CNN's unfair treatment of Ron Paul (yet AGAIN)

CNN is seemingly conspiring with the elitist tools trying desperately to dig up any tiny speck of dirt on Ron Paul.

Watch the short video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b4P6cZ4a0w

Here's the letter I sent to CNN's Lou Dobbs, (who also ran the story on his Tuesday (6-19-07) broadcast).

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Mr. Dobbs,

What in the world is going on at CNN? Isn't there enough real news, and real problems with the government to report on? What is your motivation to air a lopsided report that attacks Ron Paul? (Kathleen Koch's report on nepotism in government.)

I read the CREW report that the story was based on, and all Ron Paul did was hire a family member to help out with his campaign. NO PUBLIC (TAX) MONEY went to pay any of his family members, only private campaign contributions were used.

Why didn't she mention that Ron Paul is the ONLY Republican presidential candidate that primarily solicits campaign contributions from individuals, and refuses the big money from powerful special interest groups and lobbyists? Why pick on a good man like Ron Paul, (who simply hired a family member to do an important job that requires a great deal of trust) when there are others in the report that have done far more, and far more questionable, things?

I refer you to the CREW quick overview chart:
http://www.citizensforethics.org/files/afamilyaffair/FINAL_C...

For instance, I'll point out the two Missourians on the list:

Roy Blunt, who has: A family member that is a lobbyist; made contributions to a family member’s political campaign; and paid a company in which a family member has a financial interest.

And then there's William Lacy Clay, who did all that, and paid a family member on their campaign staff.

Why not expose these people instead, which include one of the most influential (unfortunately) Congressmen, Minority Whip Roy Blunt?

Now, I will say that if family members are getting paid to “work” on the campaign, but do not actually do much (if any) real work, then that's another thing, and that would be worth reporting. Though still not technically illegal, it does show what kind of candidate that person is, and therefore the public should know the facts so they can decide for themselves whether or not to contribute to the campaign. But when a candidate hires a family member that is hard-working, talented and TRUSTED to help with a campaign, then that's just smart thinking.

Lou, I hope it wasn't your personal decision to air this hatchet job of a report. I'll trust that it just was some low-level flunky or Kathleen Koch herself that simply has with an ax to grind with Ron Paul who got it by you. Otherwise, how could your staff's reporting be so lopsided on this?

But you really should clarify the situation in your upcoming report. And an apology to Ron Paul might be in order as well.

For the record, I've donated to Ron Paul's campaign, TWICE. (The only times I've EVER contributed to any political campaign.) And I have no problem with his hiring of a family member to help with his campaign. If I did, I wouldn't have contributed. And, it is NOT illegal, nor in my opinion is it in any way unethical (as long as taxpayer dollars are not used, as in Ron Paul's case).

On another related matter: Why didn't you bring up the list of CREW's "20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress?" (You'll notice Ron Paul's name is NOT on that list.) It is a far more important issue than what Kathleen Koch actually reported on. Look who's at the top...

CREW's "20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress"

House of Representatives:
Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA)
Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL)
Rep. Katherine Harris (R-FL)
Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA)
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA)
Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO)
Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA)
Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ)
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX)
Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY)
Rep. Charles H. Taylor (R-NC)
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA)

Senate:
Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT)
Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN)
Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)

"Five members to watch:"
Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT)
Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-IL)
Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ)
Rep. John Murtha (D-PA)
Rep. Don Sherwood (R-PA)

And by the way, in the interest of fairness, note the following:
Senator Conrad Burns, one of those named by CREW as corrupt for his close ties to Abramoff, has said that the organization is "nothing but a group of partisan hacks doing the dirty work of Democrats.”

Look at the list. Of the 25 Congressmen, only 4 are Democrats. And while I certainly agree with many of their choices (not the least of which is Mr. Blunt, who the “representative” for my own district, by the way) – I have to wonder if Democrats really are 5 times less likely to be corrupt than Republicans.

But we don't really have to wonder too hard, do we?

Lou, I understand that these things happen, but don't let yourself be a tool of the elitists in their efforts to discredit Ron Paul. Even though I imagine you don't agree 100% with his positions, you have to see that he is truly the last honest man in Congress. He's the last one that has actually upheld his oath to follow the U.S. Constitution. Why not give him some support for that?

For now, I'll keep watching and waiting...

Sincerely,

Bruce Arnold
McDonald County, Missouri

P.S. - Pass this along to Wolf Blitzer in the Situation Room, while you're at it. I understand he ran that lopsided story too.