Posted on 08/03/2007 8:13:33 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
One Friday afternoon last month, Jeri Kehn Thompson took attendance at the testing-the-waters presidential campaign headquarters of her husband, Fred D. Thompson. Mrs. Thompson checked to see which staff members were working at their desks, said a Republican close to the campaign, and went on to chide those who were A.W.O.L.
The spot-check is just one of many indications that Mrs. Thompson, a former political consultant herself, is taking an active, hands-on role in the effort to propel Mr. Thompson, a former Tennessee senator, into a presidential candidacy.
Admirers say the role makes sense, not only because of her background working in political campaigns but also because there were things that were not being done properly that needed to be corrected. Detractors say that her role has caused friction within the campaign and that she was the reason several top aides resigned last week.
What is not in dispute is that Mrs. Thompson is playing a central role in the nascent campaign, involved in everything, including her husbands travel schedule, fund-raising focus and staffing decisions.
She thinks, and I agree with her, that she should have a very integral role right now, said one close friend and an adviser to the campaign. She also has a keen understanding of competence and incompetence, and when you point out to people that things are not going as they should, people say you have sharp elbows.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I don’t care what she was wearing in the campaign office. What I want to know right now is: WHO’S MINDING THE CHILDREN!
If a Pubbie is to have any chance, the staff will have to be at work 25/8. Mrs. Thompson seems to have the right idea, IMHO.
Awww, idn't dat cute! You're impugning their love for their preschool children.
Is this the face of the Romney "values campaign?"
I’ll remember that next time I hear from the anti-Romney crowd with their ridiculous petty pickiuny comments.
I heard that in political circles/campaigns, the candidate’s spouse is supposed to take a back seat or else there’s unnecessary turmoil. (Duh.)
LOLOLOLOL0LOLOL
Well, the family values people are always harping about how small children need their moms - for example, Dr. Laura. I was just wondering who will be minding the little kids while Mom is running her husband’s campaign. Why is that offensive to you?
Some people just can’t seem to do that.
Heh. Thus the carping about her.
Just because she's helping to get him elected doesn't mean she's going to try to run the country.
How do you know she doesn’t have the kids WITH her? For that matter, why should we assume that the writers of this story have THEIR story straight, and aren’t just trying to make it SOUND as bad for Mrs. Thompson as they can. This is the NYT, after all.
She did this for a living before she ever met Fred. She has experience with this, so why SHOULDN'T she get involved? From what I've read, she's not making policy, or writing position papers for Fred; he's doing that just fine by himself.
Because when she did this for a living, she could be fired? Just guessing here at why having the boss's wife putting her two cents in always rubs people the wrong way.
If she knows what she's doing, I don't see a problem with her being involved. When he announces, and she has to be out on the road with him, or at her own events, she won't be looking over anyone's shoulder in the campaign trenches. I think the story is written to gin up anger against her, in order to try to translate that to non-support for her husband.
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