Fred Thompson Record on Abortion Scrutinized

ARRA Editor: We seldom comment on the information we post on the Blog. However, sometimes comments in stories cry out for a comment. So for the below post, you will find my comment after various statements. by NewsMax.com Staff: Unofficial GOP candidate Fred Thompson, who according to the latest Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll, came in a close second behind the current leader, Rudy Giuliani -- and beat everyone, including Giuliani, among self-described "religious right" voters -- may be in danger of losing supporters because of his record. In the June 25 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands on June 18), Correspondent Holly Bailey reports that the charismatic and down to earth potential GOP candidate has avoided the kind of scrutiny his rivals have faced. . . . his record in Washington will be given a closer look, and conservative voters disappointed to find that Thompson has been on the other side of some of their most important issues, including abortion and campaign fund-raising. . . .

On a 1994 Eagle Forum survey, Thompson said he opposed criminalizing abortion. {The key word is "Criminalizing" -- what did this mean at the time of the survey 12 yrs ago - women go to jail, or what?} Two years later, on a Christian Coalition questionnaire, he checked "opposed" {Did he check the block or one of his staff?} to a proposed constitutional amendment protecting the sanctity of human life. {The majority 10 yrs ago didn't believe a constitutional amendment should be necessary in light majority view and accepted truth -- life is sacred!} In a campaign policy statement filed in the archives, he also said he believes "the decision to have an early term abortion is a moral issue and should not be a legal one subject to the dictates of the government." {It is a moral one and if the government courts had NOT interfered making such an action legal, we would have had millions of lives saved.} During an interview with the Conservative Spectator, a Tennessee newspaper, he claimed to be pro-life but also said that, "The ultimate decision on abortion should be left with the woman and not the government." {What is the full context within which this statement was made?} Thompson drew the ire of his party in 1997 when he was appointed to lead hearings into Democratic fund-raising abuses in the 1996 campaign, and then broadened his investigation to look into alleged abuses by Republicans as well. This probe left him on the outs with GOP heavyweights and it is still unclear whether his public efforts to make amends will be accepted or backfire. {Thank you Mr. Thompson for doing what was right, regardless of the party of the person who was abusing fund-raising -- a plus in this editor's viewpoint - doubt if my fellow conservative voters will mind.}

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