Fred Thompson's blunder

pittsburghlive.com ^ | November 8, 2007 | Robert Novak

[Tailgunner Joe]

WASHINGTON -- Fred Thompson was well into a prolonged dialogue about abortion with interviewer Tim Russert on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday when he said something stunning for social conservatives: "I do not think it is a wise thing to criminalize young girls and perhaps their parents as aiders and abettors." He then went further: "You can't have a (federal) law" that "would take young, young girls ... and say, basically, we're going to put them in jail."

Those comments sent e-mails flying across the country reflecting astonishment and rage by pro-life Republicans who had turned to Thompson as their best presidential bet for 2008. No anti-abortion legislation ever has proposed criminal penalties against women having abortions, much less their parents. Jailing women is a spurious issue raised by abortion rights activists. What Thompson said could be expected from NARAL.

Thompson's comments revealed astounding lack of sensitivity about the abortion issue. He surely anticipated that Russert would cite Thompson's record favoring state's rights on abortion. Whether the candidate just blurted out what he said or planned it, it reflects failure to realize how much his chances for the presidential nomination depend on social conservatives.

[John Valentine]

I consider myself a social conservative, as well as a fiscal conservative and a security conservative. I was CHEERED by Thompson’s remarks. I like a man who says he doesn’t dance to anyone’s tune and means it, even when he talking about the purer than thou wing of the Republican Party.

For me, more than ever, Fred’s the MAN. And I know others who feel exactly the same way.

[Tailgunner Joe]

I don’t dance to anyone’s tune either. Not even Fred’s.

[Kevmo]

Fred has lost ~30 points at Intrade over the last few weeks, with some heavy short interest still prevailing.

Thompson Tanking in Futures Markets (Intrade, IEM)
Intrade; Iowa Electronic Markets ^ | October 31, 2008

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1919127/posts

Intrade forum discussion
http://bb.intrade.com/intradeForum/posts/list/1805.page

[irishjuggler]

I was CHEERED by Thompson's remarks.

Well, you're just about the only one. Novak is right. Fred didn't do himself any favors with most pro-life voters with these remarks.

[Nathan Zachary]

Freds just telling it like it is. We aren’ty going to throw 13 year old lawbreakers in prison. If that causes people to freak out, then too bad.
Vote for Julie-Annie instead.

[Qwinn]

Did Novak get this pissed off when Rudy claimed that he could now support a partial birth abortion ban now that it includes an exception for the life of the mother - when EVERY PBA ban ever introduced has included that exception?

Did he see fit to tell everyone that that’s something we could expect from NARAL?

I’m guessing no.

Qwinn

[ari-freedom]

but we should throw abortionists in jail

[stefanbatory]

kinda like hitting the drug dealers instead of the drug users, eh?

Quite frankly, the abortion issue would take care of itself within a generation provided that Christian parents upheld their responsibilities for raising and educating their children. Instead, many are banished to be “educated” in the government school system and end up learning all kinds of perverse values. I wasn’t taught at home, but my parents realized the value of a real education for me and my 8 siblings. That’s why each and every one of us attended/attends a Lutheran school away from the depredations of of the governement school system and the morons that it turns out.

[irishjuggler]

Freds just telling it like it is. We aren’ty going to throw 13 year old lawbreakers in prison. If that causes people to freak out, then too bad. Vote for Julie-Annie instead.

My, my, aren't Thompson supporters cocky? Pro-life voters don't owe Fred anything, and the specter of Giuliani isn't enough to earn Thompson anyone's automatic support. Before Roe v. Wade, it was possible for a state to impose criminal penalties on an abortionist and an individual who procured an abortion. A lot of pro-life voters would have no qualms about reinstating such a system. Anyone who commits infanticide or other forms of homicide faces criminal penalties, etc., why should in utero murderers get a pass?

[colderwater]

Um, he is not “about the only one.” I too, applaud Fred Thompson’s orientation on the issue. It was no blunder. One can oppose abortion just fine without using the crude tools of the criminal justice system to eliminate it. Indeed, past history indicates that method is a failure. I’d say Fred is wisely avoiding a trap.

C.W.

[ari-freedom]

Thompson thought better of this position after the program. His campaign manager Bill Lacy told me Tuesday that Thompson “does not want to change the platform” in 2008.
-

well that’s good to hear.

[Still Thinking]

Me three. Getting some actual federalism back would be worth letting the states decide the abortion question within their own borders.

[ari-freedom]

kinda like hitting the drug dealers instead of the drug users, eh?
-

yes. even if few were actually incarcerated, it would send a public message that society does not approve of abortion.

[ari-freedom]

the problem is that fred gave the impression he was opposed to states making abortion a crime

[FreePoster]

Fred Thompson on Tim Russert:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-b1xQNRA4g

Contrast with Duncan Hunter’s take on the issue:
http://www.house.gov/hunter/news_prior_2006/righttolife03.html

[Redcloak]

Since when is believing in federalism a “blunder”?

[taxcontrol]

I do not want to put mothers in jail for having an abortion. Nor do I want to stop abortions during situations where medically, the continuation of the baby THREATENS the mother’s life.

However, I do want to stop abortions. The best way to do that is to go after the doctors or others who perform abortions. First a substantial fine, then loose their license with some jail time, then substantial jail time.