Fred Thompson: Anti-Church Going Kills his Campaign

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Papamoka has this story about Fred and his "religious" views.

I’m so sorry for saying this but Fred Thompson just ended his campaign with this one speech politically. Not being a political genius, even I know that the worst thing to say while campaigning for the highest office in the land is to state that you do not attend church even somewhat regularly is a NO NO! Somebody fire off a flare because the Thompson campaign just sank on its maiden voyage.

Asked about his religious beliefs during an appearance before about 500 Republicans in South Carolina yesterday, Fred Thompson said he attends church when he visits his mother in Tennessee but does not belong to a church or attend regularly at his home in McLean, Va., just outside Washington. The actor and former senator, who was baptized in the Church of Christ, said he gained his values from "sitting around the kitchen table" and said he did not plan to speak about his religious beliefs on the stump. "I know that I'm right with God and the people I love," he said, according to Bloomberg News Service. It's "just the way I am not to talk about some of these things." - Washington Post

I'm interested to see how this plays out. So far, many of America's religious, values voters have not given Mitt a chance. Rudy tells them his faith doesn't guide him and these people aren't bothered. Now Fred tells them that he's "right with God" and doesn't plan to discuss his faith.

Is Papamoka correct? Is Fred done? Or will religious Fred-Heads give Thompson--as others are willing to do with Rudy--a pass on this?

Fred's comments don't appear very conservative. Hillary could come up with something more appealing to religious and values voters.


*** Update: Nancy French at Evangelicals for Mitt says the following:

The Washington Post reports that Fred Thompson only attends church when he's in Tennessee visiting his mom. (Incidentally, she attends church where my sister attends, but she's never seen him there.) He got his values not from church but from "sitting around the kitchen table."

So, is Fred distorting the truth? Doesn't sound like he worships formally (in a church) even when he visits Momma.