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Fred Thompson's blunder
pittsburghlive.com ^ | November 8, 2007 | Robert Novak

Posted on 11/08/2007 12:00:05 AM PST by Tailgunner Joe

WASHINGTON -- Fred Thompson was well into a prolonged dialogue about abortion with interviewer Tim Russert on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday when he said something stunning for social conservatives: "I do not think it is a wise thing to criminalize young girls and perhaps their parents as aiders and abettors." He then went further: "You can't have a (federal) law" that "would take young, young girls ... and say, basically, we're going to put them in jail."

Those comments sent e-mails flying across the country reflecting astonishment and rage by pro-life Republicans who had turned to Thompson as their best presidential bet for 2008. No anti-abortion legislation ever has proposed criminal penalties against women having abortions, much less their parents. Jailing women is a spurious issue raised by abortion rights activists. What Thompson said could be expected from NARAL.

Thompson's comments revealed astounding lack of sensitivity about the abortion issue. He surely anticipated that Russert would cite Thompson's record favoring state's rights on abortion. Whether the candidate just blurted out what he said or planned it, it reflects failure to realize how much his chances for the presidential nomination depend on social conservatives.

(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; abortion; axisofdesperation; elections; fredthompson; hollywood; novak; prolife; romneysleazemachine; sleepyfred
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To: Tailgunner Joe

If Novak is against Thompson, I consider it a plus. Novak is pathetic.

I also think we need to counter the NARAL stereotypes. You do not do that by ignoring them.


21 posted on 11/08/2007 1:33:17 AM PST by Mr Rogers (I'm agnostic on evolution, but sit ups are from Hell!)
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To: ari-freedom
yes. even if few were actually incarcerated, it would send a public message that society does not approve of abortion.

What society are you talking about? Poll after poll after poll shows a majority of Americans supports legalized abortion.

The "throw abortionists in jail" message doesn't really get a whole lot of political traction these days...

22 posted on 11/08/2007 1:34:09 AM PST by Drew68
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To: JMack
Here's what he said:

People have asked me, hypothetically, OK it goes back to the states, somebody comes up with a bill, and they say we're going to outlaw this, that, or the other, and my response was, I do not think it is a wise thing to criminalize young girls, and perhaps their parents as aiders and abettors, and perhaps their family physician. And that's what your talking about. It's not a 'sense of the Senate;' you're talking about potential criminal law.

It sounds to me like he is personally opposed to abortion, but is not comfortable with it being illegal.

23 posted on 11/08/2007 1:41:46 AM PST by FreePoster (Duncan Hunter in 2008)
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To: Drew68
Poll after poll after poll shows a majority of Americans supports legalized abortion.

The majority of Americans don't vote in the Republican primaries. There's still a pro-life majority among the GOP base, and there used to be a pro-life majority here at FR.
24 posted on 11/08/2007 1:44:53 AM PST by irishjuggler
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To: Tailgunner Joe

I think Novak still sees McCain as the frontrunner.


25 posted on 11/08/2007 1:46:27 AM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: Drew68

Sure, poll after poll after poll show that we all agree on that one. /s


26 posted on 11/08/2007 1:47:37 AM PST by FreePoster (Duncan Hunter in 2008)
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To: JMack

but the point is jmack...HLA supporters don’t want to put girls in jail but Fred was suggesting that would be the consequence. I don’t think that was very helpful


27 posted on 11/08/2007 1:54:53 AM PST by ari-freedom (I am for traditional moral values, a strong national defense, and free markets.)
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To: John Valentine

While I’m against abortion, I’m thorn about what to do with the person who does it, especially when it happens to a young girl. Yeah, like you, I commend Fred for saying this.


28 posted on 11/08/2007 2:01:54 AM PST by paudio
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To: Drew68

a majority of Americans elected and re-elected Reagan and W Bush, who were clearly pro-life.


29 posted on 11/08/2007 2:02:03 AM PST by ari-freedom (I am for traditional moral values, a strong national defense, and free markets.)
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To: paudio

Ooopss.. torn...


30 posted on 11/08/2007 2:05:25 AM PST by paudio
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To: colderwater

I think maybe some are missing the nuance ..... I believe it is the fact that he was using NARAL’s propaganda “that young girls would end up in jail”, when no proposal for that has ever ever ever been in the republican platform. Nuanced,yes,beyond me, yes, but this is what I read in Novak’s article, and certainly not that Novak was upset personally.


31 posted on 11/08/2007 2:13:07 AM PST by libbylu
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To: Mr Rogers

that was not the point of his article. Freddie used naral’s propaganda, see above. Novak is reporting.


32 posted on 11/08/2007 2:14:34 AM PST by libbylu
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To: ari-freedom
a majority of Americans elected and re-elected Reagan and W Bush, who were clearly pro-life.

A.) A majority of voters elected and re-elected Reagan and W Bush (except, of course, in 2000 when GWB didn't even enjoy that).

B.) Just because someone votes for a candidate who claims to be pro-life, doesn't mean the voter is pro-life themselves.

I still maintain that a majority of Americans accept legalized abortion.

33 posted on 11/08/2007 2:14:53 AM PST by Drew68
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To: Tailgunner Joe

The outrage over this is proof to me that even some conservatives are not capable of listening to a coherent discussion of someone’s position. Seems they, too, are driven by the sound bite. I thought we were better than that, and am terribly disappointed to learn that so many conservatives are as incapable of rational thought as liberals.

I hope you guys find a guy with the right sound bites you can support. Bomb throwers always appeal to some. I’ll continue to support the most thoughtful candidate in the primaries, Fred Thompson.


34 posted on 11/08/2007 2:15:25 AM PST by TN4Liberty (A liberal is someone who believes Scooter Libby should be in jail and Bill Clinton should not.)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Anyone who pays attention to Novak (Democratic, Liberal, American traitor, framer of VP Cheney) is an fool - by their own choice.

35 posted on 11/08/2007 2:22:44 AM PST by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: ari-freedom
.HLA supporters don’t want to put girls in jail

Why not? They're murdering their babies, aren't they?

36 posted on 11/08/2007 2:24:39 AM PST by Jim Noble (Trails of trouble, roads of battle, paths of victory we shall walk.)
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To: Drew68

well we have a government that tries to represent the will of the people. If most Americans really wanted abortion to be legal, they would do anything to prevent a pro-life president from winning.


37 posted on 11/08/2007 2:26:22 AM PST by ari-freedom (I am for traditional moral values, a strong national defense, and free markets.)
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To: Jim Noble

yes but they are misinformed. They don’t know what they are killing. The abortionist does


38 posted on 11/08/2007 2:31:42 AM PST by ari-freedom (I am for traditional moral values, a strong national defense, and free markets.)
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To: ari-freedom
If most Americans really wanted abortion to be legal, they would do anything to prevent a pro-life president from winning.

Pro-life candidates lost in '76, '92 and '96 and in 2000 the pro-life candidate won despite receiving less votes than the pro-choice candidate. The reality of the situation is that voters a.) no longer really care that much about abortion and b.) realize that a pro-life president probably isn't going to do much to change the status quo.

Do the math. It is fair to say by looking at the last two elections that about 1/2 the voters support the pro-choice democrat and the other 1/2 the voters support the republican candidate. Currently, the republican frontrunner is himself, pro-choice.

Kinda starting to look like a consensus, doesn't it?

39 posted on 11/08/2007 2:37:04 AM PST by Drew68
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To: TN4Liberty
I agree he is thoughtful, or at least appears to be. I’m just genuinely concerned about whether after so many decades he is clear on this issue. The questions that Tim Russert asked him (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-b1xQNRA4g) were very good questions to ask. He was not young or unfamiliar with the topic of abortion when he made the statement that Russert questioned him about. I think his answer does sound ‘moderate’ on the topic, and to bring up concern about prosecuting girls does seem odd for a pro-life candidate.
40 posted on 11/08/2007 2:43:25 AM PST by FreePoster (Duncan Hunter in 2008)
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