Fred Thompson controversies

Main article: Fred Thompson

Over the years, Fred Thompson has been involved in various controversies. In a June 2007 Chicago Tribune column, John Klass argued that Thompson's "TV image [is] destined for cancellation" due to media scrutiny during his presumed upcoming Presidential campaign.

Watergate

Scott Armstrong, a Democratic investigator for the Senate Watergate committee, has criticized Thompson for disclosing committee information to the Nixon White House while they were under investigation, and calls Thompson "a mole for the White House." Armstrong stated, "When the prosecutor discovers the smoking the gun, he's going to be shocked to find that the deputy prosecutor called the defendant and said, 'You'd better get rid of that gun." In his 1975 memoir At That Point in Time, Thompson had been very critical of Armstrong, writing, "Armstrong, in my view, should never have been on the staff. Although very capable, he was a close friend...of Bob Woodward of the Washington Post, which was running exclusive Watergate stories almost daily based on 'informed sources' within the committee... More than once I accused Armstrong of being Woodward's source."

PAC money transfer

Federal Election Commission records show that Thompson’s political action committee transfered $178,000 to his son’s political consulting firm. In contrast, the committee made only $66,700 in contributions to other campaigns and political committees in the four years since Thompson retired from the Senate.

Alleged lobbyist for abortion group

Judith DeSarno, former president of the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, alleged that Thompson lobbied the George H. W. Bush administration "to ease a regulation that prevented clinics that received federal money from offering any abortion counseling." The minutes of a 1991 board meeting of the group, provided by DeSarno, indicate that the group hired Thompson that year.

However, a spokesman for Thompson has "adamantly denied" the claim, saying "There's no documents to prove it, there's no billing records, and Thompson says he has no recollection of it, says it didn't happen." In addition, John H. Sununu--the White House official who was "the president's point man on the rule"--said "I don't recall him ever lobbying me on that at all. I don't think that ever happened. In fact, I know that never happened."

Bill Hamilton, then director the Washington office of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said "I definitely recall her reaching out to [Thompson] and engaging him in some way, and trying to squeeze the White House through him." Thompson spokesman Mark Corally denied the claim and explained, "He may have been consulted by one of the firm’s partners who represented this group in 1991. As any lawyer would know, such consultations take place within law firms every day."

Former Rep. Michael D. Barnes (D-Md.), who employed DeSarno as a senior aide while in Congress and claims to have recommended Thompson to DeSarno, said it was "absolutely bizarre" for Thompson to deny that he lobbied against the abortion counseling rule. "I talked to him while he was doing it, and I talked to DeSarno about the fact that she was very pleased with the work that he was doing for her organization," Barnes told the newspaper. "I have strong, total recollection of that. This is not something I dreamed up or she dreamed up. This is fact."

Cuban cigar/embargo debate

On May 2 2007, Thompson wrote an article critical of Cuba's government-run health care, and of filmmaker Michael Moore's alleged violation of United States embargo against Cuba.

Moore responded on May 15 2007 with a challenge for a health care debate. Moore also cited the fact that Thompson was mentioned in an article by The Weekly Standard to own "box upon box of cigars--Montecristo from Havana." Montecristo are Cuban cigars, owned and operated by the Cuban government, and as such are illegal. Thus, Moore asked "do you think the 'box upon box of cigars – Montecristos from Havana' that you have in your office have contributed to Castro's reported wealth?".

Later that day, Thompson responded with a video, 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. The story was followed in the press.

Jean-Bertrand Aristide

Main article: Jean-Bertrand Aristide

In the early 1990s Thompson was a lobbyist for deposed Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. "Aristide was restored to power in 1994 by U.S. troops under President Clinton," even though he was criticized for endorsing "necklacing" where "gasoline-soaked tires are thrown over a person's neck and set ablaze." Notably in September 1991, Aristide said: "The burning tire, what a beautiful tool! ... It smells good. And wherever you go, you want to smell it," and "Lobbying records show that in 1991 Thompson called then-White House Chief of Staff John Sununu on Aristide's behalf." According to USA Today, "In a brief interview with the AP, Thompson said he expects to hear criticism about his lobbying activities as he moves closer to declaring his candidacy." "Quietly, Thompson’s future rivals in the GOP race speculate Thompson’s million-dollar lobbying business will present problems as his clients included deposed Haiti President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a failed nuclear project and for an ill-timed deregulation of savings and loans banks."

Castro and immigration remarks

On June 27, 2007, Thompson spoke about border security. He worried that many illegal immigrants came from terrorist-related states and he mentioned the apprehension of a thousand that originally came from Cuba. "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." Thompson's remarks brought criticism from both friend and foe. Hillary Clinton was "appalled" that Thompson "talked about Cuban refugees as potential terrorists." National Review labeled Thompson's statement an "unforced error" and commented "No, they're not bringing greetings from Castro. The vast majority are trying to get away from Castro." The next day, Thompson posted a clarification, "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."

Relationships

Thompson divorced in 1985, and had several relationships. Thompson admited, "I was single for a long time, and, yep, I chased a lot of women... And a lot of women chased me. And those that chased me tended to catch me." Mark Corallo, a Thompson spokesman, noted "I don't think any of the members of Congress or the American people are concerned about the dating habits of a single man."

Several pundits have commented on the 24-year difference between Thompson and his wife, Jeri Kehn, as well as making an issue of her appearance. MSNBC commentator Joe Scarborough made a comparison of Kehn to a stripper . New York Times reporter Susan Saulny also referred to Thompson as "grandfatherly" and Kehn as a "trophy wife"., according to what that term "originally meant."

See also

• Political positions of Fred Thompson

External Sources

"Conservatives, Beware of Fred Thompson", by ConservativesBetrayed.com

"How Conservative is Fred Thompson?", Washington Times, June 23, 2007