Online protests seek to include Ron Paul in N.H. debate

Ron Paul speaks to a rally adjacent to Google's headquarters last year.

(Credit: Declan McCullagh)

NASHUA, N.H.--An online protest is growing over presidential candidate Ron Paul's exclusion from a Fox News debate here on Sunday, even though other Republicans receiving fewer votes in Iowa or scoring lower in the polls were invited.

Paul received a fifth-place 10 percent of the GOP vote in Iowa's caucus Thursday, ahead of Rudy Giuliani, who received 3.5 percent. He's also ahead of Fred Thompson in New Hampshire polls, polling 7 percent to Thompson's 2 percent.

But both Giuliani and Thompson still appear to be invited to Sunday evening's debate sponsored by Fox News and the New Hampshire Republican Party. Paul isn't.

That's irked many Paul supporters, who responded by flooding a Fox News Web page on the debate with over 580 comments and creating a "Protest Fox" Web site. It says: "We need to send a message to Fox's Rupert Murdoch & his fellow Neocon buddies that he is not Musharraf and the US 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."

They're also planning protests outside Fox News affiliates. Another likely protest site is Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., which has given Fox News space for a broadcast studio. That's where Sunday's debate will take place.

So why the exclusion? It's hard to say, and Fox News hasn't exactly been forthcoming on this point.

For his part, Paul said he thinks it's because he--alone among Republican candidates--opposes the war in Iraq. After being excluded, Paul explained that he views Fox News as a "propagandist" for the war with editorial views that are hardly in keeping with traditional conservative limited-government principles, according to a story by the Boston Globe.

Adding to the intrigue is that the New Hampshire Republican Party, which is co-sponsoring the debate and presumably has some say in who's invited, published a statement this week saying the media should not be in the "business of excluding serious candidates and talks were continuing with Fox."

And adding to the insult, at least for Paul supporters, is that ABC News is sponsoring a debate at the same place--Saint Anselm College--the evening before. Unlike the Fox News debate on Sunday, however, Ron Paul will be invited to participate.

[Dusty Anus]

Private network vs. Military Dictator

I'm a big Ron Paul supporter.<br /><br />BUT, comparing a privately owned media outlet, that can invite <br />whomever they choose to participate in a forum or debate to a <br />military dictator is a bit much.<br /><br />Ron Paul supports private property rights and should respect <br />Fox Snooze's right to disinvite him. He can and should do what <br />he can to rile people up against Fox and for his campaign, but <br />the supporters that are calling Fox News dictators are way off.

[MyRightEye]

I disagree

I know Ron Paul's policy on this, I am a very active supporter. I <br />know all about letting the marketplace decide. But when it comes <br />to an election, I believe there should be laws to prevent this type of <br />thing from happening. We're dealing with an organization that <br />wields untold power and influence. To give them free reign is NOT <br />letting the market decide, it's letting a few elite decide. The exact <br />opposite.

[borismorales]

FOX IS THE PROPAGANDA TOOL OF THE NEOCONS AND THEIR MASTERS.

Yes, they are free to decide and we are free to BOYCOTT and complain all we want. OUTFOXED is a documentary exposing them for the neocon propaganda tool they are. The NeoCons and their Masters might have over played their hand this time though.

[RonPaulRules]

Bzzt Wrong

Fox has to have a license to transmit over public airwaves. They are still public even if it's going to a satalite. They are violating FCC rules.

[srv4pres]

Turn off the TV, logon, and be heard.

I think most of us understand the power of the internet community, and together we have a chance to keep the media from dictating who should be running for office. Generations before ours Americans were manipulated by W.R. Hearst and his press - America has not recovered. <br /><br />The internet give us a voice, unlike anything we have had before. Maybe, just maybe, we can learn to forge our own world, instead of the one the media wants

[amerist78]

Fox decides fair and balanced doesn't pay

Follow the money. It's all about the cash. The ones pulling the strings are the ones who benefit on a consistent basis.

[Lars Jaspenas]

RP08

Ron Paul 2008! The FATE of the NATION does not lie with ONE STATE!

[NonUSAObserver]

The message

As a non USA observer, I believe that Fox News has inadvertantly done a huge service through executing this exclusion of Dr. Ron Paul, because they have openly shown the world their bias in the election process. This is not new behaviour from them, and I don't believe trying to change them is the answer, however what a great tool they have provided for illustrating to people why they need to wake up and think for themselves. This is just one of the reasons why I like Dr. Ron Paul's message so much, because he encourages people to be responsible for themselves and this would surely include that one does not rely purely on the popular media for the facts!

[jackball99]

NEW POLL - RON PAUL @ 14% in NH (3rd place)

Rasmussen now has Ron Paul pegged for third in NH

[davidmwe]

Google Trends- Ron Paul Winning the Race!

Pretty amazing really.<br />Google Trends- Ron Paul Winning the Race!<br /><br /><a class="jive-link-external" href="http://newsusa.myfeedportal.com/viewarticle.php?articleid=24" target="_newWindow">http://newsusa.myfeedportal.com/viewarticle.php?articleid=24</a>

[wake up sheeple]

Ron Paul will suprise the establishment

I think Ron will do in New Hampshire, since the voters tend to think for themselves (unlike some other states filled with sheeple). But all RP supporters need to remember - Internet support does not translate to votes. Some of the supporters I have met with here in Arizona aren't even registered, let alone as a Republican (this is a closed primary state). Get the message out now to everyone you know - get registered NOW and VOTE. Small numbers of voters and activists will sway this race but time is running out.

[woogerbear]

The industrial corporate

Its a sad thing when we have come to the point that the Republican <br />party that is hosting the primary has no say in who gets a say in <br />the primary...everyone should think very hard about this and being <br />a moderate Republican I believe Ron Paul to be in the right about <br />corporate America controlling the political agenda and I will vote <br />for him<br />It is no mistake that his name has not been mentioned on CNN CBS <br />ABC NBC and FOX yet he is polling in the double digits...

[Limbaugh]

Republicans even want Change!

Holly Cow! He is a Republican. He's Smart. And knows what he's talking about. I guess that's why all of the other candidates are stealing his speeches! Go to YouTube and type in Ron Paul Debates. Once you feel his message of freedom, you will Change as an American. I've begun to feel Patriotic all over again. Just ask Barry Goldwater Jr. If you're Republican enough to Remember him.

[MyRightEye]

Why did this only just come across the RSS feed Sun Morn?

Why did this only just come across the RSS feed Sun Morn?