Today’s most improbable story (per Paul Singer at USAToday) involves an effort by a marginal GOP presidential candidate to get the Federal Election Commission–you know, that agency which is powerless do much of anything because Republicans think campaign finance regulation is unconstitutional if not Satanic–to stop Thursday’s first debate.
Former IRS commissioner Mark Everson, a candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, will file a complaint with the Federal Election Commission on Monday alleging that he is being unfairly excluded from the first debate, he told USA TODAY.
Everson is arguing that election law requires debate organizers to set “pre-established and objective standards” for inclusion, and that Fox News has not met that requirement for Thursday’s debate in Cleveland.
“Media coverage is the oxygen of politics,” Everson said, “and I am being denied that by Fox and its intervention in the political process.” Everson launched his campaign in March and has been making regular appearances in Iowa and other states with early contests.
The whole backlash against Fox News by people who for one reason or another want a 17-candidate presidential field has been one of the regular amusements of the Invisible Primary. But it would be even more amusing if the do-nothing FEC intervened to slap down Roger Ailes and company.
