Maybe I’m a bit of an idealist, but I don’t like what Fox News did with Ron Paul, and accordingly they should never be allowed to host anything related to the elections ever again.

And that goes for all networks.

When you agree to do something for the greater good of the country like host a debate (despite my temptation to, I won’t be putting “debate” in quotes) or a “forum”, you’re obligated to provide equal time to all the candidates. Are you legally obligated? Of course not, but you are, at minimum, ethically obligated to give all candidates an equal share. By excluding Ron Paul, Fox News has basically sealed the fate of his campaign and probably ended it. Fox’s excuse doesn’t hold water and it doesn’t even come close to passing the sniff test. They dropped him because he was polling low and because they didn’t have the space (as you know, Rupert Murdoch doesn’t have the money for a bigger debate facility).

The New Hampshire GOP rightly pulled out of its sponsorship of the event, citing the importance of the New Hampshire Primary to a candidate establishing themselves.

“Only in New Hampshire do lesser known, lesser funded underdogs have a fighting chance to establish themselves as national figures,” Cullen said. “Consistent with that tradition, we believe all recognized major candidates should have an equal opportunity to participate in pre-primary debates and forums.”

David Rhodes, Fox’s vice president of news, did not address Cullen’s objection in a one-sentence statement released immediately after Cullen’s announcement.

“We look forward to presenting a substantive forum which will serve as the first program of its kind this election season,” Rhodes said.

Fox didn’t address the objection because they don’t have a leg to stand on. If you base participation on Iowa, Ron Paul did significantly better than Rudy Giuliani and yet you know he’ll be there. Funny how that works. Ron Paul, who did better in Iowa will not be there over the “favorite” that he beat who will.

When you host “forums” or debates, you have an obligation to allow candidates to participate. Ron Paul has been through the process and even a primary and deserves a right to be heard. That Fox News chose to exclude him from the debate smacks of partisanship and if the rest of the candidates had any balls (and they don’t, just listen to them), they’d pull out in solidarity. Instead they’ve decided to take advantage of a Paul-less “forum” and just move on in whoring themselves for votes.

It’s disappointing, and Fox should be punished.

End of story.