FIRST - Please hold off on doing anything because this could be just a rumor. Believe me, I am working on this right now and if I hear that Ron is excluded from ANYTHING in NH, you will be the first to be informed, along with contact info for who to bombard...
Now having said that...Chris Brunner over at Lew Rockwell has revised his post after I spoke with him because he also sees that this could be bad for us if it's not true. He also knows that it *could* be true but wants firmer proof.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/018047.html
Here is the chronology of events that make me think it is a rumor based on confusing write ups in the press.
Last week I called the NH GOP to find out if there would be time for Dr. Paul to attend their fancy BRUNCH, scheduled from 11AM - 1PM in Milford, NH seeing as he's confirmed to speak at the closing ceremony of the Liberty Forum, which is 10 minutes away, at 12:00PM, in Nashua, NH. The folks at the Liberty Forum who are in charge of speakers, whom I also know well, even got another speaker so as to make Ron's time to speak a bit later...just so he could get to this GOP thing at 11:00 and perhaps eat, then head over to the Liberty Forum. We are working hard in NH for Dr. Paul to get him the most exposure, believe me.
Meanwhile, I have both an email invitation AND a fancy paper invitiation to the BRUNCH, which clearly lists Ron as one of the invited people, for the morning of the 6th.
Attendance in the ABC/WMUR debate here in NH on January 5th at the college has been confirmed for Ron, per this UL article: "All Candidates Accept Debate Offer"
http://www.unionleader.com/article....rticleId=141a7c52-a168-4f70-9497-8230e7309e9e
"MANCHESTER – Republican presidential candidates Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney yesterday agreed to participate in the WMUR/ABC/Facebook presidential debates just three days before the primary Jan. 8. (Jan 5th)
They join fellow Republicans John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul, Duncan Hunter and Fred Thompson in officially agreeing to the debates scheduled for Jan. 5 at St. Anselm College. The forums begin at 7 p.m."
Now the article goes on to confirm what ELSE I spoke to the GOP about when I called. They had said they were trying to schedule ANOTHER debate right around that time and did not want to interfere with the WMUR/ABC/Facebook one. I was not told at that time that Ron would not be invited...we simply talked about how they would have to find a date for that one that would be more amenable to the candidates.
But then the article seems confused because as I understand it, this debate will be more of a 'round table' discussion, led by Chris Wallace, and held in a hall at the college, on January 6th in the evening and televised as well. But the UL seems to think it's the BRUNCH that is the forum. I don't think it is. See below:
The state Republican Party has scheduled a presidential forum for 11 a.m. Jan. 6 at the Function Center at Hampshire Hills in Milford. The party’s presidential candidates have been invited to participate in the forum.
That is wrong. That is the brunch for which I have the invite in my hot little hands.
As for the roundtable forum, the part before that sounds like it is more correct:
Giuliani also agreed yesterday to participate in a presidential debate on the Fox network on Jan. 6, although no debate is currently scheduled. Fox News, with the state Republican Party, had scheduled a Republican debate for that date, but withdrew the proposal when candidates did not commit to the event.
State Republican Party chair Fergus Cullen said the party has been discussing a presidential forum for several months with Fox News for Jan. 6 and has been in touch with all the campaigns about it. "We’ve gotten a favorable response, but that is short of a commitment," he said yesterday.
He said he has noted all along he does not expect the presidential candidates to make a firm commitment to participate in any end-of-the-campaign events until much closer to when they are held.
Notice is says in part: Giuliani doesn't even yet know about it, all campaigns have been invited, but none have committed? This article was written on the 27th December keep in mind. This is supposed to happen at the college also, but it's more of a round table forum group interview type thing, rather than a full out debate.
Ok now, tonight I go on Daily Paul and someone posts a piece from a blogger who was snickering about Ron Paul being 'excluded'. I read it to see where she gets this information. She cites an AP article, which DOES NOT USE THE WORD EXCLUDED. It simply lists the 5 candidates, as is typical of AP.
Now I ask you, if at this point, on Dec 27th, Fergus is saying he has not yet had any commitments, and Rudy's campaign hasn't even thought about it yet, how does the AP know it's just those 5? Remember, they just printed those names in the positive, as in, here is who will be in attendance. They could have also mixed this up with the WMUR/ABC debate where the candidates ARE all confirmed.
The amount of confusion in the press tells me that no one should assume anything.
But yet, this blogger ASSUMED that it meant that Ron Paul was NOT INVITED. This is a conclusion I fear she drew for herself, so that she could gloat with pleasure about 'how the Paul fans would feel about that now...'
Lew Rockwell's blogger Chris Brunner posted it but retracted in favor of finding out more info first before unleashing our wrath on poor Fergus (NH GOP) who has never said a bad word about Ron.
So please, until we can confirm that he was not invited, from an original source, let's chill. There will be plenty of time to bombard whoever is responsible and Ron will be in town that day for the Liberty Forum so on the chance that we need to put pressure on anyone, he will easily be able to participate in the round table on short notice.
I hope that explanation is sufficient.
Also, that blogger takes this from yet another blogger who says he 'heard' that Ron was excluded, but once again, cited an article that merely said 'here is who ACCEPTED' which is a hell of a lot different than saying, 'and Ron Paul was not invited'.
They may wish it were so, but it's not necessarily true. They are the ones who are prematurely 'gloating' that it only includes 5 candidates... I suspect it's just that Ron's campaign hasn't confirmed yet. I don't see why he wouldn't since he'll be done with an earlier event at around 3 PM that afternoon and has plenty of time to get over to Goffstown which is 20 minutes away.
Check for yourself.
http://bigheaddc.com/2007/12/27/fox-news-to-host-special-gop-candidate-forum/
Big Head DC hears that FOX News will hold a special “candidate forum” with the top Republican presidential candidates from New Hampshire on Sunday, January 6th. More details will follow shortly.
Update, 1:50 p.m.: Official release, after the jump:
Five Candidates to Participate in First-In-The-Nation Presidential Forum on FOX News Channel
New Hampshire Republican Party hosts the First-In-The-Nation Presidential Forum only two days before historic New Hampshire Primary.
Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Republican Party is pleased to announce that five presidential candidates have accepted their invitation to participate in the First-In-The-Nation Presidential Forum on Sunday January, 6th, 2008. The 90 minute forum will be presented live on FOX News Channel (FNC) and FOX News Radio beginning at 8:00pm ET, live from the campus of St. Anslem College in Goffstown, New Hampshire. FNC’s Chris Wallace will moderate the Forum.
Fergus Cullen, Chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party said, “New Hampshire Republicans are pleased to offer our Presidential candidates an opportunity to speak to voters of New Hampshire and across the country before the presidential primary just two days later.”
David Rhodes, Vice President, FOX News Channel said, “We look forward to presenting a serious discussion of the issues. The Forum will be a vigorous exchange as candidates make their closing arguments of the New Hampshire Primary.”
Candidates confirmed to participate: Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Governor Mike Huckabee, Senator John McCain, Governor Mitt Romney and Senator Fred Thompson.
