Fox News vs. Ron Paul
Although some say that Fox may have invited Ron Paul for the forum it will hold on January 6, only two days before the primary of New Hampshire, the Ron Paul campaign website has the following to say:
On December 27, the Associated Press reported: “The New Hampshire Republican Party is sponsoring a forum for Republican presidential candidates on Jan. 6, two days before the state’s first-in-the-nation primary.” Later in the article, the AP stated: “Participating in the forum will be Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson.”
On the evening of December 28, Jared Chicoine and Jordan Brown of our New Hampshire campaign staff met in person with Fergus Cullen the New Hampshire GOP chairman to discuss whether or not Dr. Paul would be invited to participate in the forum. Mr. Cullen confirmed there will be an event on January 6, but he could not confirm whether or not Dr. Paul would be invited. We also learned the event would not be a debate with an audience, but instead would be a forum in a closed studio with the candidates questioned only by Chris Wallace of Fox News.
A few hours after that meeting, we contacted Fox News seeking clarification. Later that night, we issued a press release while waiting to hear from Fox News.
On December 29, the Baltimore Sun featured a report by Jason George. Mr. George reported, “Calls and emails to Fox News spokespersons by the Tribune were not returned Saturday evening.
“An official at the New Hampshire GOP, which is co-sponsoring the event with Fox, said that Paul might still be included, but the planning for the debate was still coming together and it was ultimately Fox’s call.”
As of late afternoon today (December 30), we have nothing more to report.
Kent Snyder
Chairman, Ron Paul 2008
The blog of the Baltimore Sun – The Swamp – adds:
Fergus Cullen, chairman of the New Hampshire State Republican Committee, confirmed Sunday evening to the Tribune that, yes, there will be a televised Fox News presidential candidate forum on Jan. 6, and yes, Rep. Ron Paul was not invited when the other candidates were a week or so ago.
“My understanding is that five candidates to that point had been offered spots but the event is still coming together,” Cullen said.
The candidates invited to the forum/debate – whatever you want to call it – will be Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sen. John McCain, Gov. Mitt Romney and Sen. Fred Thompson.
Cullen said the event, which is set to take place two days before the New Hampshire primary, will be held in the afternoon or evening at St. Anselm College in Goffstown, N.H. When asked if Fox News, which is co-sponsoring the debate with the NH party, planned to invite Paul later, Cullen said he didn’t know.
Obviously, Ron Paul and his staffers are angry: “We have not heard anything else today,” Paul spokesman Jesse Benton said. [Fox] continues to ignore our calls.”
Fox has to answer these questions. It’s a private network, not government-owned, but it has the obligation – morally at least – to answer questions about why it didn’t invite Paul to the forum. In fact, it’s absolutely ludicrous that they didn’t.
This is quite a sad affair. Can you imagine the outrage if, say, CNN wouldn’t invite John Edwards to such a forum because it believes that Edwards is too radical in his beliefs?
If Fox wants to defend itself by citing polls, it has a problem: Paul is polling better than other Republicans – in at least some states and even nationally – who were invited. In fact, it’s crystal clear that Fox didn’t invite Paul because Fox’ owners don’t agree with Paul’s political views. That’s sad and highly unethical.
Whether you agree with Paul’s positions or not, this should be a disgrace to everyone. It could be your candidate next time.
When Paul talked of fascism (corporatism) coming to this country, this is exactly the types of things he was talking about. The huge corporations are in bed with our government and the people have no voice anymore.
Watch this video – this is where we are as a country.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyvVQYf6XWk
I am about ready to call bullshit on this whole story. I cannot find anything, through numerous searches, about a forum on Fox News or NH GOP websites – the supposed two sponsors. Doing Google searches comes up only with the AP initial announcement of a forum from any news sources, and a confused head of NH GOP that did not seem to know too much about the debate. I asked for some information the other day on a similar thread and only got chastised by a supposed Paul supporter and an extraneous thread.
Do we have a non-story here masquerading.
If it is true, I agree with those that want Paul included – I am not sure why no one is outraged that Hunter is also supposedly excluded. I am not outraged, and I don’t think that Fox is spawn of the devil, or that this is supposed proof that we are about to surreptitiously launch a North American Union and build a North South Highway that for some reason is a bad idea, BUT it aint right if he or Hunter are excluded.
Bill W, read this.
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/31/debate.limits.ap/?imw=Y&iref=mpstoryemail
thanks, I just saw that myself right after I had written the note. Looks like it came out about the time I was hitting send.
I think it is BS that media outlets are taking it on themselves to winnow the field. That same article says that ABC is doing the same thing on their debates. I find this particularly irritating from Charlie Gibson: "You will have had a year’s politicking," he said. "You will have had, I think by count, about 641 debates. You will have had national polls and state polls and one state’s vote. I think that’s pretty indicative. That gives much undeserved credibility to polls & Iowa.
Hey Michael – here is a poll I can get behind: http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/01/survey-voters-sick-of-iowa-and-new-hampshire-races/