron Paul supporters but all those viewers that Bill O.riley has offended, all those viewers whose intelligence are continually insulted would all turn back to Fox plus you would keep all your ditto heads. Can't you sell more air time for more money if you get more viewers? What could Fox possibly fear from Ron Paul getting elected isn't he for less government interference in big business?

Get behind Ron Paul Fox, (Rupert Murdoch) and you could make all those other media moguls look like tiny network affiliates.

Geoffrey Kassin
Petoskey, Michigan

Ron Paul 2008

[AndrewInNH]

Thank you for your attention to this issue, Foxes exclusion of candidates from the debate in a race that is still undecided is something that as an American and a Republican I would expect from a state run communist media outlet in some poor country.

The republicans I know are excited to have a candidate that draws much new blood and broadens and diversifies the party. Many of Ron Pauls supporters come from academia and colleges, and peace activist groups, which both have traditionally leaned towards Demcratic candidates.

Fox obviously has an agenda, and that is pushing Rupert Murdoch's desired candidate, Giuliani. This candidate will:

Ban guns and disarm Americans in compliance with the UN's desires.

Create National ID cards. Can you say papers please?

Expand the war drastically by invading Iran and then probably Syria and who knows where else? With this increase in intensity while troops are stretched thin in Iraq and Afghanistan a draft will almost become inevitable.

Disarming a population, enforcing national ID's and expanding military conquest all happened before in Germany in the guise of patriotism post-versaille treaty and I think we can all deduce what it led too. We should truly look at Foxes agenda and what they are pushing for Americans in the post 9/11 atmosphere. Their use of buzzwords and attacks on peoples patriotism who question the war as being against the troops cater to emotions instead of promoting rational thought.

Dr. Pauls attempts to re-evaluate terrorism and why certain people hate the US has been painted as weakness and anti-Americanism (ie Giuliani's comments insinuating that Ron Paul was suggesting Americans were responsible for 9/11). Empathy is a powerful tool for predicting peoples behaviour and the concept of blowback is very real.. 10 Years of sanctions against Iraq has angered a lot of people who's economy and hospital system collapsed. This was all made possible in part to the existence of airbases in Saudi Arabia. Makes sense that they would hate us in these circumstances doesn't it? Yet when Ron Paul uses empathy and reason he is portrayed by Fox as sympathetic. There is a huge difference between empathy and sympathy.

Ron Paul's base of support stems from critically thinking, free minded individuals who are intelligent enouigh to see through propaganda and Fox's pandering to emotions. Intelligence and cool-headed calculation and reason are why I am voting for Ron Paul. His views and policies are simple and minimallistic yet he can debate them in a sophisticated and rich manner filled with historical citation and precedent. No other candidate speaks to us with the same regard for our intelligence as Dr. Paul. Self sufficeincy and freedom are his platform. Wishing you all peace and prosperity in 2008 - Andrew In Nashua, NH

(I wonder who you're voting for Jan. 8. And thanks for visiting our site and taking the time to leave such a thoughtful comment.)

[Mark Thompson]

Like any new forum the internet is the property of the few and vocal. In years to come the established main stream will adopt it and finally all will accept the internet as the preferred free speech medium.
Dr Ron Paul is the first significant beneficiary of this freedom of expression. So if we sound vociferous, or appear eclectic or disaffected tough get use to it!!!! Were only growing....

[Steve Grycel]

Thank you Mr. Malcolm. I didn't have Ruper's email before.

[Charles Held]

Mr. Malcolm, your sentence with all those "this one" links is rather disingenuous since it points to BLOG POSTS instead of PRINT ARTICLES. The L.A. Times is (I'm sure you're aware) first and foremost a NEWSPAPER, and I can assure you that Ron Paul has been woefully UNDER-reported in the Times's principal medium: print.

This is similar to ABCNews's decision to restrict John Stossel's multi-part interview with Dr. Paul to its website, abandoning plans to broadcast it on 20/20.

(Don't forget, Charles, Stossel's longform interview is now available 24/7 online for all to sample anytime, like these blog items. If it had been on TV, you'd get maybe 2 mins, then it's gone forever. You miss it, you lose. Hardly disineguous for us. That's what this is, a blog, and what we do, blog on it. There have been other print articles, tho not dozens like blog items. Don't control TV either. But then we've done nearly 1,100 politics items since June, a lot more politics than the newspaper has printed. And the other day just one of those blog items had nearly a half-million readers, a lot more than any single newspaper story would ever get. Anyway, I thought the old print journalism was dying and the new more democratic form of communication was online. So here we are and here you are. And you can hardly get such an instant opportunity to express yourself as here. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.)

[W.Stonebraker]

"Andrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them."

Mr. Malcolm, your bio makes an impression that leads me to believe you should be adoring the story of Americans taking an iniative, mustering bands of otherwise opposed philosophies into one force. My life is but 38 years in the running, I tell you though, I've not ever witnessed such a swell of not to be denied support being lent to, not just a candidate...but the notion of being empowered to seize the proverbial rudder and better control one's own course through waters infested with corrupt federal sharks.
You're going to have to dig around to realize, it's about America, not Ron Paul.
btw...Nader never came close to being endowed with such broad spectrum support.
Good New Year to you Mr. Malcolm.

(Same to you and thanks for reading.)

[Marine]

They believe that major newspapers and broadcast networks have conspired to pay insufficient attention to Dr. Paul, a 72-year-old ob-gyn and 10-term House member, citing his low numbers in polls, which Paulites believe are self-fulfilling frauds designed to cause voters to invest their votes in more traditional candidates with a seemingly more realistic chance of winning.

Where do you get your information? What a buch of horse manuer! Another no name blogger who knows that ripping on the American people who support Dr. Paul will bring comments to his never read bloge. Get a life buddy.

(Hey, Marine, you sure you're reading the same blog item everyone else is? Of course, you can always go read "all the other many blog items about Dr. Paul", if you can find them and such a free forum as this.)

[1440 minutes]

Of course, Dr. Paul should be included in Sunday's forum. He is polling higher than Fred Thompson is, and the polls do not even capture Dr. Paul's demographic of cell phone users.

Did you know that the Fred Thompson campaign failed to get Fred's name on the ballot in DC and Delaware? That's right: residents of DC and Delawareans will not see Fred Thompson's name on the ballot for the primaries. Yet Fred Thompson has been invited to the Fox News forum on Sunday, and Dr. Paul has been excluded.

What reason could Fox News have to exclude Dr. Paul? That he is too conservative? That he opposes the Iraq War?

By the way, the music promoter that you mentioned does not lead us. No one does. We lead ourselves. God bless.

[Justin]

I think it is a shame that Dr. Paul isn't slated to participate in the debates. I think it's important that his message get out. There are still millions of people who do not know who Dr. Ron Paul is or that he is even running because the press seems to focus on the big three Republican candidates, even though Dr. Paul is shown to be well ahead of Guiliani in some polls. It was nice to see Glen Beck focus on Dr. Paul for an entire hour. In this day and age, people cannot understand Dr. Paul's position by hearing 20 second sound bites. It's easy to understand other candidate's positions in 20 seconds because they merely seem to be attacking one another. That's not Dr. Paul's message. Thanks for the well written article.

[Dorothy]

Fox, owned by oligarch Rupert Murdoch, is the most flagrant of the media propaganda machines, but even so, it will back down when confronted by the tens of thousands of Ron Paul supporters who are rebelling against the mismanagement and deceptions of the power structure in this country. Paulists will not stop the activism until we have returned to a stable currency, humanitarian and realistic foreign policy, and dismantled the Washington mega-bureaucracy. More and more people are realizing that Dr Paul is a true leader. The truth is very popular and the men behind the curtain are scared.

[Dan Patrick]

Dr. Paul is not antiabortion. Paul is personally pro-life, however, he is anti-federal government-involved abortion. He would leave the abortion issue to the States. As it should be.

[CoachNY]

From the disrespectful way Paul supporters treated supporters of other candidates at the Iowa Straw Poll to the way they are off-topic and ornery in the comment section of nearly every political post you can find, Ron Paul supporters are largely annoying. If we think there's any connection between the candidate and the type of people who find him/her appealing, Ron Paul must be a lunatic. :-)

[Curtis]

Thank you for this very insightful and wonderful post. We complain so much because it's so apparent to us that many reporters don't do their fact checking before reporting on Ron Paul. You obviously have done your homework and I commend you on it.

That being said, I would like to direct your view at incontrovertible proof of media bias at CNN this morning. They reported the results of the Des Moines Register Iowa poll. They neglected to show Paul's 9% showing even though they showed Rudy at 5% along with everyone else. This is obvious bias when they don't report about the 3 way tie for 3rd place. It makes you wonder how they look at themselves in the mirror and go to work. MSNBC does the same sort of thing when they report on polls.

[Paul Francis]

I find it hard to believe that Fox would be excluding Paul because they truly believe he is an insignificant part of this election process. Firstly, as you rightly mentioned, Paul will most likely end up having raised the most money for the 4th quarter. His increase in funds each quarter is nothing short of astounding. His entire support base has practically had to be referred to him by a friend or aquaintance, or via the internet, which makes the fundraising even more remarkable.

People who work in politics are well aware of the factors which influence people to vote for someone. A certain percentage will only vote for the favourite, as they want to be a 'winner' (sad but true). A larger percentage will only vote for, or even look into, a 'front runner'- as designated by early polls. Of course this means anyone with low name recognition is almost doomed from the beginning. What should happen, in a fair media system, would be for the media to pay EXTRA attention to those candidates who show dramatic improvement. Huckabee certainly deserves a lot of attention, but so does Paul now.

Another interesting thing is gambling odds. Readers may want to think about the significance of these odds as those that set them are in a position solely to be accurate enough to make money. People will no doubt be surprised that Ron Paul is now one of the 'favourites' to win the presidency. Would you know that by watching Fox? I rest my case.

[dinarte m. desousa]

RON PAUL SHOULD DE ALLOWED AT SUNDAY'S DEBATE,BECOUSE ALL THE PRE. CONDIDATES HAVE SHOUD HAVE EQUAL RIGHT'S TO BE ON THE DEBATE.

[Scott Kendall]

I think the people not the polls should count. If they look at Iowa poll numbers Rudy could not be in the NH debate. Stop the coporate take over of the elections.

Scott

[Jeanette Doney]

Allowed? Should an American citizen, a respected Dr., congressman, a competitive candidate for president be "allowed" to debate?

Maybe this question should go to the Supreme Court?

[Wes Akley]

As a US Marine Veteran - I am sick to my stomach knowing that a select few CONTROL the elections. "we the people" need to take America back.

research all political canidates and give them all a fair chance. 60% of the public hasn't even looked into Ron Paul or other canidates unless the mass media tells them to. Stop being SHEEP>

[Les F]

If Ron Paul is excluded it proves how far the military/media industrial complex controls our lives at every level. It's bad enough that the top echelon of both parties are complicit in spending this country into economic slavery to the international banking system - $9,000,000,000,000 worth and counting. As an educated and well read American, Ron Paul represents one of the few chances that are presented in history to change course - Like Lec Walesa in Poland or Nelson Mandela in South Africa. One man CAN make a difference - Ron Paul is that man if the people can see through the media lies and bias.

[Rupert]

"If word got out that Fox/News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch's e-mail was rmurdoch@newscorp.com, his mailbox would be full in a flash."

Andrew, for the Love of God what did I ever do to deserve this ?
Publishing my email address in full view of the Paulites is worse than waterboarding me.

R. Murdoch

[Nefario]

--Andrew, You give Ron Paul ink. What more could anyone ask for? Lets face it, in the "image is everything" world that we live in, Ron Paul is a misfit. Everyone knows that the guy with the best hair wins. But somehow he seems to have gotten it right. He has hit a nerve. He has a knack for saying things that a lot of people seem to be thinking, at a time when people see their freedom shrinking. I like the fact that he shakes up the status quo. His message is clear. He's consistent. People aren't buying the scare tactics anymore. The Dems and the Repugs are the same party! It comes down to Guns and Abortions... At least RP lays it on the line. Kinda like you. Your the best friend The Doc has on the west coast. Keep ignoring him... Nefario

[Rick Young]

The author of this article seemed more interested to be critical of RP's supporters than offer an opinion about RP's inclusion/exclusion to Fox's NH round table event.

You know, you won't get someone like RP nominated/elected in this country if your supporters are not emotional and charged up about their guy. This is a revolution of sorts, though I think the use of that word probably lost some support for RP. How else can they get attention for their man???

[Bob C]

You forgot to mention Ron Paul leads in straw poll victories.
Since that's the case...apparently Straw Polls and post debate polls (he's won most of those too) don't count huh?

Fox News is a blatant cheerleader for everything that limits liberty under the guise of protecting "freedom". We already have a freedom guide..it's called the Constitution.....more "top tier" candidates should read it.

I think we need a Revolution...a Ron Paul Revolution.

GOOGLE RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT 2008 ...JOIN US.

[Dan Farrington]

There are very reasonable explanations for why the polls don't reflect (and have never really reflected) reality. You don't need a conspiracy to explain everything that is wrong with government and media.

In this particular case, you must look at how the polls are taken. They claims they are polling "likely Republican voters" but they don't tell you how they determine that. In most cases, they are polling lists of people that went to the previous election cycle's primaries.

The problem on the Republican side is that in '04, Bush was a wartime incumbent shoe-in and the primary attendance was at a record low. The only people who bothered to show up to poll were loyal Bushies, and that ever shrinking crowd does not represent the majority of the Republican party. So these polls have a faulty test sample.

They also don't take into account young Republicans, Independents, converted Democrats, cell-phone Republicans, Libertarians, Constitutionalists, and first time voters.

The groups above constitute a larger majority of Paul's support that the types of Republicans polled and in each of those categories nationwide, Paul is absolutely dominating compared to other Republicans. His true numbers are at least 250% larger than what the polls are stating.

I am very disappointed that msm continues to show these polls, because they are notoriously inaccurate and have no journalistic value. Plus, there is the moral issue that these polls DO AFFECT the voting and have been shown to be able to devastate a candidate's support.

MSM should report the news, not create it. Its paper and stations need for filler, to say something that appears substantive, something that will draw in more ratings has overcome their journalistic integrity.

You don't need a conspiracy to explain what simple human greed and intellectual laziness can do on their own.