So, why do certain presidential candidates generate more coverage than others? For example, why is Texas Congressman Ron Paul largely ignored by the media while former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is not?
It’s certainly not because Paul isn’t accomplished or controversial. A ten-term Congressman, retired obstetrician (who delivered over 4,000 babies) and strict constitutionalist, Paul was nicknamed “Dr. No” by his colleagues both for his medical degree and for his promise never to vote for any measure not expressly authorized by the constitution.
Devotion to the constitution wins no points with the media, given their ambivalence to President Obama’s selective adherence (not seeking Congressional approval for military action in Libya, continuing to implement Obamacare despite the law’s individual mandate being declared unconstitutional by US District Court Judge Roger Vinson, etc.).
But, Paul’s opposition to the Iraq invasion (he voted against the 2002 Iraq War Resolution) should curry some media favor. Paul is staunchly noninterventionist, and a vigorous defender of US national sovereignty. He advocates withdraw from NATO and the UN, increased border security, denial of welfare to illegal aliens, and the end of birthright citizenship. Plus, he’d like to eliminate most federal bureaucracies, along with the Federal Reserve.
Governor Pawlenty is more of a mainstream conservative, who favors low taxes, limited government, free trade, expanded domestic oil production and gun owner rights, and opposes abortion on demand, nationalized healthcare, same-sex marriage and premature withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Though not as extreme as some of Congressman Paul’s Libertarian stances, Governor Pawlenty’s views are strongly opposed by many in the mainstream media. So, again, why is he covered more extensively?
Could it be that Pawlenty’s a better orator than Paul? Or, that the media is more practiced at attacking Pawlenty’s positions than Paul’s? Or, that Pawlenty’s not perceived as being much of a threat to defeat President Obama? It’s a difficult question.
Almost as difficult as facing the fact that some of Paul’s “extreme” positions are precisely what are needed to correct many of our country’s problems.
