Posted on 01/13/2008 1:09:10 PM PST by jdm
(CNN) -- For months, much of the finger-pointing over negative campaigning in the Republican presidential race has been directed at Mitt Romney.
The former Massachusetts governor has tangled with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani over immigration, with Arizona Sen. John McCain over waterboarding and with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee over just about everything.
But another Republican has embraced the brass-knuckle school of presidential campaigning, with far less fanfare. Like Romney, he began to target each of the major contenders as his campaign struggled to right itself. But unlike Romney, who has drawn return fire from each of his targets, Fred Thompson has largely been able to avoid a campaign trail "hit man" reputation until now.
The South Carolina GOP debate Thursday threw a spotlight on Thompson's negative campaign style. But for months, the former Tennessee senator's campaign has been firing at just about every one of his major competitors through Web ads, press releases and direct mail -- using tough language that rivals some of Romney's harshest lines on the stump.
The verbal warfare began months ago, following a major campaign shake-up. As Thompson's momentum stalled, some of his closest advisers, including his wife Jeri, and new campaign manager Bill Lacy, reportedly urged a fresh approach.
What emerged as Thompson's poll numbers continued to sag was a harder-edged campaign with a taste for the jugular. The former senator began hitting his opponents on policy, including their stands on taxes and abortion. Thompson's campaign also took aim at his rivals' character, issuing press releases with titles like "Yet Another Romney Flip-flop" and "Huckabee: Stick by Your Words (if You Can Remember Them)."
But most of Thompson's harshest attacks in the months before Iowa were over immigration -- a top issue among...
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
ping.
Fred stating the obvious.
But, but . . . What's that you sayin', CNN? I thought Fred was too LAZY to campaign! He ain't been doin' nothin'. That's what you been tellin' me!
Now all of a sudden he has a taste for the jugular? When did that happen? Months ago, you say? I guess you been hidin' somethin' from us common folks.
Maybe Fred did have some fire in his belly and it took the windbag Huckabee to ignite it. Now if he would take McCain on in SC and beat him oput of the race like Dubya did, I’d send Fred a large check.
Darn shame when you tell the truth about someone the MSM wants elected it is called tough finger pointing or attack ads.
And here’s a little tidbit:
http://www.okpns.com/2008/01/remember-20-years-ago-jc-watts-for-vp.html
OKPNS remembers the good ole days when we had our own caucus system. However we gave that up in 88’ and alot of us hate that we did. OKPNS also received a telephone call from a source close to former Congressman J.C. Watts and the talk of him being a V.P candidate is even more rampant throughout the Beltway and Thompson campaign. OKPNS will update you as more develops with this story.
Fred doesn’t give ‘em hell. He gives ‘em the truth and it hurts like hell.
Fred doesn’t give ‘em hell. He gives ‘em the truth and it hurts like hell.
Me too. McCain is baggage the Republican Party cannot afford.
Just got a call asking who I was voting for Saturday. I told them Fred. They asked if I had a second choice, I said no! Then they said they were calling for Huckabee. I asked them to tell Mike to drop out because he is a liar.
It needs to be restated for the libs to understand it.
Stand up and send Fred that large check NOW.
If you help him win SC, the cash will start flowing in from the riding-the-coattails-of-the-winner crowd.
FRED THOMPSON - NATIONAL SECURITY EXPERIENCE (I’ll protect the American people and American values, whatever it takes to stop the Islamic-Fascists including water-boarding!) - 2ND AMENDMENT ADVOCATE (“Individual” rights to protect their homes and property!)
INCREASE THE MILITARY’S STRENGTH AND SIZE (Diplomacy through Strength and verification!)
SECURE AND SEAL THE BORDERS (Don’t give sanctuary anywhere to illegal’s; don’t employ illegal’s; don’t rent to illegal’s; don’t extend credit to illegal’s; don’t give illegal’s rights they have no right to; report all crimes committed by illegal’s to ICE and immediately deport those illegal’s who have already committed crimes against America!) LAW AND ORDER (Enforcement of our current laws regarding illegal immigration!) – DENY FEDERAL DOLLARS TO SANCTUARY CITIES (Enough is enough!)
CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES FOR SUPREMES (Great progress has been made on the Supreme Court in Bush’s term. FRED was asked by President Bush to spirit Justice Roberts through the confirmation process. The next President will probably have the opportunity to seat two additional Justices. This is huge folks. FRED will nominate Justices who will interpret the Constitution, not create rights that simply do not exist and legislate from the bench!) – PRO-LIFE ADVOCATE (will strive to nominate superior Justices with the eventual goal of overturning Roe vs Wade)
THOMPSON PLAN TO REDUCE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING (Check out his detailed plan to reduce Federal spending!)
SOCIAL SECURITY REFORMER (Social Security is an entitlement program that will soon overtake the budget. The program can’t sustain itself and will bankrupt future generations; FRED has detailed proposals to save Social Security and provide the added benefit of private savings accounts for younger workers!)
DEFEAT ANY DEMOCRAT OR RINO (Close your eyes and imagine the first debate between FRED THOMPSON and ANY liberal DemocRAT they put up?)
TAX SIMPLIFICATION (Reform and perhaps eliminate the IRS with a variety of choice for the tax payer!)
EDUCATION (Return education to the States. It is that simple. The NEA is the greatest enemy of our educational system!)
WON’T PUT UP WITH TRUTH MANIPULATION FROM THE DB-MSM (including stupid questions by liberal moderators, and “purchased” political pundits)
FRED THOMPSON IS THE “WE THE PEOPLE” CANDIDATE (We the People asked him to set aside his personal life and step up one more time for his Country…and he stepped up!)
THIRD IN IOWA, SECOND IN WYOMING (MSM still calling it a tie with McCain’s name in the lead…FoxNews won’t even mention his name if they can find a way to avoid it!)
TOTAL DELIGATES TO DATE: 6
WINNER OF SOUTH CAROLINA JANUARY 10, 2008 DEBATE – HANDS DOWN!!! (In lieu of the airtime FoxNews chose to give him…or not give him as the case may be. WE THE PEOPLE notice garbage like that!)
IT’S NOT TOO LATE FOR MICHIGAN OR SOUTH CAROLINA OR FLORIDA OR NEVADA. CONSERVATIVES MUST UNITE NOW! A CONSERVATIVE THOMPSON REVOLUTION! ALL ABOARD THE THOMPSON VICTORY EXPRESS!
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.