Posted on 01/15/2008 12:22:46 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
AIKEN --- Undecided voters stood on chairs and bumped elbows just to hear Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson on Monday.
Although his visit to Aiken County was delayed by a couple of hours, about 200 residents came to his campaign stop at Papa Russ's Barbecue to see whether the Law & Order star and former senator would get past his television persona and hit on real issues.
"I think we may have decided on a candidate, but we wanted to experience him personally," Mark Thompson, of Aiken, said of his family's wait.
Mr. Thompson acknowledged that he needs a win in South Carolina's Republican presidential primary Saturday but was unapologetic about his campaign, telling voters that if he's too laid back for their tastes there are plenty of other candidates to choose from.
U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, R-S.C., introduced Mr. Thompson in the dining room while loudspeakers in The Alley outside allowed latecomers to hear the message.
After touting national security and Supreme Court appointments as the two most important issues facing the next president, Mr. Thompson took questions from the audience before slowly winding his way to his tour bus.
"I believe our country's better days are ahead of us if we do what we ought to do," he said.
While some voters were looking for answers, diehard supporters drove to Aiken in an effort to sway the undecided.
"I'm not from South Carolina, but I'll be contacting people in South Carolina because the alternative is unacceptable and I'll have to pay for it," said Dianne Thomas, of Charlotte, N.C. "He has more depth that's not always shown in a sound bite."
Mr. Thompson's foreign policy experience and knowledge of the economy are issues that Ms. Thomas said get lost, but she said that if voters see him they'll know he's a politician who's still about the people.
"He doesn't talk in sayings like 'change,' " she said.
Mr. Thompson wouldn't say whether a first-place finish in Saturday's primary was necessary for him to continue his quest for the Republican nomination.
He will continue his tour bus campaign in South Carolina through Friday, concluding in Columbia.
I'm getting hopeful here.
More Fred fun facts:
U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson says he seldom hears about abortion in campaign travels throughout Tennessee and hopes the issue is downplayed at the Republican National Convention. The Tennessee Republican, a pro-choice defender in a party with an anti-abortion tilt, is preparing for next week’s convention in San Diego. He said the party must avoid distracting issues and focus on electing Bob Dole as president. ‘We need to concentrate on what brings us together and not what divides us,’ Thompson said in an interview with The Tennessean published Tuesday.
Later in that same 1996 AP article came this part:
In 1996, Thompson Said Republican Ideals Don’t Need To Be Written Down Into Platform. “Thompson said he opposes making early-term abortions a crime, as some Republicans would like to do with a constitutional amendment. ‘But I don’t think you should bolt on one issue. I’m still not convinced platforms are a good idea. We know what we believe in and I don’t think we need to write it all down in a document,’ Thompson said.
"chard, fred, chard"
My question is: When are you going to stop lobbing creampuffs come up with a REAL objection to Fred Thompson. You know, something that might actually have some substance - or be able to sway somebody not under the influence of mind-altering substances.
And I guess if we have to wait until His Kingdom is established on Earth, then I won’t expect an answer to my question any time soon.
>”He doesn’t talk in sayings like ‘change,’ “ she said.
>>I’m getting hopeful here.
Me too. I’ll be hoping that there are still millions of conservative Republican voters who understand how dangerous that “change” word is when our liberal RINOs speak it.
Its time for those crowds to get fired up and let the word of mouth do what the MSM will not. Fred needs to keep educating those voters; teaching the new generation what real conservatism is and reminding the old one in case they forgot.
Go Fred!
He has a 100% pro-life voting record which is also why most of the RTLC have endorsed him. If this were a recent change as with some other candidates there might be reason to question its authenticity.
As to the constitutional question Thompson has been up front as to his federalist approach to the subject and over turning Roe Versus Wade by appointing constructionist judges. It would have been a lot easier if he had just pandered to the ignorant on the subject and supported an amendment. it is one of the indications that he is a man of integrity that he does not do this. I say ignorant because presidents do not introduce legislation and the Democrats control the house and senate. An amendment banning abortion will at present not even get out of committee. Its a pipe dream.
I would therefore warn you one of the sins that He came to abolish and that has no place in His kingdom is that of bearing false witness. A half truth is a falsehood and belongs to another kingdom.
I can't blame it all on the MSM. I just don't see people getting enthusiastic about him because those who claim to value conservative principles seem to want a TV show, someone who speaks in one-liners and talks about God all the time like he's running for First Minister.
If Fred fails, I blame US for not having the maturity to live by our principles, and for not looking outside our little comfort zones for someone who's "just like us" religiously-speaking, when we should be embracing someone who represents the larger US--conservative Republicans.-
Fred has always believed in the issue of abortion being returned to the states. He is “pro-choice” to the extent that he believes states, not judges, should decide their own laws on abortion.
You find one article where the so-called journalist didn’t understand a nuanced concept like Federalism and Fred’s stance in support of it.
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDM4NTczZjE2MzE5NDNmYTk3NzU0OGVmNDQ1ZGRlOTY=
Reincarnating Reagan
Is Fred Thompson the real thing?
Excerpt:
“On at least one central theme, abortion, both men also appear to have had an epiphany, changing from a stance in favor of abortion to one very determinately against.
I know something about Reagan’s conviction on the subject, having been an advisor over a period of years prior to his presidency, and having spent many hours with him in airplanes, cars, busses, and meetings.
One such meeting on the topic took place in December 1979 at a hotel at Los Angeles International Airport, the final briefing and strategy session before the presidential campaign began in early 1980.
It was a small group that met, chaired by then-campaign manager John Sears, who had earlier succeeded in driving off several key Reagan folks such as Michael Deaver, Lyn Nofziger, and Martin Anderson, and was working on getting rid of others.
Sears insisted that Reagan would not participate in the Iowa caucuses, principally because it was a “beefcake show” and Reagan would win anyway. No one contested the Sears mandate, though it was apparent that Reagan was not entirely comfortable with the assumption that his absence would not be noticed.
The session moved on; I had completed the foreign policy component of the day, and domestic issues were of more immediate importance. The topic of Reagan’s position on abortion was launched, with Sears intoning that the Reagan position would necessarily be one of support for “choice.”
I had often discussed the topic with Reagan in relaxed moments, and knew what his position was, at least since 1977.
Reagan quickly said, “No, John..that ‘s not my position.” Sears reminded Reagan that, as governor of California, he had signed into law a measure that permitted abortion in the cases of rape, incest and the life of the mother.
Reagan responded, “Yes, I know I did. But I have given a lot of thought since to the matter; it was a mistake and that law paved the way for abortion on demand.
I now consider abortion to be murder.”
Sears countered, “Well, Governor, that can be your private position, but for the purposes of this campaign, the theme will favor limited abortion.”
At that, Reagan flushed, took off his glasses and flung them across the conference table - a classic sign that he was at his maximum anger level—saying, “Listen, dammit, John...I am running for president and you are not! Got it?”
End of discussion; he never looked back, never wavered in his conviction, knew that he would be flying in the face of increasing pro-abortion sentiment, and instructed us to make sure that his position ultimately became the plank of the party platform that year.”
Did you know that Mike Huckabee agrees with Thompson, that abortion should be left to the states?
Fred had better understand that it still is. People pay lots of extra money for their license plates that promote choosing life.
His current strategy is solid. He’s not going to play their game...he’s his own man. I like that. he will have my donations!
How many abortions did this stop? There are sadly two kinds of pro-life positions in this country.
#1 The feel-good about yourself but do nothing substantive about it position. The example you mention is one. The constitutional amendment is another - With Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid in charge + RINOS it is not going to happen.
#2 The work incrementally through the states and over turn Roe versus Wade by constructionist judges position, which involves also working with real people contemplating an abortion, and voters state by state. Ideal? No, but it actually does something, save lives.
Thompson's view is the latter, Huckabee's, and Romney's (new found view) etc. is the former. Is the goal to feel good or actually do something?
The feel good position has the same substance as saving the planet by abolishing incandescent light bulbs and replacing them by mercury vapor toxic waste compact fluorescents. It feels good but does nothing.
Most informed people can list of 5 or six of Hucks lies or position changes just since this campaign began, as matter of fact Fred did it in the last debate.
You huck guys surely don't think Fred support is going to Huck if Fred loses do you. Its a trust thing about Huck that comes from the gut.
I do not like Huckabee, and on so many fronts and issues.
His kid tortured a dog to death? That’s more than an obscenity. The acorn does not fall far from the tree.
I cannot vote for Huckabee. He is my real protest candidate (i.e., the candidate that will cause me to vote a write-in in protest to him being on the ballot as the Republican nominee).
“If Fred fails, I blame US for not having the maturity to live by our principles, and for not looking outside our little comfort zones for someone who’s ‘just like us’ religiously-speaking, when we should be embracing someone who represents the larger US—conservative Republicans.”
Good point.
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