InTheCapital

By Charlie Warzel / @cwarzel

Ron Paul is finally getting the media attention his supporters complained for and yet he’s now being as cantankerous as ever.

This summer, Jon Stewart noticed what Paul supporters have complained about for years, referring to the Texas Representative as, “the 13th floor of a hotel” when it comes to media coverage. Fox News really seems to dislike the guy, most likely because he refuses to pander to the network like the other fringe candidates (Bachmann, Perry, Santorum) and a cursory “Ron Paul + Media” YouTube search while simultaneously peculiar, offensive, and hilarious illustrates a common theme: the dude is, for the most part, passed over by the media. That is, until now.

With less than a week until the bizarre kabuki we know as the Iowa Caucuses, Paul is (gasp!) leading the well-coiffed Mitt Romney in new polls. This is a reality that most saw coming, as Paul has ardent support among Iowa tea partiers and cat ladies.

Whether both the media and American people like it or not, the media is pretty much forced to give Paul some time in the spotlight and so far, it’s not all free markets and soaring freedom eagles.

Last week, Paul made headlines in the media for an old newsletter he used to publish that made numerous unsavory remarks toward minorities of all kinds. At least we think calling Martin Luther King, Jr. a “world class philanderer” is unsavory, right? (pauses) Yes, I believe we have confirmation on that one.

Paul is frustrated that the media has latched onto this silly snail-mailer from the early ’90s and for good reason. Paul is 76 years old and like most curmudgeons before him would like to be left the hell alone. And to make matters more outrageous, he didn’t even write the damn thing—he was too busy delivering thousands of innocent, god-fearing children. So he did what any enterprising man would do: hired a random collection of extremists to write it and attach his name to the letterhead. 

Paul’s frustration has manifest itself most prominently in a CNN interview with Gloria Borger (note the wildly ignorant title!) where it appeared Paul walked out when confronted with tough questions about the newsletter. We have since learned that the interview was edited and that Paul did seem to address the issue before then leaving the interview frustrated. More on that here.

And just moments ago, Politico’s Roger Simon noted that Paul would rather not take questions from the hoard of hungry journos.

Roger Simon @politicoroger

Ron Paul “declines” to answer any questions from press after his Newton, IA event.

Paul, it seems, is both a candidate who both wants and despises scrutiny from the press. This August, Paul’s campaign managers emailed The Washinton Post’s Chris Cillizza this:

“Dr. Paul has emerged as a top-tier candidat in this race and deserves coverage befitting that status,”

And yet now Dr. Paul is all:

Perhaps it comes from nearly two full campaign cycles for relative obscurity in the media—the guy is used to crafting his message without having to…well, answer for it. 

Or, if Erin McPike of RealClearPolitics.com is correct, perhaps Paul (like Santorum) has no real desire to be Commander in Chief. 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/#45799881 (see video link and forward to 8:45)

Only time will tell.