Topic: Media
When The Media Grew Ears: Newsweek

---

After dismissing Ron Paul as quixotic, hopeless, impossible, and deluded, the major media are discovering that the freedom message has legs.

---

by William Westmiller
(libertarian)
Friday, December 14, 2007

If I were running a Presidential campaign, I'd like to be where Ron Paul is right now: on a strong surge to peak in January, when voter's interest and participation will translate into votes. Of course, it seems that there's very little in the Ron Paul campaign that's planned in advance. It just happens. Spontaneous revelations, creative projects, one at a time, all over the country. The media can no longer ignore the rEVOLution.

Newsweek's Howard Fineman has heard the roar. In preparation for an article that will expose many millions more to the Ron Paul message, he sat down for an extended interview with the candidate and actually allowed him the time to respond to questions ... perhaps even listened to what he was saying! Portions of the interview are (where else?) on the web with (what else?) commercials.

• IRS and Civil Disobedience
  Fineman: You don't criticize tax resisters. Why?
  Paul: Civil disobedience is a legitimate tool in a free society, but you have to suffer the consequences.
  ... In many ways it's heroic that for people to be willing to risk their freedom to defend what they think is freedom. It's just, I do not promote it and I do not participate in it.
  
  
• Gun Control
  Fineman: Is there any limit on guns or weapons for people that you would support?
  Paul: The Second Amendment means the federal government can't interfere with your right to have a weapon to defend yourself.
  ... I don't want the BATF marching into your house, without a search warrant, to find out what you're doing.
  
  
• Israel & Iran
  Fineman: Other than Afghanistan, where you supported military action, is there any other place in the world where we need to reserve the right to take military action?
  Paul: Nobody is threatening this country militarily and nobody can threaten our liberties.
  ... I have a greater concern for our civil liberties under attack here at home.
  
  
• Romney & Huckabee
  Fineman: If you don't win, will you support the GOP nominee and promise not to run on the Libertarian or any other ticket?
  Paul: I'm not promising any of those things. If we have a Republican nominee that has convinced me they have come around on foreign policy ... I would consider it. As far as running on a third-party ticket, or [as an] independent, or Libertarian, I have no plans to do that.
  
  

Of course, Fineman approaches in a confrontational mood. All of these questions strike him as novelties, still assuming that Ron Paul can't win; he's the "Darkest of Horses," even if Howard's columns suggest that Paul "could have a shot" in New Hampshire. "Paul is a blip [or "blimp"?] on New Hampshire's radar," writes Howard, "in a recent poll, he stood at 5 percent among independents. But that could change ... mainstream candidates ... have good reason to watch him"

Howard would probably never vote for Paul, given his positions on Israel and Iran, but he at least gives Paul a fair hearing. Whether or not that will be the case when Newsweek actually publishes whatever article it plans, remains to be seen. Leaving the final question: do editors have ears?

...

Other "Media Ears": ABC, PBS, Cable 47 & Russert

©2007 William Westmiller, all rights reserved. You must have written permission from the author in order to republish this work.
Published: Friday, December 14, 2007
Last modified: Sunday, December 23, 2007

The views expressed in this article are those of William Westmiller only and do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. William Westmiller is solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.

Report violation by William Westmiller of Nolan Chart LLC's terms of use policy.

---

More Articles By William Westmiller

---