Lawyers for Fred Thompson Launched

Lawyers for Fred Thompson Launched
Posted on November 16th, 2007
By Sean Hackbarth in Announcement

The Fred Thompson campaign announced today its Lawyers for Fred Coalition. This distinguished group of attorneys is led by a National Steering Committee, a Congressional Leadership Committee, and a Law Professors Committee.

The National Steering Committee is headed by Co-Chairs Victoria Toensing, Boris Feldman, and Charles Trost, and is composed of 18 members including a former U.S. Attorney General, two former Congressmen, and a number of experienced litigators.

“I am honored to have the support of so many distinguished and talented members of the legal profession,” said Fred Thompson. “I’ve had great personal and professional satisfaction in the field of law. I made a decent living, served the rule of law, and I believe I did some good. Just as I helped shepherd the nomination of Justice John Roberts to the Supreme Court, I remain committed to appointing judges who will interpret the law, not impose their views on us by legislating from the bench.”

Victoria Toensing will serve as Co-Chair of the National Steering Committee of Lawyers for Fred. Toensing is an internationally recognized expert on white-collar crime, terrorism, and national security and intelligence matters, and is a founding partner of the law firm diGenova & Toensing. Prior to entering private practice, Toensing served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Chief Counsel for Senator Barry Goldwater, Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and also as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Justice Department. In that capacity, Toensing established the Justice Department’s Terrorism Unit and managed to bring to justice the terrorists responsible for the hijacking of TWA 847, the bombing of Pan Am 830, and the takeover of the cruise ship Achille Lauro.

“Senator Thompson is a law and order conservative who believes that our Justice Department must protect the rule of law,” said Victoria Toensing. “There should be tough enforcement and penalty for those who break the law. At the same time, the Department of Justice must take great care to ensure that the innocent are not falsely accused. Because Senator Thompson strongly supports this principle, I am proud to serve as his Co-Chair of Lawyers for Fred.”

Joining Toensing as a Co-Chair is Boris Feldman, a partner at Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, and an experienced attorney who has represented companies and their officers in more than 140 shareholder class actions and derivative suits throughout the country. He serves as chair of his firm’s Policy Committee. Feldman served previously as a special assistant to the legal advisor at the U.S. Department of State, and in 2006 he was named to the International Advisory Board of the Israel Securities Authority, the Israeli equivalent of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Senator Thompson understands exactly the limited role an independent judiciary should play in our government”, said Boris Feldman. “He is committed to appointing strict constructionist judges who faithfully interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. It is a great honor to serve as his Co-Chair of Lawyers for Fred.”

Charles Trost, the third Co-Chair of the National Steering Committee of Lawyers for Fred, is a partner at Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis in Nashville, Tennessee where he specializes in state and federal tax law and tax litigation. Trost has served as lead counsel on many significant tax litigation cases, and he has also written extensively on tax matters. Previously, Trost was a Professor of Law at the University of Alabama, and also clerked for the Honorable William E. Miller, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.

“Senator Thompson is a man of principle who understands the importance of appointing judges who will base their decisions on the rule of the law and not on a personal agenda,” said Charles Trost. “He has a clear and united vision for this country and I am honored to serve as his Lawyers for Fred Co-Chair.”

Spencer Abraham - Chairman and CEO, The Abraham Group LLC, Former United States Senator (MI)
Bill Barr - Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Verizon Communications, Former Attorney General, United States of America
Lizette D. Benedi - Associate, Bancroft Associates PLLC, Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Office of Justice Programs.
Rachel Brand - Former Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Policy
Gary M. Brown - Shareholder, Baker Donelson, Former Special Counsel to US Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs
Reginald J. Brown - Partner Wilmer Hale, Former Special Assistant to the President and Associate White Counsel
Liz Cheney - Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs
Charles J. Cooper - Chairman, Cooper & Kirk PLLC, Former Assistant Attorney General Office of Legal Counsel
Ted Cruz - Solicitor General, State of Texas
Viet D. Dinh - Principal, Bancroft Associates PLLC, Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center, Former Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Policy
John M. Dowd - Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer Feld LLP
Noel J. Francisco - Partner, Jones Day, Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel
Bob L. Livingston - Founding Partner, The Livingston Group LLC, former member of House of Representatives (LA-1)
David M. McIntosh - Partner, Mayer Brown, Former member of House of Representatives (IN-2)
Eileen O’Connor - Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop, Former Assistant Attorney General, Tax Division
Philip J. Perry - Partner Latham and Watkins, Former General Counsel Dept. of Homeland Security and OMB
Michael Toner - Partner, Bryan Cave , Former Chairman Federal Election Commission
Joseph A. Woodruff - Partner, Waller Lansden Dortch Davis LLP
Note: Affiliations are for identification purposes only.

Senator Lamar Alexander (TN)
Senator Thad Cochran (MS)
Congressman Steve Buyer (IN-4)
Congressman John “Jimmy” Duncan, Jr. (TN-2)
Congressman Louie Gohmert (TX-01)
Congressman Don Manzullo (IL-16)
Congressman Thad McCotter (MI-11)
Congressman Lee Terry (NB-2)
Congressman Roger Wicker (MS-1)

Michael B. Abramowicz - Professor of Law, The George Washington University School of Law
Jonathan H. Adler - Director, Center for Business Law and Regulation, Case Western Reserve University School of Law
John S. Baker - Desig Professor of Law, Louisiana State University Law Center
Michael R. Dimino, Sr.- Assistant Professor of Law, Widener University School of Law
Viet D. Dinh - Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center, Former Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Policy
John Fitzgerald Duffy - Oswald Symister Colclough Research Professor of Law, The George Washington University School of Law
Brian T. Fitzpatrick - Assistant Professor of Law, Vanderbilt University Law School
Richard W. Garnett - John Cardinal O’Hara C.S.C. Associate Professor of Law, Notre Dame Law School
Orin S. Kerr - Professor of Law, The George Washington University School of Law
Caleb E. Nelson - Professor of Law, University of Virginia School of Law
Eugene Volokh - Gary T. Schwartz Professor of Law, UCLA School of Law
Todd J. Zywicki - Professor of Law, George Mason University School of Law

"I like Fred but I’m looking at Huckaby too"

Here is some more help for you in making your decision:

And here are some of the Historical facts about Huckabee on Illegal Immigration:

Huckabee promotes 'open door' policy at LULAC convention

Thursday, Jun 30, 2005

By Wesley Brown

Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK - In a impassioned speech before hundreds of influential Hispanic civil rights leaders from across the nation, Gov. Mike Huckabee told a captive audience Wednesday that America is great because it has always opened it doors up to people seeking a better way of life.

"I would hope that no matter who we are, or where we are from, that America should always be a place that opens its arms, opens it heart, opens its spirit to people who come because they want the best for their families ...," Huckabee said as the largely Hispanic audience gave him a standing ovation.

Huckabee was the keynote speaker, along with Tyson Foods Inc. Chairman and CEO John Tyson, at a noon luncheon of the League of United Latin American Citizens, which is holding its 76th annual convention in Little Rock.

About 10,000 political, community and business leaders, along with exhibitors and speakers are in Little Rock attending the convention at the Statehouse Convention Center. The convention started Monday and runs through Saturday.

Although he never actually talked about the U.S. or Arkansas immigration policy, Huckabee made it very clear where he stood on the issue. In his opening remarks, he said the nation will need to address the concerns of the Hispanic community because of its growing influence and population base.

"Pretty soon, Southern white guys like me may be in the minority," Huckabee said jokingly as the crowd roared in laughter.

He told the LULAC delegates that their presence in the state's capital city was very important because Arkansas has one of the fastest growing Hispanic populations in the nation. "Your gathering is so very significant for our state," Huckabee said. "We are delighted to have you."

Despite several light moments, Huckabee did not stray away from several controversial issues that made him a target of criticism during the recently ended 85th General Assembly. He said Arkansas needs to make the transition from a traditional Southern state to one that recognizes and cherishes diversity "in culture, in language and in population."

"This is an issue that is going to require extraordinary efforts on both sides of the border, particularly those coming from Mexico," Huckabee said of verifying the status of illegal aliens. "But I am confident that our government will recognize that we should accommodate people who wish to provide the best opportunities for their families (and) employers so that we can make sure our economy has the necessary work force."

During the legislation session, Huckabee criticized an immigration bill by Republican senators Jim Holt of Springdale and Denny Altes of Fort Smith as un-Christian, un-American, irresponsible and anti-life. Senate Bill 206, which died in the Senate, would have required proof of citizenship to register to vote and also force state agencies to report suspected cases of people living in the country illegally. Holt, R-Springdale, replied later to Huckabee's comments that Christian charity does not include turning a blind eye to lawbreaking.

"I like Fred but I’m looking at Huckaby too"

And here is some more HISTORICAL TRUTH already posted by Politicalmom that should help you in your decision:

Taxes
______

Is Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee a Pro-Growth, Economic Conservative?

The Club for Growth is committed to lower taxes across the board. Lower taxes on work, savings, and investments lead to greater levels of these activities, thus encouraging greater economic growth.

Governor Huckabee touts himself as an economic conservative, writing in his biography that he “pushed through the Arkansas legislature the first major, broad-based tax cuts in state history” and “led efforts to establish a Property Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights” early on as governor (Arkansas Times 09/22/05), but he only offers a small piece of the picture.

It is true that Governor Huckabee fought for an $80 million tax cut package in 1997 that was passed by the Arkansas legislature (Cato Policy
Analysis No. 315, 09/03/98); cut the state capital gains tax in 1999 (The Commercial Appeal 02/29/99); and passed the Property Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights in the same year, limiting the increase in property taxes to 10% a year for individuals and 5% per taxing unit (AP 03/16/99). However, his record over the rest of his ten-year tenure tells a starkly different story.

Immediately upon taking office, Governor Huckabee signed a sales tax hike in 1996 to fund the Games and Fishing Commission and the Department of Parks and Tourism (Cato Policy Analysis No. 315, 09/03/98).

He supported an internet sales tax in 2001 (Americans for Tax Reform 01/07/07).

He publicly opposed the repeal of a sales tax on groceries and medicine in 2002 (Arkansas News Bureau 08/30/02).

He signed bills raising taxes on gasoline (1999), cigarettes (2003) (Americans for Tax Reform 01/07/07), and a $5.25 per day bed-tax on private nursing home patients in 2001 (Arkansas New Bureau 03/01/01).

He proposed another sales take hike in 2002 to fund education improvements (Arkansas News Bureau 12/05/02).

He opposed a congressional measure to ban internet taxes in 2003 (Arkansas News Bureau 11/21/03).

In 2004, he allowed a 17% sales tax increase to become law (The Gurdon Times 03/02/04).

By the end of his ten-year tenure, Governor Huckabee was responsible for a 37% higher sales tax in Arkansas, 16% higher motor fuel taxes, and 103% higher cigarette taxes according to Americans for Tax Reform (01/07/07), garnering a lifetime grade of D from the free-market Cato Institute. During Huckabee’s tenure as governor, the average Arkansan’s tax burden increased 47 percent, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

While he is on record supporting making the Bush tax cuts permanent, he joined Democrats in criticizing the Republican Party for tilting its tax policies “toward the people at the top end of the economic scale” (Washington Examiner 09/13/06), even though objective evidence demonstrates that the Bush tax cuts have actually shifted the tax burden to higher income taxpayers.

Finally, Governor Huckabee opposed further tax cuts at a 2005 gathering of Iowa conservatives (AP 09/17/05). On January 28, 2007, Governor Huckabee refused to pledge not to raise taxes if elected President, first on Meet the Press and then at the National Review Conservative Summit. The evidence suggests that his commitment to protecting taxpayers evidenced in his early gubernatorial years may be a thing of the past.

Spending

The Club for Growth is committed to reducing government spending. Less spending enhances economic growth by enabling lower taxes and diminishing the economically inefficient political allocation of resources.

Under Governor Huckabee’s watch, state spending increased a whopping 65.3% from 1996 to 2004, three times the rate of inflation (Americans for Tax Reform 01/07/07).

The number of state government workers rose 20% during his tenure (Arkansas Leader 04/15/06), and the state’s general obligation debt shot up by almost $1 billion, according to Americans for Tax Reform.

The massive increase in government spending is due in part to the number of new programs and expansion of already existing programs initiated by Governor Huckabee, including ARKids First, a multimillion-dollar government program to provide health coverage for thousands
of Arkansas’ children (Arkansas News Bureau 04/13/06).

These large increases in government borrowing and spending significantly impede economic growth.

http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2007/01/a_report_on_mike_huckabees_fis.php

*******

Immigration
_________

Fact #1 As Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee denounced an immigration bill (Arkansas Senate Bill 206) that “would have required proof of citizenship to register to vote and would have required state agencies to report suspected cases of people living in the country illegally.”

(Doug Thompson, “Immigration Bill un-christian..governor says”Arkansas News Bureau 1/28/05)

Fact #2. As Governor, Mike Huckabee offered a proposal to give state funded scholarships and state benefits to illegal aliens.

(Laura Kellams, “Huckabee Plan would give aid to illegal aliens” Arkansas Democrat Gazette 1/12/2005)

Fact #3. Governor Huckabee supported a Bush-backed immigration plan that provides a path to citizenship for some illegal aliens.

(CNN 2008 Election Center, http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/candidates/mike.huckabee.html)

Fact #4. Governor Huckabee refuses to sign the “No Amnesty Pledge”.

The Governor is suffering from what is called “amnesty amnesia”. It is a contagious ailment spreading rapidly through the ranks of the Republican presidential candidates.

Watch Huckabee admit to selling out our citizenship to illegal aliens. He thinks it’s not amnesty, but illegal aliens still get the grand prize: citizenship.

January 28, 2005 AR Gov. Mike Huckabee goes on the attack From this:

[AR] Gov. Mike Huckabee on Thursday heaped criticism upon immigration legislation in the Arkansas Legislature, describing it as “inflammatory . . . race-baiting and demagoguery.”

He also challenged the Christian values of its main sponsor.

Huckabee said the bill, seeking to forbid public assistance and voting rights to undocumented immigrants, “inflames those who are racist and bigots and makes them think there’s a real problem. But there’s not...”

...He singled out [Republican Sens. Jim Holt, one of the bill’s sponsors], who often talks of his strong Christian beliefs, saying, “I drink a different kind of Jesus juice. My faith says don’t make false accusations against somebody.

“In the Bible, it’s called don’t bear false witness.”

In response, Holt said he was hurt by the governor’s questioning his faith.

“I just want to uphold the law and protect the benefits that apply to citizens,” Holt said.

*
A lingering controversy over the role former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee played in establishing a Mexican consulate office in Little Rock financed by taxpayers and local businesses continues to follow the Republican presidential candidate’s campaign, even as he enjoys a surge in polls.

Critics in Arkansas contend Huckabee worked with some of the state’s most prominent and politically powerful businesses to draw illegal immigrants to the state to accept low-paying jobs.

Space in an Arkansas government facility was leased for $1 a year to the Mexican government to establish the Mexican consulate until a permanent Mexican consulate facility could be built, at the expense of Arkansas citizens and corporations.

“We wanted people to come to Arkansas and get the proper paper work and do things with a work permit and a visa. It’s so much easier to do that if you have a consulate where people can go to get proper documentation, rather than just accommodating people illegally.” -Huckabee

*****

Global Warming
____________

Former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee, said he supports a mandatory cap-and-trade system to cut US greenhouse gas emissions, becoming the second Republican presidential candidate to call for a carbon market to address climate change.

*****

Nanny-stater
___________

Supports national smoking ban.

*****

Crime
_____

In his book From Hope to Higher Ground, he wrote that Three Strikes was an overraction to the permissiveness of the ‘70s:

“In the 1990s, the pendulum swung harshly back in the opposite direction and very popular policies such as “three strikes and you’re out” and “no parole provisions” were adopted.

Being tough on crime is certainly more popular than being soft, but America needs to be careful that in our attempt to stoutly enforce our laws and protect our citizens, we do not end up with a system that is based more on revenge than restoration. A revenge-based criminal justice system seeks to measure out as harsh a judgement as is possible so as to satisfy the natural inclination to get even.”

Huckabee’s poor judgement freed a convicted rapist from prison despite a warning from his victim that he would repeat his crime if turned loose. Soft-hearted Mike ignored the advice and persuaded the parole board to let the dangerous criminal out of prison. Less than a year later, the violent predator sexually assaulted another woman and killed her.’

*****

Huckabee and Ethics
_______________

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2007/10/29/mike-huckabee-and-ethics.html

*****

Betsy Hagan, Arkansas director of the conservative Eagle Forum and a key backer of his early runs for office, was once “his No. 1 fan.” She was bitterly disappointed with his record. “He was pro-life and pro-gun, but otherwise a liberal,” she says. “Just like Bill Clinton he will charm you, but don’t be surprised if he takes a completely different turn in office.”

Phyllis Schlafly, president of the national Eagle Forum, is even more blunt. “He destroyed the conservative movement in Arkansas, and left the Republican Party a shambles,” she says. “Yet some of the same evangelicals who sold us on George W. Bush as a ‘compassionate conservative’ are now trying to sell us on Mike Huckabee.”

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