ABC plans to ignore RP on Feb 5th (proof enclosed)

[alien]

I wrote ABC, but copied NBC, CBS and a few newspapers as well. I was polite and did include Edwards in the exclusion, because it's the right thing to do.

Smartest way to do it that I've seen yet. Let them all see it.

 

[alien]

Here's the copypasta of my email, feel free to critique it:

Dear Mr. Salinger,

I came across your web page outlining your planned coverage of the Super Tuesday primaries on February 5th. I must tell you that I was very disappointed to see that you have no plans of giving equal coverage to my candidate of choice Dr. Ron Paul. This strikes me as odd considering Dr. Paul's recent showings in LA and NV, plus the fact that he has finished better than Rudy Giuliani in nearly every state so far. As I'm sure you must know he has raised more money than any other GOP candidate in the past few months and continues to do so. It's also well known that he has the largest and most involved grassroots following of any candidate, Republican or Democrat.

Since the mission of a news organization is to inform the curious masses it seems logical that you would cover the candidate with the largest and most interested group of supporters. Unfortunately we Ron Paul supporters have become accustomed to being ignored by the media and as a result we are often forced to resort to boycotts. It's a shame that we need to go to that extreme, but it is our position of last resort. Have no doubt that a large number of our supporters will boycott your sponsors if you elect to omit coverage of Dr. Paul.


Was that too much including the comment about boycotting?

Perfect with the boycott. That should get some action.

 

[alien]

Everything was great but they'll laugh at the idea of boycotting.

These are production people not sales and executives.

Maybe we should CC the sales executives?

 

[Matt Collins]

Maybe we should CC the sales executives?

I don't have their e-mail addresses unfortunately.

 

[austinchick]

threaten to file with FCC

 

[saahmed]

They are ignoring Edwards too. I mean realistically, Ron Paul is below these guys for now. If Giuliani does not do well in Florida then it becomes a different story.

 

[Matt Collins]

They are ignoring Edwards too. I mean realistically, Ron Paul is below these guys for now.

Perhaps - but being "below" someone doesn't mean they shouldn't be covered. Ron still has a good chance at winning the nomination. When Huck and Rudy drop out Ron Paul will be the ONLY conservative candidate in the GOP. Anyone who doesn't realize that is a fool.

So while he may not be on top of anything (except for fund raising) at the moment doesn't mean he should be discounted or ignored because Ron Paul still will have an outcome on this race one way or another.

 

[tnvoter]

ican't believe abc is this a) evil or b) dumb

 

[CareerTech1]

Here's my reply to their reply:

From: Andrew Flint [mailto:aflint@]
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 6:40 AM
To: 'ABC News Radio'
Cc: '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'
Subject: RE: ABC News coverage of Ron Paul
Importance: High

Thank you for your response. As a concerned voter I ask that ABC cover each of the candidates (Edwards included) equally. This is not the general election and is the time when people should vote on the candidate they feel represents what they believe in. With the majority of the media not giving Dr. Paul equal time, the debates giving him 6 minutes of response time vs 28 minutes for Romney etc. – this all adds up. You have Steven Portnoy covering Giuliani yet Dr. Paul has had more Americans vote for him than Giuliani and has beat Giuliani in every primary / caucus except New Hampshire. Therefore Dr. Paul would rank in your “Top 6” qualifications and Giuliani would not.

Dr. Paul has the strongest national and international grassroots operation of any candidate without any ties to lobbyists. Bear in mind that Dr. Paul has just placed in either 1st or 2nd (appeal files over discrepancies) in Louisiana – beating out Mitt Romney. This means Ron Paul has now beat every other GOP candidate in at least 1 primary / caucus. Huckabee and Giuliani are out of money – and will likely drop out of the race within the next few weeks. Ron Paul has more $ than any other GOP candidate in the bank – although we don’t know how much money Romney has personally dropped into his to date. That will leave Romney, Paul, and McCain as the viable contenders. Dr. Paul’s message of Liberty and Freedom has become a much more than him becoming President, it has become a movement.

Please reconsider ABC – and cover each of the candidates (Paul & Edwards included) equally. The video you sent is an example of the media reporting on Ron Paul in a fashion that discourages voters from taking him seriously. You can help keep the public fully informed on the real differences in the candidates positions, and what they will or will not do while in the white house. You have the influence to make a difference.

Thank you,

-Andrew Flint

Andrew Flint
Schneider, Flint & Associates
Headquarters: 4002 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030
Western Region: 3131 East Camelback Road, Suite 200, Phoenix, Arizona 85016
Toll Free: (866) 934-4440

________________________________________
From: ABC News Radio [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 2:33 PM
Subject: ABC News Radio coverage of Ron Paul

Ron Paul is a fascinating political figure who clearly has galvanized many voters. We have covered him and will continue to cover him as long as he is a candidate.

Click on this link to see a recent report from ABC News – the only organization that has a reporter dedicated to covering Ron Paul:

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/player?ip=&affil=wftv&debug=&catId=&id=4166448

Thanks for your interest.

________________________________________
From: Andrew Flint [mailto:aflint]
Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2008 3:38 PM
To: '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'
Subject: ABC Radio Super Tuesday Program Coverage
Importance: High

Ladies & Gentlemen of ABC,

I am writing in regard to your internet promoted Super Tuesday program here - http://abcnewsradio.com/08election/advisories/supertuesday.html

I appeal to you that Ron Paul deserves equal time/ coverage. He has greater national support than Giuliani – and Ron Paul has now won in Louisiana, a 2nd place in Nevada, plus has placed higher than Giuliani in every Primary / Caucus except New Hampshire. Ron Paul has now beaten every other GOP candidate in at least one primary / caucus.

I was a Mitt supporter (about $1K last year) up until December when I read up and researched Dr. Paul and the other candidates more thorougly - and switched my support at that point. I found Ron Paul to be the only true conservative, and I define a true conservative as someone who 1) upholds the constitution, 2) believes in smaller government not in my life, 3) less or no income tax, 4) not a nation builder / will bring our troops home.

Fox, CNN, etc - radio, tv, and print media have all cheated the public from being aware of Ron Paul and slighted Ron Paul by simply not including him in a majority of polls, and by not mentioning Dr. Paul in discussion of the presidential candidates and their stand on the issues. Dr. Paul brings the most unique set of qualifications and positions on the issues - differentiating himself from all other rep's and dems. Didn't there used to be a law about equal time for candidates? In spite of this Ron Paul’s grassroots support is stronger than any candidate – even those who get the media attention.

The elderly and those that rely on the main stream media (they don’t do internet research) to keep them informed are being manipulated and cheated out of who in my opinion is the most honest candidate and best qualified to turn around the mess we are in.

By the way - In 1988 - John McCain said that Ron Paul is the most honest man in congress.

Hopefully ABC will stand up and report fair and balanced on the candidates – just like in sports, the news reports on all of the teams and their actual wins – not who is betting on them (ie polls).

Thank you,

-Andrew Flint

Andrew Flint
Schneider, Flint & Associates
Headquarters: 4002 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030
Western Region: 3131 East Camelback Road, Suite 200, Phoenix, Arizona 85016
Toll Free: (866) 934-4440

 

[CareerTech1]

bump this

 

[mysticgeek]

When

I wonder if they will refuse to cover Paul if Rudy drops out...

Don't you mean WHEN rudy drops out?

 

[mysticgeek]

email sent to all of them!

 

[CareerTech1]

this needs to stay alive and well - there needs to me some sort of MSM blowback if they continue to snub RP

 

[BillyDkid]

Until RP hires professional media people and consultants with contacts in the business he won't ever get any coverage.

See his YouTube video about campaign progress update. He has hired some pro people. They have heard us.

 

[itshappening]

great letter Andrew, I think it's a real problem..... these orders are coming from high to all major networks

 

[JMann]

What has the Paul campaign done to change this? Have they offered to pay expenses for coverage or are they leaving it up to the grassroots to whine and complain about unfair treatment and bomb ABC with emails?

 

[kidal25]

bump for freedom

 

[Jim_Karr]

They are ignoring Edwards too. I mean realistically, Ron Paul is below these guys for now. If Giuliani does not do well in Florida then it becomes a different story.

You been here longer than me and your saying that Ron Paul is below Rudy.
How did you come to this conclusion?

 

[Vendico]

this needs to stay alive and well - there needs to me some sort of MSM blowback if they continue to snub RP

In the end, I think the MSM will experience blowback. I for one have turned of my TV and I don't bother with their websites. Something about being lied to over and over makes it hard for me to even watch them.

 

[CareerTech1]

great letter Andrew, I think it's a real problem..... these orders are coming from high to all major networks

thanks - i agree -

There must be some way that the Ron Paul campaign could file a chancery or class action / performance suit against the most frequent abusers of the main stream media