Posted on 11/04/2007 6:00:10 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Those expecting to see a train wreck this morning when Fred Thompson appeared on "Meet the Press" must have come away disappointed. Though Tim Russert was his usual aggressive self, Thompson held his own and committed no gaffes of the sort that have plagued his campaign for the past two months. Yet that Thompson's performance on "Meet" — much like his debate debut last month — was one in which merely getting through without making any major errors is seen as tantamount to success says much about the diminished expectations for the candidate once seen as the cure to GOP woes.
For the first segment of his widely anticipated appearance, the former Tennessee senator discussed foreign policy matters, ably offering his views in his typical sober and low-key fashion. But it was an indication of Thompson's early troubles and rustiness as a candidate that many of the questions posed were pegged to unartful statements the candidate has made on the campaign trail. Thompson sought to explain away pronunciations on the presence of WMDs in pre-war Iraq, that the insurgency in Iraq was composed of "a bunch of kids" with IEDs and that Osama bin Laden was merely symbolic, by falling back on the excuse that his statements were taken out of context.
Questioned about his views on domestic issues, Thompson repeatedly cited or alluded to his belief in federalism, at times with skill. Of course, on abortion and gay marriage such deference to states and localities may cause problems. On the former, especially, Thompson offered a stark reminder that he would prefer not to see abortion banned but rather to revert to the pre-Roe v. Wade model, when states decided their abortion laws. "No," Thompson flatly replied, shaking his head when asked if he could run on the GOP platform that calls for a Human Life Amendment to the Constitution that would place unborn children under the protection of the 14th Amendment. Of course, Thompson's less than orthodox views on the abortion issue are mitigated given his opponents' views (past and present) on the topic.
Besides abortion, the one other matter coming out of the interview that will almost certainly live into this week was Thompson's answer about the campaign donor who is a former drug dealer. As reported in today's Washington Post, Philip Martin, an Alabama businessman who has lent Thompson his Cessna Citation, has been twice hit with drug-related felonies.
Thompson appeared conflicted about how to respond, at once wanting to give a friend the benefit of the doubt about decades-old charges but also recognizing the political danger in being associated with a former dope-peddler.
"I’m not going to throw my friend under the bus for something he did, you know, 25 years ago if he’s OK now," Thompson said. "On the other hand, I’m running for president, I — I’ve got, you know, to, to do the right thing, you know, and problems occur, and I’ll just have to figure it out."
Surely he'll be prodded about whether or not he's figured it out in the days ahead.
Overall, though, the Thompson camp is very pleased with the appearance. They saw a well-informed and serious person fit for serious times. "Two smart lawyers discussing complex subjects," was how one Thompson source put it.
There was also surely some pleasure when the candidate tweaked his interrogator. Asked by the paunchy Russert if his recent weight loss was health-related, Thompson replied, "Coming from you, I consider that a compliment, Tim." Like when he fired back at Chris Matthews in his first debate last month, Thompson delights his conservative base in taking (mostly) good-natured shots at the "MSM."
Perhaps best of all for Thompson backers was the postscript Russert added at the end of the 40-minute-long session. "And our viewers should know we’ve an open invitation to Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Gov. Mitt Romney to join us for our Meet the Candidates series any Sunday this year," the NBC moderator said. "Both candidates have personally promised they will appear within the next few weeks before the Iowa caucuses."
Then it will be Team Thompson's turn to tune in, in hopes of a train wreck.
I had very high hopes for Fred...I was not impressed..
I’m sorry you didn’t like what you saw. Read the comments after the article.
Survived? He pwn3d MTP and potato head, and we have exploding anti-Fred’s all over FR tonight to prove it.
I didn’t get to see the interview, and am hoping to find some or all of it linked somewhere soon, as well as Fred’s spot on Hannity and Colmes from last week. Being busy this weekend I figure that everything went well as there is not 40 “gotcha Fred” topics on FR. (yet anyways)
I like Fred, and wish to see him debate the Democrat candidate soon.
Agreed! Fred did an impressive job countering Russert’s attempts to control the tempo and the outcome of the interview. Timmy had no success in flustering Fred, or getting him off his message.
This was smart politics by Fred.
Go FRed go!
I didn't see the interview. What specific things that Fred said did you not like? (I'll look for your response)
FRed has this ...quality I think it is, that allows him to fully understand and grasp a concept/situation/meaning, without a whole lot of conversation attached. I’ve noticed this since his clinton rebuttal speech, and I notice it again and again in his current speakings.
FRed just “gets it.” Pure and simple.
It’s here...http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21623208/
Thank you.
And Thank you, too.
Fred Heds unite!!!
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