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Thompson attacks Fox News
The Politico ^ | November 25, 2007 | Mike Allen

Posted on 11/25/2007 12:23:47 PM PST by dano1

Fred Thompson attacked Fox News on Sunday for what he called a "constant mantra" that his floundering campaign for president is troubled, and he accused the network of skewing things against him.

Thompson certainly isn't the first politician to make that accusation, but he's the first high-profile Republican to do so.

The assertion was arresting because Fox News was frequently Thompson's forum of choice when he was contemplating a campaign and as he tried to find his footing after he announced.

Where did Thompson do it? On "Fox News Sunday," in a heated exchange with host Chris Wallace, who played clips of Fox commentators saying his campaign had been a disappointment.

"It's a lot of the same kind of stuff that I heard when I first ran for office, when I was 20 points down. And fortunately, I wound up 20 points ahead on election night," Thompson said.

"This has been a constant mantra of Fox, to tell you the truth. And I saw the promo ... for this show, and it was kind of featuring the New Hampshire poll. Let's put things in context a little bit, to start with."

Thompson was referring to a CNN/WMUR poll that showed his support in the Granite State had collapsed to 4 percent, putting him in sixth place among the Republican presidential hopefuls.

Referring to Fox commentators, Thompson said: "From Day One, they said I got in too late, I couldn't do it ... wouldn't raise enough money, and that sort of thing. And that's their opinion. They're entitled to their opinion. But that doesn't seem to be shared by the cross section of American people. If you look at the national polls, you'll see that I'm running second and have been running second for a long time."

The latest Real Clear Politics average of national polls does have the former Tennessee senator in second place, far behind former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and slightly ahead of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

"They're entitled to their opinion," Thompson continued. "But for you to highlight nothing but the negative in terms of these polls, and then put on your own guys, who have been predicting for four months, really, that I couldn't do it, you know, kind of skews things a little bit."

In April, when Thompson wanted to reveal that he had battled lymphoma, now in remission, he chose Fox anchor Neil Cavuto. Last month, when his wife, Jeri, was being criticized in the press, the two of them went on Fox's "Hannity & Colmes" for a respectful joint interview.

Now, though, he's none too happy with Fox. Here's a bit more of the exchange between host and candidate:

WALLACE: Do you know anybody who thinks you've run a great campaign, sir?

THOMPSON: It's not for me to come here and try to convince you that somebody else thinks that I've run a great campaign.

WALLACE: Well, but that's why I ...

THOMPSON: I'm talking about — no, let me ask you ...

WALLACE: ... I'm just asking you the question.

THOMPSON: When you get past New Hampshire and look at some of these other states — states that I'm leading in in the South, for example — and straw polls that I've won, endorsements that I've got — I've got more endorsements in the state of Georgia than all the other candidates put together. So I understand the game of buildup and I understand the game of takedown. And we all go through it. And I'm perfectly willing for you to do that with regard to me as you do the other candidates.

WALLACE: I was going to say, senator...

THOMPSON: But you have the right to put in your one side, and put in the Fox side, and I have the right to respond to it. And thankfully, you've given me that opportunity.

WALLACE: I was going to say, senator, I'm glad I asked the question, because I got a heck of an answer.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: antifreds; axisofdesperation; commiecampaigncarl; fns; foxnews; fredthompson; huckleberryspam; thompson
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past

i completely disagree. Voters like me are thrilled to see his “spunk” and his drive and desire showing itself, to go up against a known “ally” like Fox News. Great for him!


41 posted on 11/25/2007 1:25:11 PM PST by adopt4Christ (The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.)
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To: Cobra64; Dano

In the end it will just be Huck an ol Jim.......


42 posted on 11/25/2007 1:26:07 PM PST by stephenjohnbanker (Pray for, and support our troops(heroes) !! And vote out the RINO's!!)
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To: Route66

“This is one of the things I like about Fred. He does not go looking for trouble, but he is not afraid to address bias and misrepresentation of facts as they arise. We need this in a candidate and in a President.”

Balls like Reagan!


43 posted on 11/25/2007 1:27:13 PM PST by stephenjohnbanker (Pray for, and support our troops(heroes) !! And vote out the RINO's!!)
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To: Cobra64

Get ready for a new neighbor. The West sucks : )


44 posted on 11/25/2007 1:28:16 PM PST by stephenjohnbanker (Pray for, and support our troops(heroes) !! And vote out the RINO's!!)
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To: dusttoyou
I always liked Brit Hume, but on his recent show the theme was Fred is Dead. No pretence, straight out slam FRED’s campaign!

I still feel very sorry for Brit having to go through what he went through with his son "Sandy" back nearly a decade ago. Brit has never been the same since that time. He's become much more quiet, I think. Basically, I think he's just doing his job and saying the lines they give him to say.

45 posted on 11/25/2007 1:28:23 PM PST by tear gas (Because of the 22nd Amendment, we are losing President. Bush. Can we afford to lose him now?)
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To: dano1

“Thompson attacks Fox News”

Good. It’s about time that he lit up the media wing of the Rudy08 campaign.


46 posted on 11/25/2007 1:29:38 PM PST by Grunthor (Glenn Beck is performing Paul Revere’s function the hard way – without a horse.)
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To: Mojohemi
The only one leaving the house worth voting for is Duncan Hunter!

Looks like you'll be staying home election day. Hillary is delighted.

47 posted on 11/25/2007 1:30:06 PM PST by HAL9000 (Fred Thompson/Mike Huckabee 2008)
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To: stephenjohnbanker
Hi Cobra! Fox has really degenerated in the last few years..............so has Hannity(open borders) Barnes....et al.

And "Bill-Obscene-Oil-Profits-Tax-O'Reilly" is dumber than sh'ite... not to mention his lousy grammer.

It's a shame these jerks never took any Economics, Accounting, and Finance courses in school.

48 posted on 11/25/2007 1:36:05 PM PST by Cobra64 (www.BulletBras.net)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
I couldn’t believe how RUDE Wallace was being to Senator Thompson. Yeesh!

My thoughts too ! I don't watch FOX anymore. Just can't take it. Chris Wallace is trying to be Tim Russert, and he fails miserably, imo.

I hope Fred is letting the rest kill one another, and laying back. There is a year to go.

Maybe it is just me, but while everyone else is running around trying to be th Rock Star, and being all things to all people. Fred is gathering what he needs , and when he speaks....it touches me deeply. ! To me, he doesn't T R Y to be someone he is not. He is real. STEADY, and STANDS FOR WHAT HE BELIEVES, and lets the chips fall where they may.

My kind of guy.!

49 posted on 11/25/2007 1:38:13 PM PST by Neenah (Looking for Mr. Smith to come back to Washington !)
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To: Grunthor

“Fox:’the media wing of the Rudy08 campaign.’”

X-ring. Dead nuts on the money.


50 posted on 11/25/2007 1:39:15 PM PST by RKV (He who has the guns makes the rules)
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To: Cobra64

“It’s a shame these jerks never took any Economics, Accounting, and Finance courses in school”

O’Reilly did. He also holds a Masters Degree from The JFK School of Excrement : )

Lookin for 1/2 acre on the lake or 10000 acres in Montana : )


51 posted on 11/25/2007 1:39:24 PM PST by stephenjohnbanker (Pray for, and support our troops(heroes) !! And vote out the RINO's!!)
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To: dano1

Actually, if there was any “attacking” going on...(I get so sick of media-ese!), it was Wallace/Fox initiating it.

Also, Politico is biased toward RATS.


52 posted on 11/25/2007 1:42:39 PM PST by prairiebreeze (Fred '08 Because our troops DESERVE BETTER than Mrs. Bill Clinton.)
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To: adopt4Christ
I think those who already support him are happy. I'm talking about how it might play with everyone else and how it might serve or disserve him should he win the nomination. Also, I have an overall concern for Fox News. Yes on any given opinion show you might find the cards stacked against one person or another. Overall Fox News is the best thing that has happened to conservatives since Rush Limbaugh. For Thompson to place himself above the bigger interests of conservatism in general, well, I just question the wisdom of that. Granted we are talking about some of these journalists being for Rudy who is not conservative. That doesn't change the big bad picture of the media. Conservatives do not have a lot of options. Maybe it would have been better to let this offense slide. Maybe not, I don't know. I just personally think it wasn't a good idea in this case. Take on the bigger offenders: ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, PBS, NPR, NYTimes, WashPost, LATimes.....on and on and on.
53 posted on 11/25/2007 1:44:46 PM PST by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: dano1

We quit watching Fox News Sunday last year, got tired of Levin and Biden.

Anyway we heard Fred would be on this morning and watched the whole thing yelling at the TV almost throughout the segment “SHUT UP CHRIS, AND LET THE MAN RESPOND”.

It was obvious Wallace was on the offensive. Doubt we’ll ever watch the program again.


54 posted on 11/25/2007 1:45:59 PM PST by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists...call 'em what you will...They ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.)
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To: Neenah

“I hope Fred is letting the rest kill one another, and laying back. There is a year to go.”

Exactly. The other candidates and the MSM are terrified that we just may have the real deal here. ;)


55 posted on 11/25/2007 1:49:12 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: stephenjohnbanker

Huck is above Rudy and below Romney.

Conservatives only have Fred Thompson, that’s all we have.

Right now:

1. Fred
2. Romney
3. Huck
4. McInsane
5. Rudy.


56 posted on 11/25/2007 1:49:19 PM PST by padre35 (Conservative in Exile/ Isaiah 3.3)
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To: RKV

;o)


57 posted on 11/25/2007 1:51:26 PM PST by Grunthor (Glenn Beck is performing Paul Revere’s function the hard way – without a horse.)
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past
Overall Fox News is the best thing that has happened to conservatives since Rush Limbaugh. For Thompson to place himself above the bigger interests of conservatism in general, well, I just question the wisdom of that. Granted we are talking about some of these journalists being for Rudy who is not conservative.

If Fox News continues to push the candidacy of Rudy Giuliani, Fox News will be one of the worst things that have ever happened to this country. Whatever good they may have done in the past (and that is debatable), it will pale in comparison to this effort of theirs to make Rudy our Commander in Chief.

It is hard to fathom the evil that lies behind an attempt to force our troops to salute a man like Rudy Giuliani. Rudy will never gain their respect just as he never gained the respect of New York's first responders. He is a draft-dodging coward.

58 posted on 11/25/2007 1:53:16 PM PST by tear gas (Because of the 22nd Amendment, we are losing President. Bush. Can we afford to lose him now?)
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To: padre35
Conservatives only have Fred Thompson, that’s all we have.

Duncan Hunter?

59 posted on 11/25/2007 1:53:54 PM PST by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: dano1

Looks like another thread that didn’t turn out as you expected!


60 posted on 11/25/2007 1:55:10 PM PST by SoConPubbie
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