When it comes to the GOP presidential race, I am decidedly undecided. As a philosophical libertarian and longtime fan of the congressman, I’m rooting for Ron Paul. However, I’m realistic enough to know that lightning would have to strike not once, not twice, but probably in the neighborhood of five times before he’d have a real shot at the nomination.
Like many conservatives, I have reservations about the remaining field of candidates for one reason or another, which is why I’m intrigued and open to learning more about Fred Thompson. And what I’ve learned so far is that some people are so scared to death of the man that they’ll resort to anything to derail his potential candidacy.
Just last week the Los Angeles Times ran a BS story about how Thompson supposedly lobbied for an abortion group some 15 years ago - an accusation denied by Thompson - in an effort to undermine his support among social conservatives. The charge was so thin and ultimately meaningless - Thompson had a stellar pro-life record during his time in the Senate - that it’s hard to see how the Times justified the ink needed to print it.
That slop was followed on Monday by a lengthy New York Times story attempting to slime Thompson for having a “trophy wife,” musing in the headline whether or not Jeri Thompson would be an “albatross” around the neck of the former senator’s expected presidential campaign.
At 40 years of age, Mrs. Thompson is indeed much younger than Mr. Thompson - and is quite attractive, to boot. But as the Times graciously acknowledged, Jeri is no blonde bimbo when it comes to politics. Indeed, she was once the spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee. Nor, again as the Times acknowledged, is she a “home-wrecker,” having married Sen. Thompson some two decades after his divorce from his first wife.
On the other hand, the Times managed to note that former congressman-turned-talk-show-host Joe Scarborough recently compared Mrs. Thompson “to a stripper,” and was able to find a political scientist named Karen O’Connor who states that Jeri Thompson will hurt the candidate with Republican women. “I think women have an innate ‘ick’ reaction when they see a wife so much younger and vital than her husband,” O’Connor is quoted as saying.
This resulted in the following online comment in the Houston Chronicle from skullcrusherjones: “I like how having a young wife hurts him with Republican women. Just goes to show that no one hates women more than other women. Which probably isn’t a good sign for Hillary.”
Seriously, if this is the best the opposition can come up with - a flimsy connection to a denied lobbying gig and the “ick” factor - then Thompson’s gotta be feeling pretty darned good about his chances right about now.
Posted on July 9th, 2007 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: National
I’m not Thompson fan, but I certainly think that the attacks on his wife are ridiculous. At least she has a head for politics, so the attacks hopefully won’t bother her as much as they might another woman.
Fred Thompson is just as rabid as Bush/Cheney, and advocates war against Iran. I guess they are following Hitler’s advice, make the lie really big and everybody will believe it. I wonder if they think they can lie this country into another war so soon. It’d have to be a record of some kind. The only thing more sad than that is that the democratic party is exactly the same, save a couple semi-rational folks (who’ve made a lot less noise than Ron Paul).
Factually, Thompson has not denied the allegations, which considering there are 6 witnesses (4 more than the Bible requires), actually don’t seem “thin” as some proffer.
Thompson’s campaign has denied the allegations that he lobbied the White House on-behalf of a “pro-choice” organization, but when he was asked directly to respond to the allegations this weekend, is non-response is reported thusly;
“Thompson gave an oblique response when asked about the matter, first reported by the Los Angeles Times.
“I’d just say the flies get bigger in the summertime. I guess the flies are buzzing,” said Thompson, who is considering running for president as a social conservative. He refused comment on whether he recalled doing the work.”
This might be a quaint ufanism, but it is not a denial of the allegation.
apnews
Yes, his wife’s age should be SO a non-issue (unless she were
I’d like to report the waste of taxpayer money by our own Congressman Dean Heller. I just received a multi-color “franked” mail piece from Heller telling me (and the thousand of others who received the unwarranted mailing), that he is against the Senate Immigration Bill. Who cares?! The Bill never left the Senate!
The Senate Immigration Bill is dead, DEAD, dead, gone, kaput, fini’- however one would describe it, the Bill will not see life again until the 111 Congress, Heller has nothing to vote on….what else will he mail to me on my dime telling me he is against even though there is live legislation proposed?
should read “NO” live legislation proposed…
From CBN’s David Brody, July 10, 2007, we find Thompson identifyinig himself as “pro-choice” in 1996……
“In August [1996] of that same year, Thompson called abortion a “distracting issue.” Read below from an Associated Press article:
U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson says he seldom hears about abortion in campaign travels throughout Tennessee and hopes the issue is downplayed at the Republican National Convention. The Tennessee Republican, a pro-choice defender in a party with an anti-abortion tilt, is preparing for next week’s convention in San Diego. He said the party must avoid distracting issues and focus on electing Bob Dole as president. ‘We need to concentrate on what brings us together and not what divides us,’ Thompson said in an interview with The Tennessean published Tuesday.”
christianbroadcastnetwork
…ooooppps, looks like Fred DID lobby for “pro-choice” crowd. He’s couching his paid lobbying for the pro-choice National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association as just doing his job as a lawyer for justice, but that obfuscates the truth: His being a lawyer had NOTHING to do with him being a lobbyist as this wasn’t a case in law! He was selling his access! Take a look at July 11, 2007 Hannity show.
fredonhannityshow
The sooner he owns up to it the sooner he can get it behind him….then again, selling your morals is an “icky” issue all by itself!