DC forum sounds the music on Paul

Posted: Friday, October 05, 2007 11:10 AM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Andy Merten
Six GOP presidential candidates are taking their turns addressing the Americans for Prosperity "Defending the American Dream Summit" here in Washington, today. They are targeting government spending and taxation. Casually watching the forum from our offices, we at First Read noticed some unfair time allocations to different candidates.

After Giuliani spoke for nearly 25 minutes, Ron Paul, who may have earned his time to speak with this quarter's fund raising, took the stage. Speaking for just over 10 minutes, Paul was then cut off by the stage music -- a tactic usually reserved for an emotional Oscar-winning actress (or one that gets a little too political) to wrap it up.

We'll have more about the forum, later, but thought this was an interesting tidbit.

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Comments

This is not about a party, gop or dems, Thomas Jefferson stated in his memoirs, if the agenda moves from one party to the next your living in tyranny. Dr.Paul is a true statesmen his message resonates we all want to be free.

Vandie Williamson Chicago IL (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:06 PM)

The more the powers-that-be try to stifle Ron Paul, the more people become curious about his message!

Everyone needs to ask: what are those who want to maintain the status quo so afraid of in Ron Paul's message?
Go Ron Paul!

Truth Seeker, Buffalo, NY (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:06 PM)

Although I find most repubs despicable, Ron Paul seems the only honest, forthright one. I would find him a welcome change as a fair and honest repub presidential candidate.

Brian, Cedar Hill, TX (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:06 PM)

Paul supporters should also notice that every time a newsie introduces him or speaks of him - they attach an immediate disclaimer - Long Shot Ron Paul - or fantasy candidate.

It reminds me of "white supremicist" Randy Weaver or Disgraced talk show host Imus -- when media people attach a moniker or disclaimer to a name reflexively it means they want to discredit the person.

Ron Paul is as big a threat to the warmongers on the left and right as Perot or Buchanan.

YES - this IS a conspiracy - men and women in power conspire EVERY DAY to keep us from having a voice - and to get us into more war on Israel's enemies.

Israel is the true enemy of Americans -- I don't want another child of America dying for those people.

FREE AMERICA NOW!

Ashley Ward, Albuquerque, New Mexico (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:07 PM)

Wow. Ron Paul wants to cut government spending down so much that we can abolish the IRS and not replace it with anything, AND mitigate the inflationary tendencies of the Federal researve.

And they cut him off at a function about, umm, cutting government spending and taxes?

Tracy

Tracy, Sioux Falls SD (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:10 PM)

Obama/Paul '08 or Paul/Obama '08, either ticket would be awesome.

David, Tallahassee FL (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:11 PM)

Are you going to let these Nazis tell you who is a candidate and who deserves to be heard?

Possible pitfalls- primary system, electronic vote fraud.......they obviously have gifted it to Hitlery, will WE LET THEM DO IT?

I hope a backup plan of a third party candidacy for Mr. Paul is being discussed.

text (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:11 PM)

Ron Paul is a folk hero. He has thousands of enthusiastic supporters who are working hard to get his name out. The internet serves as a useful tool, seeing mainstream media seemingly has no conscience. Ron Paul unites us all under the Constitution. He alone has the high moral ground to disengage us from the Iraq war. Imagine a politician who cares up the people, rather than sell out to special interests. The other candidates are raising money from those seeking favors in return. We donate to the Paul campaign, because of his promise that he will no nothing for us, other than to give us liberty. He believes we are entitled to 100% of the fruits of our labor. He voted against the Patriot Act. His record is legendary.

Albert Meyer, Plano, TX (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:13 PM)

dirty tactics merely expose fear, weakness and a willingness to be crooked. we are on to you.

Ron Paul for America
America for Ron Paul

thid1, los angeles, ca (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:16 PM)

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) and Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFP Foundation) put on the summit that did this.

Their contact info can be found at --
http://www.defendingthedream.org

Ask them what they think they are doing over there, in the name of democracy and according to the principles of freedom that this great God-loving country was founded on.

Fred Feinstein (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:16 PM)

This kind of treatment to US all and Ron Paul only makes me MORE MORE MORE determined to work harder and give more $$$ for this campaign!

Arise my fellow Patriots! WE WILL BE HEARD!

Michael St. John
Fort Wayne, IN
US ARMY Veteran DAV
50 y/o, male

Mike, Fort Wayne, IN (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:16 PM)

I called him RuPaul and an Isolationist before enough of supporters drove me nuts enough to check out what he really stands for.

I'm eating crow, as I am now 100% behind him. What an amazing individual. I won't donate another cent to the Republican National Committee until they recognize and support him the same as the other candidates.

Ryan, New York City (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:18 PM)

Unbelieve that they cut off the ONLY candidate that TRULY wants most of the reforms this group wants. too funny

On the other hand, its awesome, I really think he is scaring the daylights out of the established GOP and all their lobbyist buddies and everything, I'm almost worried for him. What the media (although a much more fair week then ever)and powers that be really need to grasp is that every time you marginalize this humble and smart man we SEE it, and its just making us love ron that much more. Please all you moderate, normal people out there, please help us take back our party and support ron paul.

adam, nashville (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:20 PM)

How could Guiliani talk for 25 minutes? He has nothing to offer. Listening to him speak is like listening to a moronic juvenile running for class president. Ron Paul on the other hand is deeply knowledgeable and intelligent. Why do Americans let these corrupt cronies destroy democracy?

GovernmentCronies (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:20 PM)

Just made another donation to Ron Paul. Every time they attempt to censor him I make a donation to his campaign. I hope more people are getting pissed like me.

Jim Jordan (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:23 PM)

Pssst...GOP Heads, your own folks are starting to laugh at you!

Thurston Howell III (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:24 PM)

First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they cut your mike, then you win.

Willem de Wit (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:27 PM)

Remember if you want Ron Paul to be our next President, please register as a Republican. The GOP is trying to change dates and rules just to stop him from making it. This is no joke. Ron Paul is the only Hope for America. He has my vote

Tess, California (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:28 PM)

They are running scared

Jared San Francisco, CA (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:29 PM)

It can only make sense that this Republican Party would cut off time to one of the few candidates who can give a speach that actually deals with the issues at hand in a rational and logical way. Are people really shocked that the same party who has run the country so poorly for the last 7 years would resort to these kinds of tactics?

John Doe, The Peanut Gallery (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:30 PM)

That seems to be the answer to a lot of problems nowadays: "Queue the music and hope it goes away".

Ron Paul has some ideas for how we can fix the mess we're in. Anyone who hasn't read about where he stands on the issues should check it out:

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/

I think that the press needs to start writing MORE stories like this! The story is about how the mainstream media and politicians are trying to keep Ron Paul quiet. They are afraid of what he is saying. It scares the daylights out of them! Follow the money trail. Ron Paul is trying to make a difference and he is presenting REAL ideas to our problems. The problem is that those in charge don't want us to hear about those ideas.

K Dawson (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:32 PM)

What's conservative about todays GOP?......Ron Paul should start a true "CONSERVATIVE PARTY" to replace the corrupt Grand(GAY)Old Party.

Larry Craig, Mark Foley, Duke Cunningham, Tom Delay,Alberto Gonzalez and others have destroyed the Republican party with lies, larceny, deceit, anti-Americanism and anal buggery. They have all brought shame to our country and if we were smart we would deport them to Iraq for the rest of their lives.

I want to see my country as a beacon of light symbolizing hope, integrity, good will and freedom for the entire world.

That's a far cry from the actions of our current president...And that's why I am voting for RON PAUL!

Romeo, Bentonville Arkansas (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:32 PM)

I wasn't sure who I will be voting for until now. Each time they try to silence him, the more I become interested in him and his message. Each candidate should get the same time to get their message across. I've made up my mind and now I will register republican and donate money to Dr. Ron Paul. Who knows maybe I'll start handing out Ron Paul literature. Maybe, I'll even join a Ron Paul meetup group. Yeah, that's what I'd do... After all, they can silence him... but let them try to silence me.

Kay Jason, Bayonne NJ (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:32 PM)

Jim Jordan West chester PA (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:34 PM)

Doesn't the "establishment" know every time they treat Dr. Paul unfairly, this only makes us fight harder? Sometimes I wonder if they really are asking for a second American Revolution..

RP Supporter (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:35 PM)

I just made another donation to the Ron Paul campaign and will recruit at least five people to vote for him today. I do this every time he is censored. They inadvertently help him by trying to censor him. I love it.

Jim Jordan West chester PA (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:36 PM)

Ron Paul shines light on the foolishness of mediocre comments on taxes and weasel words on spending.

Thanks, First Read for the heads up!

Dar, Albuquerque, New Mexico (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:37 PM)

This is nothing new. The people have gotten behind a candidate, and we've seen Dr. Paul cut off, ignored, interrupted, forced words into his mouth, taken out of context, completely mis-represented... and on and on. But when people stop for just a second to LISTEN to his message, a light goes on.

We've been fighting this kind of thing since day one, and growing none-the-less because of the power of Dr. Paul's Americana message.

Isaac L., Vancouver WA (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:39 PM)

Ron Paul in '08!

Remember all you RP supporters - many states are trying to cut you off by closing the primary elections so you only can vote if you are a registered Republican. Therefor, register yourself as a republican today. Don't delay.

Save the republic - vote for Ron Paul in '08.

christian, sacramento, ca (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:41 PM)

Campaign site statistics compared on Alexa:
http://tinyurl.com/32nf5h

They can't stop the numbers!

GoRonPaul (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:42 PM)

christian, sacramento, ca (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:43 PM)

This kind of thing just makes me want to send Ron Paul even more money than I already have.

Thomas Wilkinson (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:44 PM)

Revival is coming in american politics and the leaders name is Ron Paul

Gar Mowery Scotts Valley Ca (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:46 PM)

According to FOX and CNN, the reason Ron Paul is ignored is because Ron Paul supporters are non-voters anyway. They are too young, felons, or not registered Republicans. So why waste time broadcast hours on nothing?

Lo Lo School (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:46 PM)

It seems the more they try to silence Dr. Paul, the more his support grows! I hope the Paul Campaign has hired Secret Service protection, he’s the only hope this Country has.

Lorenzo Hernandez, Austin, Tx. (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:47 PM)

Boley, it isn't censorship if it isn't the government doing it. Don't be a typical lefty and forget the meaning of the word.

As far as Dr. Paul goes, he certainly should be getting more coverage than Gov. Huckabee; he has more money, and his supporters, whilst batty, are certainly more passionate.

Bruce, NV (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:48 PM)

Yeah! By cutting off Dr. Paul, they succeeded in getting him a little more attention. This also adds to the cumulative effect that convinces more and more people to rally behind Dr. Paul against the anti-freedom establishment. The more they try to censor him, the more ammo they provide his cause.

This was perhaps the best case scenario because Dr. Paul says more in 10 minutes than Rudy says in 25 anyway.

Win/Win!

J. Franklin (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:54 PM)

The times are upon us to get the once sheeple to rise above the killers of our freedom and our young soldiers who innocently have been taught to obey the power brokers rhetoric.

Food prices already 30% higher this year and the dollar tanking may collapse before the primaries. There is a vast shortage of wheat and other staples in the food chain for the entire world we may have food riots in Mexico and maybe here when the prices jump above the amount the poor can pay and it will be eat or get thrown out of your abode. The local governments revenues are well below what they spend and they cannot help much. The USA is coming apart faster and faster maybe that is why George Bush just bought a 100,000 acre get away in Uruguay where they do not have extradition treaties with the US.
CHEERS

Ronald Murphy Golden Valley, Arizona (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:55 PM)

Thanks for recognizing what has been a blatant bias against Ron Paul, a candidate who is increasingly growing in funds and popularity...more than even his sharpest denouncers ever thought. If MSNBC wants a good, hard hitting political story, this is it: "why is a serious, legitimate candidate with dramatically growing support from Americans being purposefully shut down and shut out?". A story such as that would certainly cause some waves.

Gene Trosper (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:55 PM)

Good looking out MSNBC. We need you guys on this stuff more now than ever. Time to stop pandering and time to start pointing out foul for what it is.

Adam (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:56 PM)

This is just what has been happening for the past few months. Either he is not reported, excluded, barred from speaking or they try to smear him with complete falsehoods. They really take out the knives for Paul.

This is the first time a network media person has noticed a disparity.

B Reyes, California (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 1:58 PM)

Text - I think it would be a bad thing for Paul to run as a third party candidate (unless he somehow won(I don't think he would)). Imo, what would happen is Paul would take away votes from both Clinton and Giuliani, but likely more from Clinton. I predict that the result would be a victory for Giuliani, even though that could very well be what the majority of Americans want least. I would much rather see Paul as the Republican candidate.

Ken, Seattle WA (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 2:01 PM)

i see you approve your comments - that implies "censor" to me.
my question is why did you cut off dr. ron paul after 10 minutes.
he is the only candidate who truly understands what must be done for
people to be prosperous in america.
sound money is the key and you all know it!

dawn marie clark (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 2:05 PM)

Ron Paul is PROOF that watching 'mainstream' media is
a near total waste of time.

Turn off the TV, especially ABCNNFAUX news. Keep it on the Internet! Keep it real.

And Send Ron Paul money! Yes, Again!

- A Virginian and a Reborn American for Ron Paul

A Reborn American (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 2:09 PM)

Alert to MSNBC forum monitor:

How about looking into the IP address of all these phoney Ron Paul posts. I know some of the people who have posted here are real people. But the vast majority are OBVIOUS fake posts written by the same person. I suspect these posts are coming from Paul's campaign hdq or his congressional office or maybe his grandson's computer. They certainly are frauds.

READERS: have you noticed that the only real frauds on the FIRST READ forums are repubs. These people are immoral. They are the dirty tricksters and stupid. To think they are going to get supporters for their candidates this way is really pathetic. Either they try tactics like this idiot or others post with distorted facts and lies--like the one that SCHIP covers people earning up to $83,000. A LIE--coming from no less than our repub president and parroted all the way down to slimes on this site. The truth is that the real cap is half that, and only for a family of four or more. REPUBLICANS have no ethics.

J. D. in California (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 2:09 PM)

This is definitely unbalanced. As it has always been in politics.

Due to the nature of the campaign trail (popularity contest fund raising) it seems like a natural course, but ask yourself who really is backing the candidates.

Aside from the modest contributions of individuals, how much of the candidate's money is donated by large special interest groups or numerous Large contributions from unbalanced power and people who stand to gain?

The bottom line is: This should be equal! Not Shares in stock voting.

Equal coverage
1 person = 1 vote
Not
$1000=1000 votes

Voting for freedom and transparency (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 2:10 PM)

Gulagiani knows So much about 9/11 and says so much about 9/11 because he was COMPLICIT in 9/11. Who told this POS that the World Trade Centers were about to come down?????? If were to meet this POS, I would be in his face until I got an answer. This offends me highly and these "squirrels" are a bunch of Pussies-PERIOD.

axe them all (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 2:12 PM)

Why are some "scared" by Ron Paul? People fear change.

If we want to continue to ruin this country - we should elect the same type of candidates that we have in office now.

If we want to save America, save our freedoms, save our dignity, then we MUST have change.

I am a former Dem, now registered republican, simply to be able to support the change that is necessary for our nation.

Thank you Ron Paul!

Patti, Hagerstown, MD (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 2:13 PM)

Tess - I am going to register as a Repukagain so I can vote for Ron Paul. The more I hear, the more I like.

Lee in CA (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 2:16 PM)

A Paul/Huckabee ticket would probably be unbeatable, no matter who the Democratic nominee is, although with an Edwards/Obama or Obama/Edwards ticket it might be a very tight and honest race.
I am sure the Neocon republicans are just as afraid of Dr. Paul and Rev. Huckabee (because they are what they say they are and practice what they preach) as the left wing democrats are of John Edwards and Obama. too much truth, kind of hurts those lying eyes now don't it?
The media needs to be fair to each candidate - equal time for all of them in print, audio, and video. Anything less is an insult to the American people and the heritage of our nation.

Union Baby, Tennessee (Sent Friday, October 05, 2007 2:22 PM)

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