Posted on 03/27/2007 6:39:50 AM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com ...
You didn't ask me, but that don't matter! While I find Fred's support of CFR disturbing, from what I read about him and his stands on issues including gun control (he's certainly PRO second amendment, and in my eyes, that's an issue that trumps all others), education (pro vouchers), the war (pro funding), abortion, the cultural normalization of homosexuality -- he's MUCH BETTER THAN GIULIANI on ALL of those issues.
Giuliani, McCain -- they are losers top to bottom, and the Republican party would be absolutely foolish to give either the presidential nomination, especially considering that all of the Democratic hopefuls so far are such turn-offs that many Democrats, let alone many Republicans, would actively VOTE AGAINST them -- Hillary is grating, shrill, and terminally shrewish, Obama's Muslim upbringing is probaly way too much for most Americans, even Democrats, to embrace, and he is also wimpy, inexperienced, and it shows -- and that makes voters nervous; and as for Edwards and Gore, again, many Americans regardless of party would -- as they would be with Hillary or Obama -- moved to vote AGAINST them.
Republicans could nominate Elmer Fudd and he'd be our next president. There is no NEED to nominate Giuliani, who goes against the Republican grain on gun control, abortion, and the normalization of homosexuality. There ain't nothing Giulani could do that Thompson couldn't do better.
As for McCain, he's mentally unbalanced and would NEVER make it to election day without that fact being plainly demonstrated. It amazes me that so many people even consider him viable at all.
Notice they describe him as being against "abortion rights," as opposed to being against killing unborn babies. And having framed that, they then go on to cite their devil, a conservative blog, as having reported Fred being pro-choice. Just to cover all the bases and discourage everyone from supporting Fred Thompson.
I'm not sure. What is more important is the professed beliefs - Rudy also supported CFR, yet his supporters try to make a big deal of Fred supporting CFR. Reeks of hypocrisy if you ask me. Plus, our support of Fred deflates their claims that we are 100 percenters. We're not, but they tried to say that, by being unwilling to accept a guy that is maybe 20 percent conservative at best, we're unappeasables. It's all part of their propaganda routine.
About CFR in general, Fred Thompson has always been bothered that situations arise when, in his own words, "people could give politicians huge sums of money, which is the soft money situation at that time, and then come before those same politicians and ask them to pass legislation for them."
"I mean, you get thrown in jail for stuff like that in the real world. And so I always thought that there was some reasonable limitation that ought to be put on that, and you know, looking back on history, Barry Goldwater in his heyday felt the same thing. So that's not a non-conservative position, although I agree that a lot of people have interpreted it that way."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,258222,00.html
About McCain Feingold in particular, Thompson has admitted that the law hasn't worked as intended, and it has too many loopholes. He told the Wall Street Journal's John Fund, "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."
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110009798
those are honest and straightforward answers, whether you agree with Thompson or not.
TomGuy wrote: "My point?
This: elect a chameleon and you never really know what you are going to get."
But by this logic, we should have never voted for Ronald Reagan because the used to be a Democrat and a labor union leader.
Recent commentaries by Fred Thompson:
Gandhi's Way Isn't the American Way
Fred Thompson with Laura Ingraham
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I like the pings and am looking forward to an announcement from Fred Thompson soon! ( I hope, I hope)
Good point.
I checked my priority list for what I want in a President.
CFR was on the second page. ;^)
I don't mind an actor, it's the lawyer part that is not a big plus.
Just heard Fred a few mins ago on Paul Harvey... he takes a few- grin- shots at Charlie Sheen and Rosie..
It'll be up later on NRO...worth hearing/reading..
There are no recall elections for federal officials. McCain was never involved in any race like that, and easily won all of his reelection campaigns.
Note I do not like or support him, but in summer '01, McCain was still a media darling.
I like Rudy. And I'd be very happy to see Fred get in the race. Let the best man win!
I CAN'T HEAR YOU TYPE LOUDER
I for one had no problem with Ronald Reagan, Not all actors are of the same mold. I do admit to not being terribly fond of lawyers though. But I also have voted for a ton of them.
So you're saying Fred flip-flopped?
Sorry, I don't see a flip-flop. I see a man who really wanted to do something about big money in politics but recognized the unintended consequences that came after it, and realized he was wrong.
Thompson says McCain-Feingold was a mistake. Go ahead, call him a flip-flopper.
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