Fred Karger
Fred Karger, the first openly gay person to file with the Federal Election Commission to run for president, has spent more time campaigning in New Hampshire than any other candidate and is preparing to participate in the Iowa Straw Poll. And although Karger meets all criteria, Fox News is not allowing him to participate in the upcoming candidate’s debate in Iowa.
“I read in the press like everyone else on Friday that in spite of meeting all its debate criteria, Fox News still refuses to allow me a place on the stage in Ames, Iowa this Thursday evening,” Karger wrote. “By not including me, even though I have qualified for the debate, Fox News appears to be in violation of Federal Election Commission rules governing all Presidential Debates. Fox released its debate criteria two weeks ago, which I clearly have met.”
Attorneys for the Karger campaign are preparing a complaint to be filed with the FEC.
Among the Fox News criteria is that to qualify for the debate, a candidate must average 1 percent in five national polls. In a recent Harris Interactive poll, Karger received 2 percent. He also received 1 percent in a Zogby poll and others.
In its response to the Karger campaign, Fox News disqualified both polls, but the network regularly cites the Zogby poll in its coverage.
In a Synovate Study released this week, Karger polls at 1 percent. Fox debate participants Rick Santorum and Jon Huntsman were at just 2 percent in the same poll. Tim Pawlenty received 2 percent in the Harris poll and will also participate in the Fox debate.
The Los Angeles Times ran a story on Karger today discounting any chance of his winning. But they wrote that he has been haunted by the memory of his gay uncle who committed suicide and that he has a message to LGBT youth:
“I want to send the message to gay younger people and older people and everyone in between that you can do anything you want in life, and don’t feel bad about yourself and don’t feel you have to live your life the way I did,” Karger told the newspaper.
Karger isn’t the first gay man to run for president — David McReynolds of the Socialist Party came out in 1969 and ran in 1980, 30 years ago.
This is a serious debate for Presidential candidates. Karger appears only to desire to send a message to gay younger people and older people that being gay is OK.
As someone who is a Democrat, I’ve read up on Karger and his policies. He’s the only candidate running in the GOP I actually like and could tolerate as president And even if he is appearing to send a message to the gay community, what’s wrong with that?
FOX News, CNN and HLN are not news channels. All describe themselves as news entertainment channels which is how they get away with biased and inaccurate reporting.
Hey Henry, this is a serious discussion about a presidential candidate. You only appear to want to spew your ignorant nonsense. Don’t you have a tea party with your dolls to attend?