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→‎Gun control: Paraphrasing quote from New York Sun. Also, if you think Thompson has made inconsistent votes or statements, then please specify. The talk page might be useful for this.
Undid revision 145514404 by Ferrylodge (talk) You can not just delete his voting record as though it is irrelevent.
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"Whenever I've seen one of those 'Gun-free Zone' signs, especially outside of a school filled with our youngest and most vulnerable citizens, I've always wondered exactly who these signs are directed at. Obviously, they don't mean much to the sort of man who murdered 32 people just a few days ago."<ref name=SignsOfIntelligence>Thompson, Fred. [http://abcradionetworks.com/article.asp?id=389928&SPID=15663 "Signs of Intelligence?"], [[ABC Radio]], April 19, 2007. Accessed May 13, 2007.</ref>
"Whenever I've seen one of those 'Gun-free Zone' signs, especially outside of a school filled with our youngest and most vulnerable citizens, I've always wondered exactly who these signs are directed at. Obviously, they don't mean much to the sort of man who murdered 32 people just a few days ago."<ref name=SignsOfIntelligence>Thompson, Fred. [http://abcradionetworks.com/article.asp?id=389928&SPID=15663 "Signs of Intelligence?"], [[ABC Radio]], April 19, 2007. Accessed May 13, 2007.</ref>


From 1993 to 1999, the Gun Owners of America, the NRA, and the Georgia Gun Owners PAC gave more to Senator Thompson than to anyone else except Bill Frist.<ref>Geraghty, Jim. [http://www.nysun.com/article/51866 Thompson Bid May Fill a Void for the GOP Base], ''New York Sun'' ([[2007-04-05]]).</ref> However, Thompson's voting record while in the Senate was not completely pro-gun. According to [[Gun Owners of America]] (GOA), as a senator Thompson voted pro-gun 19 times and anti-gun 14 times.<ref name=GOA/> Three of the votes counted as anti-gun were for the [[Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act|McCain-Feingold Campaign Reform Act]].
"A 2000 report from a campaign finance watchdog group, Common Cause, found that the NRA, Gun Owners of America, and the Georgia Gun Owners PAC donated $188,954 to Mr. Thompson between 1993 and 1999; the groups donated more only to Dr. Frist."<ref>Geraghty, Jim. [http://www.nysun.com/article/51866 Thompson Bid May Fill a Void for the GOP Base], ''New York Sun'' ([[2007-04-05]]).</ref>

However, Thompson's voting record while in the Senate was not completely consistent with recent statements leading up to his possible 2008 presidential campaign.

According to [[Gun Owners of America]] (GOA), as a senator Thompson voted pro-gun 19 times and anti-gun 14 times<ref>[http://gunowners.org/pres08/thompson2.htm "Presidential Candidates And The Second Amendment: Fred Thompson" Gun Owners of America (GOA)]</ref> .<ref name=GOA/> Three of the votes counted as anti-gun were for the [[Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act|McCain-Feingold Campaign Reform Act]].


Additionally, Thompson voted for the [[Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban]], which restricts ownership and use of guns or ammunition by individuals convicted of misdemeanor or felony domestic violence.<ref name=GOA/> Thompson voted against the Smith "Anti-Brady" Amendment which would have prohibited the FBI from using Brady background checks to tax or register gun owners.<ref name=GOA/>
Additionally, Thompson voted for the [[Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban]], which restricts ownership and use of guns or ammunition by individuals convicted of misdemeanor or felony domestic violence.<ref name=GOA/> Thompson voted against the Smith "Anti-Brady" Amendment which would have prohibited the FBI from using Brady background checks to tax or register gun owners.<ref name=GOA/>

Revision as of 20:55, 18 July 2007

Main article: Fred Thompson

Fred Thompson describes himself as a conservative. He has an "86.1 percent lifetime (1995-2002) Senate vote rating compiled by the American Conservative Union (ACU)," compared to 89.3 for Bill Frist and 82.3 for John McCain.[1] Nevertheless, the degree of Thompson's conservatism is disputed.

Thompson has said that federalism was his "lodestar" in the Senate, providing "a basis for a proper analysis of most issues: 'Is this something government should be doing? If so, at what level of government?'"[2] Thompson views federalism as both a matter of good sense, as well as a feature of the federal Constitution:

Our government, under our Constitution, was established upon the principles of Federalism -- that the federal government would have limited enumerated powers and the rest would be left to the states. It not only prevented tyranny, it just made good sense. States become laboratories for democracy and experiment with different kinds of laws. One state might try one welfare reform approach, for example. Another state might try another approach. One would work and the other would not. The federal welfare reform law resulted from just this process. Federalism also allows for the diversity that exists among the country's people. Citizens of our various states have different views as to how traditional state responsibilities should be handled. This way, states compete with each other to attract people and businesses -- and that is a good thing.[3]

Following are some of Thompson's remarks and positions on various particular issues.

Economic policy

Taxation

In a 2007 op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, Thompson asserted that tax cuts mean growth: "Because of lower rates, money is being invested in our economy instead of being sheltered from the taxman. Greater investment has created overall economic strength. Job growth is robust, overcoming trouble in the housing sector; and the personal incomes of Americans at every income level are higher than they've ever been."[4]

Appearing live on Sean Hannity's syndicated radio program on July 10, 2007, Thompson was quizzed by the host about his attitude towards the FairTax proposal, espoused by many of the conservatives in the audience. Thompson stopped short of endorsing FairTax outright, but spoke approvingly of the idea of replacing the current income tax with a consumption tax, and promised to look into it if elected. He also criticized the Internal Revenue Code as inefficient, maddeningly complex, and expensive to comply with.[5]

Free trade

Thompson supports free trade and globalization. "It works to our benefit. We innovate more and invest in that innovation better than anywhere else in the world. Same thing goes for services, which are increasingly driving our economy. Free trade and market economies have done more for freedom and prosperity than a central planner could ever dream and we're the world's best example of that."[6]

Campaign finance reform

Thompson's opinion of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance legislation is in three parts: he thinks that it was right to do away with the soft money, that it was right to strengthen the limits on hard money, but that the limitation on political speech within 30 or 60 days of an election was wrong and should be repealed.[7]

Thompson's original support of McCain-Feingold brought criticism from groups such as Gun Owners of America (GOA), who said that the legislation "severely limits the abilities of groups like GOA to inform the public about the gun rights voting records of politicians already in office."[8]

Thompson concedes that McCain-Feingold has not worked as intended, and has said "I'm not prepared to go there yet, but I wonder if we shouldn't just take off the limits and have full disclosure with harsh penalties for not reporting everything on the Internet immediately."[9]

Later, Thompson went on the record as saying that while he supports the soft-money limits that he voted for, the 30/60 day limits on political speech need to be repealed.[10]

Social Security

Thompson supported a partial privatization plan for Social Security during the 1990s.[11] While he has not revealed details of his current Social Security plan, he has said that it depends on whether current recipients will be willing to sacrifice a bit on their benefits for future generations.[12]

Social policy

Abortion

Thompson describes himself as pro-life,[13] and says the legality of abortion in the United States should be determined at the state level, in accordance with his federalist viewpoint. During an interview in 2007, Thompson said:

I've always thought that Roe v. Wade was a wrong decision, that they usurped what had been the law in this country for 200 years, that it was a matter that should go back to the states. When you get back to the states, I think the states should have some leeway. I might vote against one approach, but I think the state ought to have it. And I would not be and never have been for a law that says, on the state level, if I were back in Tennessee voting on this...to criminalize a young woman....[14]

He also said in 2007 that Roe v. Wade "was bad law and bad medical science. And the way to address that is through good judges. I don't think the court ought to wake up one day and make new social policy for the country. It's contrary to what it's been the past 200 years."[13]

In 2000, the magazine National Review described Thompson as pro-choice based in part on Thompson's statements from 1994 and 1997. After Thompson's office called to say that he was pro-life, National Review analyzed Thompson's voting record and declared that, "Thompson is an ally of pro-lifers in all the actual fights that come up, but he's not one of them on the core issue. Unless, that is, he has changed his mind, as suggested by his current self-description as a pro-lifer."[15]

In a 1997 letter to a constituent, Thompson wrote that he supported various restrictions on abortion but believed "that government should not interfere with individual convictions and actions in this area."[15]

In a 1996 questionnaire from Tennesseans for Choice, Thompson responded that "states should have the right to restrict abortion as they see fit" but that he would not favor federal legislation criminalizing abortions. He further wrote, "The federal government should not interfere with individual convictions and actions in this area" but that "states should be allowed to impose various restrictions (i.e. parental notification, 24-hour waiting periods, etc.) if they so choose."[16]

On a 1996 survey by the Christian Coalition, Thompson opposed an amendment to the U.S. Constitution “protecting the sanctity of human life.” He added that “I do not believe abortion should be criminalized. This battle will be won in the hearts and souls of the American people.”[17]

Asked in 1996 by the Memphis group FLARE (Family, Life, America, Responsible Education Under God Inc.) if human life begins at conception, Thompson circled “N/A.” [17]

During an interview in July of 1994 with Republican Liberty, the official newsletter of the Republican Liberty Caucus, Thompson said about abortion: "Government should stay out of it. No public financing. The ultimate decision must be made by the women. Government should treat its citizens as adults capable of making moral decisions on their own."[18]

Also in 1994, Thompson told a Tennessee newspaper (the Conservative Spectator): "I’m not willing to support laws that prohibit early term abortions....It comes down to whether life begins at conception. I don’t know in my own mind if that is the case so I don’t feel the law ought to impose that standard on other people."[19]

And, in 1994, Thompson's campaign checked the following responses regarding abortion, as part of the National Political Awareness Test:[20]

  • Abortions should be legal in all circumstances as long as the procedure is completed within the first trimester of the pregnancy.
  • A woman under the age of 18 should be required to notify a parent or guardian before having an abortion.
  • States should be allowed to impose mandatory waiting periods before abortions are performed.
  • Congress should eliminate federal funding for clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services.
  • Congress should eliminate abortion services from any federally funded health care plan.
  • Congress should leave legislation on this issue to the states.

Darla St. Martin of the National Right to Life Committee says that she interviewed Thompson in 1994 and "on all of the questions I asked him, he opposed abortion."[21] She added that Thompson's voting record[22] reinforced her view that Thompson is pro-life.

A 1993 article in the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported that Thompson supports a right to abortion but that he opposes federal funding for abortion and favors allowing states to impose limited restrictions on abortion, such as parental notification requirements for minors.[23]

In 1991, Thompson allegedly lobbied the George H. W. Bush administration to ease a regulation that prevented federally funded health clinics from offering abortion counseling. Thompson however denies it, and this matter is controversial.

Gay Rights

  • Voted no on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation.[24]
  • Voted no on a federal bill that would have prohibited employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.[24]

Affirmative Action

Thompson voted to continue affirmative action in the awarding of federal contracts by voting against Senate amendment 1825 to H.R. 1854 which would have banned it. [25]

Global warming

Thompson is skeptical that global warming is caused primarily by human activities. To support his view, he has cited an argument (originally raised by K.I. Abdusamatov of the Pulkovo Observatory) that warming has been observed in several other planets in the solar system (including Mars) and that this is evidence that Earth's warming is the result of solar activity.[26] See Climate of Mars for details about this argument.

Gun control

Thompson believes that the right to keep and bear arms is an individual right, rather than a power granted to government-controlled militias.[27] Regarding this right, Thompson said:

The statistics are clear. Communities that recognize and grant Second Amendment rights to responsible adults have a significantly lower incidence of violent crime than those that do not. More to the point, incarcerated criminals tell criminologists that they consider local gun laws when they decide what sort of crime they will commit, and where they will do so.[28]

Speaking of the Virginia Tech massacre, he said: "Whenever I've seen one of those 'Gun-free Zone' signs, especially outside of a school filled with our youngest and most vulnerable citizens, I've always wondered exactly who these signs are directed at. Obviously, they don't mean much to the sort of man who murdered 32 people just a few days ago."[28]

"A 2000 report from a campaign finance watchdog group, Common Cause, found that the NRA, Gun Owners of America, and the Georgia Gun Owners PAC donated $188,954 to Mr. Thompson between 1993 and 1999; the groups donated more only to Dr. Frist."[29]

However, Thompson's voting record while in the Senate was not completely consistent with recent statements leading up to his possible 2008 presidential campaign.

According to Gun Owners of America (GOA), as a senator Thompson voted pro-gun 19 times and anti-gun 14 times[30] .[8] Three of the votes counted as anti-gun were for the McCain-Feingold Campaign Reform Act.

Additionally, Thompson voted for the Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban, which restricts ownership and use of guns or ammunition by individuals convicted of misdemeanor or felony domestic violence.[8] Thompson voted against the Smith "Anti-Brady" Amendment which would have prohibited the FBI from using Brady background checks to tax or register gun owners.[8]

Immigration

Thompson believes that U.S. borders should be secured before considering comprehensive immigration reform:

The government could start by securing our nation's borders. A sovereign nation that can't do that is not a sovereign nation. This is secondarily an immigration issue. It's primarily a national security issue. We were told twenty years ago if we produced a comprehensive solution, we'd solve the illegal immigration problem. Twelve million illegals later, we're being told that same thing again.[6]

NumbersUSA summarizes his record as "Leans toward less immigration, less population growth, less foreign labor."[31]

Thompson received an average career grade of "C" by the group Americans for Better Immigration.[32] They rated him A+ on Border Security, F on visas for foreign workers (Thompson voted to support expanded legal immigration), and mostly Cs on other subjects.

In 1997, Thompson voted to grant amnesty to close to one million illegal aliens from Nicaragua and Cuba.[33]

In 2000, Thompson voted against an amnesty for illegal aliens from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Haiti.[33]

In another interview, Thompson again criticized Reagan's immigration policy of 1986, saying: "Twelve million illegal immigrants later, we are now living in a nation that is beset by people who are suicidal maniacs and want to kill countless innocent men, women and children around the world. We're sitting here now with essentially open borders."[34] Presidential candidate John McCain responded, "I travel around the country extensively and that's certainly not the impression I have. I have not detected a nation full of suicidal maniacs."[34] A Thompson spokesman said he was not calling immigrants "suicidal maniacs" but rather saying that terrorists could infiltrate the borders.[34]

Separation of Church and State

Thompson has concerns about federal judges deciding social policy in this area: "Many federal judges seem intent on eliminating God from the public schools and the public square in ways that would astound our founding fathers. We never know when a five to four Supreme Court decision will uphold them. They ignore the fact that the founders were protecting the church from the state and not the other way around."[35]

Foreign Policy

War on Terror

Thompson believes that terrorists started a war against Western civilization and that this war will not end until the terrorists are defeated:

The Western world is in an international struggle with jihadists who see this struggle as part of a conflict that has gone on for centuries, and who won’t give up until Western countries are brought to their knees. ... I believe that the forces of civilization must work together with common purpose to defeat the terrorists who for their own twisted purposes have murdered thousands, and who are trying to acquire technology to murder millions more.[36]

He prefers diplomacy but believes that diplomacy must be backed up by a willingness to use force when necessary. "Today our enemies do not doubt our military strength. They do question our determination."[36]

Iraq

Thompson believes that the United States was right to invade Iraq but says that mistakes were made: "Wars are full of mistakes. You rectify things. I think we're doing that now [with General Petraeus]."[37] But he also says that "our coalition should be proud of what we have averted [in Iraq]."[36] He argues that, "If Saddam Hussein was still around today with his sons looking at Iran developing a nuclear capability, he undoubtedly would have reconstituted his nuclear capability. Things would be worse than what they are today."[37]

Thompson believes that the United States should be looking beyond the present situation in Iraq: "whether we leave there under our own terms or not, it's still going to be a very dangerous world. If we leave there under bad circumstances, we're going to have a haven down there for terrorists. The whole area, I'm afraid, will become nuclearized."[38]

Iran

Thompson is concerned that Iran's vow to destroy Israel is more than empty rhetoric: "If we know anything from modern history, it is that when fanatical tyrants pledge to 'wipe out' an entire nation, we should listen. We must gather our alliance, and do all in our power to make sure that such men do not gain the capability to carry out their evil ambitions."[36]

But he believes that the United States may be able to change Iran without using military force: "Iran might fall of its own weight if we give it a little help. We're not doing nearly enough to get communications in there. There are riots ... that are seldom reported, but they're taking place all over the country nowadays. Their inflation is up; unemployment is up."[39] By encouraging the people of Iran and using our intelligence resources we may be able to help bring about a regime change.

Cuba

On May 2 2007, Thompson wrote an article[40] critical of Cuba's government-run health care, and of filmmaker Michael Moore's visit to Cuba. Moore responded on May 15 2007 with a challenge for a health care debate.[41] Later that day, Thompson responded with a video,[42] in which he declined to debate Moore, and mentioned the case of Cuban filmmaker Nicolás Guillén, who was jailed by the Cuban government and subjected to electroconvulsive therapy. Moore had also cited an unsubstantiated charge that Thompson allegedly owned several boxes of Cuban cigars.

On June 27, 2007, Thompson spoke of his concern that many illegal immigrants came from terrorist-related states, and he mentioned Cubans who been apprehended in the United States. "If they're coming from Cuba, where else are they coming from? And I don't imagine they're coming here to bring greetings from Castro. We're living in the era of the suitcase bomb."[43] After this remark sparked some controversy, Thompson clarified: "The Castro regime remains dedicated to infiltrating American institutions to spread his ideology of tyranny. ... It’s also why we must oppose the illegal immigration of Castro’s agents into the United States while welcoming the vast majority who immigrate legally and with legal intentions."[44]

References

  1. ^ "How conservative is Fred Thompson?", Washington Times Editorial (2007-06-23).
  2. ^ "Federalism 'n' Me", AEI, April 23, 2007. Accessed May 13, 2007.
  3. ^ Thompson, Fred. "Talking about Federalism", Townhall.com, April 23, 2007. Accessed May 13, 2007.
  4. ^ Thompson, Fred. "Case Closed: Tax Cuts Mean Growth", ABC Radio, April 14, 2007. Accessed May 13, 2007.
  5. ^ Sean Hannity Show syndicated radio program, July 10, 2007
  6. ^ a b Thompson, Fred. "Prepared Remarks for Speech to Lincoln Club Annual Dinner", ABC Radio, May 4, 2007. Accessed May 13, 2007.
  7. ^ Sean Hannity interview of Fred Thompson, Fox News, June 6, 2007. Accessed June 9, 2007.
  8. ^ a b c d Fields, Craig. "Presidential Candidates And The Second Amendment: Fred Thompson", Gun Owners of America (GOA). Accessed June 10, 2007.
  9. ^ Fund, John. "Lights, Camera . . . Candidacy?", Opinion Journal, March 17, 2007. Accessed June 10, 2007.
  10. ^ FoxNews, Hannity & Colmes.
  11. ^ John, David. "Another Bold Step Forward: The Bipartisan Senate Social Security Reform Plan," Heritage Foundation (1999-06-23).
  12. ^ Hayes, Stephen F. "From the Courthouse to the White House". Weekly Standard. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ a b "Transcript: Former Sen. Fred Thompson on 'FOX News Sunday'". 2007-03-11. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
  14. ^ Exclusive! Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson on Possible White House Bid, (2007-06-05).
  15. ^ a b Ponnuru, Ramesh (2000-07-06). "Senator Thompson's office disputes NR". Retrieved 2007-07-04.
  16. ^ "Tennesseans for Choice questionnaire" (PDF). 1996. Retrieved 2007-07-17.
  17. ^ a b Theobald, Bill (2007-06-10). "Thompson survey said: "I do not believe abortion should be criminalized"". Retrieved 2007-06-16.
  18. ^ Lucas, Fred (2007-06-05). "Fred Thompson Could Face Fire From the Right". Cybercast News Service. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
  19. ^ Holly Bailey, "Away From the Cameras," Newsweek (2007-06-25).
  20. ^ "Congressional 1994 National Political Awareness Test". Project Vote Smart. 1994. Retrieved 2007-06-03.
  21. ^ Klein, Philip (2007-03-22). "National Right to Life Committee on Thompson". Retrieved 2007-07-04.
  22. ^ "NRLC Congressional Scorecards". Retrieved 2007-07-04.
  23. ^ Locker, Richard (1993-07-29). "Thompson Edges Closer To GOP Run For Senate". Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
  24. ^ a b c "Fred Thompson on Civil Rights". OnTheIssues.org. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
  25. ^ U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 104th Congress, 1st Session Retrieved June 14, 2007
  26. ^ Thompson, Fred. "Plutonic Warming", AEI, March 22, 2007. Accessed May 13, 2007.
  27. ^ Thompson, Fred. "Armed with the Truth", ABC Radio, May 10, 2007. Accessed May 13, 2007.
  28. ^ a b Thompson, Fred. "Signs of Intelligence?", ABC Radio, April 19, 2007. Accessed May 13, 2007.
  29. ^ Geraghty, Jim. Thompson Bid May Fill a Void for the GOP Base, New York Sun (2007-04-05).
  30. ^ "Presidential Candidates And The Second Amendment: Fred Thompson" Gun Owners of America (GOA)
  31. ^ "All Immigration Votes of Senator Fred Thompson". Retrieved 2007-06-17.
  32. ^ "Immigration-Reduction Report Card". Retrieved 2007-06-16.
  33. ^ a b "IMMIGRATION PROFILE OF SEN. FRED THOMPSON". Retrieved 2007-06-16.
  34. ^ a b c "Fred Thompson Raps 'Open Border' Immigration". Retrieved 2007-06-21.
  35. ^ Thompson, Fred. "First Things First", National Review, May 14, 2007. Accessed May 30, 2007.
  36. ^ a b c d "Remarks to Policy Exchange in London". 2007-06-19. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  37. ^ a b "Former Sen. Fred Thompson on 'FOX News Sunday'". 2007-03-11. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  38. ^ "Fred Thompson on Possible 2008 White House Run". 2007-05-01. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  39. ^ "Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson on Possible White House Bid". 2007-06-05. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  40. ^ Thompson, Fred (May 2, 2007). ""Paradise Island": The myth of Cuban health care". National Review Online. Retrieved 2007-05-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  41. ^ Moore, Michael (May 15, 2007). "A Challenge from Michael Moore to Presidential Hopeful Fred Thompson". Retrieved 2007-05-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ "Thompson Responds to Michael Moore Challenge" (video clip). Breitbart.tv. May 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ "Thompson: "They're Coming From Cuba"". 2007-06-28. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  44. ^ ""A Good Day"". Official Fred Thompson Blog. 2007-06-28. Retrieved 2007-07-05.

External links


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