Thread: Should Candidates Have To Pay To Debate on TV?

I recently read a post by someone on Yahoo groups that said Ron Paul won't be participating in the folowing debate because there's a $25,000 fee! Is this usual? Why should there be a fee? Who gets this money? Is this just a sneaky was to keep candidates without a big $$$ from getting in on some debates?? This is sooo unfair!


Fox News and the South Carolina Republican Party to Present the First Presidential Debate of the 2008 Campaign
Contact: Kara Borie
803.988.8440

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – The South Carolina Republican Party and Fox News jointly announced that they will present the first 2008 presidential debate on May 15, 2007. The debate, which is expected to attract the top Republican contenders for President, will be shown live on FOX News Channel (FNC) and FOX News Radio from the University of South Carolina's Koger Center. The South Carolina Republican Party is expected to hold its Presidential Primary in early February 2008. There has never been a candidate to lose the South Carolina primary and successfully capture the Party's nomination for President.

In making this announcement, FOX News Executive Producer of Political Programs Marty Ryan said, "We look forward to presenting this debate to the nation and are proud to commit the air time and resources to the 2008 presidential election."

Katon Dawson, chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party added, "We are excited that Fox News will carry this important debate to voters all across the country. The 'First in the South' Presidential Primary will again play a major role in electing our next president and it is very appropriate that the first in the nation Republican debate take place in South Carolina."

University of South Carolina Andrew A. Sorensen added, "The University of South Carolina is proud and honored to host this national event on our campus. It is a great opportunity to observe the political process and to have candidates for president debate the critical issues of our time live in front of our faculty, staff, and students." The University was founded in 1801 and has a statewide enrollment of over 39,000 students with more than 215,000 alumni around the world.

I think it is a means to keep people out. Then again Daley refused to debate his oponent. Many times they leave out 3rd party candidates from debates. Seems to me there should be some consistant rules.

there are rules. If the big companies dont want you to win you dont get to debate. News Corp/FOX is no different.

Perhaps we should put some heat on them?

If this is true, it sounds like an attempt designed to exclude the little guy. Of course we know our guys, Hunter, Tancredo, and Paul are considered minnows by network media while Hildabeast, Hussein Obama, McCain, Guilliani, and Romney are the money rich sharks.

I don't think any of the candidates should have to pay, but I also think that our elected officials should also not be paid for their service, just like the founders did. This keeps the "professional politicians" away since there is nothing to make them wealthy from this.

Hylander_1314 wrote:

but I also think that our elected officials should also not be paid for their service, just like the founders did.

I think they should be paid, but not anywhere near the amount they currently receive. If we didn't pay them, only the independently wealthy could afford to serve. IMO, there should be no such thing as a professional politician though. We need term limits!