Thompson Fires Away on Abortion, Gay Marriage

NewsMax ^ | 9/8/07 | NewsMax

[wagglebee]

Don't punish women who have abortions," presidential hopeful Fred Thompson says. Punish the doctors who perform them.

Authorities "can do whatever they want to with abortion doctors, as far as I'm concerned," the former Tennessee senator said while campaigning in Western Iowa according to the Los Angeles Times. But "if it comes down to giving criminal sanctions to a 19-year-old girl and her mama, I'm against that."

While acknowledging that as lawyer and lobbyist, he worked in 1991 and 1992 for a group fighting restrictions on abortion counseling he said that once in the Senate he "voted against these people and everything they were interested in," he said.

Speaking to crowds during his Iowa appearances, Thompson revealed his views on a variety of issues, including activist judges, gay marriage and illegal immigration.

• Thompson chastised those judges in Iowa, Massachusetts and other states for rulings that opened the way to same-sex marriage, calling for constitutional amendments to curb judges' power to do so.

  "What we're seeing here is a totally judicially created problem," he told a crowd in Sioux City, Iowa according to the Times. "You know how many states have affirmatively approved gay marriage? State legislatures? Zero."

  He also said he backed a constitutional amendment to prevent states from being forced to recognize a same-sex marriage performed in another state under "some off-the-wall court decision, "and called for an amendment to bar judges from allowing same-sex marriage in a state unless that state's its legislature had approved it.

• On illegal immigration Thompson said steps must be taken to expel illegal immigrants from the U.S.

  "I think that if we catch illegal immigrants who are here, they need to be deported," he said. "We have the option of prosecuting them," he added. "It's not being done. I'm not suggesting that it should be done -- fill up our courtroom with these misdemeanor cases -- but we ought to deport them."

• On President Bush, Thompson told reporters he supported the President. Asked about whether he would shift the country's direction, Thompson praised Bush's performance on Iraq, the economy and Social Security. While criticizing the president for presiding over "too much spending" at the federal level, he said he backed Bush's efforts to try to overhaul Social Security with private investment accounts. He also praised Bush for "doing a good job" on the economy and said, "I give him credit for the Supreme Court nominations that he's made."

• On Iraq, he said "I think that we are finally on the right track in Iraq, and we are making progress."

[wagglebee]

Sounds good to me.

[wagglebee]

Pro-Life Ping

[wagglebee]

Homosexual Agenda Ping

Freepmail wagglebee or little jeremiah to subscribe or unsubscribe from the homosexual agenda ping list.

Be sure to click the FreeRepublic homosexual agenda keyword search link for a list of all related articles. We don't ping you to all related articles so be sure to click the previous link to see the latest articles.

Add keywords homosexual agenda to flag FR articles to this ping list.

[Tears of a Clown]

The federal spending line is heartening.

[nmh]

“Don’t punish women who have abortions,” presidential hopeful Fred Thompson says. Punish the doctors who perform them.”

We need to have PICTURES of ABORTION all over the place.
We need to discourage females from having this and make it a crime for the doctor to perform murder. Abortion needs to be made ILLEGAL AGAIN.

[Scotswife]

“Don’t punish women who have abortions,” presidential hopeful Fred Thompson says. Punish the doctors who perform them. “

Isn’t that kind of like saying we shouldn’t punish people who kill their newborns?

His approach may make sense in that it would whittle away at the abortion establishment.
I just don’t think it makes sense as far as being morally consistent.

[trumandogz]

A murder is a murder and all those who have prior knowledge that the murder will take place and those who participate in the murder it self should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

[Jeff Chandler]

On President Bush, Thompson told reporters he supported the President. Asked about whether he would shift the country's direction, Thompson praised Bush's performance on Iraq, the economy and Social Security. While criticizing the president for presiding over "too much spending" at the federal level, he said he backed Bush's efforts to try to overhaul Social Security with private investment accounts. He also praised Bush for "doing a good job" on the economy and said, "I give him credit for the Supreme Court nominations that he's made."

Perfect pitch.

[nmh]

“Isn’t that kind of like saying we shouldn’t punish people who kill their newborns?”

Unless you can pick out the murdered newborn it’s not specific on WHO aborted it. Besides, THAT is an abortion. It needs to be in the OPEN for what it is. It’s not about “feelings”. It’s all about stopping it. A guilty conscience might actually be helpful in coming forward from those that had this procedure and REGRET IT.

“His approach may make sense in that it would whittle away at the abortion establishment.
I just don’t think it makes sense as far as being morally consistent.”

It’s side stepping the blame to doctors. If females didn’t want an abortion there wouldn’t be doctors performing them. The DEMAND starts with the FEMALE - not the doctor.

[LibLieSlayer]

Do you want independents to vote for Fred and reduce abortion further... or do you want him to be defeated and let hildebeast hand out coupons for abortions in elementary schools? Bottom line... Fred will appoint SCOTUS candidates that will apply the Constitution, not interpret it for activism. That means Roe will eventually go down. Think end result.

LLS

[CheyennePress]

It sounds good to you?

>>>I think that if we catch illegal immigrants who are here, they need to be deported,” he said. “We have the option of prosecuting them,”<<<

Sounds like the bare minimum that every single Republican candidate has been saying to this point—maybe a hair above Giuliani (I could make a joke there, but I’ll be nice. :D . Where’s the talk about enforcement? Increased scrutiny of employers’ hiring practices? Increases attempts to catch those engaged in identity theft and fraud? The fence? Increasing the budget of the border patrol? Number of officers? Birthrights of those born here? This is fluff.

>>>and called for an amendment to bar judges from allowing same-sex marriage in a state unless that state’s its legislature had approved it. <<<

And if a federal judge held that gays have the right to marry? What then? I’m all for states amending their constiutions. But there is no solution safe from judicial activism save a federal marriage amendment. None.

[Scotswife]

“It’s side stepping the blame to doctors. If females didn’t want an abortion there wouldn’t be doctors performing them. The DEMAND starts with the FEMALE - not the doctor”

I know females who were pressured into abortions by the men in their lives.
The demand comes both from men and women, but the demand also comes from this recent idea that we are entitled to consequence-free sex.

So...surprise surprise! We’re pregnant!
They can either abort - or do what some folks do and strangle the poor thing upon birth.
Same thing - should have the same consequences.

[John Valentine]

You have it right.

Any candidate who came out and advocated prosecuting women who have abortions as murderers would immediately go to somewhere around 0.5% in the polls and stay there until dropping out.

First and foremost this has to be about winning and then doing what can be done.

[Scotswife]

“Do you want independents to vote for Fred and reduce abortion further... or do you want him to be defeated and let hildebeast hand out coupons for abortions in elementary schools? Bottom line... Fred will appoint SCOTUS candidates that will apply the Constitution, not interpret it for activism. That means Roe will eventually go down. Think end result.”

yes, I know.
I’m just always expecting politicians not act so much like...politicians. Sigh.

[counterpunch]

"I think that if we catch illegal immigrants who are here, they need to be deported," he said. "We have the option of prosecuting them," he added. "It's not being done. I'm not suggesting that it should be done -- fill up our courtroom with these misdemeanor cases -- but we ought to deport them."

While this is a good start, I do think prosecuting illegals should be reconsidered, because the threat of 6 months in jail may act as a deterrent to those thinking about crossing the border illegally.
 

[skinkinthegrass]

or do you want him to be defeated and let hildebeast hand out coupons for abortions in elementary schools?
Bottom line... Fred will appoint SCOTUS candidates that will apply the Constitution, not interpret it for activism....think end result.

SANITY, @ last.

[CheyennePress]

I’m a bit puzzled myself.

Under Thompson’s logic here, it’s perfectly legal for a woman to use a coat hanger to perform an abortion on herself but illegal for her to receive medical assistance in doing it.

In other words, it’s not illegal to kill a child. But it’s illegal to help a woman do such. That doesn’t make much sense to me at all. I’m not sure how that’s even a pro-life argument.

It would probably reduce the number of women seeking abortion. It would weaken, as you say, the abortion establishment. But it would undoubtedly lead to more deaths of women who perform abortions. And it would completely fail to address the moral component of killing unborn children, as well.

Half-baked, at best.

[fish hawk]

He’s saying what I want to hear but is he JUST saying what I want to hear?

[SandRat]

[nmh]

The fact is “pressure” or not, the female made the CHOICE to have one. Years ago females could get away with the “pressure” excuse. Today they can’t. There are oddles of organizations out there willing to care for you and if you don’t want the baby set you up with someone to adopt it and in many cases willing to house you and pay for your medical care in exchange for the baby and full parental rights. The excuse of being “pressured” is out dated.

Sex is so in your face today ... diseases and unwanted babies that it doesn’t fly that YOU can get pregnant and HOW you can get pregnant. It’s no mystery. In fourth grade the MAJORITY of schools are having programs on “becoming a woman” and that includes how babies are made. No, it’s not like the “good old day”. Kids today know more about sex than kids years ago.

[John Valentine]

Sounds like the bare minimum that every single Republican candidate has been saying to this point—maybe a hair above Giuliani (I could make a joke there, but I’ll be nice. :D . Where’s the talk about enforcement? Increased scrutiny of employers’ hiring practices? Increases attempts to catch those engaged in identity theft and fraud? The fence? Increasing the budget of the border patrol? Number of officers? Birthrights of those born here? This is fluff.

You are criticising Thompson for not covering every issue in a single speech. That's not reasonable, and it smacks of distortion because you imply that Thompson has been silent on these aspects of the issue. I have heard him make statements on most (if not all) of the aspects of illegal immmigration that you mention, but I think that it is not reasonable to expect him to cover every aspect of every issue in every speech.

But then, what's this? Your tagline tells me you are a Mitt Romeny supporter!

I think that you are engaging in blatant partisan rhetoric and distortion. You have a right to do that, of course. But I also have the right to call you on it.

[wagglebee]

Yet you support a candidate who has at best marginal pro-life credentials, did NOTHING about illegal immigrants while governor and forced homosexual marriage on Massachusetts.

[nmh]

BTW, I do understand ... and would only hope that those that had abortions, see the error and hopefully come to Christ for a clean conscience. At the foot of the cross, we are all sinners .... but the consequences for abortion are different than say stealing ... these females need special counseling to overcome the guilt and shame ... I’m all for that ... I would NEVER consider myself better than someone like that ... I couldn’t ...

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Actually a few states have gay marriage by another name, given to them by their legislature. Some judge is likely to play around with that and just mandate civil unions instead of marriage. We need to be clear and that starts by acknowledging some states have gay marriage by another name.

[Scotswife]

“In other words, it’s not illegal to kill a child. But it’s illegal to help a woman do such. That doesn’t make much sense to me at all. I’m not sure how that’s even a pro-life argument.

It would probably reduce the number of women seeking abortion. It would weaken, as you say, the abortion establishment. But it would undoubtedly lead to more deaths of women who perform abortions. And it would completely fail to address the moral component of killing unborn children, as well.”

yes, exactly.
you just said it much better than I did.

[lesser_satan]

I don’t know about that. Six months in an American jail might be better than freedom in some of the worse parts of Mexico.

[Mr. Lucky]

Correct. Should we remain oh so morally pure that we allow one and a half million babies a year to be murdered because Senator Thompson’s proposal, which would be wholly efficacious, doesn't make us feel sufficiently warm and fuzzy?

[villagerjoel]

“I think that if we catch illegal immigrants who are here, they need to be deported,” he said. “We have the option of prosecuting them,” he added. “It’s not being done. I’m not suggesting that it should be done — fill up our courtroom with these misdemeanor cases — but we ought to deport them.”

I’m with Fred, and while I agree with this, I think it’s more important to secure the border first.

[lesser_satan]

And a gun-grabber to boot.

[The Forgotten Man]

Repeal Roe v Wade, that will fix it....

[counterpunch]

Freedom to hop right back over the border again without consequence.

[Tears of a Clown]

Exactly.

This is a national election. Fred is doing enough by encouraging less abortion in the future without resorting to a “send the woman to jail!” pitch. Which would be a death knell for any serious candidate.

[lesser_satan]

That’s why we need a fence and another 30,000 border patrol agents.

[Scotswife]

“The excuse of being “pressured” is out dated”

really?
I personally know a woman was pregnant by her fiance.
When the engagement broke up, she was 4 months pregnant and moved back in with her jerk of a father.

I say “jerk”, because this financially well-off, well-educated man said to his own daughter...”I will pay for an abortion. I will not pay for a birth. If you have this baby you can no longer live here...”

Of course...having been raised by this jerk, her set of values was screwed up, so she wasn’t going to go live among strangers (nice as they may be) just to be able to give birth.
When I inquired about adoption, she said she didn’t want anyone else raising her child.
Maybe I shouldn’t have said it, but I did...”so you would prefer the child dead?”. That just made her mad.

So, while she COULD have taken advantage of those oppurtunities you mention, she also was pressured.

There are many young girls being physicall and sexually abused who are pressured to have abortions under the threat of their abuser.

“Sex is so in your face today ... diseases and unwanted babies that it doesn’t fly that YOU can get pregnant and HOW you can get pregnant. It’s no mystery. In fourth grade the MAJORITY of schools are having programs on “becoming a woman” and that includes how babies are made. No, it’s not like the “good old day”. Kids today know more about sex than kids years ago”

But they’re also being sold the strange myth that sex is somehow disconnected from parenthood.
That we are entitled to having sex, but must be free from the natural consequence of having children.

Are the kids getting the message that people STILL get pregnant while on the pill? Or using condoms?

I even know a woman who got pregnant after having her tubes tied.

[DoughtyOne]

That is pretty good, but I’d sure like to hear something about the Department of Education and turning off the spigot on NPR and PBS.

Education dollars should be kept local. School boards and parents should make the decisions on how much and for what the education dollars are spent. The federal goverment’s only oversight should be limited to making sure English and sound American history is taught, and that the curriculum isn’t designed to brainwash children.

I like the idea of privatizing Social Security, but I wouldn’t stop there. Privatized medical accounts should replace Medicare also.

Even the poorest should be paying something for their own medical care. Whether it works out to a percentage or not, they should help to cut costs because they will be financially impacted if they abuse the system.

Anything that reduces the free ride the left has gotten for the last sixty years would be appreciated. Anything that reduces splinter groups from getting something from the government would be appreciated even more.

By 2040 we should have gone a long long way toward getting government out of 98% of our lives.

The bureaucracies should be nearly nonexistent by then.

[Scotswife]

I’m not necessarily advocating locking up women who go to the clinics.
I’m just pointing out a moral inconsistency in the stance he is taking.

[CheyennePress]

Actually, I've read Thompson's pieces on the border and searched for his own words. They aren't very substantive at all. He spent an entire essay that essentially boils down to a criticism of the way Mexico has reacted to our border enforcement and a chastisement of Calderon. He has a piece on Hazelton, which states that he believes local and state governments should be able to act on illegal immigration.

He has said that he sees no reason to have a border fence of "stone and mortar."

"If it [a wall] would work. I mean, I don't know – that's a technical problem. In this day and age, I would not think you would have to use bricks and mortar to get that job done." --Fred Thompson

He has spoken against going after employers who hire illegals.

"For 20 years, we've not enforced the law, and that's a part of the problem. You can't enforce it all on the backs of the employers. People falsify information that they give employers and all that. That's not a solution to the problem." --Fred Thompson

And I've said on numerous occasions that Thompson is still unveling his platform (albeit months behind the others in this race). Go back and look at my posting history. But what Thompson has said is really better than what has been proposed by Giuliani and McCain. Maybe.

And you can call me a partisan hack all you want, but I've also said on here on numerous occasions that the order in terms of border enforcement falls: 1) Tancredo 2) Hunter 3) Romney.

I'll call a spade a spade and give credit where it's due. Call it partisan rhetoric all you want. I don't give a rip. Huckabee opposes raids on employers. Does Thompson? Who freakin' knows? I'd guess he doesn't. But I also guessed he'd support a physical fence.

[CottonBall]

On illegal immigration Thompson said steps must be taken to expel illegal immigrants from the U.S.

Big improvement over what he said before!

And a huge improvement over the current WH occupant.

Pint to Politicalmom.

[CottonBall]

I meant ping, not pint.

But you can have one too!

[sdw2is]

Great article!!!!! I have been waiting for someone who is refelecting my viewpoints. Thompson’s saying all the right things particularly on immigration, right to bear arms, spending, and social security. This guy appears to carrying the conservative mantle. Maybe he’ll bring the others (suspiciously blue staters) closer to red state conservatism.

[CheyennePress]

>>>did NOTHING about illegal immigrants<<<

I’m going to prove this statement blatantly false in a new post. But I’m also going to ask you to prove this statement true:

“[Mitt Romney] forced homosexual marriage on Massachusetts.”

Because I’d be frankly surprised if you could name the court case that got this mess started in Massachusetts, much less address the legality of what happened.

Better yet, while you sit here and argue that Romney forced all of this on Massachusetts, are you going to make the same argument that Iowa governor forced this on Iowa? Because couples were indeed married there. The governor’s fault? Come on, now. Make a stand. Who is the govenor of Iowa? I hope you’ve been out there throwing dispersions in that direction.

I really think you’re just posting stuff you’ve heard on this site, largely taken from Mass Resistance. I promise you that you can do better than that.

[CottonBall]

I’m with Fred, and while I agree with this, I think it’s more important to secure the border first.

I believe he did say that previously.

It'll be nice when he's in the debates and we can get the whole picture of what he stands for. Right now, we're left guessing with a quote here, a quote there.

[CottonBall]

That’s why we need a fence and another 30,000 border patrol agents.

Bush threatened to veto a House bill that would spend $3B to reinforce the border and hire more border patrol and ICE agents. He said it was fiscally irresponsible! Like all of his spending wasn't.

That would make a good debate question - ask each candidate if they would veto a bill like that.

[wagglebee]

Did Romney order homosexual marriage in Massachusetts, yes or no?

And as far as Chet Culver goes, it’s to be expected of a ‘Rat.

[Politicalmom]

He had talked about enforcement, including worksite several times, as well as funding the border patrol. You just ignore that information when it’s posted, and continue with your lies.

[CottonBall]

And you can call me a partisan hack all you want, but I've also said on here on numerous occasions that the order in terms of border enforcement falls: 1) Tancredo 2) Hunter 3) Romney.

I agree. Romney is actually sounding pretty conservative these days. It'll be nice to know where Fred falls in this mix, when he finally puts it all together. If he keeps having vague things to say, I'm going to guess he's for amnesty and too cowardly to admit it. I hope he does otherwise.

[CheyennePress]

Romney on Illegal Immigration as Governor:

1) Enacted a program to train Massachusetts State Police to apprehend, detain, and deport illegal immigrants in conjunction with ICE.

2) Vetoed a bill that would have given in-state tuition to illegal immigrants

3) Fought against bi-lingual education and vowed to veto any bill that attempted to bring it into Massachusetts.

4) Fought against illegal immigrants receiving driver’s licenses in Massachusetts

5) Sheriff Joe Arpaio, perhaps one of this nation’s strongest critics, serves as an advisor to Mitt Romney and backs his campaign. “I’m sure the governor believes in my philosophy too,” Arpaio said. “He sure would not be asking for my endorsement if he didn’t believe in what I’m doing.”

6) Increased funding to ESL courses for LEGAL immigrants to speed integration into the state economy.

Your turn.

[wagglebee]

Romney administration officials said yesterday that out-of-state gay couples who want to marry in Massachusetts do not have to show documents proving that they live here or plan to move here, a major shift from the governor's earlier stance on enforcing limitations on licensing gay marriage.

Gay-marriage rule eased

[LibLieSlayer]

At least Fred will do the RIGHT thing... not just pay it lip service like so many.

LLS

[SAJ]

6 months in jail? Not bloody likely. A year on a chain gang, after which break one of their legs and **then** deport them.