Posted on 07/11/2007 6:46:44 AM PDT by jbonham76
The Brody File has come up with a few interesting quotes from Fred Thompson's past.
First off, it appears Thompson wasn't a big fan of the GOP having any sort of platform back in 1996. In April of 1996, this is what The Memphis Commercial Appeal wrote: Thompson wants to change the way the 1996 Republican National Convention is conducted. For starters, he wants to abolish the party platform - just toss the archaic thing away. 'It's the most useless device I've ever heard of,' Thompson said during a recent visit to Memphis."
Thompson also said this in a separate article from April of 1996:
Thompson: "Does Anyone Remember What Was In The Last , Except Abortion? … If We Get Caught Up In Having A Platform Debate And Stuff Like That, We Deserve To Lose."
In August of that same year, Thompson called abortion a "distracting issue." Read below from an Associated Press article:
U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson says he seldom hears about abortion in campaign travels throughout Tennessee and hopes the issue is downplayed at the Republican National Convention. The Tennessee Republican, a pro-choice defender in a party with an anti-abortion tilt, is preparing for next week's convention in San Diego. He said the party must avoid distracting issues and focus on electing Bob Dole as president. 'We need to concentrate on what brings us together and not what divides us,' Thompson said in an interview with The Tennessean published Tuesday.
Later in that same 1996 AP article came this part: In 1996, Thompson Said Republican Ideals Don't Need To Be Written Down Into Platform. "Thompson said he opposes making early-term abortions a crime, as some Republicans would like to do with a constitutional amendment. 'But I don't think you should bolt on one issue. I'm still not convinced platforms are a good idea. We know what we believe in and I don't think we need to write it all down in a document,' Thompson said.
So what are we to make of all of this?
On the GOP platform, I would think there are a great number of Republicans who believe the platform is very important because it stands for the principals the party unites behind. But as Thompson says, I'm sure there are those who think the document is a big waste of time.
On the abortion issue, it seems pretty clear that Thompson felt abortion was more of a distraction to the party. You get the sense that he saw it as divisive and something to avoid or downplay at the convention. Pro-lifers will take issue with that. I know Thompson's defenders will point to his stellar pro-life record in the Senate.
Fair enough. But be warned FDT fans: The other campaigns will be gunning for your guy. I don't think Romney or Giuliani will do it publicly. They have their own abortion issues to deal with. Instead, expect a stealth campaign where stories "pop up" about Thompson's past musings on this issue. They know he's a threat. They'll go after his past. Comments?
The GOP had a platform in 1996? I only remember being saddled with that useless senator Bob Dole that the GOP dumped on us.
In 96 we did not need the GOP, almost like now they have deeply disappointed us and given us little to support.
Here we go again. How many anti Fred threads are we going to have today???
Not a single penny to the self-serving RNC.
What FDT said on abortion is one thing. What he DID in the Senate vis a vis abortion is the only way he can be judged on the issue.
But then, Democrats do hold high this axiom: “Talk is precious, action is cheap.”
Amen.
It’s an interesting point. I have no idea what the GOP platform is, although I’m sure they aren’t living up to it, whatever it is. The real takeaway, for those who care, is his view on the politics of abortion.
Interesting.
Let me be the first to say that Fred was right. At the time, our infighting was a negative - this was when Dole already had the nomination, for better or for worse, and we, in typical fashion, were too busy arguing with each other. I see nothing wrong with what he said.
As far as abortion being a “distraction” I’d like to see the entire context of what was said...but even if he meant it...again, I have to say, I agree.
Abortion is an abomination. I think 95% of us here agree. However, we also know that there are simply too many people out there who are at least somewhat pro-choice, and get turned off by a politician who only cares about abortion and nothing else (I have gone into this before) and that is probably what Fred was getting at. Regardless, his past record AND his current comments on abortion prove him to be pro-life.
And the hits just keep on coming. The anti-Fred forces have to really reach DEEP in their bags for this crap, don’t they?
Of course we then waited four years to have a platform that was completely ignored by the elected. Better situation?
Fred was a a pro-abortion defender? Is this true?
Every candidate has to be sifted to see if they are the right stuff. Unlike the Dems who will vote for Obama based on hype, we need to know who and what we're voting for.
Not that I know of.
See my last post. I think, based on the way he says and does things, that my explaination is probably spot-on.
Plus, his record is consistent with the pro life position.
That’s pretty much what he’s saying in the Brody article. The Platform is talk. The votes are action.
I say that as a Hunter supporter. If not Hunter, then Thompson would do, IMO.
Carry the Dems water why don't you.
This is sickening the way this anti-Fred innuendo stuff is working here.
Bob Dole was hardly useless, and had the conservative base not been split by Perot, he would have beat Clinton handidly.
What I cannot understand is the flak Romney is getting for his abortion position while he was governor of an ultra-liberal state. OTOH Thompson was anywhere from Pro-Abortion to neutral on the issue while serving in the Senate from Tennessee where a pro-life stand would clearly be in his favor.
FR will have many Fred threads from here on, because he is the one to beat or tear down. Both Repos and Demos fear him, and he will be the primary target of their disinformation and lies. From here on in there will be no information released that is trustworthy.
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