Posted on 12/27/2007 11:11:31 AM PST by Fred
Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson is banking on conservative consistency.
The former Tennessee senator presented his principals in a frank manor, pulling no punches in front on an audience of more than 75 onlookers, which spilled out of The Windrow’s back meeting room Wednesday evening.
The event was one of 50 Thompson is putting on leading up to the Jan. 3 caucus.
With a well-lit background draped in a large campaign poster calling Thompson the “clear conservative choice,” Iowa’s 5th District Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, introduced the senator as, “A man who will lay out the destiny of America.”
Thompson said rural Iowans are concerned about foreign policy, national economy and security, as well as social values. He added, there are good and bad things resulting from the farm bill.
“The fact that there’s a lot of people living in skyscrapers who are multi-millionaires receiving subsidies — I don’t think that’s right,” he said.
Thompson’s politics draw upon conservative principals, which he said have been in place since the founding of the nation. His views also translate to his decidedly cautious take on government spending.
“The things that occur to me go back to the very beginning of the country — the Declaration of Independence — reminding us that rights come from God, not from man.”
Up front
Establishing a simplified income tax form, “rebuilding” the U.S. military and saving the Social Security system are areas of importance to Thompson.
These and other issues are presented in Thompson’s “white papers” found on his campaign Web site, www.fred08.com.
Thompson said he is one of the few candidates to lay out plans on specific issues in such detail.
He added, people are not going to endorse a set of plans at the Jan. 3 caucus, and that his consistent senatorial voting record should be considered, as well. This record includes a “100 percent pro-life” voting record.
“Roe versus Wade was bad law,” Thompson said. “In an overturn of Roe versus Wade, if that happened, it would be remarkable progress. We can collect our marbles and see where we are then.”
Thompson said his long-held views on all of these issues are “under assault” from the Democratic party.
“(They) can hardly wait to take the reins of power in order to lead us down the road to a welfare state,” he said.
National security
Protecting America’s citizens ranks as Thompson’s most important issue, he said. He went on to say he has traveled the world and met with foreign leaders, even leading an advisory committee on foreign affairs after being called upon by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
“A nation that cannot defend its own borders cannot remain a sovereign nation,” he said. “We must stop illegal immigration.”
Thompson expounded upon his military outlook, saying the U.S. shouldn’t “go looking for a fight.”
“The best way to avoid a fight is to be stronger than your adversary,” he said. “If you find yourself in a fight, you do everything you can to prevail, because to do otherwise will invite attack in the future.”
Fred Thompson also was endorsed by the Ottumwa (Iowa) Courier today.
The momentum is rolling!
I'll drink to that!
I’ll drink to.... well, most anything.
Amen. What he didn't say was that obliterating your enemy with extreme prejudice virtually guarantees that nobody will seriously mess with your country for a generation or two. We had the Pax Americana from 1945 until we screwed the pooch in Vietnam.
He has common sense. Go Fred!
Fred has gotten really, really good press from local papers in Iowa.
One thing about the GOP and conservatives within it -
if you want to support Fred for his conservativism, you must remember that it is based in his core value of FEDERALISM.
This also means that your pet laws that you want implemented at the federal level are NOT going to get Fred’s support, just like the libs’ pet laws at the federal level.
However, since 90% of all federal laws are liberal and unconstitutional, you should take this as a big win and start fighting for your pet causes at the state level.
You got that right.
Ping!
Yeah, but he didn’t bother mentioning it when he was on Fox News today commenting about the events spiraling out of control in nuclear-armed Pakistan. This was his highest profile media appearance in quite some time, and an opportune time to present these credentials to a larger audience. He should be taking every opportunity, not just the ones that don’t have much of an audience.
That’s your opinion and you’re entitled to it. I think you’re wrong, personally — in venues where he has limited time to make a point (debates, TV interviews, etc.), he needs to focus on the topic at hand rather than waste time reciting his biography.
When he is at liberty to speak at more length, he does mention the fact.
There’s really nothing that’s more important for him to speak about to gain support than highlighting the serious and extensive experience he has obtained that makes him the most qualified for the office. Perhaps you forget, but most people watching the GOP debates only know that Fred was an actor on Law And Order. Maybe his problem is he doesn’t even realize that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.