Democracy at work!Fox News host says that if Ron Paul wins the Iowa Caucus“it won’t count"

[tsetsefly]

Democracy at work!Fox News host says that if Ron Paul wins the Iowa Caucus“it won’t count"

From Reason:

Fox News' Chris Wallace is one of the moderators of the long prayed-for final GOP debate before the January 3 Iowa Caucus. And on December 14, Wallace had some interesting things to say on the Neil Cavuto show re everyone's favorite scrappy libertarian doctor:

According to Raw Story.com, with video at the link:

“The Ron Paul people are not going to like my saying this,” Wallace began. “But to a certain degree, it will discredit the Iowa caucuses because, rightly or wrongly, I think most of the Republican establishment thinks he’s not going to end up as the nominee.”

“So therefore, Iowa won’t count,” he added. “It would certainly be a knock to Gingrich because, you know, right now he was the frontrunner — or a week ago he was the big frontrunner in this state so it would be missed opportunity for him.”

This could be mere horse race talk, or depressing realism, and it's quite true that certain Republicans, especially of the David Frum variety as Matt Welch noted below, are horrified by the prospect of the good doctor as president.

But check out this clip from way back in 2007 where debate moderator Wallace suggests that Paul's desire to bring the troops home from Iraq means he advocates "taking our marching orders from Al-Qaeda."

http://reason.com/blog/2011/12/15/chris-wallace-if-ron-paul-wins-the-iowa

 

[69360]

Not surprised at all. We all expected them to try and write off a whole state.

 

[UtahApocalypse]

I cannot wait until Ron Paul discredits the Presidency

 

[RadioDJforPaul]

Didn't see this coming............

 

[LBennett76]

I honestly think a statement like this should disqualify Wallace from being a moderator. You shouldn't be allowed to be a moderator if you've shown bias against the candidates you're moderating... especially when there's only ONE you've been doing it to.

 

[sailingaway]

think of the credibility of the Ames straw poll. It is the biggest IA GOP fundraiser (and the same for Dems when they have a primary, look at Obama winning it.) First or second place, at least on the GOP side 'always' wins the IA caucus -- so far. Now, Romney and Newt didn't even attend..... but Ron came in a hairspan behind the first place winner. And Ron is second in NH as well, and the early states are the only ones doing their homework, before the holidays.

 

[Rothbardian Girl]

All of this BS is not making them any friends in Iowa.

 

[Steppenwolf6]

media spin.

Third section down.


Hard to get apparently

 

[Merk]

All of this BS is not making them any friends in Iowa.

I've always thought of Iowa as part of the American Heartland. These folks are clearly denigrating it to "fly-over country" that sophisticated east coast "reporters" would only set foot in if their plane happened to crash there. I would be very insulted if I lived in Iowa.

 

[kill the banks]

give him a gold watch and retire the old goat ... that's the marching orders here

 

[LibertyEagle]

It will matter and they darn well know it. That is why they are all running around like chickens with their heads cut off, showing old stats and trying to smear Ron Paul with one lie after another.

I have faith in the people of Iowa. I have to.


PHONE-FROM-HOME, people, if you aren't already volunteering with the campaign. This is how we win.

 

[evadmurd]

It really may be better for Ron to come in a very close second, so they can't discredit it. I'd rather him blow everyone out of the water though.

 

[RonPaulFanInGA]

Guess it's like the straw polls: they don't matter until someone who isn't Paul wins one, as with Cain in Florida.

The audacity of these people.

 

[muh_roads]

If you've ever been to Iowa, in most restaurant's I've been in that have a TV, Fox News is on the screen. FNC is huge up there. This will surely backfire on them.