Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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Posted on 11/14/2007 8:45:14 AM PST by jaybeegee
I feel comfortable saying, based on conversations with NRLC members, that Jim Bopp's attack on Sam Brownback did not help the Romney team with the NRLC.
Paul Weyrich coming unglued and accusing Thompson of bribing NRLC for their endorsement is really not going to help Romney at the grassroots level.
Weyrich can say what he wants, but (a) it's not true and (b) it's not helpful. I would suggest that if they don't think Thompson is a threat, the Romney camp might not want to get bogged down on this. The latest poll numbers in Iowa and South Carolina are certainly not painting a pretty picture for the Thompson camp. But, this endorsement just might help.
[UPDATED:] I just got this punch thrown from the Thompson campaign into my inbox:
"Gov. Romney is new to the pro-life movement and his campaign clearly has a few things to learn about it. First, they should understand that despite their campaign's every effort, groups like the National Right to Life Committee's PAC (NLRC-PAC) cannot be bought. NLRC-PAC is supporting Fred Thompson because of Fred's 100% pro-life voting record. They know he stood with them yesterday, he stands with them today, and he will stand with them tomorrow. It is unseemly for the Romney campaign and its supporters to suggest that NLRC-PAC's coveted endorsement is based on a bribe. Second, this unfounded accusation is as outrageou s as it is ironic, given the Romney campaign's long history of spreading money around to anyone who will take it."
----end article----
FredThompsonNews
(Excerpt) Read more at redstate.com ...
Paul Weyrich has also jumped the shark.
Pro-life voters will make up their own minds on who to support - and any of them can come up with reasons to support any R who is running. And they will. Endorsements from a faceless group like this (albiet a very helpful group to The Cause) do not carry much weight with voters as much as, say, an endorsement from an actual person who is a leader in the movement (like Henry Hyde or Schlafly or something like that).
Weyrich came unglued 8 years ago, when he counseled defeatism to conservatives. I was there, I heard him say it. Since that time, I pay no attention to him.
Wow, you can tell an election is in the air, things are getting a little nutty.
True, but inaccurately sliming another candidate’s endorsement by implying it was bought isn’t going to help Romney.
Yes that's more or less how I see it, minus the part about being there. I keep hoping he will return to his former self because I used to enjoy listening to him.
Endorsements such as this can have a significant affect on voters especially when someone from one of the 3000 local organizations comes to his neighbors front door to urge support of Thompson, the endorsed pro-life candidate. This often carries much more weight than the endorsement of a "celebrity" figure.
I think you’re underestimating the importance of the NRLC endorsement. The support for individual candidates in the Primary race is still very fluid at this time, and there are still about 20% undecided nationally. In this fluid environment, what the candidates are looking for at this point is anything that will cause voters to give them another look. This endorsement couldn’t have come at a better time for Thompson, whose numbers lately have been steadily eroding.
Every campaign has supporters saying nutty things. If we want to play the game that way, I'd rather have Wyrich throwing words around carelessly tied to Romney than a DRUG DEALER and SCAM ARTIST tied to the FDT campaign.
See what I did there?
That would be great for FDT, except the IA organization endorsed Romney.
How many millions did Romney give them?
Sure, I'll give you that - but very few people that would be influenced by that kind of press are paying attention right now.
Besides, the state organization in IA endorsed Willard. If anything makes a voter give someone a second look, winning IA, NH, MI, NV, and SC certainly will.
The Romney campaign resorting to underhanded, sleazy tactics. What a surprise.
My previous personal interaction with Mr. Weyrich was consistent with this virulent attitude he is showing. One interaction was enough to last me a lifetime.
Are you saying that the NRLC is just some little dinky outfit? They are to conservatives what the labor unions is to liberals.
This is politics and Romney right now is Thompson’s closest competitor. If Thompson sees an opening, he’d be foolish not to take it. And Weyrich has given him a perfect opening.
The solution is for Romney to ask Weyrich to apologize or, if he refuses, to cut him loose, as Thompson did his drug dealer.
[V]ery few people that would be influenced by that kind of press are paying attention right now.You can bet the right-to-life voters are paying attention.
Paul Weyrich is doing no favors for himself, Romney, the unborn, or conservatism writ large with this acute public outburst of derangement. I hope this is a case of mouth working faster than brain.
“Besides, the state organization in IA endorsed Willard.”
No they didn’t. The NRTL told every state chapter they would lose their charter if they did.
State RTL chapter don’t endorse anyone.
You must be kidding. Who is Fred Smith?
The NRTL Committee is the largest and most powerful pro-life organization in America and one of the biggest conservative grassroots networks in the nation. All the candidates wanted this endorsement.
Fred Thompson getting the NRTL endorsement is a huge plus for his campaign and gives his him significant political advantage among conservative pro-lifers.
Next big endorsement will be from the NRA. I expect Fred will get that one too.
Consider yourself spanked, Weyrich!
Like many others, Weyrich had his moment and that moment, IMO, is long past. He’s no a fighter.
Ouch!
Go Fred!
No I’m not kidding.
Fred Smith = Federal Express
In case you don’t know Fed Ex’s home is Tennessee.
This is all that I could find from the Iowa Right To Life Committtee:
"Lehman said the Iowa Right to Life Committee will not endorse a candidate in the race for the Republican nomination because there are multiple anti-abortion candidates. The organization does, however, oppose former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s candidacy because of his support for abortion rights."
I’ve worked for NRLC, I’ve donated to NRLC, and I have friends who work for NRLC. Read more carefully what I said.
Yes, because right-to-life voters can’t make up their own mind on a candidate.
>>>>>This endorsement is just like the one that Fred Smith gave to John McCain. Means didly squat to the average voter.
If I'm not mistaken, you were comparing Fred Smith`s endorsement of John McCain, with the NRTL`s endorsement of Fred Thompson. That is ridiculous comparison.
Point is, Fred Smith is a nobody. Anyone who would reach a conclusion on who to vote for based on who Fred Smith is backing, is an idiot.
Receiving the backing of the NRTL Committee is a serious endorsement and makes a powerful statement. For people who've chosen to back the abortionist, Giuliani, or a recent pro-abortion convert, Romney, this might open their eyes before its too late. Also, this endorsement will have a big effect on many of the roughly 20% of GOP primary voters who are currently undecided. Most of those undecided voters are conservative pro-lifers.
Open your eyes.
Fred Smith is a national figure in case you didn’t know.
LOL. You got put in detention.
Sour grapes around here by the bushel!
No sour grapes here. I just don’t pay any attention to endorsements. I still haven’t made up my mind who I will support.
That's where we disagree.
We're in agreement on Fred Smith. His endorsement of John McCain means nothing, even if he does sign thousands of paychecks. I doubt many will be idiots once in the voting booth.
OTOH. This is a tight primary battle, with four of five candidates running very close and the front runner within striking distance. An endorsement coming from the NRTL will have an impact. It will sway voters by informing them exactly where all the candidates stand on the abortion issue. This will be a big factor for those people who are unsure about supporting Rooty or Romney. Especially for those 20% undecided primary voters. Wake up!
You’re entitled to your opinion. You just happen to be DEAD WRONG on this one.
Lots of delusional people around here.
The National Right to Life endorsement is instantly recognizable, without any explanations necessary.
This is MUCH better than some individual’s endorsement.
Agreed. ;^)
"Pro-life voters will make up their own minds on who to support" (mbraynard @ #3).Contradictory posts are less obvious when they appear on different threads ..."[R]ight-to-life voters can’t make up their own mind on a candidate" (mbraynard @ #30).
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
WARNING: If you wish to join, be aware that this ping list is EXTREMELY active.
>>This endorsement is really no big deal. It means they give Thompson no more than $5000 or so.
Pro-life voters will make up their own minds on who to support<<
It generated a lot press at a time when Fred has not seemed to be speaking as well as a lot of had hoped. So in that sense I think its a bigger than the money.
Never heard of him.
Weyrich has lost it. Time for a changing of the guard....
Exactly. And Romney is not responding here.
And note that a few weeks back Fred made the statement that Romney was attempting to ‘buy’ SC, and note more importantly that Romney did not respond.
I am inclined to believe that people in SC came forward to the Fred campaign and told them of Romney’s bribery attempts. Certainly the ARG poll of late September was bought and paid for.
(mbraynard)
“Besides, the state organization in IA endorsed Willard. “
“That would be great for FDT, except the IA organization endorsed Romney.”
Someone is making stuff up:
The Iowa Independent by: Lynda Waddington
Tuesday (11/13) at 11:25 AM
“National Right to Life became the first national grassroots organization to issue a formal endorsement in the Republican presidential contest Tuesday morning when they put their support behind former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson.”
“Iowa Right to Life and the other 49 state affiliate organizations now have a choice to make. They can either support the national organization’s endorsement of Thompson or they can remain neutral. Lehman said the decision from the Iowa group will be forthcoming in the next few weeks, but stopped short on speculating where the members might fall.
“I really think it will come down to a majority vote,” she said. “I have no idea because we live in a caucus state. In a caucus state, everyone is pretty active in politics and so, typically, board members work and volunteer for their choice of pro-life candidates on an individual basis. So, I don’t know where people are on their individual support of candidates.
“I think at this point — as close as we are to the caucuses — [the decision] is not going to be on a personal decision level. It’s going to be on a practical level on being able to take the executive branch in the final election. So, it’s going to be an interesting discussion.”
Haus said he was aware of the discussions that would now take place within the state organization, but rejected use of the word lobby when it came to how those decision makers would be approached.”
http://www.iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=F8C7928414B74F04D305BFDE664837FC?diaryId=1452
Post 47 is very interesting!
Someone is making stuff upContradiction and fiction seem to be the Romney supporters' M.O. How apt.
Speaking of apt, who has that cartoon of Romney with the multiple mouths?
Talk about "whistling past the graveyard" with your comment. You say that an individual endorsement is more important than a group with chapters in ALL 50 states (3,000 to be exact) with MILLIONS of members and supporters. This will likely be the turning point in the race for the White House, but you say it doesn't carry much weight? I'll bet if Huckabee or Romney had garnered their support that you'd be singing a different tune!! LOL Where did you get the idea that they can only contribute $5,000, btw? Do you know how valuable it will be for all those volunteers to be working for Fred between now and the primaries?
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