How Will They Trash Fred Thompson?
If Fred Thompson runs for President — something that appears to be a distinct possiblility — what will be the prime Democratic talking point against him? I see two:
- He acted on a TV show while he was a sitting U.S. Senator:
U.S. Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) has begun work as an actor on Law and Order for the fall season, even before his current term ends at the end of the year, the Los Angeles Times reported today (Wednesday). “It may be without precedent for a sitting U.S. senator to have a regular part in a dramatic TV program,” the Times observed. A spokesman for Sen. Thompson said that “his commitment to the Senate would be foremost” until his term ends. The senate is currently on Labor Day recess.
Even though he did his TV work during recesses, you can count on the Dems sniping about how he still owed the public a commitment to do the work of the country, etc. etc. etc. Count on it. There will be endless debates about what other Senators do during their recesses, and whether it’s all Senate-related. I can hardly wait . . .
- He has been a prominent supporter of Scooter Libby’s. He helped raise funds for Libby and denounced Fitzgerald’s prosecution as a “travesty.”
I think the Libby thing is the only one that might stick. I don’t think the public would fault Thompson for doing acting work during a recess. But the Libby thing will be guilt by association with the one high-ranking Bush official convicted of felonies. Not good. This may actually earn Thompson points with hardline conservatives, like readers of this blog, but I’m not sure how well it will play with the public at large.
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Sister Toldjah » Former Senator Fred Thompson may run for president (1466f5) — 3/11/2007 @ 12:48 pmDo you really think most people have been following the Libby issue? I keep bringing it up with people, even other lawyers and they don’t seem to care or know much about it.
To me, the Libby thing is an example of Beltway insiders and news junkies like us blowing smoke up each other’s skirts.
Jerri Lynn Ward (9f83e6) — 3/11/2007 @ 1:07 pmHe is associated with “Hollyweird” (copywrite Michelle Malkin), isn’t he
He might as well have Steven Spielberg’s prints on his lips.
The Liberal Avenger (b8c7e2) — 3/11/2007 @ 1:08 pm[vulgarity deleted] prints, that is.
The Liberal Avenger (b8c7e2) — 3/11/2007 @ 1:09 pmRight. Like Reagan.
I’m sure social conservatives would be very concerned. Just like with Reagan.
You’ll have to do better than that.
Patterico (04465c) — 3/11/2007 @ 1:10 pmDo you really think most people have been following the Libby issue?
Oh, when the election comes around, believe me: the fact that a top Bush official was convicted of four felonies will be an issue. People may not understand much more than that — but they’ll understand that.
Patterico (04465c) — 3/11/2007 @ 1:12 pmPatterico, I have it on good information that Hillary Clinton is married to a man who was impeached by the U.S. Congress for lying under oath.
Thompson raised funds for Libby? Hmm, I’ll bet if we go back far enough, we might be able to dig up dirt on Hillary raising money for Bill.
Given her close connection to the former President, I’m certain the press will put daily pressure on Mrs. Clinton to completely distance herself from Bill in every way possible.
Developing…
DubiousD (fd7d32) — 3/11/2007 @ 1:13 pmFred Thompson is an old school conservative that even a liberal like me could stand behind.
He wept when the wingnut branch of the Republican Party made fools of themselves with regards to the Terri Schiavo situation – an incident that George Bush treated with more importance than the destruction of the entire city of New Orleans!
He is also strongly against the war in Iraq.
He won’t survive 5 minutes in the wingnut arena!
The Liberal Avenger (b8c7e2) — 3/11/2007 @ 1:19 pmGiuliani has terrible stuff in the closet right now, stuff that is going to turn off more than just the right, personal stuff about the way he treated his wife and family.
Romney, bizarrely IMO, is being whacked about being a Mormon. I kind of like Romney, he’s very articulate and competent.
Cons really dislike McCain. Heck Romney is openly campaigning that he will repeal McCain-Feingold. Its that unpopular with the Pub base (as it should be IMO).
Maybe there’s room for Thompson.
I guess on the Dem side its going to be HillBilly or Obama (both?). I personally don’t think HillBilly is electable – she sounds screechy and its going to turn a lot of people off. OTOH Obama is too young and I think too far left.
/boggle
Its going to be an interesting year.
Dwilkers (4f4ebf) — 3/11/2007 @ 1:19 pmI don’t care whether his Libby support helps or hurts him. I care that it’s wrong.
TCO (a45405) — 3/11/2007 @ 1:20 pmIsnt his middle name similar to some bad guy’s name?
Tano (04010c) — 3/11/2007 @ 1:59 pmAsk Obama if OJ did it. Clinton pardoned the FALN terrorists to help Hillary. John Edwards’s beautician is a career criminal. I’m guessing that within a few short months Scooter Libby will be forgotten. Nice forward thinking everyone.
cts22 (e37641) — 3/11/2007 @ 2:17 pmI think it’s less important how they trash him than how Fred responds to it.
Hillary will always sound defensive and insincere regardless of the charges (What I usually hear when Hillary responds is “don’t question me”). McCain usually sounds defensive and unconvincing (and like he’s stifling a “don’t question me” response).
So far, Rudy has been very good explaining policy differences with the Right, but we’ll have to see how he reacts when it gets personal.
Fred can explain his Libby support in principled terms and I believe he will.
capitano (03e5ec) — 3/11/2007 @ 2:20 pmFred and Rudy may be philosophically different but the bottom line is they both act like responsible grown-ups in a time when few politicians do. I’m very conservative and I would vote for either one.
DRJ (863f9f) — 3/11/2007 @ 2:28 pmNobody fracking cares about Libby. It’s one of those subjects that causes one to want to change to nearly any other subject. File with Iran-Contra and Billy Carter.
Kevin Murphy (0b2493) — 3/11/2007 @ 3:54 pmI’ll see your Law and Order and raise you John Kerry’s virtual absence from the Senate while he was
tilting at windmillsrunning for President.Not that hypocrisy has ever bothered that side of the aisle…
Pablo (08e1e8) — 3/11/2007 @ 4:21 pmIf a Senator owes 24/7 to the public, why was Hillary writing a book on company time?
Perfect Sense (b6ec8c) — 3/11/2007 @ 4:55 pmFred is you typical consevative CHICKENHAWK. he was of age to serve in Vietnam,but when his country was at war he didn’t answer the call. Now he is all for sending other peoples children into harms way when he didn’t have the courage to go himself. from an former Marine
larry (26e518) — 3/11/2007 @ 4:59 pmThe “general public” may not think much of Fred but I think conservatives do. The GOP needs someone who can fire up conservatives if they are to have a chance in 08. The liberal Bush did not win in 04 – JFK lost. The Dems field has at least 2 who are much better than JFK. I think even I may have beat JFK! I know I would not come close to Billary or Obama; neither will Rudy.
If the Dems pick Edwards (I am not slaming lawyers) then the GOP can win with anyone; just like 04.
Rodney A Stanton (0c6311) — 3/11/2007 @ 5:14 pm[…] Patterico’s Pontifications […]
Right Voices » Blog Archive » Fred Thompson giving “serious consideration” to running….. (1466f5) — 3/11/2007 @ 5:28 pmConsidering how many time folks on the left get reality mixed up with what’s done in Hollywood, my guess is someone will try to stir up conflict with Thompson because they’ll claim he fired Serena Southerlyn on “Law & Order” for being a lesbian. And certain network shows (I’m talking to you, Keith Olbermann) will actually do stories on it as if it were a real controversy.
John (4aae5a) — 3/11/2007 @ 5:39 pmJohn,
Yeh, that’s the kind of thing those mean conservatives with southern accents do!! So even if it was a tv show, it’s still truthfullish.
/sarc
MamaAJ (031636) — 3/11/2007 @ 6:00 pm(The late) Sen. Howard Metzenbaum, (Presidential candidate) Sen. Christopher Dodd, Sen. Paul (not the singer) Simon, Sen. Alan Simpson and Sen. Tom (lying isn’t a crime) Harkin all apeared in the 1993 movie “Dave”.
Neo (cba5df) — 3/11/2007 @ 6:09 pmThompson supported McCain-Feingold, from what I’ve read.
McGehee (5664e1) — 3/11/2007 @ 6:29 pmI do remember Thompson being the target of Democrat ballistics over political issues, so I’m sure those can be easily resurrected. Although my memory at this point is foggy about what issues were involved. Judiciary, wasn’t it?
And I doubt many people will run with the actor business, given how people generally regard the last actor to sit in the White House. (As you alluded in comment 5.)
kishnevi (da26af) — 3/11/2007 @ 7:42 pmAs one of those “public-at-large” people, I agree with Mr. Thompson about Mr. Libby’s trial. While neither a lawyer nor one the jury members having all of the evidence, I have access to information, as you do, about what was not presented to the jury. The “misremembering” by Mr. Russart in the past was not in evidence, but the others who did not agree in testimony, in my opinion, should have made the jury suspicious of why Mr. Libby was being prosecuted. It was reported that even the jury had problems remembering the judge’s instructions. I guess Mr. Libby should have said he didn’t remember in the grand jury testimony; it has worked for many in the past. But I know I have made decisions based on not properly remembering information and I would have bet a considerable sum that my memory was correct. Wrong!
amr (a90377) — 3/11/2007 @ 7:57 pmI believe Thompson was the staff attorney for the special Senate Watergate Committee who asked Alexander Butterfield in open session about the taping system in the White House. Thompson is inarguably the best American actor to ever have a successful political career, and he seems to have already impressed some liberals.
Steve Smith (8fadae) — 3/11/2007 @ 10:51 pm“In 1977, Thompson took on a Tennessee Parole Board case that ultimately toppled Tennessee Governor Ray Blanton from power on charges of selling pardons.”
“On November 8, 1994, Thompson was elected to the United States Senate to fill the unexpired portion of the term ending January 3, 1997, left vacant by the resignation of Al Gore, defeating six-term Democratic U.S. Representative Jim Cooper in a 61% to 39% landslide which represented the most votes anyone had ever received for a statewide office in Tennessee history up to that point.”
“Thompson was easily re-elected in 1996 for the term ending January 3, 2003 over Democratic attorney Houston Gordon of Covington, Tennessee by an even larger margin than that by which he had defeated Cooper two years earlier.”
Libby, canned or frozen?
If he runs I suspect somewhat similar results nationally.
TC (b48fdd) — 3/11/2007 @ 10:51 pmLA wrote:
Oh, well, he’s toast now! 🙂
Dana (3e4784) — 3/12/2007 @ 4:04 amOK – how’s this?
Fred Thompson romantically linked to Time Magazine’s Margaret Carlson.
I think being a philanderer simply comes with the power of a high office. You fools have painted yourselves as hypocrites (or “hypocirts,” if you like) by pretending that BC’s BJ in the OO was such a big deal. The fact is that most powerful men in Washington are getting their stakes wet in other peoples’ gardens.
The Liberal Avenger (b8c7e2) — 3/12/2007 @ 4:54 amMonday Linkage – Run Freddy, Run!…
I just get all tingly at the prospect of Fred Thompson entering the 2008 race. Not because I’m positive that he’d be the candidate I’d support, but honestly, is there anyone else in the race on either side who’s persona……
Overtaken by Events (9f7db8) — 3/12/2007 @ 5:55 amThe Liberal Avenger wrote:
It took some digging to find, but apparently Mr Thompson was not married at the time. His first marriage ended in 1985, and his current marriage began in 2002. The alleged link to Miss Carlson was in 1999-2000. I couldn’t find anything concerning Miss Carlson being married.
Dana (3e4784) — 3/12/2007 @ 6:21 amAt least Fred’s voice doesn’t make me want to poke something long and sharp in my ear…
Scott Jacobs (90eabe) — 3/12/2007 @ 6:49 amPatterico, you seem almost obsessed with Libby. Perhaps it’s because your reasoning is so narrow as to be characterized as legal masturbation.
Those who care about Libby, will be objective enough to assume that Thompson acted out of his conviction, not out of a political purpose, or a payback.
Those who don’t care about Libby will ignore the left (and you) trying to make it an issue for the nomination.
Bob Roof (8c0efd) — 3/12/2007 @ 8:00 amHe played neo-nazi con-man “Dr.” Knox Pooley on a five episode arc of the TV show “Wiseguy”. His character gave a couple of speeches denouncing “mud people” and similar slurs which could easily be taken out of context and posted on You Tube.
Sean P (e57269) — 3/12/2007 @ 9:00 amThat could work both ways. If he says something bad, he could always claim he was channeling the character …
JayC (3ccf6d) — 3/12/2007 @ 3:43 pmAbout ten years ago, I actually had an opportunity to talk to Fred Thompson in person. My impression is that he’s honest and intelligent. I may disagree with him on many issues, but he deserves the credit nevertheless.
However, he’s for campaign finance reform. Many of you disagree with that cause – but not me. In fact, I met him through being a member of Common Cause, which has been a big supporter of that issue.
Psyberian (de47c4) — 3/12/2007 @ 5:42 pmFred is my guy if he runs. To be honest the last actor we had was the greatest president the country ever had. And if Libby gets traction in 08 Berger gets traction in 08
Devon Generally (dc4b77) — 3/21/2007 @ 6:24 pm[…] Patterico’s blog to see what he wrote and found out he did not write anything. The L.A. Times quoted a comment from a post Patterico wrote nearly two months ago predicting the media would smear Fred. It turns […]
Hot Air » Blog Archive » LA Times smears Fred! for playing a racist in 1988 made for TV movie (d4224a) — 5/4/2007 @ 11:54 am[…] to Patterico’s blog to see what he wrote and found out he did not write anything. The L.A. Times quoted a comment from a post Patterico wrote nearly two months ago predicting the media would smear Fred. It turns […]
newrepublicans.us » LA Times smears Fred! for playing a racist in 1988 made for TV movie (9f9139) — 5/4/2007 @ 12:42 pm[…] may be less here than meets the eye. The whole thing actually started from a prediction by sometimes D’08 reader Sean P. in comment #35 of this post at Patterico’s Pontifications. To my knowledge, no one is actually using this against Thompson; Sean just said it could be used […]
Decision ‘08 » Blog Archive » Life Imitates Blogs? (22ef8f) — 5/5/2007 @ 10:37 amI’m going to a closer analysis of the Wiseguy episodes that Thompson was in, if anybody is interested. I’ve started that analysis on my research blog.
William Hart (a927f5) — 5/7/2007 @ 4:52 pmHi Jim. Photos i received. Thanks
Bill Compton (ed1f83) — 6/4/2007 @ 11:37 amJudging from the Imus replacement NBC has, they will start by suggesting that Fred’s wife is a stripper…
Scott Jacobs (90eabe) — 6/4/2007 @ 11:41 amHello.
I would consider it a privilege if you would add my blog http://www.blacktygrrrr.wordpress.com to your list of linked sites if you feel the quality of it is high.
Happy June.
eric
eric (433496) — 6/4/2007 @ 11:30 pmMainstream? Are you kidding? The majority of Americans want to keep Roe vs Wade as it is. He is pro-life and against Roe. How is that mainstream?
brett thomas (9303ed) — 7/21/2007 @ 4:07 pm