"Still, conservatives' concerns about Thompson persist: In the Senate during the 1990s, he served as a chief backer of campaign-finance legislation, which conservatives say diminishes their influence in politics. He also called last month for "a tolerant nation" on gay rights."
I am not attacking Fred Thompson BTW. I am pointing out that Rudy's positions on certain issues are not all that different, when you get to the nitty-gritty, than some of the other GOP candidates or possible candidates.
LOL! You're "not attacking Thompson". Yeah, right. How about posting the FULL quote, then:
"I think that we ought to be a tolerant nation. I think we ought to be tolerant people. But we shouldn't set up special categories for anybody. Marriage is between a man and a woman and I don't believe judges ought to come along and change that."
Yeah, you are. You lie like your lib hero. How about taking your contempt for conservatives and conservatism to DU. You've had your iron boot on the necks of conservativism for far too long!
Nice job lifting a quote out of context, Veronica. Now, let's go to the transacript:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,258222,00.html
WALLACE: Gay rights.
THOMPSON: Gay rights? I think that we ought to be a tolerant nation. I think we ought to be tolerant people. But we shouldn't set up special categories for anybody.
And I'm for the rights of everybody, including gays, but not any special rights.
WALLACE: So, gay marriage? You're against. THOMPSON: Yes. You know, marriage is between a man and a woman, and I don't believe judges ought to come along and change that.
WALLACE: What about civil unions?
THOMPSON: I think that that ought to be left up to the states. I personally do not think that that is a good idea, but I believe in many of these cases where there's real dispute in the country, these things are not going to be ever resolved.
------------
But we shouldn't set up special categories for anybody.
Whereas Rudy pushed for gay hate crimes legislation. There is NO COMPARISON between Fred and Rudy once the details are presented. Just as there is NO COMPARISON between Fred and Rudy on abortion. And guns. And global warming. And...
Which positions?
The ones from 10 years ago, 10 months ago or 10 days ago?
He keeps repositioning his positions.
Well, on this issue Rudy’s position is now closer to Thompson’s than it was before, if you trust that Rudy’s new position is what he really thinks.
I’d be more comfortable believing him if he would explain what made him change his mind. In the article, it sounds like he doesn’t think he changed his mind, and he gives no reason for a change.
While Thompson said exactly why he was beginning to question CFR, and Romney explained why he became more adamant about pro-life issues.
If Rudy would now change his position on gun control and abortion, and could explain why I should believe him, I would support him in the general election. I’m willing to give a man a second chance to be right — heck, my argument is that we CAN convince people that conservative principles are correct, so obviously I think we could convince Rudy to repent of his sins, so to speak.
Oddly, I’ve seen few Rudy supporters suggest he should repent and come back to the conservative position. Usually they tell us that he HAS to have those positions in order to get elected.
Are you worried that Rudy expressing more conservative positions will lose the independent vote?
Fred Thompson:
Voted NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
Voted NO on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
Voted NO on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)
Voted NO on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women. (Mar 1998)
Voted NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. (Oct 1997)
Voted YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (Sep 1996)
Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Sep 1996)
Voted YES on Amendment to prohibit flag burning. (Dec 1995)
Voted NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds. (Jul 1995)
http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Fred_Thompson.htm
I am not attacking Fred Thompson BTW. I am pointing out that Rudy's positions on certain issues are not all that different, when you get to the nitty-gritty, than some of the other GOP candidates or possible candidates.
The problem isn't really Rudy's positions on the issues, but the fact that those positions seem to vary wildly based on his audience.
I don't expect every candidate to have the exact same set of principles that I do. I merely require a candidate to have any principles at all, and I have seen nothing from Rudy to indicate that he does.
Scratch that - he does have one core principle. He loves power. He will do anything to get it, anything to keep it. He loves power more than he loves freedom, which disqualifies him in my book.