Posted on 04/10/2007 1:10:22 PM PDT by perfect_rovian_storm
The Brody File is in constant research mode. For all you Fred Thompson fans out there, grab a seat. Pause your TIVO episodes of Law and Order. Put on hold those portraits you've ordered of Fred Thompson and Ronald Reagan side by side in your living room. I've discovered that when socially liberal bad boy Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee was running for re-election in 2006, Fred Thompson campaigned for him and came to his defense. Here's the money quote:
"There are a lot of reasons I support Linc. We agree on most issues, disagree on some. Obviously, keeping control of the Senate is very important. I don't like the sound of 'Chairman Kennedy.' "
He agrees with Chafee on most issues? The last time I checked Chafee was pretty much off the reservation on most Republican talking points: immigration, taxes, Iraq war, traditional marriage, abortion. Shall I go on? I mean I get it. Thompson believes keeping Republicans in control of the Senate is the key. You know, it's all about the party. There's something to be said for that but I keep getting back to that line, "agree on most issues". That may be hard to stomach for Thompson fans who believe he's the true conservative choice if he runs. Here's a link to how Chafee has voted on the "issues."
Below you can read the article from The Providence Journal back in April of 2006. Comments?
"He may be known better for his performance as deep-voiced district attorney Arthur Branch on NBC's legal drama Law & Order, but Fred Thompson was in Rhode Island last night in his role as a former U.S. senator from Tennessee and Republican stalwart to campaign and raise money for Sen. Lincoln Chafee's reelection. Thompson's message was aimed at Republicans and unaffiliated voters thinking of supporting Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey, Chafee's primary challenger. Even those who disagree with Chafee should support him to ensure that the GOP Senate does not revert to the Democrats, Thompson said. "I think purging is the last thing we ought to have on our minds these days," Thompson said. "I think nationwide we are evenly divided as a people on a number of issues; we're evenly divided in the Senate and in the House. We, as Republicans, need to stick together." "There are a lot of reasons I support Linc. We agree on most issues, disagree on some. Obviously, keeping control of the Senate is very important. I don't like the sound of 'Chairman Kennedy.' Thompson was obviously referring to Massachusetts Democrat Edward M. Kennedy, who has sufficient seniority to become chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which considers judicial nominations, if Democrats win control of the Senate in the November general election. "In the kind of times we live in, we need people of integrity who do what they think is right," Thompson said. "I served with Linc's father [the late Sen. John Chafee], who, as far as I was concerned, was the most respected man in the Senate, and Linc is in the same tradition."
Why is it that the pundits are trying to make me believe that Thompson isn’t a conservative? All you have to do is look at his voting record. The left is running scared. You can smell the fear.
As much as Chaffee was a dweeb it shore has been a lot better with Reid in control. (har-har).
He sure did!
This is trivial. Not enough to sink Battleship Fred.
I opened this thread to find some really nasty bit about FDT and all I read is that he supports Chaffee to prevent Chairman Kennedy.
Oh and he agrees on most issues. Now what might those be? Transportation bill? National Security? Senate Rule Changes?
But he disagrees on some as well. We won’t know what those are.
But here we have him politicking for what we do know is to prevent a Chairman Kennedy.
My O’ My, FDT is playing suckup to prevent a would-be defector so that the GOP can continue to set the agenda in Congress.
And this is a bad thing?
I’m trying to understand this. Is this the most slime they can come up with against FDT?
FDT selling secrets to the ChiComs is a bad thing.
FDT getting caught in a sex scandal is a bad thing.
FDT having children out of wedlock is a bad thing.
It seems the truly bad thing about FDT is that he is a real conservative.
Means nothing other than that Fred understands politics means a lot of compromise. Certainly won’t change the minds of his friends and there are not many who dislike the guy. This has no more meaning than the comments Rudy made ten years ago about Clinton.
Bumper sticker idea....
Vote for Chafee, he is not a Democrat
"There are a lot of reasons I support Linc. We agree on most issues, disagree on some. Obviously, keeping control of the Senate is very important. I don't like the sound of 'Chairman Kennedy.' "
Republicans were holding their noses and voting for RINO's and supporting RINO's to maintain their majority for most pf the last 12 years. I don't like it very much but I'm not going to turn on Thompson because he did. We lost a great Senator in PA because a lot of conservatives decided not to support him because he stood by Arlen Spector.
I wish more Republican's had felt this way last November...
Geesh. That’s one of the reasons we all hate McCain so much. You can’t have it both ways.
And, just to make it official AGAIN, I have not endorsed any primary candidate at this point. I just think this kind of opposition research is, frankly, idiotic.
Problem for them is they hold a weak hand going in, and it only gets worse when Thompson does get in.
After we are done skaking this one out for the trivial nonsense that it is, areafiftyone will post it as news a week from now and claim that it confirms that FDT is a prochoice CFR supporting liberal just waiting to endorse his best buddy McCon.
I’ve been googling to see if I can find an instance of Rudy campaigning for Chaffee in 06. I know he stumped for a lot of guys, particularly ones that were looking like they were in trouble. I haven’t found anything yet though.
“Obviously, keeping control of the Senate is very important. I don’t like the sound of ‘Chairman Kennedy.’”
The money quote.
Wait for Fred to similarly be attacked because he’d rather have a damaged Clinton than a “President Gore.”
Ping
THE 1994 CAMPAIGN: THE CAMPAIGN Endorsement? Pataki Seeks Other Topics
By KEVIN SACK
Published: October 26, 1994
Campaigning in the heart of Giuliani country, State Senator George E. Pataki worked hard yesterday to change the subject from Gov. Mario M. Cuomo’s newest strength — his endorsement by Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani — to one of his oldest vulnerabilities — his passionate opposition to the death penalty.
The Senate is a club. It shouldn’t be, but it is.
Yes, Chafee sucked, and no Republican should have supported him at least in the primary. But we cannot afford to be nitpicking our candidates, and presidential candidates, to death. On the list of political sins, support for a former colleague, however inadvisable, doesn’t rank very high.
But yet again, their boomerang missed Fred and returned to clock Rudy upside his head. Rudy supported Cuomo over Pataki in 1994. So he and his minions look like fools for bashing Fred's party loyalty from 2006.
I despise Chaffee. But if he had won, Harry Reid would still be minority leader.
I am not a Thompson supporter but I certainly give him credit for getting it! Now we have Chairman Leahy and I will never forgive the loudmouths on our side who thought it would be a great idea to punish certain so called RINO’s by kicking them out of office.
Thanks for nothing, and I’m sure the troops thank you too.
I do thank Fred Thompson for doing the right thing.
Thanks for the ping Peach. Well Well Well and this is from a very conservative website!
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