NH GOP saves face by dropping Fox debate after Ron Paul left behind

Texas Congressman Ron Paul was excluded from the Fox New Hampshire debate, GOP drops affiliation.

NH GOP saves face by dropping Fox debate after Ron Paul left behind This year will be the most important Elections for the Republican party, but somehow the leadership is losing the reins to the media. GOP Presidential candidate Ron Paul was excluded from the Fox debate, along with Representative Duncan Hunter of California and the explanation from the news network pointed to the single-digits support of the two candidates in the national polls. The fact that Ron Paul got 10% at the Iowa caucuses was clearly overlooked, as well as the fact that Ron Paul go more support in Iowa than the once-favorite Rudy Giuliani. Following the outcry from not only supporters of Ron Paul, but other Republicans, the New Hampshire Republican Party announced yesterday that they are severing their affiliation with a Republican debate sponsored by Fox News.

Still, Fox News will be joined only by Mr. Giuliani, Mitt Romney, John McCain, Mike Huckabee and Fred Thompson at the 90-minute forum which will be held Sunday night at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire. Keep in mind that Dr. Paul is leading Thompson in several recent polls in the state, not to mention that Ron Paul's odds on winning the Elections are sitting at 6/1 at the bookmaker Bodog Sports, and even those odds are being pounded heavily, and not only from U.S. bettors. British bookmakers alone are expecting £10+ million to be wagered by the Britons on the 2008 U.S. Presidential Elections. Giving an advantage (or posing a disadvantage) by completely destroying the equal playing field is already upsetting millions of bettors worldwide; it appears that Fox New and democracy is now officially an oxymoron among those supporting Ron Paul in one way or another. Boycotts of the Fox News itself, as well as sponsors of the network, are underway, as posted on the many Internet forums in support of Ron Paul's candidacy for the next President.

"We look forward to presenting a substantive forum which will serve as the first program of its kind this election season," was the brief statement issued by Fox New Channel vice president of news David Rhodes. Fergus Cullen, chair of the state GOP party, countered with: "We believe that it is inconsistent with the first in the nation primary tradition to be excluding candidates in a pre-primary setting. All candidates regardless of how well known they are or how much money they’ve raised should be treated equally here."

Ron Paul is set to appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Monday, watch for zingers from the NBC personality aimed at Fox.

Published on 01/06/2008