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IDP: Fred Thompson: Consistent conservative or merely acting like it?
9/7/2007

Contacts: Carrie Giddins/Chris Allen
Phone: 515-244-7292

When the Cameras Stop Rolling, Thompson Betrays Republican Positions

Des Moines – As Fred Thompson kicks off his presidential campaign with a stroll across Iowa, he is already attempting to hide his Senate record from Republicans. During his eight years in the US Senate, Thompson took numerous positions anathema to the right-wing conservatives who make up the majority of Iowa Republican caucus-goers.

Fred Thompson supported the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform, opposed creating a system for employers to verify their workers’ legal status and supported federal benefits for illegal immigrants. When confronted by his votes on illegal immigration, the Thompson campaign responded with misleading information in an attempt to deceive voters.

“Fred Thompson has been a presidential candidate for less than a day and already he is running from his record,” said Carrie Giddins, Iowa Democratic Party Communications Director. “Thompson needs to quickly learn that this isn’t like Hollywood where every new role allows you to re-invent yourself.”

Marc Ambinder: “Thompson’s Rebuttal on Immigration Overlooks ‘C’ Grade.” “The memo brags that Thompson has an ‘A+’ from an advocacy group called ‘Americans for Better Immigration’ on the subject of border security. That's true. But there's more to the story.... ABI gave Thompson a ‘C’ for his overall Senate record. ABI also gives Thompson an ‘D’ on votes to reduce the incentives for illegal immigrants and an ‘F’ on votes to reduce the number of foreign workers coming to the U.S.” [Marc Ambinder, The Atlantic, 9/5/07]

Thompson Supported Benefits for Illegal Immigrants, Opposed Employer Verification System. “But on immigration, Mr. Thompson had several votes where he bucked the pack — and seemed to favor illegal aliens. The most stark example was his 1995 vote on the welfare overhaul, when he voted to preserve illegal aliens' ability to receive federal benefits. He was one of just six senators to vote that way, joining four other Republicans and one Democrat. And in 1996, as Congress considered a crackdown on illegal aliens, Mr. Thompson voted against setting up a system so employers could verify the legal status of their workers.” [Washington Times, 9/5/07]

Thompson Supported McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform. “As a senator he insistently advocated increasing the government's regulation of politics. One of only four senators who supported John McCain's candidacy in 2000, Thompson argued for the McCain-Feingold legislation that regulates the content, timing and amount of political speech.” [Washington Post, 4/8/07]


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