Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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Posted on 11/17/2007 8:55:19 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
GOP presidential contender Fred Thompson brought his message to religious conservatives in Hollywood after a stopover in Pensacola.
Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson polished his conservative credentials Friday as he emphasized family values and traditional policy pillars in a speech Friday night to a conservative religious group.
The Florida Family Policy Council invited Thompson to be the keynote speaker at at a dinner at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood.
The group is an off-shoot of James Dobson's Focus on the Family and has advocated a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
The group is not endorsing the Republican presidential candidate -- and cannot under federal tax law.
But Thompson's appearance Friday did give the former Tennessee senator and Law & Order actor a chance to tout his social conservative policy stands as the crowded GOP pool works hard to woo the historically powerful Christian conservative voting block.
During his speech, Thompson preached the conservative gospel of small government, anti-abortion laws and the fight to ban same-sex marriage. And he advertised his senatorial voting record, where he said he voted against federal funding for groups that perform abortions.
He also praised recent Supreme Court appointees John G. Roberts and Samuel Alito Jr., who are popular with social conservatives, and condemned liberal judges.
''My friends, I envision a nation of a federal government with the powers limited to those delineated by the Constitution of the United States,'' Thompson told the crowd of 200. ``I envision courts that are back in the business of deciding cases and not causes.''
RURAL ROOTS
Thompson also emphasized his upbringing in rural Tennessee by two parents who didn't graduate from high school. And he told the audience about seeing the first sonogram of his daughter, Hayden.
''I knew that when I saw what I saw that I was looking at my child,'' Thompson said, as the 4-year-old girl watched the speech from her mom's lap. ``And my life has never been the same again.''
Among Florida's GOP voters, Thompson ranks in fifth place, behind Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, John McCain and Mike Huckabee, according to a recent poll conducted for The Miami Herald and other news outlets.
In other Florida campaign stops, Thompson has tried to portray himself as the race's ''consistent conservative,'' saying other front-runners have flip-flopped on such issues as abortion and gun control.
Earlier in the day, Thompson courted conservatives in the Florida Panhandle, where he told a group of 100 supporters in Pensacola about his proposals to beef up the military and tighten border security.
Thompson's critics question the candidate's lobbying record, especially because one of the firm's clients included National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, an abortion rights group.
Also, in September, most of the race's front-runners, including Thompson, missed a social conservative ''Values Voter'' debate in Fort Lauderdale.
But the candidate has picked up a few social conservative nods in recent weeks.
ENDORSEMENTS
Earlier this week, Thompson also touted an endorsement by the National Right to Life Committee. And Barbara Collier, chairwoman of Broward's Christian Coalition, will be his volunteer chairwoman in Broward.
''He's for most everything I believe in,'' Collier said. ``He's for right to life, he's voted right to life, he's pro-family, lower taxes and smaller government.''
Thompson also is rumored to be on the verge of receiving an endorsement from Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio.
On Friday night, Rubio, who served on the dinner's host committee, sat between Thompson and Thompson's wife, Jeri. But the Miami Republican did not announce an endorsement.
On his way out of the dinner, Rubio explained that he still plans to endorse someone but said Friday didn't seem like the right time.
''We'll do something sooner rather than later,'' he said.
Rubio declined to say who would receive the coveted endorsement, but he did say Thompson is ``a good candidate.''
A 180 would be wise for Dobson, especially given the recent NRTL endorsement. The only other candidate over 2% he could endorse is Huckabee and Huckabee is just way too liberal on other matters.
Maybe he should get some sage advice from Pat Robertson.../s
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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“Anyone else hear that Dobson may be doing a 180?”
The NRTL endorsement may have calmed the waters a little bit and made some of the panicking pro lifers come back down to earth.
I do think that their asserting leadership at this point of the campaign will calm the nerves of the other pro lifers like Dobson.
Weyrichs bizarre outburst sounded like a man that had panicked and leaped too soon, only to see his tribe move on.
Funny how this doesn't apply to black churches.
I’m hearing rumors.
When the National Rifle Association (NRA)endorses Fred (another STRONG rumor) it'll all be over but the sobbing, hair pulling and gnashing of teeth.
By the way, I’ve clicking Fred links all day. It drives up good traffic. Also got a call from the campaign last night. When I finished with the caller, he was calling me a blessed child. :)
I believe I read somewhere that the NRA does not endorse candidates. Is that wrong? Have they endorsed in a Presidential primary before?
from your lips to God’s ears my man
GO FRED
In switch, NRA eyeing role in GOP primaries (Might endorse Fred!) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1901746/posts
FRED VETS, SIGN UP TODAY AT:
Finally Fred is out campaigning this week. He has been very quiet again.
Bingo...
And right now Jim Bopp is standing outside in the cold wondering who stole his shirt.
You know they have to be impressed that he thought so much of them to join just in time for this campaign.
They will want to encourage him.
(Snicker...)
It is an unseal race. Here is a post on the matter:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1902270/posts
Given that Thompson is the only top tier with any background and his relationship with the NA and Heston, it is a foregone conclusion he’s their man.
Ah Nap, you know better. The MSM has been quiet. Fred has been out there everyday talking to the only folks who count.
The Voters.
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