Fred Thompson on Religious Activity in Schools

CBN - Christian Broadcasing Network ^ | 4/2/07

[areafiftyone]

I may be on vacation but The Brody File is ALWAYS in research mode. Case in point: Fred Thompson. If you didn't know any better, you would think from all the press attention that Thompson was Ronald Reagan's long lost younger brother. The headlines scream "Fred Thompson" to the rescue." I'm not convinced...yet....that he's going to be the winning ticket for conservatives. He's conservative, yes but he backs campaign finance reform which is troublesome to conservative groups everywhere. And here's a quote from Thompson's past that you may not know about

The issue of religious liberty hasn't been brought up hardly at all when it comes to Thompson. The Brody File found an October 1995 article that cast doubt on whether Thompson was on board with a constitutional amendment that would clarify what religious liberties could be allowed in public places. Thompson didn't seem to want it. Read part of the Knoxville News-Sentinel article below:

"Five legal experts, including a Maryville attorney/minister, were split at a Senate hearing Friday over whether Congress should adopt a new amendment to the Constitution to clarify religious liberties in public places, including schools. No senator present at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing voiced support for the amendment advocated by some major religious groups.

Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., a member of the committee, said he was unsure what to do at this point. He said it would be difficult to draft a constitutional amendment that would cover "a myriad of circumstances" that could occur. A significant concern at the hearing was that many federal judges have been issuing rulings that keep religious activity out of public schools. "All it takes is one federal district judge to mess it all up, you might say," Thompson said. So at some point Congress may have to consider whether to continue working in the current system or whether "we're going to have to look at life-time tenure for federal judges," said Thompson, who is himself an attorney. "I'm not suggesting a solution (now)."

Here's my point. Fred Thompson needs to be properly vetted. Maybe he will be the strongest conservative in the race but If he gets in, the scrutiny will begin.We'll join in here at The Brody File.

[flynmudd]

When did he file his papers?

[flashbunny]

So the big scandal is he wasn't excited about creating another constitutional amendment for something that should already be covered by an existing constitutional amendment?

[traderrob6]

"So the big scandal is he wasn't excited about creating another constitutional amendment for something that should already be covered by an existing constitutional amendment?"

Yup.

[Coldwater Creek]

So! what is your point?

[politicalwit]

yes but he backs campaign finance reform

Didn't he state somewhere that he thought CFR was a mistake?

[Always Right]

Seems like a reasonable quote to me. We should be cautious about what a constitutional amendment looks like. All it takes is one bad ruling to change what the intent was and flip it on its head. The Contitution we have now is pretty down good, it just the backwards way it is interpreted by the courts that makes it bad.

[areafiftyone]

He hasn't - he doesn't even have an exploratory committee. But the conservative Christian groups don't seem to like him too much and I don't know why.

[xcamel]

'zactly.
For some of these people JC himself wouldn't be a sufficient candidate.

[LIConFem]

"He said it would be difficult to draft a constitutional amendment that would cover "a myriad of circumstances" that could occur. A significant concern at the hearing was that many federal judges have been issuing rulings that keep religious activity out of public schools. "All it takes is one federal district judge to mess it all up, you might say," Thompson said. "

Sounds to me like he was concerned that an amendment, if not properly worded, would be too open to interpretation and bastardization by activist judges. If that's the case, I agree.

[Always Right]

I am really missing the part you find unconservative.

[JohnnyZ]

He said it would be difficult to draft a constitutional amendment that would cover "a myriad of circumstances" that could occur. A significant concern at the hearing was that many federal judges have been issuing rulings that keep religious activity out of public schools. "All it takes is one federal district judge to mess it all up, you might say," Thompson said. So at some point Congress may have to consider whether to continue working in the current system or whether "we're going to have to look at life-time tenure for federal judges," said Thompson, who is himself an attorney. "I'm not suggesting a solution (now)."

Sounds .... sensible.

It CAN be hard to make work-arounds when judges have already screwed things up.

[TommyDale]

"But the conservative Christian groups don't seem to like him too much and I don't know why."

Earth to areafiftyone: James Dobson is NOT the official spokesperson for all Christians!

[ellery]

Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., a member of the committee, said he was unsure what to do at this point. He said it would be difficult to draft a constitutional amendment that would cover "a myriad of circumstances" that could occur. A significant concern at the hearing was that many federal judges have been issuing rulings that keep religious activity out of public schools. "All it takes is one federal district judge to mess it all up, you might say," Thompson said. So at some point Congress may have to consider whether to continue working in the current system or whether "we're going to have to look at life-time tenure for federal judges," said Thompson, who is himself an attorney. "I'm not suggesting a solution (now)."

Excellent! We're not going to solve our judicial tyranny problem by mucking up the Constitution with more amendments. We have to start chucking judges that show poor judgement -- just as the Founders intended. Good show, Fred.

[Sloth]

That is about the lamest thing ever. Thompson being cautious about a new Constitutional amendment is supposed to be startling?

[areafiftyone]

This is not James Dobson Tommydale.

[MHGinTN]

You got it ... The K-ville Sentinel was trying to mischaracterize his position. There are not that many bright bulbs down in K-ville's Sentinel offices, but they're stuffed to the walls with liberals.

[trisham]

That is about the lamest thing ever. Thompson being cautious about a new Constitutional amendment is supposed to be startling?

*************

Apparently, nothing else was available.

[areafiftyone]

LOL! Just because I post what the Christian Broadcasing Network/700 Club says does not mean it is coming out of my mouth. I have not posted a comment about this yet.

[Theo]

But the conservative Christian groups don't seem to like him too much and I don't know why.

Where do you get that from? I'm a conservative Christian, and he's my choice at this point.

FWIW, Dobson did not say anything about "liking" the man, so don't misuse what he truly said.