Dick Morris weighs in (again) on Fred's campaign. This guy, Dick, is thorough.He’s A Political Light Weight and He’s Not Ready For The National Stage
In his first week of campaigning, Thompson has shown that he has neither the substance nor the experience that is essential for a serious presidential candidate. One wonders what makes him — and his supporters — think that he is, in any way, up to the job.
The Political Insider
Thompson is not at all the outsider maverick that he claims to be. In fact, he’s the ultimate Washington insider. He was a successful lobbyist before he went to the Senate and he returned to lobbying after leaving it. Until very recently, he worked for Equitas, a British insurance company trying to squirm out of paying for asbestos/cancer claims. He also represented a Tennessee Savings and Loan, Toyota and Perrier.
Questionable Conservative Credentials:
One of Thompson’s lobbying clients, in particular, will rankle with conservatives: The National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association. While Thompson says that he has “norecollection” of lobbying for the group in 1991, the minutes of a September 14, 1991 meeting of the association report that he was hired to “aid [the association] in discussions with the administration.”
Judy De Sarno, the executive director of the group at the time says that she has specific memories of discussing Thompson’s lobbying work with him in phone conversations and during meals at Washington restaurants.
Immigration
But Thompson will also get in trouble for his immigration positions. In 1995, he voted against limiting services other than emergency medical care and public education to illegal aliens. He was one of only six Senators to vote against the proposal. Voters will not like that he wanted to use tax money to provide a host of medical and other services to those who flouted our laws and came here illegally.
And, in 1996, he voted against creating an employer verification system so that businesses could identify illegal immigrants who applied for jobs in their companies.
Terrorism
As noted above, Thompson and his law firm worked to help keep Libyian terrorists from standing trial for killing all of the passengers on Pan Am flight 103. In the aftermath of 9/11 and on its sixth anniversary, Thompson will have difficulty with his past work.
Taxes
Finally, Thompson has ruled out signing a pledge not to raise taxes if elected president. A no-tax pledge, a fundamental for any conservative candidate, is a litmus test for most voters in the New Hampshire’s Republican Primary and they will not take kindly to Thompson’s position.
Nepotism
Thompson paid his son, Daniel — for four years — as a no-show employee of his PAC after he had left Congress.
The PAC had about a quarter of a million dollars available when he decided not to run for another term in the Senate. Since 2002, the PAC has been almost totally dormant. It raised almost no more money and gave out $70,000 to other political candidates. The balance, $170,000 went to Daniel. The PAC had no office, no phone, no fax, and almost no activity. But Thompson used it to pay his son, a total abuse of campaign funding.
Turmoil Within
All summer, the war has raged, not pitting Thompson against his Republican rivals, or even his Democratic opposition, but featuring a battle of Mrs. Fred Thompson against virtually her husband’s entire campaign staff.
The list of axed, fired, or forced-to-resign employees would distinguish a campaign of far greater tenure, but coming in a candidacy yet even to be announced, it is truly unique.
No dough
Thompson and his staff worked assiduously throughout June and July to raise funds for his exploratory committee. They boasted that they would exceed expectations as they beat the donor community for money. But the results were underwhelming. They raised only $3.4 million and spent $600,000 of it in the process. More to the point, half of it came from Tennessee, where Thompson had served as senator, indicating future troubles in mounting a broad based fund raising operation.
So, for all of the above reasons, Fred Thompson is not likely to survive the stark light that shines on every presidential candidate.
I've only put in small segments. Read the entire thing if you've got time. Dick Morris is spot on.
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