Ron Paul: robbed by mainstream media

Rick Santorum's three-state victory sweep and recent surge ahead of frontrunner Mitt Romney in the GOP presidential nomination race may have been considered an "upset" to some, but those who know American politics are well aware that no surprise is too surprising during election season.

While livened debates and sensationalist newscasts make the general public believe that the American political process is a true sport, whose results are fated to the will of the voters and the merit of the candidates, seasoned politicians, veteran media pros and the rare few alternative news consumers aren't fooled.

If you didn't guess it, we're talking about Ron Paul and the mainstream media.

The plays and the players of the GOP race were sized and measured long before voters even knew who would be on the field, and while the idea of bipartisanship fumbling is a notion many Americans hope for, political playmakers just won't have it. The accidents, the tricks, the "upsets," they might be entertaining, they might even be convincing, but they've never been authentic.

This is America after all; did we really think we'd ever see a true Flea Flicker on the political field?

From the very beginning of the GOP race, top networks have conveniently and creatively found ways to shield the Texas Congressman from substantial airtime, recognition at events and altogether general mention, despite his very real widespread appeal among voters.

From inaccuracies in rhetoric, like "the top tier" (which included Rick Perry, Mitt Romney and Michele Bachman, even though poll numbers reflected a clear and dominant Ron Paul presence as a front running contender) to simply leaving Paul's name out of primary coverage, the media at large just doesn't want us to think about Ron Paul.

A Real Clear Politics poll of Iowa voters' preference for GOP nomination in December 2011 shows 22.3 percent in favor of Paul, above supposed "top tier" captain Mitt Romney, who received only 21 percent. And yet, coverage of the Iowa primary, like the majority of primaries, was soaked with "Romney this" and "Santorum that," regardless of the fact that at the time, Santorum had garnished only 7.7 percent of voter favor.

In early September, The Daily Caller depicted a television graphic that read "Poll: Romney leads New Hampshire, Huntsman in third, Perry in fourth." Now, I understand that us media folk chose communications degrees because we didn't like math, but can't somebody recognize the missing number here?

Hint: Ron Paul took second in the New Hampshire primary.

What type of a maddening system are we operating if political satirists like Jon Stewart are becoming our nation's most trusted source for political analyses? Stewart in fact, has been the only voice of reason on the media stage, publicly and repeatedly calling out Paul's lack of deserved attention.

So why haven't the big networks shown Paul any love? Because he's credible, consistent, and transparent. RING RING RING! OH NO! The third party alarm bell is sounding! Take cover! Hide the kids!

That's right, Paul is the golden boy of a new and scary era for big wig media companies and the political machines they answer to—the non-two-party system. While he might be running as a Republican, Paul's platforms and policies have often screamed Libertarian, and if given a fair voice like his competitors, third party politics would become that much closer to endangering Washington's status-quo (which, I might mention, isn't working).

The reality is, third party politics have never really stood a chance in the U.S.; Ralph Nader can run for president another five times and he'll never gather much more than 5 percent. Just last year, Green Party Illinois Gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney was snubbed off the ballot in one ward by an "accidental" misspelling of his name. Never mind him being the only candidate with a tangible, finalized and coherent budget plan, Rich "Whitey" represented a color that wasn't red or blue.

Unless you're so obnoxiously off base that you don't pose a threat to the two-party status quo, legitimate third party contenders will always be conveniently silenced, and voters will suffer the most.

Alternative candidates like The Rent is Too Damn High party's Jimmy McMillan will always get their turn at the stage, but beware when a no nonsense, refreshingly consistent congressmen from Texas threatens to bring change to the system that's been dragging us down for years.