The word is Fox has excluded Ron Paul from the New Hampshire debate because they do not have enough room in the debate facility. Anchors on Fox have also openly stated that Paul will not be President and have said the network simply wants to spend more time on the issues by narrowing the participants. They report, you decide? I think not. It has become apparent the true reason Ron Paul is not invited to the debate is because the executives at Fox do not agree with his policies.
It is impossible to overstate the dangerous precedent this sets for the future of elections in this country. The media already has a far too powerful influence on our election process. Fox's exclusion of Paul robs him of an opportunity that every other Republican candidate will enjoy; an opportunity to explain his views and illustrate the difference between himself and the other candidates. It is no coincidence that this stolen opportunity will take place in a state that Paul could conceivable finish in the top three: New Hampshire.
It is not a question of having more time to focus on the issues. This assertion is completely disingenuous, and is really an assertion of dollars over credibility. Fox need only to increase the length of the debate to spend more time on the issues. Of course, this would require the network to put the importance of the presidential election over the importance of advertising revenue for one night. I am sure Fox would counter that people will not watch a four-hour debate. However true this might be, it is irrelevant. The onus is on Fox to do its job. Remember, "We report, you decide."
The Republican National Committee has withdrawn as a partner in the debates because of Fox's exclusions. It is reassuring that the network's actions have not gone unnoticed by the Republican Party leadership. We can only hope that media also appreciates the magnitude of this precedent and lambastes both Fox and ABC.
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