Thompson's Politics Much Like McCain's [here come the 'hit' pieces]

Washington Post ^ | May 06, 2007

[jdm]

Fred Thompson fervently backed the Iraq war, railed against an expanding federal government, took stands that occasionally annoyed his party and rarely spoke about his views on social issues during his tenure as a senator from Tennessee or in his writings and speeches since leaving office.

In short, the man some in the GOP are touting as a dream candidate has often sounded like the presidential hopeful many of them seem ready to dismiss: Sen. John McCain (Ariz.).

With some in the party clamoring for an alternative to their current field of presidential contenders and Thompson's allies hinting strongly that he will run, 400 conservatives flocked to Newport Beach, Calif., on Friday night to hear the actor-turned-politician-turned-actor address the annual dinner of the Lincoln Club of Orange County, a group that credits itself with pushing Ronald Reagan to run for governor of California in the 1960s. Thompson delivered a vision of cutting taxes, reducing the size of government, overhauling Social Security and staying in Iraq until "there is some semblance of stability."

[Democrat_media]

Fred is a conservative. McCain is no conservative but a liberal/Marxist in sheep’s clothing. Fred is for reducing the size of government and federalism which is what has to be done. A 3 trillion annual federal budget is too large. McCain expanded the power of government more than almost anyone with his law McCain-FeinGold.

McCain (McCamnesty) has done more damage to America and to freedom than any single individual except for FDR (America’s socialist revolution) . Clinton ( raising taxes, socialist healthcare etc.), Ted Kennedy( Mr. 1965 3rd world chain immigration act ) :

McCain censors blogging on Internet The possibilities that [FEC commissioner Bradley] Smith lays out are chilling and, if enacted, could spell the end of blogging as we know it. Indeed, it could turn much of what is published on the Net into a samizdat-style activity. Sound alarmist? Read on. It all stems, of course, from McCain-Feingold, the absurd and (pace the Supreme Court) unconstitutional curtailment of political speech in violation of the First Amendment. Both Senators, and the Democratic members of the Commission, favor regulating political speech on the Internet, lest bloggers and electronic publications enjoy an advantage over print publications. This is a huge power grab by elements of the federal bureaucracy who are threatened by New Media, and a first step by those forces to shut down political speech they don't like.

McCain-Feingold-Soros Legislation McCain’s crowning achievement McCain-FeinGold will allow government to crack down on internet blogging or any kind of political speech. So McCain teamed up with Soro’s leftwing groups to take way freedom of speech in America. We can’t have freedom or a republic without freedom of speech. That is not conservative. Electing McCain president would be a disaster.

1. McCain co-wrote an amnesty for illegal immigration senate bill with fellow socialist Democrat Ted Kennedy. This bill would give Amnesty to 30 million illegal aliens currently residing in the U.S.A . The bill included a chain immigration provision that would allow 30 million illegal aliens to bring all their family members into America and they their family members and so on. That will bring in an additional 200 million 3rd world immigrants which would destroy the U.S.A as we know it. Democrats are in the process of making this bill even worse. This bill has to be stopped.

2. Mcain-FeinGold law took away freedom of speech In America. Hitlery will be albe to censor polital blogs using this law of McCain and Democrat FeinGold. Hillary will say that a blogger is contributing to a campaign by posting by supporting a candidate. McCain worked for over a decade with ultra leftist communist Soros groups to write McCain-FeinGold. This law has to be repealed along with the thousands of other big government laws created by Democrats over the last century.

3. Gang of 14. Still several judges have not been confirmed to the federal bench.

4. Voted against Bush tax cuts.

5. Opposed “torture” of Gitmo Al-qaida detainees etc.

6. trashed the swift boat vets.

7. Said Gonzalez should resign.

What hasn’t McCain done to hurt or to destroy America? I could go on but what’s the use ? the liberal media has every one brainwashed . 50% of people actually support socailists/Democrats (Amazing). And all of sudden McCain is saying “conservative” things just in time for the election. How convenient

[GOPyouth]

I’m a Rudy supporter, as I find him as the strongest candidate right now who has a set to deal with these islamic nutjobs who are hell bent on destroying us. However, If Fred Thompson jumps in the race, I’m going to be very torn as to who I will vote for. (Rudy or Thompson)

[Democrat_media]

Really meant to type this:

McCain (McCamnesty) has done more damage to America and to freedom than any single individual except for the following Democrats : FDR with his new deal (America’s socialist revolution) , Clinton ( raising taxes, socialist health-care, secrets to China, not going after Islamic terrorists in Afghanistan etc.), Ted Kennedy( Mr. 1965 3rd world chain immigration act ).

McCain Censors blogging on Internet The possibilities that [FEC commissioner Bradley] Smith lays out are chilling and, if enacted, could spell the end of blogging as we know it. Indeed, it could turn much of what is published on the Net into a samizdat-style activity. Sound alarmist? Read on. It all stems, of course, from McCain-Feingold, the absurd and (pace the Supreme Court) unconstitutional curtailment of political speech in violation of the First Amendment. Both Senators, and the Democratic members of the Commission, favor regulating political speech on the Internet, lest bloggers and electronic publications enjoy an advantage over print publications. This is a huge power grab by elements of the federal bureaucracy who are threatened by New Media, and a first step by those forces to shut down political speech they don't like.

[Rick_Michael]

The fallacy of the article:

Guilt by association.

[Coldwater Creek]

i don’t know about Fred being sane. Having babies at 65????

[angrymarine]

Thompson/Gramm...thats the ticket

[PubliusMM]

Fred ping...for later.

[pangaea6]

I’m for Fred and I try to read every ping but I havn’t seen anywhere his stance on embryonic stem cell research or whether he would have agreed with McCain’s gang of 14 strategery on judicial appointees. I’ve got an idea how Fred would be on these issues but I havn’t actually seen anything yet. I think answering these questions would help separate him more from these comparisons to McCain.

[John D]

Until I learn more about Thompson I will hold judgment. It bothers me that he is such a strong supporter of McCrazy, and was a cosponsor of McCain Feingold.

[RatsDawg]

Hey are those older interviews on the net? I would like to see them if they are, thanks!

[Molly K.]

To John D. - You wrote, “It bothers me that he is such a strong supporter of McCrazy, and was a cosponsor of McCain Feingold.” Me too. I am deeply disappointed to hear of his support of the McCain Fiengold bill.

Politicalmom wrote that they disagreed on the oil drilling in Alaska, plus a few other differences. Thanks for the info, Politicalmom.

PERHAPS... someday I, too will support him.
Maybe. If Fred decides to run, at some point I would like him (or someone) to list all the points where he and his friend Senator McCain agree and disagree.

[MNJohnnie]

McCain Finegold, Grandstanding on the “Torture Amendment”. Gang of 14, Immigration Reform and flip flopping relentlessly on Iraq. Sorry McCain sounds, and acts, NOTHING at all like FT

[discostu]

McCain said Thompson was instrumental in getting McCain-Feingold passed. That’s a bad thing. That’s not some sort of “hit”, Thompson supported a piece of crap 1st ammendment slashing law. He needs to seriously explain why he did that and why he’s gotten smart enough to never do anything like that again, otherwise he’s just McCain without the insanity.

[Valin]

http://race42008.com/2007/05/06/thompson-politically-similar-to-mccain/

Thompson politically similar to McCain

So says WaPo:
“Fred Thompson fervently backed the Iraq war, railed against an expanding federal government, took stands that occasionally annoyed his party and rarely spoke about his views on social issues during his tenure as a senator from Tennessee or in his writings and speeches since leaving office.

In short, the man some in the GOP are touting as a dream candidate has often sounded like the presidential hopeful many of them seem ready to dismiss: Sen. John McCain (Ariz.).

With some in the party clamoring for an alternative to their current field of presidential contenders and Thompson’s allies hinting strongly that he will run, 400 conservatives flocked to Newport Beach, Calif., on Friday night to hear the actor-turned-politician-turned-actor address the annual dinner of the Lincoln Club of Orange County, a group that credits itself with pushing Ronald Reagan to run for governor of California in the 1960s. Thompson delivered a vision of cutting taxes, reducing the size of government, overhauling Social Security and staying in Iraq until “there is some semblance of stability.”

He also called for “reform-minded, change-minded leaders,” a profile that McCain — whom Thompson described as “a man of the highest integrity and courage” in 1999 when he co-chaired the Arizonan’s presidential run — has worked hard to lay claim to over the past decade. Thompson was one of only four GOP senators to back McCain’s bid in 2000, and a former aide to the Tennessean said McCain “was far and away his best friend in the Senate.”

…

Thompson, while he was in Congress, earned a reputation as a maverick. “He’s not predictable,” said Tom Ingram, who was a top adviser in Thompson’s 1994 campaign and now serves as chief of staff for Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). Conservatives may be drawn to Thompson’s lonely effort in the Senate to reduce the role of the federal government. He opposed bills providing funding for local police departments to buy bulletproof vests and was the only vote in the Senate against a 1997 bill that would have shielded volunteers from liability suits; he argued that both were instances of the federal government reaching into areas that should be restricted to states.

In a recent column on the National Review’s Web site, he bragged about occasionally losing 99 to 1 on votes because of his federalist views.”

Read the whole thing. One of the reasons I’ve been less bearish than some about Thompson’s chances in the general is that ever since I studied his record, I’ve felt that he’s far more of a Phil Gramm/John McCain Republican than a Bush Republican. We know how popular McCain is in states like Michigan; perhaps Fred would do well in those same purple states given his comparable positions.

by DaveG @ 10:27 am.

[dirtboy]

Just watched Bernard Goldberg on C-Span observe that he had listened to a speech by Thompson and disagreed with a lot of what he said, but felt that at least Thompson believed in what he was saying and that this is what many are looking for in a candidate this time around

Compare that to Rudy, who said in the debates he was against public funding of abortion after saying just a month ago that he was for it. And Rudy also managed to flip-flop on Roe within one response. Kerry can't even do a back flip that quickly.

[Valin]

Here’s one plce you might go.

http://race42008.com/fred-thompson//

Race42008.com a pretty good source for who, what, when of the 08 race

[Reagan Man]

Here are the videos of FredT from 1995 and 2001, including the Lincoln Club speech from the other night. Have’t look yet, there maybe even more.

Lincoln Club May.4,2007
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4530474335436285748&q=fred+thompson

Charlie Rose Roundtable Sept.20,2001
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8488220643971012556&q=fred+thompson

Charlie Rose Interview Apr.24,1995
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7676759076898674402&q=fred+thompson

[RatsDawg]

Thanks a lot Reagan Man!

:)

[Dr.Zoidberg]

i don’t know about Fred being sane. Having babies at 65????

Compared to john (luke skywalker) mccain, Charles Manson is an example of rock solid mental stability.

We have nothing to fear from Fred Thompson's mental state. And if he still has the wherewithal to become a father at his age, more power to him.

[skr]

Thank you for the info. I had thought comparing the voting records might be a better indicator of their differences and there your post was! So far, it’s all to the good for Mr. Thompson. I’m hoping I don’t have to vote for McCain as the lesser of two evils on Election Day.