Why is the media ignoring Ron Paul?
The libertarian presidential candidate nearly beat Michele Bachmann in the Iowa straw poll, but the press barely saw fit to mention it
In Saturday's Iowa straw poll, libertarian GOP candidate Ron Paul nearly emerged victorious, coming within less than one percentage point of the winner, Michele Bachmann. Of course, you'd hardly know it given the media's reporting, which focused on Bachmann's rise and Tim Pawlenty's disappointing third-place finish. The Daily Show even devoted a segment to the near press black-out on Monday night, with Jon Stewart asking "How did libertarian Ron Paul become the 13th floor in a hotel?" (Watch a clip here.) Why is the media ignoring Paul?
He's not getting ignored — he just didn't have much at stake in Iowa: "The political world already knows that Paul has an army of unusually loyal and dedicated supporters who are willing to show up in large numbers at events like the straw poll... producing impressive-seeming vote totals for their candidate," says Steve Kornacki at Salon. Paul didn't get shafted by the media in Iowa; it is just that "unlike Bachmann and Pawlenty, he didn't really have much to prove."
"No, Ron Paul is not getting screwed"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
And he doesn't have a shot at the nomination: Let's face it: Paul is not a plausible contender for the Republican nomination, and "those who are covering the campaign don't feel obliged to pretend otherwise," says Eric Zorn in the Chicago Tribune. Some may argue that this is a chicken and egg scenario, that if Paul were to get more attention, he would be a real contender. But the fact of the matter is "he's too far out of the political/ideological mainstream to be elected, no matter how much attention he gets."
Forces conspire against him: Paul deserves more attention and doesn't get it because "the mainstream media and the Republican establishment wish he would just go away," says Timothy P. Carney in The Washington Examiner. The "bipartisan establishment" doesn't like him because he has been prescient on a number of issues from the economy to the national debt, from the housing bubble to Afghanistan. It's highly unlikely that Paul will win the Republican presidential nomination, but the frontrunners would be wise to embrace some of his ideas.
"Will no one rid the GOP of this troublesome congressman?"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Make legal immigration a more plausible option'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
LA-to-Las Vegas high-speed rail line breaks ground
Speed Read The railway will be ready as soon as 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel's military intelligence chief resigns
Speed Read Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first leader to quit for failing to prevent the Hamas attack in October
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published