Young Republicans say, 'Run, Fred, run'

Fort Worth Star-Telegram ^ | July 8, 2007

[2ndDivisionVet]

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- Not yet a 2008 candidate, Fred Thompson energized young Republicans with a speech Saturday that was heavy on rhetoric and short on policy pronouncements. He branded Democrats as "the party of despair."

Chants of "Fred" and "Run, Fred, run" from the crowd of 350 greeted the actor and former GOP senator from Tennessee at the Young Republicans National Convention. The crowd interrupted his nine-minute speech with wild applause and mobbed him when he left.

"It makes me feel like the waters are pretty warm," Thompson said afterward. He has formed an exploratory committee to gauge support for a White House run and to raise money. He is expected to announce campaign plans soon.

While he has yet to join the 10-man Republican race, he has soared in polls, taken in at least several million dollars, assembled a staff, and visited early primary states New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Thompson's speech came on the heels of reports that a pro-abortion-rights group hired him to lobby President George H.W. Bush's administration 16 years ago. At issue were attempts to ease a regulation preventing clinics that received federal money from offering abortion counseling.

Thompson declined to comment on whether he recalled doing the work, first reported by the Los Angeles Times.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Always with the LA Times/AP report on the pro-abortion lobbying! Where's the proof? It's a he-said/she-said at this point, and the women making the claim are Hillary supporters. Coincidence? I don't think so. Hillary is rightly scared of Fred Thompson, and is known for dirty tricks. AP and the Los Angeles Times are both far-left news sources, as anyone who has ever read as much as one article from them is aware.

[Doofer]

ping

[fieldmarshaldj]

They’re splashing those anti-Fred hit pieces in our local Nashville commie rodent rag. “FRED TIPPED OFF NIXON !” They’re desperate as hell.

[Weeedley]

The rats are showing their fear.

[unfortunately a bluestater]

This website http://www.freecentury.com/2007/06/13/the-cfr-and-the-2008-presidential-candidates/ has a list of which Presidential candidates are members of CFR. Fred is on the list. So is Mitt Romney, though I have been told he was put on the list mistakenly.

I am skeptical of anyone who is a member of CFR. Duncan Hunter is not a member.

[aruanan]

Not yet a 2008 candidate, Fred Thompson energized young Republicans with a speech Saturday that was heavy on rhetoric and short on policy pronouncements.

Inane policy wonks like Algore inspire no one. We want a leader, not an uber-bureaucrat.

[skinkinthegrass]

They’re desperate as hell......I know how they feel, have you seen some of our (frm. *snicker* :) top tier of candidates...and all they have is $hrillary.

[samtheman]

Fred Thompson energized young Republicans with a speech Saturday that was heavy on rhetoric and short on policy pronouncements.

Editorializing in a report that is heavy with opinion and short on facts.