The following is something I wrote to address the manner in which Ron Paul was and is framed by CNN and major media. I wrote it principally for this forum, and you may use it as you see fit. At the bottom is a link to youtube, where all 34 CNN debate questions and responses are provided. Paul Revere
Ron Paul Questions by CNN
CNN actively manipulated the debate to play up its favorites and play down those it does not care for, such as Ron Paul.
In the CNN Republican Presidential Candidate Debate, there were 34 questions asked. Ron Paul was allowed to respond to 8 of those 34 questions, roughly 24% of them. Let's see which ones CNN decided the American viewing public should hear him address.
In summary, those questions were:
*Do you believe in the conspiracy theories of your wacky online supporters?
*Which federal programs do you want to cut?
*Do you support the elimination of the current income tax in favor of a national sales tax?
*Will you pledge never to raise taxes?
*If abortion is illegal, what should the punishment be?
*Will you commit to permanent US presence in Iraq if we call that support of Iraq?
*How can we repair America's infrastructure?
*Are you going to run as an Independent?
The first question sets the tone for CNN's efforts to marginalize Paul. Remember that of all the videos it had to choose from, CNN chose these. Each video represents CNN's viewpoint, which is why it was chosen. When they choose a video which openly sneers at Ron Paul's supporters, characterizes them snidely, and implies they are wackos who believe unsupportable conspiracy theories, they are doing so because that is CNN's official position on Ron Paul. That is evident every time one of their room temperature IQ news readers scoffs at Paul's widespread support.
Let's review the questions which Ron Paul was allowed to address.
1. Question 6 Do you believe in a conspiracy to make a new union?
This question was asked only of Ron Paul, and directed at him by a young man who seemed to scorn Ron Paul supporters, whom he attempted to smear as seeing a conspiracy for a North American Union, which he implied was a fiction.
The point of this question was to characterize the Ron Paul supporters as wacky conspiracy theorists, while attempting to tar Paul with the same aspersions. It didn't work because Paul easily verbalized the reasons why we should be concerned with the drive by globalists.
2. Question 8 What are the top three federal programs you would cut?
This question was asked of Ron Paul, Mike Huckabee, and Fred Thompson. It is significant because it asks these three to state what they would cut, but allows favored candidates Romney, Guiliani and McCain to skate on a question they would have difficulty answering.
For Ron Paul, it was an easy question to ask, and contrary to the negative CNN thought his answer would be, it was a positive.
3. Question 9 Do you support a 'Fair Tax'?
The only reason Paul was allowed to respond to this one, which was directed at McCain, was to defend himself from the absurd attack by McCain about the Iraq War. Paul made short work of McShorty.
4. Question 10 Will you pledge never to raise taxes?
This question was asked of each candidate, so all of them got to answer it. They all agreed, except Duncan Hunter, but only Ron Paul slam dunked it by saying that you must limit spending, or the promise not to raise taxes is hollow.
5. Question 17 If abortion is illegal, what should the punishment be?
Since Ron Paul opposes abortion, of course they wanted him to answer this one. He stuck with his position that it is up to each state, and within each state, up the jury charged with enforcing the laws of each state.
6. Question 23 Will you make a permanent commitment to the people of Iraq?
The questioner argues in favor of a long term, permanent commitment to the people of Iraq - militarily. Ron Paul knocks it out of the park by stating that the best thing we can do for the people of Iraq is to give them back their country. Once again, McCain tried to use it as a chance to lecture Paul on the necessity of more Iraq occupation. Paul stuffed McCain. Paul, you may recall, served in Vietnam WITHOUT GETTING CAPTURED.
7. Question 32 How can we repair the infrastructure of America?
CNN thought they would find Paul saying that we should repair the infrastructure, since they thought he would conclude such public works are beyond government's role. Instead, he pointed out that it is because we are wasting trillions on wars of occupation and choice.
8. Question 33 Mr. Paul, are you going to run as an independent?
This question was also asked only of Ron Paul, even though Huckabee has been mentioned as a possible fundamentalist third party candidate, and Tancredo as an Immigration issue third party candidate. The question was designed to attempt to undercut the chances of Ron Paul to appeal to mainstream Republicans.
Notice that CNN started and ended on Ron Paul with attack questions designed to characterize Ron Paul and his supporters as people who have no place in the Republican debate or primary, fringe people who should be ignored.
http://www.youtube.com/republicandebate
