Posted on 09/28/2007 2:47:46 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
I like Arthur Branch, the tough-minded district attorney I used to see on NBC's "Law & Order." I like his deep voice and his comforting Southern charm. I like his steadfast determination to seek justice and his clear sense of right and wrong.
I've been less certain about Fred Thompson, the actor who played him. He mismanaged his campaign and lost a wave of momentum by delaying the announcement of his presidential bid. He traded Republican debates for late-night talk shows. He's been unspectacular on the campaign trail.
But this week, something happened that's making me reconsider my assessment of Thompson, something that's caused me to wonder if there's more to him than an appealing grandfatherly persona and Washington know-how.
This week James Dobson, the country's most politically influential evangelical Christian, said in an e-mail to friends that he can't support Thompson in his run for the White House. Apparently, Thompson isn't the right kind of conservative.
Dobson, who's Focus on the Family radio show draws millions of listeners, said Thompson has "no passion, no zeal and no apparent 'want to.' And yet he is apparently the Great Hope that burns in the breasts of many conservative Christians? Well, not for me, my brothers. Not for me!"
Part of the problem is Thompson's religious practices. Although he was baptized in the Church of Christ, he admits he doesn't attend church regularly. He's reluctant to talk about his religion publicly or use his faith to curry favor with voters. And that just doesn't sit right with the leader of the social conservative movement.
Dobson is also outraged that Thompson doesn't believe in a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. In the e-mail, he railed against Thompson's support of a state's right to pass its own laws on the issue. "Isn't Thompson the candidate who is opposed to a constitutional amendment to protect marriage" and "believes there should be 50 different definitions of marriage in the U.S.?"
Worse than that, Thompson, who actually opposes gay marriage, doesn't believe that homosexuality should be called "deviant," as one questioner on the campaign trail suggested. "I'm not going to pass judgment on several million of my fellow citizens. Anybody that knows me knows how I feel about the importance of a family … of traditional marriage," he said. "As president of the United States, one should not go out of their way to castigate or pass judgment publicly on a large segment of people."
No wonder Dobson's angry. He's not looking for tolerance from a presidential candidate. He's not interested in a big tent or an old-school conservative platform. What Dobson wants in a presidential candidate has nothing to do with promoting states' rights or limiting the role of the federal government. He's not looking for a fiscal conservative to keep spending down and taxes low. He's not worried about the strength of the military or our safety in the age of terrorism.
Dobson wants a conservative candidate who believes homosexuals can and should be cured and that the government should do its part to minimize the "risks" of homosexuality. He wants a candidate who will promise to remove sex education from our schools and bring prayer back into the classroom. He says he wants a candidate who won't appoint activist judges, but what he really wants are judges that will work to overturn Roe V. Wade. He doesn't mind activist judges as long as they're acting for his cause.
Dobson wants a candidate who believes as he does, that there is "no issue today that is more significant to our culture than the defense of the family. Not even the war on terror."
But Dobson's candidate is not my kind of candidate. While I agree that cultural issues such as abortion, prayer in school, gay marriage and stem-cell research are all important, they aren't the issues that should decide the presidency. Not this time.
I want a presidential candidate who's strong on national security and has a plan for both the war in Iraq and Iran's nuclear ambitions. I want a candidate who believes global climate change is real and can implement an innovative policy on energy.
I want a candidate who will articulate a workable immigration policy and will make securing our borders a priority.
And, if James Dobson doesn't like Fred Thompson or any other candidate, I'm going to give him a long hard look.
Thompson is electable: He’s got charisma. He’s good at marketing/public relations. He’s well spoken, and can respond forcefully and creatively to leftist moonbattery. He’s a strong Federalist, and a stronger Constitutionalist than most politicians (not nearly as “pure” as Ron Paul on that score, but still better than most.)
That’s exactly what the GOP needs right now.
“We need centrist moderates to win in the general election.”
The reason that many of us prefer Fred is that he is the most conservative, yet he has the warmth and the human connection that will let him roll over Hillary Clinton, by simply being himself and letting the contrast reveal itself.
His comfortable, calm, masculinity will be a brutal mirror, contrasting just how shrill and high strung her New York feminism is.
Stick to your conservative values without senseless jabs at everyone that don’t agree. What a concept.
I pretty well do agree with her!
I don’t think of Fred as a “centrist moderate” at all. I believe he’s a conservative, and I support him as of now. However, if he starts buying into this “Global Warming” B.S., or pandering to homos’ and illegal aliens just to win their vote.....
Please do not refer to him in this way again. It’s making me reach for my TUMS.
Fred is not the most conservative candidate in this race. Not even close.
No candidate who opposes the marriage amendment, won’t commit to not raising taxes, and who isn’t sure about the border fence is.
There’s no getting around that.
Absolutely. It's a good thing that Fred's mentor Howard Baker was nominated in 1980 rather than that Reagan character. Can you imagine what a disaster a Reagan 80 campaign would have been?
There is no getting around the fact that Fred is at 28% in NC and Mutt is at 8% in fourth place.
>>>There is no getting around the fact that Fred is at 28% in NC and Mutt is at 8% in fourth place.<<<
I guess North Carolinans do not prefer the most conservative candidate. That’s okay.
The name-calling is again noted. Not a practice of mine, though I must say that I do like the ring of Fraud Thompson.
Yes, name-calling when you have no argument is a good way to expose yourself.
This is an email that I received from Gary Bauer today concerning the so-called “fracture” of values voter leaders ie: Dobson and Bauer.
Friday, September 28, 2007
To: Friends & Supporters
From: Gary Bauer
Dr. Dobson And I Need Your Prayers
The last two weeks have been the worst I can remember in a long time for the pro-family, pro-life movement. A series of distorted media reports have tried to divide us. Christians and other values voters are taking verbal shots at each other over whom to support in the presidential race. And reporters are “licking their chops” at the dissention and disarray.
Dr. Jim Dobson, my longtime friend and ally, has taken all sorts of unfair hits from the Los Angeles Times and other media outlets. Some of those “hits” quoted unnamed “former associates.” One paper today took a shot at him and attributed it to me. The reporter admitted to me this morning that he made a mistake and will issue a retraction. But the damage was done. It makes me sick, and I know it sickens Jim too.
In recent weeks, I have received a number of e-mails from fellow believers attacking me, and in every case it was based on false press reports. Some have written angry notes because they have heard that I want a third pro-family party, while others are angry because I don’t want a third pro-family party. I have been accused of publicly endorsing Thompson, or Romney, or McCain or “fill in the blank.” I have not endorsed anyone. Yesterday, I was accused of demanding that Mike Huckabee withdraw. What? I would never do that. In fact, I am having lunch with him today. I continue to feel that God is calling me to work with all of the candidates.
If you see media reports – even in Christian media – do not assume that they are accurate. One Christian outlet ran a major story this week about what I supposedly believe, but no one from that outlet ever called to talk to me. You can always check the facts directly with us by calling our office at 703-671-9700 or by e-mailing me at gary.bauer@amvalues.org.
All of this is to say that the leaders of the pro-family, pro-life movement need your prayers for wisdom, discernment and strength. I know I need them!
“Fred is not the most conservative candidate in this race. Not even close.”
Well he sure has the movement conservatives fooled, including the top interactive conservative web site FR.
The really odd thing is that conservatives didn’t see any conservative candidates in the primaries, so they went out and practically forced one to enter the race.
Without even being in the race, social conservatives were convinced that he was the conservative to nominate.
“I don’t think of Fred as a “centrist moderate” at all. I believe he’s a conservative”
Reread his post “We need centrist moderates to win in the general election.”
Fred has Reagan’s charm, that while being conservative he can make people feel comfortable with him enough for “centrist moderates” and liberal Romney followers to vote for him also.
“The name-calling is again noted. Not a practice of mine, though I must say that I do like the ring of Fraud Thompson”
Please point out where I have called you any names?
I don’t think of Fred as a “centrist moderate” at all. I believe he’s a conservative, and I support him as of now.
A “Compelling Conservative”?
There are three candidates I will not utter a word of contempt toward.
Fred Thompson
Duncan Hunter
Tom Tancredo
That being said,this is not some political version of American Idol where viewers can give their underdog favorite some kind of shoulda, coulda won prize that will win them a record contract or virtual presidency in an alternate universe. The end result is real, and as of this moment, Fred is the only one still in the game. GO FRED!
>>>Fred has Reagan’s charm.... and liberal Romney followers to vote for him also.<<<<
Sorry, as a Romney supporter, I’d be happy with Duncan Hunter. Fred Thompson is a no-go.
Now try to argue that Thompson is more conservative than Hunter.
>>>Please point out where I have called you any names?<<<
Why are you posting to the freaking moderator? I’m amused. Did I not just quote where you went with a “Mutt” Romney? I never said a thing about calling me names. ;)
Get with it, guy. It is a Friday, but it’s time to get the ole CNS moving.
>>>The end result is real, and as of this moment, Fred is the only one still in the game. GO FRED!<<<
If you can buy into a candidate who can’t and won’t commit to not raising taxes and doesn’t see a border fence as necessary, go for it.
I personally consider Thompson lousy on the border, fair on social issues, and at best fair on fiscal matters.
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