Posted on 10/08/2007 5:09:55 PM PDT by Plutarch
Fred Thompson and his spinners contend that the overwhelmingly critical reception he has garnered in the media is limited to inside the Beltway “liberal media” which do not appreciate his charms and folksy appeal. The New York Times coverage this week of his visit to Iowa was typical: “Iowans saw a subdued, laconic candidate who spoke in a soft monotone, threw few elbows and displayed little drive to distinguish himself from his opponents.”
There are two problems with the Thompson explanation: 1) conservative pundits have been equally harsh and 2) local media has been even worse...
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...Out in the heartland, the reviews have been especially biting. The Des Moines Register’s David Yepsen greeted Thompson’s arrival tour this way: “Fred Thompson’s announcement speech Thursday in Des Moines was underwhelming. . . The crowd of a few hundred didn’t seem enthused. Thompson’s oratory didn’t soar but was somewhat rambling.” Iowa local media is often peeved that Thompson avoids questions. Radio Iowa last week remarked: “His staff indicated Thompson would answer reporters’ questions just outside the hall, so as not to interrupt the event. … Outdoors, Thompson quickly climbed in a black SUV and someone drove him away. No questions. No answers.” Similarly this Monday WHO-TV reported: “Thompson leaves more questions than answers.”
Even from his home state Tennessean.com notes that although his folksy image please some, it reiterated the same complaints from national commentators that he: “sometimes wanders when he talks. His light schedule in the first days of his campaign fed the image of not being a hard worker. And most devastating are the repeated instances in which Thompson has not been aware of prominent public issues, such as the Supreme Court challenge to the use of lethal injections for executions”...
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...So while it is always convenient and indeed a crowd pleaser with conservatives to blame the national media in this case the perception seems to extend to all corners of the press and across the political spectrum. As an actor, Thompson should know that the fault may lie not in the stars (or the tribunes or the posts) but in himself.
There are a number of ways this article may be considered.
(1) The writer is wrong. The media reception has been positive, and she is cherrypicking a few bad stories.
(2) Fred has been fantastic on the campaign, and because of that the media Fears the Fred all the more, and have been making up critical stories to derail his campaign that would be so dangerous to democrats.
(3) Media reports have been critical, but only because that tremendous appeal he has to conservatives is lost upon the media types. They just don't get it.
(4) The media reports have been critical, and they have been correct. Fred has been dreadful. But it doesn't matter. Fred transcends minor matters such as being able to give a decent speech or interview. The people want Fred regardless, as shown by the inverse correlation between Thompson's media reviews and the Rasmussen Daily Tracking Poll.
(5) Fred is great, no need to pay any attention to how he is doing on the trail. Give him the GOP nomination now. That anyone at FR should even question FDT's campaigning ability proves only the growing desperation of the Romney sleaze machine.
(6) The reviews are correct and do not bode well. The more Fred campaigns, the more doubts GOP primary voters will have. If nominated, the GOP will remember the 1996 Bob Dole campaign with wistful nostalgia.
6
Let’s see what they’re saying ‘all across the spectrum’ after the debates tomorrow night.
I’m for Fred, but I’m mature enough politically to know that America may turn out not to be. I do think it’s a mistake to compare him to Senator Dole (a man whom I greatly admire, BTW) and his turn as a candidate. Based on what I am reading from other FredHeads on this and on other conservative forums, Fred does have a lot of support.
Oh, I always liked and admired Dole too. It is just that by 1996 Dole was probably a bit too old to have been an effective GOP nominee against Clinton. So, unfortunately, Dole's 1996 campaign represents the standard for GOP campaign ineffectiveness.
Good question, CL. In this article, Giuliani and Romney, Making Two a Crowd , the Slimes says that Romney's audiences are subdued, just like what they said of Thompson's.
The Democrat politicos in the news media will slant the facts anyway they want to. Been doing it for decades. Stop reading their junk and ignore them.
Staying a little off-topic? I’m pretty sure there are plenty of Romney threads.
This article isn’t from the Times, and Romney isn’t even mentioned. This non-sequitor of an outburst reeks of defensiveness, and I can only say that covering our ears and saying “lalala!” won’t help us if these stories are accurate.
Now, it would be great to get back on topic and discuss these reviews Fred’s been getting. It’s possible we’ve only been getting the bad ones.
Perhaps you could point us to some that show the audience was excited, that Fred spoke coherently and knowledgeably about the issues, and that there was a genuine positive buzz after the engagement?
We’ll see how he does tomorrow night. It will be my first chance to see him in action.
Just as soon as you own this site, you can make the rules. Until then, you’ll just have to deal with it.
And you’re right—this isn’t from the NYT. So, sue me.
I can post these sorts of attacks that were printed about Ronald Reagan (and I already have)... “only the names have been changed”.
LLS
Drink up, everybody!
I think Fred will take Florida , much to Rudy’s dismay ...
actually I think the media has been particularly harsh and the MSM has been particular in actually ignoring covering FDT.
FNC is particularly brutal in being Guiliani and “the other candidates” who shall not be named.
Load of old tosh.
I loved seeing Fred in person. Went from a “well, he looks like probably the best out of the top tier” to being enthusiastic about him. He’s hardly a hellfire and brimstone, three-ring-circus kind of guy. Instead he stated what he believes, what he’s going to do with those beliefs, and why he wants to have us along for the ride. He is a leader, not a rabblerouser.
I agree 100%.
LLS
While I appreciate the sentiments, the background is that CL has chided me for posting Thompson articles from the NYT. She's wanted to know if I have stock. So for this specific thread it may seem off topic, but in the larger scope of FR internecine conflict, it makes perfect sense.
Guiliani will take the usual blue places.
Ronpaul’s useful idiot corps are in heavy with the blue zones of FL. In particular the west coast. That will hurt FDT.
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