[MRM]

Yes, but this is not a debate meant to air all oposing views and educate the populous at large; it is a debate to educate the Republican voters about the candidates who are competing for the Republican nomination. Ron Paul deserves to be in many debates, or at least his views do, but it isn't beyond the pale that he gets excluded from this debate on that basis. He is a movement candidate, not seriously competing for the Republican nomination. Further, if he's serious about a third party candidacy, the Republican leadership would do well to consider whether they want him in the party. I'm a big tent Republican - I'll take almost anyone who's willing to call themselves a Republican, but no party should tolerate a candidate who uses the party as a platform for running against it as a candidate for a different party. Joe Lieberman is a good example. He caucuses as a Democrat for selecting Senate leadership and committee assignments, but he is no longer a Democrat.

My personal opinion is that there should be some automatic qualifiers, and 10% in any primary or caucaus immediately before the debate, at least at this early stage, should be an automatic qualifier for being included in that state's debate.