Hand it to Ron Paul supporters

Posted: Sunday, January 06, 2008 9:36 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
There really was no justification for eliminating Ron Paul from this debate, given his poll standing in New Hampshire and total money raised. They have a strong argument that he was eliminated because he doesn't hold the Republican line on foreign policy. And you have to hand it to his supporters for figuring out where even Fox's focus group was going to be. They certainly made a statement, marching outside with Ron Paul signs, including one that called Fox "unfair." Paul won't likely win the New Hampshire primary, but he deserved a seat at the table, as did Richardson and he last night. And it's why the Republican Party of New Hampshire pulled out as a sponsor of tonight's debate/forum.

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Comments

Hey, don't forget they said there was no room in the bus...

The didn't have the forum in the bus did they?

Michael, Newcomb, FL (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 9:46 PM)

Why don't you guys at MSNBC call a spade a spade? Just get on with doing some actual reporting for once and note that there was ZERO reasonable criteria for Paul being left out...Fox is your competitor after all...so what's the harm in telling the world their reporting supports the mainstream GOP views and it not "fair and balanced" at all?? I hope this isn't a news reporting "buddies" club that softens any critical outlook on the "reporting" agencies as well....

Nick Badal, Chester, SC (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 9:49 PM)

Amen, Domenico.

mike, arlington, va (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 9:50 PM)

Ron Paul is better for not being on Fox anyway. There's nothing newsworthy on Fox News.

(the rest of you aint much better. What it Rudy knocked up Britney? sweet)

rhys, detroit, mi (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 9:51 PM)

I appreciate your reporting of this to me.

Jeff G, Detroit, MI (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 9:52 PM)

Any pics?

Brad H, Marin, Ca. (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 9:52 PM)

Thank you Republican Party of New Hampshire! Fox, you sure you want to keep using that "You Decide" slogan? Maybe you should go with something like "You decide, unless of course you decide you don't want to be a warmonger, then we'll decide for you."

Jo, CA (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 9:54 PM)

Evidently it's getting even worse. It appears FNC is now REMOVING references to Ron Paul in AP stories: http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Fox_removing_Ron_Paul_s_name_from_their_news

Scott, Austin, TX. (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 9:57 PM)

fox news is neither fair nor balanced nor news. so what is it?

chris h. gibsonville, nc (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 9:59 PM)

This was a dumb move on Faux News's part. Ron Paul has many supporters who will not take kindly any insult. The fact they let Rudy participate who is even lower in the polls than Paul is insulting. This is a case of 'bite the hand that feeds.' Faux News is alienating a segment of their own right-wing base. Not a smart move.

P.D. (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:01 PM)

The New Hampshire Republican Party revoked their endorsement of this event, as they deemed that Dr. Ron Paul was a viable candidate after receiving 10 percent of the vote and 2 delegates in Iowa's Republican Caucus that took place January 3rd, 2008. Since the NH Republican Party felt the need to withdraw its endorsement, then it seems likely that FOX News was acting against the public interest by excluding viable candidates from their open Republican forum.

Since the FOX News forum is open to Republican Presidential Candidates, it duplicitous to exclude one of the Presidential Candidates who has earned delegates toward the Republican Party's Nomination. The NH Republican Party withdrew their endorsement because the FOX News broadcast company refuses to uphold its duty to the public to report news. Since FOX made this effort to defraud the public, I will make complaints to the FCC as well as communicate to FOX's sponsors indicating that they will not receive my business any longer.

Rhys Lucero, Saint Petersburg, FLorida (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:03 PM)

Thanks for the nice message. The mainstream media will NEVER completely give Ron Paul his due though.

As long as shows like Meet the Press are completely sponsored by Boeing, they'll never give him a fair shake.

Ron Paul is against waste/fraud/abuse in government and wants really low taxes. Boeing doesn't want government to stop spending, so neither does NBC, so then Ron gets no love.

Mike, DC (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:04 PM)

Video posted here: http://www.ronpaulforpresident2008.com/news/

Elizabeth - Knoxville, TN (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:04 PM)

physician heal thyself

in your own story yesterday you intentionally left Mr. Paul out of the headline after being told more than 100 times how you cant even add.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/05/551646.aspx

so before you judge others, fix your own backyard

Bram, Brentwood, CA (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:05 PM)

This has far worse reflection on Fox then it does on Paul, and if anything they raised a ton of attention for Paul. They also played right into this idea that there is a semi-conscious blackout of Paul by some of the powers that be on the Right. He has certainly been getting attention, but there have certainly been moments where he has been avoided or ignored in ways that had to have been understood before hand by those making the call.

Li, Ann Arbor, MI (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:05 PM)

NBC Nightly News NEVER says a word about Dr Paul. They didn't tonight even though he's running third in some NH polls, and he has the most money. They didn't the night we gave him $6 million. NBC is PART OF THE PROBLEM!!

Dr Ward Ciac II, New York, NY (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:06 PM)

I have recently joined the Republican party in order to support Ron Paul's candidacy. Fox News' decision to censor a VIABLE candidate from the American people just stinks of bias. Apparently our citizenry can't handle the choice before us, so we require a News Corp that touts "We Report. You Decide." to drain the pool? "Absurd" is one way to describe the decision. We now have Mike Huckabee as the victor in Iowa largely because the media chose him as an attractive underdog.

Thank you Mr. Montanaro for the accurate assessment of the situation.

Young people grow up and we like Ron Paul. The Media needs to do a little investing in their future.

David Sullivan, Boston, MA (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:07 PM)

The problem with calling for a "fair and unbalanced" debate on Fox, is that you're calling for a "fair and unbalanced" debate on "Fox."

JeffnDallas (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:09 PM)

Fox News isn't merely reporting and commenting on the GOP primary, it is an active participant. Shame!

Lou Barlow (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:10 PM)

FOX News Republican Debate in New Hampshire

Five major Republican candidates appear tonight in Manchester for a Fox News Channel presidential forum. The Fox forum has been criticized for excluding Republicans Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter from the forum.

Who won the FOX Republican Debate in New Hampshire?

http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=1463

.

PollM, Dallas TX (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:10 PM)

Guys, did anyone watch the HBO The Wire, tonight's episode is showing how corrupt and dysfuntional the old media Baltimore Sun is...some one please use this very popular tv show and charge up our support.

giselle (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:11 PM)

Fixed News - Fairly Unbalanced

RPV (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:11 PM)

Fox NEWS?
Fox is just proving that Ron Paul is right about what is happening in this country and I hope this backfires on them in a BIG way! An investigation into their financial structure is in order

Ronpaulsupporter,reno, NV (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:12 PM)

And now we know that McCain, Romney, Huckabee, Guiliani, and Thompson are all for censorship of those disagreeing with their opinions!!!

Amy Miller (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:13 PM)

Fox News is the worst, absolute worst news network on TV! What kind of network would hire both Hanutty and O'Really(?) and pay them little more than bus fare and lunch money? That is all they are worth. Get rid of both of them and watch their viewership increase.

A.Brocco,Albuquerque,NM (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:14 PM)

Hey do you guys want to watch a video on Mitt Romney you will like this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7y1HMZNJy0&NR=1

Jeff, Nevada (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:16 PM)

Fox News made its point: it's an arrogant, propaganda pushing media machine that wants nothing more than to force its fear agenda through windbags like McCain and Giuliani. Holding a 'forum' for the so-called 'top tier' candidates is like looking in a mirror for Fox News, and vice versa.

Ron Paul is better off without having participated in the Fox News nonsense.

SOUTH CAROLINA VOTER FOR RON PAUL 2008!

Abe C., Westminster, SC (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:18 PM)

Looked like there was plenty of room on the bus.

When you go against the pro-war machine... you get silenced. Fascism.

http://blip.tv/file/582985

Chris Collins, Westbrook, Maine (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:24 PM)

Please MSNBC. I watch you guys all the time. You have some very talented people on the channel. FOX is biased towards they're reporting, and as their rival and as what I consider the best news channel, I urge you to give more coverage to Ron Paul and his grassroots campaign, and help undo the damage done by Murdoch and his discriminatory network. It could be a pretty interesting topic for Olbermann's nightly monologue, and I'm sure you would gain many fans who will respect you for being truly fair and balanced, something which FOX can never be.

Ron Paul is a very interesting candidate and deserves as much airtime as every other person running.

Gregory, Jefferson, Ohio (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:25 PM)

I thank Fox News for being so stupid.
Because they leave Ron Paul out of the debate to try to silence him, he has been invited on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno tomorrow where MILLIONS will see him.

I guess Neo-Cons and Fox News still don't get the notion of blowback. Keep up the good work, and thank you.

You can't silence the truth

Tim, Mercer, Maine (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:27 PM)

What ever happened to the "BIG TENT"?

Manny, Miami, Florida (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:28 PM)

Dr. Paul has some people nervous. I believe the only way he can survive the smear tactics and unjust ridicule is to run as an independent, only then will his voice be heard.

Gary (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:29 PM)

Fox "News" is nothing more than a bulletin board for the pro war party, and to keep us dumbed down with meaningless trash likes "celebrity" news. Fox "News" must be exposed as the tool of the masters that it is.

Jason (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:30 PM)

Are you serious Domenico? Could your frustration quite possible have anything to do with any opinions YOU have about the Republican Party and foreign policy? Ron Paul is not running to win the nomination, you know that as well as we do and your attempt to get your dig in at fox smacks of liberal bias.

Greg, Chicago, IL (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:30 PM)

BOYCOTT Fox , specially the NFL on faux and all their programming, you willl then see how the can then change their ways. I watched the debate thinking I might see something to change my mind. but there is no option other than a Barack Obama /Ron Paul ticket :)

Eduardo Nunez (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:34 PM)

So at the Fox PRO-WAR forum, with the exception of McCain, all the liars (excuse me flip-floppers) pointed out the flips and flops of the others. AND the one man present who is MOST sincere, namely McCain, is NOW against amnesty.

Give me a break.

At least with Ron Paul present, new ideas got discussed, like the economy, inflation, the declining dollar, the Federal Reserve, and we would have gotten to hear just how a few Islamo-Fascists are winning in their attempt to bankrupt the United States in foreign wars.

I might remind you that this is EXACTLY what Osama bin Laden predicted he would do, just like he said he bankrupted the old Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Does no one realize that Osama is telling us exactly what his intent is in his increasingly sophisticated communications? And that Bush, the impotent and incompetent, can NOT catch Osama even with annually hundreds of billions being spent on trying!

Thank goodness that the NH Republican party had the sense to withdraw their support for this Fox farce. And thank goodness that Richardson is running on the Democratic side because the other 3 democrats want to stay in Iraq through their term if elected, or so they have said most recently, but who can keep track.

DenisL, Columbia, Missouri (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:35 PM)

In a free market, libertarian world, privately owned media companies should be free to invite or disinvite anyone they please to be on their network. For Ron Paul to complain about a privately owned company choosing not to include him in one of their programs is completely ludicrous. History has shown us again, and again... that Right wing nut jobs typically lack the basics of clear rational thought, and as a result, are unable to live up to their own so called principled philosophy. Honestly, Ron Pauls followers remind me of an Alzheimer's victim in a whore house... they just run around...constantly surprised they are getting screwed.

the voice of reason (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:35 PM)

Does anyone besides Keith Oberman at MSNBC/NBC have the professional gonads to take on Fox's electioneering? Prove me wrong. But then again where were you in 2002/2003 before Iraq when evidence from experts was on the web that Iraq did not have WMD or was not affiliated with Alqada. Again, prove me wrong
DF Robichaux
www.lifebelowi10.blogspot.com

David Robichaux (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:39 PM)

Fox said tonight that "...one of the men sitting at this table will be the Republican nominee"

In New Hampshire, Ron Paul is outpolling one, two, even three of the men Fox annointed as the only viable candidates.

Will voters in the "Live Free or Die" let Fox News tell them who they are permitted to vote for, or will they defy Fox and vote for Ron Paul anyway. We'll find out Tuesday.

Steve Dasbach (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:40 PM)

Faux News - "We Distort, You Comply"

Sean Hannity (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:42 PM)

Way to take a stand First Read...after the fact. Where was this article five days ago? All you have to do is consult the categories on the First Read page to see that Dr. Paul has routinely been ignored on this site with only 16 articles. There have been over 30 articles each on less viable candidates like Sen. Biden, Sen. Dodd, and Bill Richardson.

Nolan, Los Angeles CA (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:42 PM)

spin baby spin!
http://www.moviesfoundonline.com/spin.php

huck (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:43 PM)

I think you know how canadates are now elected Thanks fox news its not money it news media like yourself who seems to have a factor in determing who in and whos out. Oh and by the way im not a supporter of any canadate at this time and i am and independent

Russ Well, Maine (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:43 PM)

The winner was Ron Paul for not gracing them with his presence, and the losers were FAUX and the five fakers

Hartselle (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:44 PM)

Here you go...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZenB1s2rKDI

Michael, Orlando, FL (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:50 PM)

To voice. Get a clue idiot. He's not a whore to corporate sponsorship.

gary (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:50 PM)

The GOP candidates (sans Ron Paul) touted 'change' in the FOX Forum but it's the same old GOP. They cannot have someone like Ron Paul challenge their brainwashed positions. The only thing they can attack Ron Paul on are his views on the U.S. preemptive strikes. These cowards never mention attacking Russia or China for their assistance to one of the "axis of evil" country's (Iran) because it would be suicidal. My son is serving in the millitary in a foreign country and I would prefer to have him defend OUR borders with Mexico and Canada. I just hope Ron Paul see's how the GOP has blackballed him and decides to run as an independent. He's the only candidate who is willing to speak the truth and he won't change his views to pander to the electorate.

Shelby T., San Antonio, TX (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:52 PM)

Good. Hopefully McCain will spontaneously blow up in fury and take the rest of them with him. Then we'll have Ron Paul as the only one standing...

Uday Kari (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:59 PM)

Your just as bad with that little dig at the end of the article "Paul won't likely win the New Hampshire primary" so don't act like your fair and balanced either !Do you think one of your stories could not contain the words not win or longshot ,the only reason its like that is because of media outlets like yours .

tim ,plymouth,MI (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 11:15 PM)

Ron Paul is a straight talking republican which is very good for the country. He and those like him are the real republicans, not like the money driven war mongering chickenhawks in office and the other republican candidates.

Vicki (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 11:15 PM)

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