September 10, 2011
Looking to unseat President Barack Obama, the GOP has several politicans running against eachother for the nomination. The main focus right now is on former Mass Governor Mitt Romney and Texas Governor Rick Perry. A candidate that is receiving little to no coverage by the mainstream media is Texas Congressman Dr. Ron Paul. In the Ames straw poll, Michelle Bachmann won with 4823 votes against Dr. Paul's 4671 votes. All of the coverage went to Bachmann and Ron Paul was barely mentioned for someone who lost so narrowly. He also recieved little to know mention in the day-after newspapers, according to Cutline. Before the GOP debate at the Reagan Library, Dr. Paul also recieved little coverage, many in the media shaped it up around Romney and Perry's records and how they would react against eachother.
When the lack attention was brought up on the Daily Show, Eric Zorn of the Chicago Tribune replied thus,
"In short, no, he will never be president of the United States and no, he is not a plausible contender for the GOP nomination, so those who are covering the campaign don't feel obliged to pretend otherwise."
Dr. Paul and his spokesperson, Jesse Benton, have shown their dissappointment over the lack of coverage, but claim that many voters are demanding the mainstream media cover Dr. Paul. Benton also claims this issue is easily fixed by bringing on Ron Paul more often, as Fox News and CNN often do.
The reason for this blackout? Many supporters say it is Dr. Paul's radical ideas within the Republican Party. Ron Paul has been in constant disapproval of operations in the Middle East, including the two wars in Afganistan and Iraq and the military intervention in Libya. In Dr. Paul's many years in politics, he has stayed on the beliefs he first came into politics with, and is not afraid to express them. The mainstream media would rather give all the coverage to far-right Republicans like Romney, who's univesal health care he insists is working better then Obamacare, or Perry, who conservative but has worked to extend in-state tuition to illegal aliens, that would make a more sensational election against President Obama.
Opponents of Dr. Paul would claim that his libertarian views are what makes his election so impossible. Ron Paul has expressed his desire to legalize several drugs. He also intents to dismantle several government jobs such as the Department of Education in order to bring spending down to near year 2000 levels. In hyper partisan Washington, these ideas can be very alarming.
It remains to be seen if the mainstream media will continue to try and block out Ron Paul in favor of other GOP candidates, or if that will even stop him in a country becoming extremely angry with 'business as usual' among the political elite.
Eric, this is a very well-written blog! There are a few minor grammar errors within. See if you can catch them (a who's, know mention).
ReplyDeleteI like the professional, yet sharp tone that you've crafted. It gives your article authority and strength.
The only thing missing is the 3 separated facts. You can place these facts at the end of your article and number them. They are clear in the body of your text, but I'd like them to be set aside, as well, for quick reference.
Overall, excellent job. Suggestion: list the facts below.
Grade: 90