Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Fred Thompson Set to Launch His Campaign Next Week, Opposes Abortion
LifeSiteNews.com ^ | Steven Ertelt | August 30, 2007

Posted on 09/01/2007 7:44:36 PM PDT by monomaniac

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 30,
2007

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Actor and attorney Fred Thompson announced Thursday that he will make the formal declaration next week that he is officially a candidate for the Republican nomination for president. The former Tennessee senator has said repeatedly in recent months that he opposes abortion and embryonic stem cell research.

In a statement he released today, Thompson said, "I believe that there are millions of Americans who know that our security and prosperity are at risk if we don't address the challenges of our time."

The official announcement will come in a video broadcast on his web site followed by a five day tour of key primary battle ground states like Iowa and South Carolina.

Thompson is scheduled to participate in a television appearance next week but will not participate in a debate that is slated for Wednesday night in New Hampshire.

He has spent months running a potential campaign for president that has partially shielded him from criticism and allowed him to boost his polling numbers on the hopes that he could salvage what some see as a poor field of Republican candidates.

Weeks ago, Thompson repeated the statements he's made repeatedly over the last several months that he opposes abortion.

"I think Roe v. Wade was a bad decision. I think it was bad law and bad medicine," Thompson said in an appearance on CNN.

"You don't just get up one day and overturn the entire history of the country with regard to nature and major social policy, without any action by Congress, without any action by the American people or constitutional amendment, and that's what happened," Thompson explained.

The former Tennessee senator continued, "It shouldn't have happened. It ought to be reversed."

Those comments came on the heels of news reports that Thompson did some work for a pro-abortion group in 1991 when his law firm was hired by an abortion advocacy organization to lobby the White House on abortion issues.

The former attorney and actor then compiled a 100 percent pro-life voting record while representing Tennessee in the Senate and has repeatedly said he favors overturning Roe v. Wade.

His most comprehensive treatment of pro-life issues came in a video message he gave to attendees at the National Right to Life convention.

The video showed the former Tennessee senator with his wife and two young children and he told pro-life advocates that his family helps him appreciate pro-life values.

“When I was in the Senate a lot of people would come to see me and it usually would have to do with business matters or financial matters," Thompson said. "When you came to see me, I always knew it was about something much more important than that, the most important thing of all in this World and that is life."

"I must say that those issues are even more profound to me as the years go by. Jeri and I have truly been blessed," the well-known actor added.

Thompson said he has been pro-life at least since he first ran for the Senate in 1994 and received National Right to Life's endorsement and that he's been with the pro-life movement ever since.

"On abortion related votes I've been 100 percent," Thompson explained saying he's voted against federal funding for abortion, Roe v. Wade and partial-birth abortion -- a procedure he called "infanticide."

The potential presidential candidate also spoke extensively on the issue of embryonic stem cell research for the first time since the buzz built up about the possibility of him running.

His comments put him in line with the pro-life movement at a time when other candidates who oppose abortion, like John McCain, favor the destructive science.

"On stem cell research, I'm for adult stem cell research not stem cell research where embryos of unborn children are destroyed. It looks to me like there is a lot of promising developments as far as adult stem cell research is concerned anyway and we don't need to go down that other road," Thompson said.



TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia
KEYWORDS: 2008; abortion; campaign; electionpresident; elections; fredthompson; gop; humanembryo; humanlife; prolife; republican; stemcell; thompson
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-55 next last

1 posted on 09/01/2007 7:44:42 PM PDT by monomaniac
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: monomaniac

I will support him.


2 posted on 09/01/2007 7:46:10 PM PDT by MamaB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: monomaniac
"I think Roe v. Wade was a bad decision. I think it was bad law and bad medicine," Thompson said in an appearance on CNN.

"You don't just get up one day and overturn the entire history of the country with regard to nature and major social policy, without any action by Congress, without any action by the American people or constitutional amendment, and that's what happened," Thompson explained.

The former Tennessee senator continued, "It shouldn't have happened. It ought to be reversed."

Go Fred go!

3 posted on 09/01/2007 7:48:29 PM PDT by Reagan Man (FUHGETTABOUTIT Rudy....... Conservatives don't vote for liberals!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: monomaniac

Good prolife statement.

Now I have to find out where he stands on all the other issues.

I hope he gets into the debates sooner rather than later.


4 posted on 09/01/2007 7:48:31 PM PDT by Palladin (Satan to Fidel: "Let me light your cigar.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Palladin
I don't know about you, but I just want a candidate that understands national security and not only wants our borders secured and our current immigration laws enforced, but actually gets WHY we are opposed to shamnesty and isn't afraid to say it.

I want a candidate that understands the second amendment and not only understands the importance of appointing conservative judges to stop judicial tyranny, but also understands how precious life is.

I want a candidate that won't pander to European socialists and is willing to tell the Mexican government how things are, as well as being willing to actually say how useless the UN is.

I also feel it is extremely important to nominate a candidate that can articulate conservatism in a way that everyone can understand, to counter the demagoguery of the left. I like a candidate who can explain why tax cuts are good for our economy and can show man-made global warming for the joke that it is. It would be refreshing to see a candidate explain why we should back Israel and make damn sure Iran never gets a nuke.

Wouldn't it be great to have a candidate that see's CAIR for what it is? Even better to have a candidate that calls out Democrats for being the defeatist losers that they are.

While we're dreaming the impossible dream and looking for this perfect candidate, I'd also like to throw in that I would love to nominate a candidate who can use the new media to his advantage and get around old media liberal bias.

I don't know where we'd ever find such a candidate, but if we can find him, we'll do well in 2008. :)

5 posted on 09/01/2007 7:54:07 PM PDT by perfect_rovian_storm (John Cox 2008: Because Duncan Hunter just isn't obscure enough for me!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: MamaB
I will support him.

I will believe it when it happens.
6 posted on 09/01/2007 8:01:26 PM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax, you earn it, you keep it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: perfect_rovian_storm
That was good! Thanks!

Fred has so many qualities I've never expected to find in a candidate.

7 posted on 09/01/2007 8:04:13 PM PDT by Darkwolf377 (Atheist, pro-lifer, Bostonian, reader, woman-watcher, writer, etc.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: perfect_rovian_storm
Yeah, dream on buddy, he’s no Ron Paul...

Your boy is doomed...

BTW all that crap you mention in your post. I am sure it is unconstitutional.

8 posted on 09/01/2007 8:08:24 PM PDT by ejonesie22 (I don't use a sarcasm tag, it kills the effect...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: perfect_rovian_storm

I like your tag line. The word obscure has a whole new meaning to me....
This is a good post.


9 posted on 09/01/2007 8:08:57 PM PDT by hoosierpearl (To God be the glory.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: perfect_rovian_storm

I’m with Fred! He is the man.


10 posted on 09/01/2007 8:10:36 PM PDT by Shortstop7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Man50D
No, actually I bet you won’t.

Indeed at the inauguration you will still be saying he’s not running...

11 posted on 09/01/2007 8:11:16 PM PDT by ejonesie22 (I don't use a sarcasm tag, it kills the effect...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: perfect_rovian_storm

Awesome post!


12 posted on 09/01/2007 8:13:37 PM PDT by Tears of a Clown
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: monomaniac

Nice picture. 10 years old.


13 posted on 09/01/2007 8:14:44 PM PDT by airborne (Proud to be a conservative! Proud to support Duncan Hunter for President!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ejonesie22

You mean the inauguration of Ron Paul?


14 posted on 09/01/2007 8:15:09 PM PDT by Abcdefg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: perfect_rovian_storm

It also doesn’t hurt to tell Fred Thompson all of this yourself by e-mailing The Fred Team at I’m with Fred.com!


15 posted on 09/01/2007 8:15:11 PM PDT by johnthebaptistmoore
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: monomaniac

It's about time one of our major candidates said it.

16 posted on 09/01/2007 8:15:37 PM PDT by FreeReign
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ejonesie22
BTW all that crap you mention in your post. I am sure it is unconstitutional. And what parts would that be...please explai.
17 posted on 09/01/2007 8:22:52 PM PDT by Las Vegas Ron ("I fear we have woken a sleeping giant and filled her with a terrible resolve" - Osama 9-11-01?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: ejonesie22
No, actually I bet you won’t.

Indeed at the inauguration you will still be saying he’s not running...


Oh I see, you want people not to consider him if and when he declares his candidacy. I'm sure Fred would be glad to have you as his campaign manager.
18 posted on 09/01/2007 8:26:18 PM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax, you earn it, you keep it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: monomaniac

Looking forward to Fred’s campaign. The MSM is not going to know what to do with him, but Fred will know what to do with the MSM.

Hillary....give it up, you can’t beat Fred, its over for you. Obama.....yah right. Rudy, its been real....the unborn might have voted for you....but damn! Mitt....nice try, in the unlikely event that Fred bombs....stick around.

Duncan, your’e a great guy, looking forward to your taking a top post in the Thompson Administration.


19 posted on 09/01/2007 8:27:29 PM PDT by HerrBlucher (Tack it up and shut em down Fred!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: perfect_rovian_storm

Thanks for the links, I read the article that Thompson wrote for NR about the second amendment.

Freds 2nd amendment view is very different than this other candidate’s take.

“These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people.”
Mitt Romney


20 posted on 09/01/2007 8:38:27 PM PDT by ansel12 (Paranoia, conspiracy, superiority, otherness, pod people "The Invasion" 2007 imdb)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-55 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson