Posted on 06/26/2007 11:04:12 AM PDT by Politicalmom
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Fred Thompson, a likely Republican presidential candidate, on Tuesday defended his work as a Washington lobbyist, telling The Associated Press that lobbying is an important part of life because "government's got their hands in everything."
The actor and former U.S. senator from Tennessee added, "Nobody yet has pointed out any of my clients that didn't deserve representation."
Thompson, who likes to cast himself as a political outsider, earned more than $1 million lobbying the federal government for more than 20 years. He lobbied for a savings-and-loan deregulation bill that helped hasten the industry's collapse and a failed nuclear energy project that cost taxpayers more than a billion dollars.
In a brief interview with the AP, Thompson said he expects to hear criticism about his lobbying activities as he moves closer to declaring his candidacy. Opponents emphasized his lobbying work during his Senate races in 1994 and 1996.
"They'll talk about it — probably with the same results," he said.
More than 200 supporters gathered earlier Tuesday at the Nashville airport to greet Thompson. He told the crowd he's "testing the waters" about a run, "but the waters feel pretty warm to me."
Thompson was scheduled to attend a fundraiser in Nashville later in the day.
Thompson declined to give a specific date for an official announcement about a presidential run.
"I have a general time in mind," he said. "You're either running or not running. I think the steps we're taking are pretty obvious."
Good article. Thanks.
Man, he has made some chump change lobbying. Hmmmm.....
Did he have any connections to McCain and the loan credit fiasco?
LOL! AntiRepublicrat got it!
Or Bush? Wasn’t Jeb in on that?
It wasn’t Jeb, it was the other Bush. Neil?
I think you’re right. My memory of it isn’t too swift.
Speak for yourself.
And?
Amen!
Some said that about Reagan (who was older than Fred).
So now that Fred has responded to the same questions we were told not to ask anynore, are we allowed to ask questions now?
Or there still a ban on questioning Fred’s past?
Bilderbergers???? Is your friend also worried about the addictive substances the Colonel put in his chicken to make you crave it fortnightly?!?!
Tell him/her to adjust the meds. They aren’t working anymore.
Actually, they do have their hands in most things in some way, shape or form.
Health care: Medicare/caid
Inventions: patents
Drug research: FDA
Education: obvious
Manufacturing: OSHA regulations
EPA in several examples
Retail: taxation, imports, international tariffs
Food supply: see retail
Energy: obvious
It’s very hard to point to an area in life that the gubmint doesn’t have at least it’s finger into. That isn’t Fred’s fault, now is it? He’s pointing out our reality, not endorsing or creating it.
He’s making money off it. That’s an endorsement.
On the contrary. Lobbyists often represent the very industries, businesses etc. that are up against gubmint regulation and meddling. Lobbyists present their client’s concerns to government representatives in order to represent their interests when congress legislates initiatives that affect them.
It can often be portrayed as a sinister job, but the vast majority of the time, lobbyists are not being sinister and provide a valuable service to their clients. For example, we have a very very strong Corn Lobby in this country. They promote the corn industry and it’s concerns and problems to Washington officials. It’s just one example.
I have tried to link an excellent overview of lobbyists that the guys over on Powerline have up today in response to these first mostly biased-written articles about lobbyists. Unfortunately I am unable to get Powerlineblog.come to open up for me at the moment despite several attempts.
I encourage you to check it out, their clarity on the issue is educational and informative.
Powerlineblog.come
That’s powerlineblog.com, of course.
Preview is my friend....
That’s fine, Ron Paul aside I’ll take Romney over this guy any day. I’d only probably choose Thompson over Giuliani, but that speaks more about my opinion of Rudy than it does the guy who lobbied for Jean Bertrand Freakin Aristide...
“I see the White House is like a subway — you have to put in coins to open the gates.”
- Johnny Chung -
The same can be said on Congress.
But what if you had a business that the gubmint was theatening with unfair or excessive taxation or regulation, for example.
Wouldn’t you consider it money well spent to have somebody explain your point of view in detail to legislators in hopes of making them see the negative ramifications of their plan? Doing so might mean the difference between keeping your business and having it go under, or keeping your employees vs. letting them go. Or is it preferable to just keep quiet or correspond with your legislators only by your own mail and phone calls. You can see how the lobby system is much more effective This is just one example of course.
Most lobbyists are not evil, sinister shysters. A few undoubtedly are, but that goes for every profession under the sun.
The lobbyist scandals
January 15, 2006
When you spread food out on a picnic table, you can expect ants. When you put $3 trillion on the table, you can expect special interests, lobbyists and pork-barrel politicians. (snip)
Nobel laureate F.A. Hayek explained the process 60 years ago in his prophetic book “The Road to Serfdom”: “As the coercive power of the state will alone decide who is to have what, the only power worth having will be a share in the exercise of this directing power.”
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_413288.html
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