CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Gay GOP presidential candidate Fred Karger says Fox News won't let him into a Republican presidential debate even though he's met all of the network's conditions for qualifying.
Karger told The Advocate today that he is prepared to file a complaint with the Federal Election Commission if he's not allowed to debate in Ames, Iowa later this week. He's also launched a petition in conjunction with his Let Fred In website after learning through news reports (because he says Fox News isn't take his calls) that the network was rejecting his registration.
The Fox News Channel's rules had required candidates to average at least 1% in five "recent" national polls before registration day. And so Karger points to five polls that have him doing just that.
But Fox's vice president for news, Michael Clemente, told The Advocate in a statement that either the polls are too old, with the latest coming from April, or that the Internet-based polling methodology used by Zogby and Harris Interactive is insufficient.
"Such polls do not qualify for the purposes of meeting the debate criteria," he said.
Karger responded, "These aren't the nonscientific polls that your friends use, these are real polling agencies here," objecting to entire polling companies being tossed out.
Both pollsters are independent and are not affiliated with any party. A search at FoxNews.com shows that the network has regularly reported on Zogby's polls over the years. The same is true for Harris Interactive. The Fox News executive didn't explain what makes the polls Karger cites any less credible than the ones his network has reported on in the past.
The April poll was actually conducted by Fox News itself. But Clemente points out that the network has since run two new polls and that Karger didn't reach the 1% threshold.
That explanation is "total B.S.," if you ask Karger. "They said recent polls but they didn't say how recent," Karger says about the rules, which were outlined in late July. "By federal law, they have to have what's called 'preexisting criteria,' and that means they can't just be random like you're in and you're not."
Karger claims the network accepted polls as old as five months when admitting candidates to its poorly attended debate in South Carolina.
Gay rights has been a top issue in the Iowa headlines these days, with candidates Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum signing an antigay pledge from the Family Leader.
"I am sure it will become an issue, and I want to be there to defend equality," he said. "No one else will, certainly."
lucasgrindley
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
30 Steamy Photos of Folsom Street Fair 2023 Debauchery
October 15 2023 11:06 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
60 Burly Pics from Bearrison Street Fair 2022
October 08 2023 8:30 PM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Check out the lesbian wedding at the center of 'Anyone But You'
March 16 2024 12:41 PM
This women’s roller derby league is standing up for trans athletes by suing their county
March 16 2024 12:29 PM
Oprah, Niecy Nash-Betts, Out win big at GLAAD awards
March 15 2024 7:28 PM
Pence says he ‘cannot in good conscience’ endorse Trump
March 15 2024 6:03 PM
From contradictions to compassion, the LDS Church struggles with LGBTQ+ inclusion
March 15 2024 4:30 PM
Kamala Harris celebrates Irish prime minister and his husband at St. Patrick’s Day event
March 15 2024 3:09 PM
Editor Q&A: Florida can 'say gay,' and what motivates LGBTQ+ voters
March 15 2024 2:54 PM
Toxicology experts say death from medications in Nex Benedict case ‘very, very uncommon’
March 15 2024 2:51 PM
Republican Ohio senate candidate Bernie Moreno’s LGBTQ+ hypocrisy exposed
March 15 2024 1:41 PM
Gay councilman resigns after drunken urination video and alleged assault
March 15 2024 11:16 AM
A new bill would enhance LGBTQ+ youth mental health services
March 15 2024 8:00 AM
Yes, J.K. Rowling, the Nazis persecuted trans people, burned books
March 15 2024 6:00 AM
Alleged shooter who killed two at Oslo Pride stands trial
March 14 2024 9:44 PM
Missing Washington transgender woman found dead in Mexico
March 14 2024 7:34 PM
Trending stories
Most Recent
Recommended Stories for You
Lucas Grindley
Lucas Grindley is VP and Editorial Director for Here Media, which is parent company to The Advocate. His Twitter account is filled with politics, Philip Glass appreciation, and adorable photos of his twin toddler daughters.
Lucas Grindley is VP and Editorial Director for Here Media, which is parent company to The Advocate. His Twitter account is filled with politics, Philip Glass appreciation, and adorable photos of his twin toddler daughters.