Posted on 03/17/2007 6:59:35 AM PDT by shrinkermd
Fred Dalton Thompson's flirtation with a presidential run has conservatives hopeful for a white knight in a field of compromise candidates in the GOP. The man whose career has spanned both Washington and Hollywood, and who has championed both conservatism and clean government, has a resumé that would make for compelling political theater. However, one issue in particular dogs every mention of his potential, and that is his support for the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, or McCain-Feingold -- the main reason conservatives distrust John McCain and have not supported his own presidential campaign.
That may be changing. John Fund interviewed Thompson for the Wall Street Journal, and Thompson acknowledged the futility of the BCRA's approach:
On issues, he addresses head-on the major complaints conservatives have about his record. He was largely stymied in his 1997 investigation of both Clinton-Gore and GOP campaign fund-raising abuses: Key witnesses declined to testify or fled the country, though evidence eventually surfaced of a Chinese plan to influence U.S. politics. He won't argue with those who say he showed "naiveté" about how he would be stonewalled in his investigation. He says he's wiser now.
Many on the right remain angry he supported the campaign finance law sponsored by his friend John McCain. "There are problems with people giving politicians large sums of money and then asking them to pass legislation," Mr. Thompson says. Still, he notes he proposed the amendment to raise the $1,000 per person "hard money" federal contribution limit.
Conceding that McCain-Feingold hasn't worked as intended, and is being riddled with new loopholes, he throws his hands open in exasperation. "I'm not prepared to go there yet, but I wonder if we shouldn't just take off the limits and have full disclosure with harsh penalties for not reporting everything on the Internet immediately."
If Thompson rejects the BCRA, the implications could be significant. None of the sponsors or supporters of the bill would have the national reach Thompson will if he runs, with the exception of McCain himself. Thompson's change of heart would put immediate pressure on McCain and perhaps even jump-start the effort to repeal the law altogether. If Thompson makes it a campaign issue, he could immediately siphon off conservative support for other campaigns. (Romney pledged to repeal the BCRA at CPAC earlier this month.)
That would not be the entirety of Thompson's attractiveness, either. He spoke with Fund about cleaning up the CIA, one topic that never seems to go away despite all of the post-9/11 efforts to reform the agency and the intel community as a whole. He wants to promote federalism, ending programs that should be handled by the states and curtailing the overreach of the national government. Thompson also supports the extension of the Bush tax cuts, telling Fund that the Kennedy, Reagan, and Bush administrations have proven that lowering taxes creates long-term economic growth, and that "millionaires serving in the Senate learned not to overly tax other people trying to get wealthy."
All of this puts Thompson squarely in the Reagan mold, along with a track record of real reform. If Thompson grabs the anti-BCRA banner, he could carry it all the way to the White House
Oops! I meant '01....
My first choice in 2000 would have been Dan Quayle, but I knew that was a lost cause. He had been portrayed in the media for so many years as some kind of idiot that he had no hope. It's a shame, because he's exactly the kind of conservative we need.
Thompson/Hunter works for me, if for no other reason to 1: stop Her Heinousness, and 2: give Hunter name recognition for a run in 2016. Jeb might be the best of them, but my patience is about gone with the Bush's...
Good point. There are no teeth in any of the FEC or Congressional ethics regulations. That has to change, and change drastically for any campaign finance reform to have meaning. Soros can pour as much money as he desires into the various c3 organizations he supports without penalty.
Or William Jefferson (D-La) can obviously take $100,000 bribes and still sit on important and sensitive committees. And everyone smiles and is happy.
I'm disgusted!
I like the way you think. A killer team If Hunter could bring something else to the ticket. I'd like to think that Thompson brings in the conservatives and possibly Reagan Democrats and if Hunter brings also something else that Thompson lacks thereby supplementing the ticket, it would be a great team.
And just how would Thompson accomplish junking the BCRA. I would never vote for anyone who supported that bill.
NittanyLion wrote: "By that logic, because we have newspapers, cable news could be abolished without infringing upon freedom of speech."
No, in terms of the debate, cable news is just an electronic newpaper.
And wrote: "Just because I can put up a yard sign doesn't mean I shouldn't also be able to pool money with likeminded individuals and place an ad in a local paper or on a local TV station."
I don't disagree with that. There should, however, be a limit on how much money each individual can put up.
Liberty Valance wrote: "Thompson/Watts '08!"
Amen, brother!
"Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught." - J.C. Watts
"...they said that I had sold out and Uncle Tom. And I said well, they deserve to have that view. But I have my thoughts. And I think they're race-hustling poverty pimps." - J.C. Watts
Why? And who gets to decide? How can a $250 donation be protected by the First Amendment, while a $2500 donation is not?
What's needed is full disclosure of contributions - not prohibitions on free speech.
Wonderful news - removes the only potential impediment conservatives would have with an FDT run. I see no reason why Thompson cannot consolidate the three major GOP wings behind him (as Allen was going to try to do before he was Macaca-ed by the Wash Post) and move on to thump the 'Beast.
Fred is clearly now my candidate of choice for '08, followed by Hunter-Brownback-Gilmore (in that order).
I assume you did not vote for W in '04, as he voiced his support for it prior to the election.
He didn't exactly support it, he signed it because he thought that the courts would over rule it. If he then voiced support of it, it was just another of his capitulations. I am very disappointed in the lack of fight in W.
It never should have made it past his desk, but he wanted to get McCain off his back and on board - a political calculus that was very costly to the first amendment.
That being said, seeing Thompson realize the folly of such efforts is wonderful news, because he is rock solid on just about every other major issue of concern to conservatives.
Plus, his communication skills and TV background will go a long way towards winning over the sheep in the middle, who would otherwise be attracted by the Beast's celebrity.
I agree with you 100% with regards to your disdain for CFR, but I hope you reconsider supportinng Thompson if this article is true. He is what those of us on the right have been waiting for - a real conservative with enough broad appeal to win in '08.
Please add me to the Fred Thompson ping list. Thanks.
Please add me to your ping list as well.
I'm sorry, but I don't think that Thompson's comments regarding CFR are strong enough to indicate a true change of heart. It sounds to me as though Thompson sees that CFR is McCains main barrier to his presidential aspirations and that Thompson and his supporters would like to distance themselves from the same fate.
Everyone knew exactly how CFR was going to work. Thompson claims that it isn't working the way it was supposed to. That's a lie. CFR was designed to silence the grass root efforts of the conservative base.
Well, lets see how the process plays out. Again, I hope he comes out strongly against it so you (and other like you who value the first amendment) will reconsider.
Best wishes...
It's odd how much desire there is in here. He's not even running yet, but everyone sounds like he is.
It's a pleasure to add you. :)
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