Posted on 01/10/2008 8:40:21 AM PST by American Cabalist
I haven't been a blogger since last spring. But I am still active in several conservative forums and I am bringing you some information that I think only grassroots groups, bloggers, and talk radio can do anything about. Regardless of your political affiliation, or your choice of candidate, it should be somewhat chilling to realize how much the media is manipulating campaign information and access. I don't write this to whine "it's not fair!", but to make you aware that there is a real problem. I've tried to handle this through official channels (ie: the SC GOP, Fox News, and Real Clear Politics) to no avail. So I'm bringing my case to you, the New Media.
Full Disclosure: I am the Grassroots Coordinator in Texas for the Duncan Hunter Campaign.
As you know, Duncan Hunter was excluded from the debates in Hew Hampshire and now in South Carolina. (The NH GOP withdrew their sponsorship from the NH debates in protest of the media's exclusion of some candidates.) Duncan Hunter is a viable and active candidate in good standing. He had to pay $25,000 to get his name on the primary ballot in South Carolina! He has a network of volunteers that has worked very hard, but all are barred by the SC GOP from even attending the debate. Worse, he is being excluded based upon one criterion imposed by Fox News: he has not garnered 5% of the national electorate as determined by recent polling.
So where is Fox News getting their poll data from? If you go to their website, Duncan Hunter is not even listed as a candidate. Furthermore, Fox News is drawing their consolidated poll data from Real Clear Politics, an online clearinghouse for dozens of polls. According to Real Clear Politics, he doesn't exist. He is nowhere in their polling data – they are not even tracking him!
Therefore, Fox News is using incomplete poll data (and thereby skewed data) to exclude a candidate from the debates. Information is knowingly being withheld from voters in these early states, and their access to a Presidential candidate is barred. This, in turn, is affecting results in later states as candidates are prematurely dropped from consideration – BY THE MEDIA. By allowing the media to control the process, the entire primary process is being undermined. Not only is that unethical, it is manipulative, and it is blatantly contrary to the American electoral process. There is no one holding the SC GOP or Fox News accountable.
It is far too early to exclude candidates from the process - that is not fair to the voters. Fox News is manipulating voter access and unfortunately, the South Carolina GOP is allowing it. It is shameful and anti-America.
Heidi Thiess
Texas Grassroots Coordinator
heidi@gohunter2008.org
www.gohunter08.com
I don’t think they’ve mentioned Hunter’s name even once since getting all excited and speculating that he was dropping out the other day. Fortunately I ignore the media most of the time anyway.
As far as I’m concerned its no different than the way the media skewed things in Florida 2000.
Huck/Duncan 08
It's hard to track an asterisk.
Duncan’s name is still on the ballots. The numbers are what they are and Duncan’s aren’t good but he’s in the same boat as Fred if he doesn’t win something pretty soon he’s going to disappear.
I’m sure it’s a fair and balanced skewing...
Well, he is going to win Texas. He swept our straw poll, and the Texan GOP is already mighty pissed off about the media interference. We’re already seeing it here and our primary isn’t until March!
But most people consider the candidate to be a done deal by then! How is that fair? Texas has the second largest number of delegates in the nation! There are more people in Harris County ALONE than in the entire state of Iowa!!
I was just at the ballot draw for the Harris County GOP and they all stood and cheered when I pulled Hunter’s name out for the Number 1 slot on the ballot. They are bound and determined to show the rest of the country what a great option Hunter is.
It’s a cryin’ shame that the rest of the country won’t be listening.
My thoughts from another thread:
>If enough word got out about Hunter and his stands, you would see something to behold.<
I have always believed that. I also believe that is exactly why they are trying to supress him.
Everything he believes in is what’s best for this country.
Another poster said something about how GOP was operating like Dems and doing anything at all to widen the base-thus the push for open borders & more voters.
It’s more than that though. I know this sounds like liberal BS spew, but I believe it’s all about the money.
Businesses want cheap labor, people want cheap goods. These are also the businesses that buy advertising on MSM. If we really closed the border and fixed the trade the way it is supposed to we would all possibly suffer for a while. The people who would suffer the most are the rich folks who want the cheap labor. I don’t know-maybe it’s so broken it’s fubar at this point.
I always believed if we look out for America first and go back to being somewhat self sufficient as far as making our own stuff, growing our own stuff, we would prosper. Everyone would prosper in the end(except the rich)there would be jobs galore(if we stop outsourcing too)
Maybe this isn’t a good theory. I’m not saying we should rob the rich and give to the poor or anything. But we depend so much on imports now. What if something really awful happened and we couldn’t import anything? Duncan Hunter already pointed out that lack of industry is hurting national security. Remember the special metal shields for the Humvees or whatever thy’re driving over there?
Our lack of manufacturing is a threat to national security.
What next? Outsource the Presidency? We’re halfway there.(Stupid foreign policy & open borders and what does the rest of the world think of our laws?)
Outsource the military? We’re halfway there. (Blackwater)
I’m all over the map here, and maybe a little ranty.
What’s so bad about isolationism or hawkish protectionism.
I felt it’s long overdue for quite some time now.
New FOX motto...
“FOX News: Unfair and BIASED”
SC GOP:
Phone: 803.988.8440
Fax: 803.988.8444
Executive Director
Jay W. Ragley: jwr@scgop.com
Executive Director of Presidential Primary Task Force
Hogan Gidley: hogan@scgop.com
Communications:
Rob Godfrey: rob@scgop.com
Here are contact emails at Fox News:
yourcomments@foxnews.com
Special@foxnews.com
Here are contact emails at Real Clear Politics:
webmaster@realclearpolitics.com
feedback@realclearpolitics.com
letters@realclearpolitics.com
They were so eager that Hunter's announcement was not about quitting that they've decided to silence him into submission!
Califreak said: My thoughts from another thread: >If enough word got out about Hunter and his stands, you would see something to behold.< I have always believed that. I also believe that is exactly why they are trying to supress him.This is right on the money - in more ways that one. I read one blogger who said:
He is from the conservative Baptist wing whereas the Huckster has promoted the lieberal wing, even buying into the global warming baloney.
The only issues they have in common are pro-life and pro-RKBA.
AWESOME + CONSERVATIVE = NO MEDIA COVERAGE
NO CONSERVATIVE MEDIA COVERAGE = CENSORSHIP
CENSORSHIP = BIAS
Maybe we need some anti-FOX bumperstickers.
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