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Subscribe to RSSAt the risk of annoying supporters of Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, who believe — and argue fervently — that the mainstream news media don't pay attention to their candidate, it must be noted that Twitter and Facebook don't, either.
Accusations that news organizations are ignoring Paul's presidential campaign are an organizing principle of his supporters, who take to Facebook and Twitter to complain that the only reason Paul isn't leading is a "media blackout."
Every day, hundreds — and sometimes thousands — of comments like this appear:
Twitter.com
 M. Alex Johnson is a reporter for msnbc.com. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. |
In fact, Paul's rally was covered by the major St. Louis media (here, here and here, for example), but never mind that — perception matters in politics. And the perception in some quarters is that the media are actively trying to sink Paul's campaign.
That sentiment makes up about 10 percent of posts about Paul this year, according to msnbc.com's computer-assisted analysis of a sample of 9 million Twitter and Facebook posts that have mentioned one of the four major Republican candidates through Friday.
(The analysis uses a tool called ForSight, a data platform developed by Crimson Hexagon Inc., which is used by many media and research organizations to gauge public opinion in new media, among them the Pew Research Center and ESPN. The results aren't a scientific reflection of national opinion. Instead, they're a broad look at what is being said by Americans who follow politics and are active on Facebook, Twitter or both.)
Since the beginning of the year, Paul and his campaign have been mentioned about 1.1 million times on Twitter or Facebook:
Crimson Hexagon Inc.
Click to enlarge
The top line quantifies total mentions of Ron Paul on Twitter and Facebook since Jan. 1. The shaded blue are counts those that specifically take a position on him.
Here's the problem: Over the same time, more than 3.7 million posts have mentioned former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney:
Crimson Hexagon Inc.
Click to enlarge
More than 2.2 million have mentioned former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia:
Crimson Hexagon Inc.
Click to enlarge
And more than 1.9 million have mentioned former Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania:
Crimson Hexagon Inc.
Click to enlarge
Here's an especially telling comparison, charting posts that state an actual opinion about one of the four candidates since Jan. 1. Paul is the yellow line at the bottom, often clocking in at fewer than 5,000 opinions a day:
Crimson Hexagon Inc.
Click to enlarge
However much his partisans may complain, it's not just the media that are ignoring Ron Paul.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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Dementia-addled old men think everyone is out to get them; no wonder one of them can attract a few thousand other sad, demented souls who think he is the second coming of Christ and can talk themselves into believing that there is a vast, anti-Paul conspiracy. Once you believe in such X-files fare as FEMA concentration camps, superhighways from Mexico and North American Unions coming to enslave us all, believing in some coordinated media blackout is simple.
These fools already get more press than they deserve.
Sounds like you are the one with a warped perception of reality.
Uh, yeah, reality . . . tell us about those FEMA concentration camps. Tell us how the North American Union will turn us all into serfs for the Canadians. Tell us about reality on Planet Paul, 'cause it's obviously not on the same plane of reality as Earth.
And, ya know, I can't help but notice that the great majority of your posts are simply attacks on other posters. Is that how you
moonies Branch DavidiansPaulbots expect to swing people over to support of your crazy old man? Ain't you got some content to add, something to actually support your POV?Maybe it's because most of us think ron paul and his ideas suck...I'm just sayin
What sucks is the inept clown obama as the best part of him was left as a stain on the bed sheets... I'm just sayin
Yeah, Paul's is the only plan which won't add to the deficit and lead to bankruptcy....that sucks.....you're an idiot.....just saying......
The media in the U.S. is part of this thing we have called "Free Enterprise"! As privately owned companies, they will produce products that create income for themselves. Reporting on Ron Paul clearly does not generate interest or income for them, so they do not report on him. It is not paranoia, (or Paulinoia, if you will) it is just the way the system works. To require the media be "fair" or objective" is nonsense, and would be a violation of their rights under the first admendment of the Constitution.
Ron Paul is not generating more interest because he is not interesting and he just might be perceived as a bit of a nut. That is my opinion, of course.
Personally, I do not really like any of the candidates, be it The Romneybot, Insanitorium, His Almightly the Newt, or Saint Ron.
Exactly Stephen! Newspapers want to sell copies. The more copies they sell the more they can charge for their advertising. That is their main source of revenue. If articles about Ron Paul won't increase sales, he won't get the ink. I'm sure all medias have the same attitude.
I would have been more likely to vote for Ron Paul if he had not joined the "bigot party". Now he's just the man. Ron, you and your son should quit trying to change the Republicans and start looking for investors that aren't affiliated with war and oil. Those guys don't care about you, your not a trust fund baby.
The United States locks up more young black men than South Africa did during Apartheid in its never ending War-on-Drugs. Ron Paul was the only candidate willing to take a stand against this and you call him a bigot?
that is nothing but gaming african americans and others who think that he would do anything about the rate of unjust incarceration of african americans and other minorities because of the "drug war".
ron paul states that he is against the number of african americans males who are unjustly incarcerated because of the so called "war on drugs".
ron paul also states that he is against federal intervention in the affairs of states to the degree of being against federal judicial review of state laws and law making.
dr ron paul is running for a federal position (president)
states prosecute 90%+ of drug cases.
if states prosecute 90%+ of drug cases
and dr paul is against federal intervention of state laws and law making.
what would he do about state drug prosecutions.
nothing. it would be federal intervention in state matters and he has already made it a campaign plank that he would not interfere in state matters
There are some decent people still left in the republican party, if it could be salvaged don't you think it should?
With Romney or Obama destined to be our next president, our nation is doomed to endless wars, bankruptcy, poverty, ruin and despair. There is no useful hope of saving our nation now.
The voters have spoken; and they chose to not save this nation from destruction.
Ron Paul is still the choice. The Two parties with both party bases relying on the public trough for their everyday free market living will never go with the Ron Paul initiatives. Ron Paul won't be listen to at the convention. Why because both party bases will have their public trough candidate to choose from already. The independent voter agrees with Ron Paul but like the independent voter Ron gets left out after the results are in. Three parties are needed in a yea and ney congress after all there are more independent registered voters than there are voters in either party bases.
Ron Paul has been a republican for over 25 years. He IS the problem.
Some of you people are so brainwashed that all I can say is keep drinking your over-sized governments/corporations/lobbyist koolade. You want more wars, more deaths, more destruction and you don't even care what happens. You hate Ron Paul because he and he alone speaks the truth and most of you don't like the truth because it hurts. Get over it, because everything he has said and still is saying is fact. Maybe you don't have the guts or the brain power to comprehend the truth. You have believed the lies for so long it has become a habit and you don't know how to see or hear the truth. If Ron Paul is pushed away because of corrupt media, corporations, liars in government, voter fraud, and the greedy bankers then this country will get what it deserves which is total destruction. You will only have yourselves to blame, but like most people they throw the blame on somebody else because they don't want or like the responsibility of the actions they do. Some of you sound like a bunch of 7 to 12 year old spoiled brats.
I think what we are seeing is the young are once again being sold out by our nations Senior Citizens.
These dummies can't understand the simple fact that continued deficit spending will lead to the bankruptcy of the U.S. What is going to happen to the entitlement programs then? None of the other candidates have a budget which doesn't add to the deficit and this is a fact they can't debate.
Debate? You offer some bumper sticker soundbite and then heap abuse on other posters again. WTF do you know about debate? Debate why the old fool can't distance himself from hateful racist bullsh1t published in the newsletter with HIS NAME ON IT. Debate the coocoo for cocoa puffs conspiracy theory crap. But don't just sit there on that limb like a monkey, flinging handfulls of sh1t at other folks, then complaining about lack of debate.
Ron Paul is unelectable outside of his TX compound.
And he is the only one with a plan which reduces the deficit. Are you saying Americans are that dumb?
Cadeyrn, isn't it obvious that Americans are dumb?
Just take a look around you.
When I look around I see nothing but stupidity and ignorance everywhere.
To paraphrase Tommy Lee Jones in "Men in Black":
An American is smart; Americans are stupid, panicky creatures.
This idiotic article is just another attempt by the lame-stream media to discredit Ron Paul. Nothing new here. It's been the plan all along and it's working. He can win with the delegates as a 3rd party candidate, so naturally they now have to lie about and steal the delegates because stealing votes during the caucuses wasn't quite enough. His supporters will NEVER EVER vote for Romney, Gingrich or Santorum (or Obama) under any circumstance. Republicans need to realize, it's either Paul or 4 more years of Obama...period.
In every poll, Ron Paul gets beaten by President Obama even worse than the other GOP candidates. Did you really say "lame-stream media"? Is it 2008 again? I thought we were finally rid of Palin.
Americans are smart. That's why they, by a large percentage, have dismissed the Alzheimer's candidate from Texas.
Regardless of what happens, I will be voting for Ron Paul in November. There is no other candidate out there that I could vote FOR. By casting my vote FOR Ron Paul, I am casting it against Romney, Santorum, Gingrich, and Obama. To me, all of these clowns represent the same thing...the status quo. I will continue to give to Ron Paul's campaign and speak out as often as I can about the policies that will make America great again. Ron Paul 2012!!!
Funny isn't it. One of the few times MSNBC actually reports on Ron Paul, and it becomes a hatchet job.
Is there anything you wouldn't do to discredit his candidacy?
Is freedom that terrifying to you, that no matter what, it must be buried at all costs?
Ron Paul is doing just fine, his philosophy is that you don't need to work together with anyone, for anything, ever...
Right is right even if everyone is against it, wrong is wrong even if everyone is for it.
Comedy central has joked about it late night tv shows have talked about it. But your going to tell me the real merit is social media ? Re write this and say I am an idiot to forget Ron Paul will win every social media poll. Also how about in Maine, in his last campaign he won the county un accounted for by a large margin but Romney won... thats it folks. Get real he came in third in one and they never mentioned his name and went with the fourth place he made second in nh ignored ignore ignore is all you do and sway and persuade. I would be vulgar to this response but your stupidity is already known.
What scares the crap out of the GOP, and Washington in general, is that if Ron Paul gets a REAL vetting he may hit some nerves. He may actually get the votes... from both parties! His policies are NOT the GOP mainline talking points. Too many, of his policies, are NOT Republican or Democratic. So, even though he caucuses with the GOP, he is not really one of them. He does have SOME money and financial supporters. But, he can hardly compete with the two major parties. He doesn't conform... enough.
I LOVE Ron Paul and would vote for him in a heartbeat! My only dilemma at this point is that Santorum scares the crap out of me so much that I would almost vote for anyone running against him to keep him out of the White House. If Santorum is knocked out for the Republican nomination, I'll gladly vote Paul or Gary Johnson.
Absolutely meaningless article! News runs a story about anything that gets nationwide attention and you will automatically see a spike in Tweets, etc. Notice the article says nothing about how many times the other GOP candidates are mentioned in mainstream media vs RP. An increase in national/local news begats an increase in national/local social media. More mainstream coverage of "X" = more social media coverage of "x". I'm sure tweets, etc. about the Oscar's peek on the weekend of and Monday after. Tweets about the Oscars in June - not so much.
For anyone that doesn't believe that there's something fishy going on w/ the Republicans and Ron Paul, take a look into the Maine caucuses. Some very disturbing facts regarding the Republicans and counting their tallies. And this is the only case we KNOW of so far. And I'd also be one for what someone else suggested. Let's see Dr. Ron debate Obama (or any other candidate for that fact). He is the only candidate that doesn't need a teleprompter to give his answer for him. He knows what he thinks, not so much for the others. Take away their telepormpters, and we'd see who really knows his stuff.
Isn't social media chatter directly influenced by mainstream media chatter? For example, if Romney's tax issues are reported on nationally, doesn't give the opportunity for denser chats on Twitter/Facebook?
Some people have no idea what Obama signed into law March 8th and March 16th 2012. PPinLA is right that Santorum, Romney, Newt, and Obama are all the same. Ron Paul is the only real choice because he is the only one that stands by the Oath, Respects the Oath, and defends the Oath and the Constitution. Ron Paul 2012 or what is left of this country is going to be flushed down the toilet.
The National Defense Resources Preparedness executive order? The same thing Clinton and Bush Jr. passed? Yes, we know about it. Your fears are baseless.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/ndrp.asp
Now where are those FEMA concentration camps Glenn Beck said the President would fill with dissenters?
*chuckle* You can join the real world or not, your choice of course.
Those FEMA camps are all around the country, and now they are being staffed. Pull your head out and DO SOME RESEARCH! HR 347 ? Do you really just not believe that these things are being done right under your nose? This isn't some dreamed up conspiracy, this is the month of March 2012. You can't be that blind? real world anybody?
PS Glen Beck is an A** hol*
Alex Johnson, MSNBC, is a poor journalist, reporter, maybe he needs to take off his Clark Kent glasses to see the corrupt media he works for, an to see the political world as it really is, controlled, He might consider reporting the truth rather than what his bosses tell him to report, and get away from the tag as a media ass kisser. Ron Paul is the only hope for America, and the truth will prevail, if he is not elected, Alex you will be reporting the down fall of America in 2013 or sooner.
But Rupert Murcoch is also ignoring Paul, and they are supposedly in the same party. Why? Because Ron Paul can't be bought, which upsets Murdoch to no end.
the most honest in those bunch of trickled down economic hipocrits ; and this is how republican conservative white tea drinkers treat him. ooooooooo fo shame !!!!!!!!!!
Ron Paul will take this country back to the horse and buggies days. I think he wants to relive his teen years. LOL!!!
LANCE , the only reason you don't see horse and buggies right now is because the EPA thinks the green house gases from the horses would be harmful.
If the status quo continues on its current trajectory, you will probably be wishing you had a horse and buggy in another 5 - 7 years. The current political establishment is going to spend you back into the stone age.
I recommend Romney ask RP to be his vice president and offer him the chance to go after some of his ideas.That way the vote dosent get split and our country dosent get four more years of dumbo the fascist/marxist country destroyer.
OMG...thanks MSNBC for bringing out all of the PaulBots today. I truly needed a good laugh.
Despite the fact that I agree with some things he has to say, overall he has outlived his purpose in politics and has a seriously demented group of followers. I liken these people to this countless droves of people that elected the id10t in chief that we have in office now.
So speaks one of the cult followers of the 2 party dictatorship.
Ron Paul is is ignored because he's not a corporatist.
Ron Paul is ignored because no one votes for him. If they did...where are his delegates?? The voters are the ones who speak and so far they have not spoken for Ron Paul. Like it or not.
I hear all of these people saying he draws large crowds. But they don't seem to vote and the ballots show it.
it's called VOTER FRAUD !!!!!