Study reveals almost complete Ron Paul media blackout in Florida

[Feelgood]

What really pissed me off were the other candidates that were on the ballot. Bachmann, Cain, Perry, Huntsman, Johnson. There should have only been 4 names on the damn ballot. People were actually voting for those not even in the race.

 

[Henry Hazlitt]

Paul was the only candidate without a win coming in to Florida. Santorum also didn't have his campaign coming out flaunting the skipping of the State. Ron Paul has a history of ignoring Florida media.

Yeah, he gets blacked out, but he also completely punted the state.

Yeah I think people are making too much out of this. Obviously there is a bias against Ron Paul but I don't think the mediabias was worse in Florida than on other occasions taking everything into account.

 

[Justinfrom1776]

If he's going to skip a state, why should the media cover him? Ron Paul is to blame on this, sorry guys.

The media still covered Huntsman in the lead up to Iowa and Bachmann before N.H. Comparing their results in states they didn't campaign in to Ron's and Ron's doesn't look all that bad

 

[georgiaboy]

Just as we're working to bring the GOP back to its senses, we should be doing the same thing from a media perspective.

I'm happy to see folks emerging as pieces of a puzzle, like reporters a la Ben Swann, and some folks behind the super PACs, with the philosophy and wherewithal to pull a "Ted Turner" and start a media company that can drive more legitimacy into the coverage and national consciousness.

Plus, I'm expecting over time for the web to play a larger and larger role in shaping the larger conversations in the electorate.

 

[Bossobass]

Section 73.1944 [47 CFR §73.1944] Reasonable Access.

(a) Section 312(a)(7) of the Communications Act provides that the Commission may revoke any station license or construction permit for willful or repeated failure to allow reasonable access to, or to permit purchase of, reasonable amounts of time for the use of a broadcasting station by a legally qualified candidate for Federal elective office on behalf of his candidacy.

(b) Weekend Access. For purposes of providing reasonable access, a licensee shall make its facilities available for use by federal candidates on the weekend before the election if the licensee has provided similar access to commercial advertisers during the year preceding the relevant election period. Licensees shall not discriminate between candidates with regard to weekend access.

Section 73.1941 [47 CFR §73.1941] Equal Opportunities.

(a) General requirements. Except as other-wise indicated in § 73.1944, no station licensee is required to permit the use of its facilities by any legally qualified candidate for public office, but if any licensee shall permit any such candidate to use its facilities, it shall afford equal opportunities to all other candidates for that office to use such facilities. Such licensee shall have no power of censorship over the material broadcast by any such candidate. Appearance by a legally qualified candidate on any:

(1) Bona fide newscast;

(2) Bona fide news interview;

(3) Bona fide news documentary (if the appearance of the candidate is incidental to the presentation of the subject or subjects covered by the news documentary); or

(4) On-the-spot coverage of bona fide news events (including, but not limited to political conventions and activities incidental thereto) shall not be deemed to be use of broadcasting station. (section 315(a) of the Communications Act.)

(b) Uses. As used in this section and § 73.1942, the term "use" means a candidate appearance (including by voice or picture) that is not exempt under paragraphs 73.1941 (a)(1) through (a)(4) of this section.

(c) Timing of request. A request for equal opportunities must be submitted to the licensee within 1 week of the day on which the first prior use giving rise to the right of equal opportunities occurred: Provided, however, That where the person was not a candidate at the time of such first prior use, he or she shall submit his or her request within 1 week of the first subsequent use after he or she has become a legally qualified candidate for the office in question.

(d) Burden of proof. A candidate requesting equal opportunities of the licensee or complaining of noncompliance to the Commission shall have the burden of proving that he or she and his or her opponent are legally qualified candidates for the same public office.

(e) Discrimination between candidates. In making time available to candidates for public office, no licensee shall make any discrimination between candidates in practices, regulations, facilities, or services for or in connection with the service rendered pursuant to this part, or make or give any preference to any candidate for public office or subject any such candidate to any prejudice or disadvantage; nor shall any licensee make any contract or other agreement which shall have the effect of permitting any legally qualified candidate for any public office to broadcast to the exclusion of other legally qualified candidates for the same public office.
[57 FR 208, Jan. 3, 1992; 59 FR 14568, March 29, 1994]

Section 399 [47 U.S.C. §399] Support of political candidates prohibited.
No noncommercial educational broadcasting station may support or oppose any candidate for public office.

Section 315 [47 U.S.C. §315] Facilities for candidates for public office.
(a) If any licensee shall permit any person who is a legally qualified candidate for any public office to use a broadcasting station, he shall afford equal opportunities to all other such candidates for that office in the use of such broadcasting station: Provided, That such licensee shall have no power of censorship over the material broadcast under the provision of this section.

Law suit.

Bosso

 

[rblgenius]

Law suit.

Bosso

Rep for this... can we sue????

 

[No Free Beer]

Santorum skipped too, yet he got 20%, like Newt. Explain that if your logic is sound.

O'Reilly: You can't explain that!

 

[MsDoodahs]

Law suit.

Bosso

Does it have to be Ron or can it be supporters who reside in the area?

 

[seapilot]

Boycott the media.. simple! The media has been the bane of RP and of our existence. Think of how much easier if everything was actually neutral without this biased bullcrap or blackout.

The good news is TV media is going to eventually lose to internet media. The writing is on the wall and they know it. That is why they are starting to push for control of the internet, they know if they can not control the internet they are finished controlling anything.

The truth is in the advertising dollars and where they go. Internet has passed up print news for the first time ever and the newspaper will be a museum piece in another decade. TV will be going there too, but unfortunately TV is still dominant over the internet TODAY. The internet is catching up and will pass TV, sooner the better. Ron Paul is helping to make that happen.

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/03/tv/all/1

In absolute terms, TV ad spending remains king, with $60.5 billion projected for 2011. That’s far more than the $28.5 billion expected for internet ad spending, followed by $21.4 billion for newspapers, $15.7 billion for radio, and $13.9 billion for magazines.

In 2010, TV ad spending accounted for 38.6 percent of all media ad spending, compared to 16.9 percent for internet ad spending, according to eMarketer. By 2015, TV will still be on top, with 39.2 percent, the firm projects, while internet spending will have jumped all the way up to 25.6 percent. If those growth rates continue, it’s only a matter of time before internet ad spending overtakes TV spending.

 

[Captain Shays]

We need to understand that the five largest media conglomerates are all owned by members of the CFR who were set up by the bankers of the Federal Reserve who are responsible for more human suffering, more environmental degredation and more loss of our national sovereignty than any other force on this planet. If/when the internet gains more influence over them they will just find alternative ways to control and limit it. Information is an enormous power and they have always controlled the outcome of our elections by either limiting the flow of information or polluting it with misinformation. They do not want us to excercise our ability to self govern because then their power structures would begin to errode.
Those people are pure evil and are pushing us into a one world government, constant wars, the servitude of debt and control of every possible choice we can make, our ability to travel, raise our children and live in peace and enjoy freedom.

 

[JohnGalt23g]

The media's job isn't to pick and choose. Fair and Balanced Journalism only exists, if a close share is given to each candidate.

Settle down!

Should Mike Gravel have gotten the same press as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, even though there was nothing for them to cover? What is the incentive for candidates to actually campaign, if they know they will get the press coverage anyways?

Local news outlets cover local news. When the candidate ain't there, it ain't local, it ain't news, and it ain't getting covered.

 

[JohnGalt23g]

Law suit.

Bosso

You get right on that, and let us know how it works out, m'kay?

 

[Bossobass]

You get right on that, and let us know how it works out, m'kay?

^^Bag lapper^^

Bosso

 

[JohnGalt23g]

^^Bag lapper^^

Bosso

What's that? I figured you'd be too busy consulting with your lawyers, preparing to sue news outlets for not covering what you think they should cover.

Or did the attorneys laugh you out of their offices that quickly?

 

[everlasticity]

This is why I canceled my cable.

 

[Bossobass]

Settle down!

Should Mike Gravel have gotten the same press as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama?

Of course he should have gotten equal coverage. That's the terms of being granted a monopoly license by the government. Why should Barack Obama have gotten any more air time than anyone else in a presidential election?

Bosso

 

[Bossobass]

What's that? I figured you'd be too busy consulting with your lawyers, preparing to sue news outlets for not covering what you think they should cover.

Or did the attorneys laugh you out of their offices that quickly?

Adhering to the terms of a government-granted multi-billion dollar license is irrelevant to your little opinions. Stop mixing that up and trying to turn it into a dictatorial edict from the peanut gallery.

Bosso

 

[airborne373]

I hope Americans are waking up to the fraud that is the election process. Still think America is a free country?

 

[seapilot]

I hope Americans are waking up to the fraud that is the election process. Still think America is a free country?

Its free for them not for us.

 

[JohnGalt23g]

Adhering to the terms of a government-granted multi-billion dollar license is irrelevant to your little opinions. Stop mixing that up and trying to turn it into a dictatorial edict from the peanut gallery.

Bosso

As far as I can tell, you are about the only one talking about a lawsuit. Ron Paul isn't. Haven't heard any great uprising from the citizens of Florida. Haven't heard Buddy Roemer or Gary Johnson talking about suing. Haven't heard any media watchdog groups talk about suing.

So, you are, by process of elimination, our only hope!

You just let us know what the lawyers say... right?