YOUR COMMENTS

How can ABC, who's parent company Disney Co, not have a conflict of interest in presenting a fair and impartial debate, when they have made contributions to the Democrats that were invited to "their" debates?

Dennis Kucinich is the only Democratic candidate that doesn't accept corporate money. He's a man truly of the people, not corporate America, and the only candidate that threatens to take away the billion dollar profits of the insurance industry, with his not-for-profit single payer health care plan. Is it any wonder that he was kept from the Iowa debates, when AARP was the sponsor? Corporate America has hijacked our democracy! Mainstream media is just another corporate puppet!

http://www.opensecrets.org/
- Linda Nelford, Scottsdale, Arizona

Hidden agendas. like Ron Paul has told us, always have blow-back. FOX, ABC, and WMUR will all suffer the consequences of their corruption. Ron Paul for President.
- Jared Gabriel, Keene, NH

As a long time loyal viewer of Fox, I believed the slogan, "Fair & Balanced".

This decision to exclude Ron Paul from the debate has convinced me their slogan is not worth the paper it's written on.

ABC's actions in restricting participants is at least based on quantifiable data, although I think it's too early to cull participants based on that data.
- Beverly Mott, Bradenton, FL

By excluding Ron Paul, Fox has done the opposite of their origional intent. Dr. Paul's popularity is sky rocketing! People are relying on the internet for information and I am certain Fox, ABC and WMUR will see a sharp decline in their viewer base. Remember the kids in 7th grade who was alwayas left out? That's usually the kids who wonds up the leader in the long run.....NOT the popular kid! RonPaul2008.com
- evangeline, formerly Rye NH

Thank you to the Union Leader for this story and your sound journalism ethics displaying a “fair and balanced” reporting of the facts. The rationale proposed by Fox and ABC for the exclusion of other significant GOP candidates such as Ron Paul in this event should be a disturbing wake-up call for the American people to the unsavory political agendas of these two networks.

Their arrogant position reveals that they do not care a hoot about the espoused policy of the NH GOP, nor do they care what the voters in the nation demand. Fox /ABC obviously feel they are in control, but they are most certainly mistaken. Voters are also consumers, and therefore, they hold the ultimate control for the future viability of these two networks. Underhanded arrogance ultimately never wins. Fox and ABC are the real losers.
- Thomas A. O'Brien, North Pole, Alaska

The decision to leave out several presidential candidates, including respected members of Congress, from the debates is both anti-democratic and suggests the television channels are more interested in being players than being fair. Diversity helps promote real exchange and challenges scripted responses. Shame on them!
- Martin Edwin Andersen, Churchton, Maryland

How is Ron Paul supposed to be at 5% or better on national and state polls if his name is not included in the list?

I have been surveyed now at least six times in the past two months.

ONLY ONE POLL had Ron Paul in its list, and even then it was obscured.

I would contend, therefore, that these polls are NOT reputable. But I guess Fox gets to decide what that term means.
- Neil Alexander, Grantham

I have a great idea. Why don't we use the supporters themselves to figure out who the front runners are. The best way to do that is to focus on how well the candidates are at getting money from their supporters in the new form of fund raising: The money bomb.

All of the major candidates have had Money Bombs - one day fund raising drives - and this shows how popular the candidate really is, as opposed to how a few folks who got phone call feel. The people who give money are likely to vote, the people who are called are just giving their opinion.
- Allen Sorenson, New York, NY

If nothing else, Ron Paul's surge has unmasked the neolibs, er, neocons at Fox News. Paul has met the criteria, and still won't get invited to the debate, proving once again that actual conservatives frighten Fox more than liberals do. Actually, Paul might benefit from this blatant attempt to manipulate the electorate.
- Donald Cameron, New York, NY

If you don't like it, start your own media outlet and you can make your own rules. If you don't like that premise, either get off your butt and work to change election laws, leave this country, or revolt. I do find it sad that many people allow news outlets that daily feed us lies, misinformation, and opinions disguised as news, to influence who they vote for.
- Del Maxwell, Manchester

It is well past time that the debate field is narrowed. Ron Paul does not stand any kind of chance of being elected President of anything much less the United States of America. He is a radical that has a radical following. Remember Ross Perot? Ron Paul makes him look like Ronald Reagan!! Neither does Joe Biden and Chris Dodd stand a chance of being President.. Their only experience is voting and talking in the Senate. They have never run a business, held a real job, have never been an executive, they will never be President of anything. Why can't people use common sense and and reasonable thinking. I see extreme anger toward Fox news and none toward ABC. What does that tell you?
Sonny brewer, Daytona Beach, FL.
- Sonny Brewer, Daytona Beach, Florida

The decision to limit the candidates who can do the debate is wrong. now ytou know why I do not watch Fox, I dislike the channel very much; cannot not understand why wmur or abc would go along with such a plan.
- wallace dennis, lee, nh

ABC and Fox news are omitting the most important citeria. The people's right to choose. Allowing the media to choose which candidate(s) it deems viable sets a dangerous precedent. If the media is suddenly granted the power to omit one or two then why not omit all but one? It is a slippery slope. It's the Fairness Doctrine in reverse.
- Dan Hunt, Manchester, CT

I urge both the DNC & GOP to pull their sponsorship of any debate or forum in which the networks are dictating which candidates will be heard. Who are WMUR and ABC to be negotiating any degree of censorship and acting like they're doing anyone a favor in being "fair"? And, Fox News, once again, proves what a joke they are. We have the MSM trying manipulate the outcome of an American presidential election. THAT IS CORRUPTION. These airwaves are PUBLIC, last I checked.

Please contact your local ABC & Fox sponsors and let them know that their own businesses will reap the repercussions of bankrolling censorship. Ask them to pull all advertising. America, do not allow the hijacking of your political process.
- Susan Oden, Grand Rapids, Michigan

I am a conservative libertarian type who will be voting for Ron Paul but I will not be watching Fox News. Fox is just as awful in it's own way as the leftist news outlets like the NY Times or ABC/NBC/CBS. A pox on all their houses. These days the internet is the place to get information anyway, not any of the networks (cable or regular).

Fox News sucks.
- Bob Hoskins, Derry

If you really want to see results -- send a politely worded email to the top 10-20 Fox advertisers, explaining that you are unhappy with Fox for excluding Ron Paul in the debate and as a consequence you are forced to boycott Fox and Fox Sponsers as long as this policy continues. Be sure to cc: feedback@foxnews.com
- Scott Hauser, Gildford, MT

Unfortunately. the election process is only weakened whenever guielines are established that prevent candidates from being hear. Shame on ABC News and WMUR-TV for allowing this to happen! Include everyone or do not broadcast the event.
- Bill, Derry, NH

Here we go again. Using the results of a survey of 300 people in a telephone poll or via a door-to-door poll, the media gloms onto the results and anoints those THEY consider most worthy of debating. This is the antithesis of a democratic election process and may very well exclude a potential nominee. When will we, the people, begin to demand a "level playing field" as expressed by the NH Party Chairs?
We can control this process very easily. Join me, as I have done since 1988, in lying on political polls! I call it PLOPP - People Lying on Political Polls. This is not a prank and has the real potential of leveling the playing field as the poll data would be skewed to the point of unreliability. Imagine a survey with a margin of error of 50%! The media wouldn't know what to do and candidates would have to be true to themeselves their ideals, their values and their positions. Skewed data would thwart candidates from delivering messages that appeal to the special. To paraphrase the words of Mikey on the old Life cereal, "Hey, hr likes it!
Try it - you may like it!
- Bill Cote, Durham

Hope there's a lot of space to protest at the Saint Anselm quad.
- grunk, new york ny

It is truley and outrage to see stuff like this happening in this country. If you control the media you control the masses. Dr Ron Paul still has my support.
- Brian Luce, Concord, NH

UNNACCEPTABLE! If FOX is permitted to pull this injustice I will banish that channel from my TV remote forever. I can hear Ronald Reagan calling from the grave. "I PAID FOR THIS MICROPHONE. BOYCOTT FOX!"

Greg Barrett
65 West Merrimack St
- Greg Barrett, manchester

It is sad and outrageous that media is in essence limiting the debate for us. On the Democratic side, Joe Biden and Chris Dodd are two of the most experienced and well seasoned candidates in the field. It is not as if the fields of mainstream candidates are huge in either party. Not a vote has been cast yet, but I guess WMUR has narrowed the field for us.
- Eric, Concord, New Hampshire

My email inbox, the the discussions in the meetup groups I belong to have been buzzing about this for days now, with the debate on-again, off-again. I seen complete lists of FCC equal time regulations and complaint forms for the FCC, as well as lists of addresses of Fox News sponsors. I've seen instructions on procedures to file FCC complaints with local Fox affiliates as well. But the point, as of right now, is not to retaliate against Fox News, but to have them do the right thing and include all serious candidates. I mean, where's the Fred Thompson blimp? Should Fox News actually follow through and air a Republican debate that doesn't include Dr Paul, they (and their sponsors) can expect a monumental backlash.
- Ron Brittin, Sewell, NJ

Thank you so much for publishing this article exposing FOX for the biased propagandists they are. People need to be made aware of what is really going on behind the scene and I commend you on good ol' honest journaling!
- Dawn Beattie, Eastpointe, MI

Well that settles it, I will be informing my local Fox affiliates that I will not patronize any of their establishements as long as they support this type of electioneering and blatant censorship to further their own agenda. Rupert Murdoch donating $2300 to Hillary anyone?
- Edward Mahoney, Portland, Maine

Thanks for the excellent quotes from Dr Ron Paul! Great stuff. So, Fox is afraid to let him debate? Well these debates are dog & pony shows anyway, the emcees pander to the celebrity candidates and allow meaningless questions followed by stock answers. In fact Fox not allowing in Dr Paul should help his campaign. I'm surfing over to his site to give him a small donation just because of the way he's being treated.
- Michelle Grinnell, Rochester

It is outrageous to me that FOX News has decided to exclude Ron Paul when he has raised over $19 million in the last 3 months. He has won every debate text poll Fox has conducted. He has drawn crowds over 1,000 people when he speaks. To claim he has no support is absurd. Fox News should be ashamed of its behavior, and I hope there is a large protest there on the 6th.
- Cameron Davis, Memphis, TN