Fox News scrambles to discredit CPAC after Ron Paul wins presidential poll

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Fox News scrambles to discredit CPAC after Ron Paul wins presidential poll

http://rawstory.com/2010/02/fox-news-runs-damage-control-ron-paul-wins-cpac-presidential-straw-poll/

By Stephen C. Webster
Sunday, February 21st, 2010 -- 8:09 pm



Remember the big conservative conference Fox News has been hyping over the past 10 days?

The Conservative Political Action Conference's presidential straw poll, a key marker of the mood among conservative voters, apparently didn't mean anything to the network. And if it did mean something, the only real result is bragging rights for the individual candidates who were so well exposed. And hey, even Dick Cheney showed up.

Or, at least that's how Fox News characterized the poll, after it was reported that Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) had won it by a wide margin.

CPAC participants voted for Paul as their favored candidate by some 31 percent, giving him the largest margin of victory in recent years. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who has won the vote over the last three years, was the runner up with 22 percent. Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was third with seven percent.

Over 10,000 people attended CPAC this year. Among them, 2,395 voted in the straw poll.

"It is way early, it is unscientific," said a Fox News host, even as the split-screen showed Glenn Beck on stage at the conference. "Perhaps it offers nothing more than bragging rights, uh, through the course of this year. But, it is quite a, uh, enthusiastic crowd. What a difference a year makes."

[Don Caballero]

1. Ron Paul discredits himself with his open and admitted racism.

[LynneSin]

4. Which speaks VOLUMES for the fact that he won overwhelmingly at CPAC

Racism is alive and rampent amongsts conservatives.

[still_one]

5. Absolutely, but to me the point is that the republican leadership would never accept

paul's anti-corporate stance into a leadership role

same thing with the tea baggers. They want their votes, they don't want them in positions of power

[still_one]

2. This along with other reasons is why it is way to soon to write off the so-called republican come

back

ron paul is not like by those who hold power in the republican party, and the tea baggers are a double edged sword for them

Of course the MSM only gives the impression that the Democrats are in trouble, when in fact, the republicans are not only more divided, but cannot rely on given votes

[LynneSin]

3. Honestly, I think Republicans are going to focus on getting congress back and let Obama have 2 terms

I think that's what they did in 1996 - Dole wasn't really a strong candidate to run against Clinton. And honestly, I don't think there is a single strong candidate in the republican party right now. But perhaps in 2016, they can grab the White House again with a strong candidate and perhaps by them they hope to have Congress all wrapped up too.

[still_one]

6. They will never nominate ron paul as their candidate, and that would definitely alienate

a sizable portion of those people they would like to have their votes

[wtmusic]

7. It will be a Palin landslide when the "real" numbers come in

:rofl:

[Frustratedlady]

8. They are probably worried that they have Palin under contract...

and she's fading fast.

Was anyone able to confirm the 10,000 attendees? Sure didn't look like that many to me.

[doc03]

9. USA Today did a story on Romney being the Repug

pick for 2012 but no mention of Ron Paul winning the poll at CPAC. Looks like Romney is going to be the media darling for 2012.

[JPZenger]

10. At least Ron Paul wants to keep a few Federal buildings

I realize Ron Paul would like to eliminate most of the Federal government, including the Department of Education, HUD, etc. But at least he has not proposed selling the Capitol Building, the Library of Congress or the White House.

[DirkGently]

11. Oh noooooo!

Waiter, this Libertarian appears to be genuine. This is not the fake Libertarian we ordered. Please send it back and bring us something more malleable and corporate-friendly."

:rofl:

Not a RP supporter. But it is is HI-larious seeing the stiff GOP suits (especially Romney) try to play in tricornered hats.