Fred Thompson’s Record

NY Times ^ | March 26, 2007 | Carl Hulse

[veronica]

With former Senator Fred Thompson pondering a bid for the Republican presidential nomination, the hunt is on to see if he has his conservative credentials in order or whether there might be some moderation lurking in his voting past.

Mr. Thompson, the Tennessee lawyer turned actor turned senator turned actor again, is getting a lot of attention in Republican circles.

That is especially so among conservatives, who are debating whether he would be more ideologically appealing to them than the three leading Republican candidates, Senator John McCain of Arizona, former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York and former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts.

Mr. Thompson compiled a record in the Senate that included votes against same-sex marriage and other gay rights proposals, consistent opposition to gun control and support of a ban on late-term abortions. He scored generally high marks from conservative groups.

But he was also a supporter of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill, opposed by most conservatives. A former trial lawyer, Mr. Thompson opposed some of the changes sought by Republicans to protect businesses from lawsuits.

[DocH]

he's two things some FReepers hate, an actor and a lawyer.

We don't hate ALL actors, just the liberals and leftists among them, which, unfortunately, is the vast majority of them.

We like Fred, Tom Selleck, the guys from the old show "Simon & Simon", etc.

It IS hard getting over the lawyer part though, but Fred Thompson, with ONE sticking point (from a Conservative viewpoint) - initial support for mccain-feingold, beats the HELL out of RINO-rudy (and his FAUX-repub ilk) and his MANY, MANY sticking points (liberal positions).

To hell with Forrest Gump...

RUN FRED, RUN!

[TomGuy]

Thompson seems to have seen the light on this, and says he is now against it [CFR].

One article I read said that Thompson chaired the committee that actually wrote most of the McC-F CFR.

He seemed very 'in favor' of it then. What has caused him to change, considering that he helped write it?

Both Thompson and Giuliana, just like Hillary, seem to be altering their positions from previous ones. Policies of convenience? When politicians alter their positions to fit the various audiences, they lose their integrity.

[Mia T]

Pol.
Actor.
A distinction without a difference. ;)

That said, we won't solve the root cause of the problem in DC, entrenched power, until we purge it of all the professional pols, and replace them with citizen politicians.

NOTE: A citizen politician is one who will serve a term or two and then return to his day job... FOR GOOD. (This revolving-door stuff doesn't qualify.)

[DocH]

Isn't there another a former trial lawyer in the race who gets skewered regularly on FR?

Yes, but Fred's not a northeastern-corridor liberal RINO from the People's Republic of nyc who LOVES gun-control and sh*tting on our Constitutional RIGHT to keep and bear arms, AND supports the murder of innocent life like it's nothing.

In short...

Fred is one of US, and RINO-rudy is one of THEM (our domestic enemies - the demonRATS).

This is SO simple, sort of like the old "This is your brain on drugs" public service announcements.

Why can't you RINO-rudy-ROOTERS GET IT? (or are you too, Republicans/Conservatives in NAME ONLY?).

[Always Right]

Both Thompson and Giuliana, just like Hillary, seem to be altering their positions from previous ones.

So did Reagan, what is your point? Thompson has grown more conservative over the years. I don't see that as a negative.

[TomGuy]

what is your point?

My point?

This: elect a chameleon and you never really know what you are going to get.

[padre35]

A Thompson Rudy McCain Romney Hunter debate would be great for the party, I wouldn't mind Ron Paul being there either.

Thompson does remind me of Eisenhower (in tone of speech and appearance) Rudy could be a bulldog reformer, Romney is pro business and Hunter is the grass roots type Republican candidate and Paul is a libertarian republican.

Part of our problem that we have is we haven't sorted out what we support on a national level and how that should be implemented.

And "no" McCain doesn't make my list. He's got nothing to say/

[Always Right]

This: elect a chameleon and you never really know what you are going to get.

Everyone changes. Just like you can point to Hillary, I can point to Reagan. Changes is not always a negative, especially when you see a continuous progression in the right direction. Thompson has a voting record that is mostly good with a few notable exceptions. Name someone out there that is better that actually has a snowballs chance and I will support them.

[dmw]

Is that feeeear I smeel coming from you Rudybots? [sniff, sniff] Yep, is shore is!

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Well,,,, Reagan nominated Sandra O'Connor, but, we still forgave him for that momentary lack of judgment.

[Balding_Eagle]

So you are willing to forgive a former position by a candidate, if he changes his mind or sees the light. Any one of them, or just Fred??

Under different circumstances, with different choices, I wouldn't. Now I'll overlook it.

I've answered your question, now answer mine:

Do you find fault with Thompson supporting McCain-Feingold?

Or would answering my question candidly not advance your goals?

[veronica]

I want what's best for the country. The only think I fear is a Hillary Presidency.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Reagan was a registered Democrat at one point, it took his daughter Maureen Reagan to help him see the light and became a Republican and never looked back.

[TitansAFC]

---"I want what's best for the country."---

No you don't, you're supporting Rudy. That means, at best, you want what's second-worst for the country.

If you wanted what's BEST for the country, you'd oust the Liberal Rudy in the primary, and then oust the Liberal Hitlery in the General.

[antiRepublicrat]

So did Reagan, what is your point? Thompson has grown more conservative over the years. I don't see that as a negative.

George H. W. Bush turned pro-life for the 1980 election.

[flashbunny]

"So, veronica - do you find Fred supporting McCain-Feingold to be a big deal?"

She shouldn't - her boy rudy said he does too!

Too bad that now Fred says CFR has been a big failure and he's leaning towards no campaign finance limits with full disclosure.

Can you smell the FLOPSWEAT from the rudyphiles?

[airborne]

Was Thompson in Congress when Mc-F passed?

[Politicalmom]

But, but...he changed his mind on ONE issue!! That makes him a "chameleon". MAN THE LIFEBOATS!! Abandon ship!!

(Rudyphiles are terrified, so get the popcorn....)

[flashbunny]

I love the smell of FLOPSWEAT in the morning!

[PGalt]

That said, we won't solve the root cause of the problem in DC, entrenched power, until we purge it of all the professional pols, and replace them with citizen politicians.

NOTE: A citizen politician is one who will serve a term or two and then return to his day job... FOR GOOD.

Run Mia run! Report to "we the people" on all phases of your journey. (Some citizen has to start)