Ron Paul Supporters Take On the Media

As is their wont, devotees of presidential candidate Ron Paul made their presence known on January 15 at the Three Kings Day Parade in Miami, an annual event that draws thousand of spectators. When one of them held up a sign touting their favorite candidate in front of a local Univision TV camera, the crew began to make wildly false criminal allegations against not only the sign-holder, but another guy who was videotaping the encounter. A cop who apparently observed the ridiculous confrontation in its entirety, and should have therefore known that no crime had been committed, is nonetheless seen intimidating the demonstrator.

Watching the video, I was reminded of my own surreal experience in South Florida back in 2000 when I was there to cover the infamous Gore/Bush election recount. I was subjected to the same self-important attitude by the media, and the same disregard for my First Amendment rights by the police.

Then and now, the bullies provided great comedic entertainment after the fact, even though it was disturbing to endure the abuse when it occurred.

This story was also published at CitizenJeff.com.

 

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Comments

[Captain Shays]

12:30 PM on 01/31/2012

ANYTHING we can do to counter the effect of the mainstream media over our electoral processes is fine with me. I am a Ron Paul supporter and though it seems kind of distruptive to hold up signs in front of an interviewer something needs to be done. The default position of the media elites and the establishment from both the major parties is to ignore Ron Paul. If they must mention him the default of the mention is to marginalize him. They also do this with third party candidates like Ralph Nader, Pat Buchanan, David McRenolds, Chuck Baldwin etc. I don't agree with all of them but it's not up to some Americans to deprive all other Americans of viewpoints just because they don't agree with them. The job of the press is to convey honest, accruate and reliable information so that we the people can make an intelligent and well informed decision as to whome will govern us.

[jaw2487]

02:34 AM on 01/31/2012

As a Ron Paul supporter I can't really say I approve of the behavior demonstrated in this video. It is fairly obvious that they are trying to do a one-on-one interview in a secluded area. I feel like the Paul supporter holding the sign should have respected the wishes of the people doing the newscast. There is no reason to create a scene and make this a bigger deal than it really is. At least they are covering Ron Paul in the news and interviewing a Ron Paul supporter. How many other news networks would be willing to give news coverage to a Ron Paul parade? There are better ways to demonstrate support.

[Just logic]

09:33 AM on 01/31/2012

The only problem is that they are doing the interview in a public area. If you want to do a private interview then you have to do it in private. This has been a tactic to get free press time since the creation of tv. What that media was doing was blocking the first Amendment. That is why the officer God love him said No I will not stop him. He was there just to make sure that there wasn’t a physical altercation. The real question is what would have happened if it was a Newt or Mitt sign?

[spyker1]

09:45 PM on 01/30/2012

My vote is for Ron Paul.

[clusters]

08:26 PM on 01/30/2012

People have no idea how quickly are rights are eroding.

Patriot Act, warranltess spying on citizens, "free speech zones", TSA VIPER teams, the NDAA, SOPA...

Ron Paul isnt that popular on Huff Po, not sure why not since Liberals are supposed to embrace a peace candidate and someone who defends our civil liberties.

Thank you.

[refuse2fail]

11:14 PM on 01/30/2012

Ron Paul is polling close to 50 50 with Obama, only SLIGHTLY below Romney. Gingrich is nowhere even close; the fact that MSM props up Newt is disgusting.