« A January 15 Michigan Primary? | Main | Enough's Enough: Obama Will Limit Forum/Debate Participation » Here's How Fox News Covered Fred Thompson In Iowa17 Aug 2007 06:34 pm Fairly harsh coverage of Sen. Fred Thompson's first trip to Iowa today... from Fox News, an organ of opinion that Mr. Thompson very much wants in his corner. First, Carl Cameron points out Thompson's Gucci loafers... He also points out that Thompson did what "no other presidential candidate has done" -- which is to motor around the state fair in a golf cart. TrackBackTrackBack URL for this entry: Comments (216)
Too lazy to walk? Too old? What gives? 
So, is Fox in Rudy's pocket? Enquiring minds want to know.
Gucci is no big deal. This is Iowa, its not a third world country, and we are not shocked by nice clothes.
Fox News?? Let's give Fred a chance before we start to pick on his shoes or family. What's on your foot?
I don't understand all the fuss about Fred Thompson. What is the appeal?
better than Breck Girl $1500 haircuts!
As a born & raised cornfed Iowan, I can tell you we were appalled to his Gucci shoes. Prada is in this year. Gucci just screams 2003.
Uh, Hello? Gucci's may cost $600 But they last 20 years. It's called smart.
Everyone knows that Gucci hasn't been the same since Tom Ford left. Don't get me started on recent Gucci shoes. The quality is horrendous and the name has lost it's caché. The fact that a Fox "journalist" recognized them by brand is an good indication of their place in the fashion pyramid. There was a time when Gucci was a big-time offensively tasteless brand, but now that's only possible with Gucci if the shoes are red and green crocodile loafers. If he had taste he'd be wearing Ferragamo or maybe Prada. Go ahead, ask your wife. She'll tell you.
wtf! I am a distant relative of Fred Thompson and when I tell you that he'd rather walk bare foot....that's the truth. he is a grass roots, corn husking, ditch digging gold ol boy. yeah i said it....gold ol boy
Republicans looking for the neo-Reagan were looking towards Thompson's on-screen persona and getting all giddy. But the real Fred looks 20 years older than that Fred, and he has jiggly man-boobs, and he's about as dynamic as sludge. I think what the GOP needs is a computer-generated candidate, one that embodies all of their warmongering Aryan cheapskate fantasies. We know they don't want a real president - just look how happy they were with W before the magic wore off and the hopeless loser with bad brains was revealed.
Fred Thompson & Jabba the Hut--separated at birth???
Why does the media automatically assume that someone from Iowa is a total "hayseed" that would look down on someone with a nice pair of shoes? Anyone from a rural part of the country just gets lumped in to a stereotype Bible-toting, F-150 driving, NASCAR-watching, pigs feet-eating rube like something from "Deliverance". What do you bet there is more than one Mercedes-Benz dealership in that state? Or a Louis Vuitton store in the mall?
Who cares about policy anyway?
All the coverage in IA for Fred has not been good. Grassley having to steer him toward supporters, news about rep'ing Aristide, etc. I was leaning Fred but wonder if Huck is really more genuine.
I think those are actually Ferragamo???
Hey better than Rumsfeld in the button down collar, 8o's tie, blue blazer and combat boots.
gucci is nothing compared to a pair of Church shoes, which is more fit to a man his age.
What did they expect him to wear; rubber boots and overalls? What's the big deal -- I've had friends go hunting in Gucci loafers. We may be the fly over zone, but the Midwest doesn't live in the dark when it comes to fashion. (I can't believe I just stuck up for Iowa.)
The problem with Thompson is that in 2002, when the nation was at war, and it was time for men of character and vision to WANT to lead, he left...for Hollywood of all places...I know his daughter died, and obviously that's awful, but he can't come to the party six years later and act like he wants to save the country now...he had his chance, and he chose to let it pass him by. We could have used him in the Senate, but he didn't want to work...I understand people like him, but you like a dream and a hope, not a reality.
Who cares about Fred Thompson? I'm voting for Mike Huckabee.
Frankly, I think the Church's shoes comment was fairly dead on. I can't wear either Gucci or Ferragamo, due to my width. I wear good old fashioned, American made Allen-Edmonds. They're bulletproof. Literally.
What a silly column. Believe it or not, we don't all wear bib overalls and straw hats in Iowa! LOL Fred Thompson embodies everything that we conservatives are looking for in a president. He is pro-life, anti-abortion, against illegal immigration, for a sensible defense of our nation, a Federalist, someone who will appoint strict constructionist judges and justices and a small government republican.
It's Ed'ards that claims to be a good ole po'boy, not Thompson. This proves he has good taste...hey, they ALL can afford them nice Gucci shoes, now can't they?
Get your facts staright folks, they're not Gucci, they're Ferragamo's. Typical media hype, can the guy lead is the question?!
DUMBASSES!!!!! THOSE ARE FERRAGAMO!!!!!! NOT GUCCI!!!!!!!!
Good luck Sen. Fred Thompson. The demographic winter is here. Aging workforce in the US. Website with good information on the subject. Have a nice day. Sincerely,
Let's get the words right, people. It's Ferragamos, not Ferragamo's. The first is plural; the second is possessive. It should be used to refer to refer to things that belong to Mr. or Ms. Ferragamo or to the company, as in "Ferragamo's new line for spring". Cache is defined as: Cachet is defined as: Caché means hidden in French.
hmmmm go figure
To: Alan, Des Moines IA Fred Thompson embodies everything that we conservatives are looking for in a president. "He is pro-life". Not including the death penalty right? "anti-abortion". Yes, but he did lobby for it. Kind of 'for profit' pro abortion, 'for social conservative votes' anti abortion. Nice. "against illegal immigration". Kick out all the illegal immigrants... just keep an eye on the economy as you do it. "for a sensible defense of our nation" Is it Iran or Syria next? Or neither... just more Iraq? "Federalist, someone who will appoint strict constructionist judges and justices". I'm not going to knock him on that. "a small government republican". Ha ha, just like GB42... I'm so depressed with our candidates it's not even funny.
I would rather look at Thompson's Gucci shoes than Hillary's cleavage. Now tell the truth, you would too wouldn't you???
I suspect Jake was homeschooled by homeless people.
The only appeal that Thompson has had has been because of the mystery of "will he run or won't he?" Once the average American learns his far-right wing views, he won't stand a chance.
Do you know how many brands rip off the horsebit that USED to identify Gucci? Florsheim, Cole Hahn, just to name a few. Those shoes could have been any brand. Did Fred take off his shoes and show someone the sole? If so, I'm CERTAINLY not voting for him now!
THS: I stand corrected by your pedantic grammar flame. Cachet it is. Others: The video is so tiny, it's hard to see. Yeah, they're Ferragamo. Or is it Ferragamoes :)
This silly report ought to take some of the wind out of the liberal blowhards that whine about FOX News being a blowtorch for conservatives. I wish they were, but alas, they are fair and balanced...sighhhh!
Better Fred's Loafers than Hillary's ankles or should I say cankles they look like a couple tree stumps.
Rudy Giuliani hired Fox News director Roger Ailes as a media consultant in 1989, he helped Fox News get a cable station in New York, he officiated at Roger Ailes' wedding, and the two see each other socially. Fred Thompson? Fox News will destroy him. Giuliani is the Fox News trophy-candidate.
Mitt Romney bought the straw poll!!!! Oops, wrong story. Go Fred!
Does anyone else think Fred looks like Vigo from "Ghostbusters II"?
"he is a grass roots, corn husking, ditch digging gold ol boy. yeah i said it....gold ol boy
Then Fred (like he did with his fake red pickup) walks around the corner, ditches that garb and those attitudes, cashes his lobbyist checks and all them hollywood residuals, and buys gucci shoes and eats escargot and cornish game hens... good ole boy my ass... he was a fake then, he's a fake now...
Fred looks like he has as much fun campaigning as he does undergoing his annual colonoscopy. To be sure, the procedures aren't really so unlike one another. But if you don't like what you do, it'll show in a minute. Fred doesn't have the stomach to run. Or the colon:
Iowa is not a state in the middle of nowhere with an absolute disregard of fashion sense. Iowa State University happens to have a fashion program thats rated in the top 20 in the nation. Yes, Iowa State's fashion program is compared with AIDT, Berkley, Parsons, and the Art Institutes. Not everyone in Iowa wears overalls, racing t-shirts and cowboy boots... the rest of us do keep up with modern style. The author can piss off for his judgments and lack of etiquette.
Except for Ron Paul, is any Republican candidate NOT for endless war? (And to be fair, certainly Hillary will never end it-- she herself has said she is for a permanent presence.)
Those are $1B McLean lobbyist loafers. Why is this clown running for President?
You're right, he does look like Vigo...... Where's Bill Murray when we need him......
Carl Cameron is a very biased and one sided reporter. I've always noticed he can't but grin like a monkey when coverning Dem's...but always sour and critical when talking about the Republicans. I turn the station when he is on anymore.
Oh say it ain't so, Carl! I've always loved your reports. The guy with the big grin and stick out ears tells it like it is...usually.
Quit being so defensive. It doesn't make Iowa backward if nobody wears Gucci. It makes it like the rest of the country. I'm sure you can find some people who own Gucci clothes in Iowa, but the nearest Gucci store is in Chicago. That's not exactly the local mall. I live in the rural South. We're not backwards, and fashion isn't a foreign concept, but you do see overalls at the country fair and there's not anybody there wearing Gucci. It's not an insult to make that observation.
A small town in the middle of Iowa has $400,000 lots on a lake with million dollar homes being built. I bet they have a pair of Guccis or two there.
Fred is no Rep. Tancredo when it comes to illegal immigration. Tom Tancredo has my vote, here’s the reason why: Club for Growth Pork Report Card Brownback and Huckabee are late to the dance as well. They are for amnesty and place illegal aliens above American citizens. Ron Paul is not good on illegal immigration, Read the "Ron Paul Mystique" by S. J. Miller. Also, check out the Federal Oberserver's other articles on Ron Paul by S. J. Miller
Tex from Moronica writes: "This silly report ought to take some of the wind out of the liberal blowhards that whine about FOX News being a blowtorch for conservatives. I wish they were, but alas, they are fair and balanced...sighhhh!" Yeah, one report balances out a decade of being a GOP brothel. Sure, chuckles.
Gucci - don't like them. I'll take my Cole Haan shoes any day. By the way, who's Carl Cameron to notice anything - the guy is a total goof-ball. Here's hoping Fred will make his annoucement soon and take the number 1 spot and be our next Commander in Chief! Carl's been on the campaign trail a while and looks like his hand is in someone's elses pocket (or member) already. Shame on FOX.
Yes... and if he had changed to cowboy boots they would have said he's a fake for wearing cowboy boots... if he would have put on hiking boots they would have made fun of him for wearing hiking boots even though he rode a golf cart. Cameron also eluded to the fact that Thompson said he has delayed his announcement because of staffing "problems"... when in fact all Thompson said was he was doing in a couple months what most candidates had a year or more to do... that's not exactly a staffing "problem"... Fox News if fine... it's just the twiching head Cameron that's suspect. Shifty eyes is bad... a shifty head is even worse.
For crying out load who cares about a man's shoes. I expected better from Fox.
What version is this Fred? He is no longer playing the role of "true conservative." Run Fred, run, you're RINO McCain record will always catch you.
Des Moines Iowa is the insurance capital of this country. That, even in "Iowa" might involve a little money . . . and possibly some Gucci shoes.
Fox news has some cute honey that reports the news in her low cut outfits & O Riley can't pander enough to the sexual perve story lines for his "conservative" viewers. Is it any surprise they want a presidential candidate chosen based partly on foot wear? And liberal are woried about Fox? That's just pitiful. Those shoes do suck though..
Tom writes: "For crying out load who cares about a man's shoes. I expected better from Fox." What rational person would expect better from Faux? You probably laughed when they covered Hillary's cleavage and Edwards' haircuts. What you mean by "expected better" was that you're surprised they stepped out of their usual roles as GOP cheerleaders and courtesans. And that's all you meant. Thompson's a joke. Faux is a joke. I do like your new phrase "for crying out load," though. It seems like a good motto for the current Republican party.
Ron Paul is the real Conservative Republican! Fred can't walk because he's too weak from Cancer! Freddy the fraud is a CFR "good ol boy"
Who cares what the man has on his feet?!? I wouldn't care if he was wearing a cowboy boot on one foot and a flip-flop on the other. I just would like to know, is he running for POTUS or not? Either way, Huckabee is the MAN! Go FairTax!
at 46 seconds, i swear that Thompson is on a Buzz-Around. after he loses, he can do endorsements like C. Everett Koop.
Edwards haircuts matter because he blathers on about the "two Americas". Fred's shoes don't because being rich isn't a crime and Republicans don't try to pretend like it is...
Edwards the 900 dollar haircut boy is a fraud just like Freddy the lobbist fraud. There both Frauds!
I like the shoes but I support Romney.
Joe Ron Paul is a libertarian.
Many of these posts, sadly, are of little value, lacking any real meaningful commentary; Hyperbole, meaningless rhetoric, personal rants, and everything else ( this about shoes? are you serious???) .. and very little on the important issues.....
I like Fred, he drives a red truck just like my granddaddy and he'll whip them Arabs good.
Who cares what FOX says? Like horses goes water, so went our GOP. A failure in leadership and now more of the same being served up from both sides, (with a few exceptions).
Reagan wore boots...
No comment on the shoes, but Ken needs to find a nice girl.
Since when did shoes start making policy?
Jeffo? You're freaking hilarious!!
Fred Thompson has my vote and already has my money, however this is one point on which Mr. Thompson and I disagree. Personally, living here in central South Louisiana, I much prefer Bally's. My feet are smiling!!!
You are ALL missing the point _ I don't know why, but Fox news was pointing at this shoes to show he's a wealthy, snob, elitist. Along with the golf cart comment. Too proud to walk. But it misses the mark. The guys been in how many movies and TV shows? He's worth millions - he can afford $500 pair of loafers if he wants. What would be an acceptable shoe to show he's not a snob? Lands End. Doesn't anyone assume that perhaps at his age he may have problem feet? and is wearing loafers and riding in golf carts to save the wear and tear on his feet? This is so reminiscent of the Clinton campaign of 1992 when it was less about issues and core beliefs and more about inane, non sequitur things.
I am voting for Newt.
Hey Y'all, I'd only vote for Fred if he was wearin' a pair of cousin Ed's coonskin mocassins. Right there from those Tennessee hills.
Fox is in Giuliani's pocket. That channel has already decided who the GOP nominee is going to be, whcih is why they go out of their way to marginalize Huckabee. The GOP will annoint Giuliani if the powers that be have their way. It's our duty not to allow it. For once GOP and Dems alike should agree that the Media should not be allowed to write and report these silly pieces that do nothing to address real issues.
Thompson is a do nothing blowhard, the only thing he has ever done is score a hot p of a, I'm sure he thanx his lucky stars viagra was invented....
Fred Thompson has gotten outstanding coverage compared to the much-maligned Dr. Ron Paul. The media (especially Foxnews) have gone out of their way to censor Ron Paul stories. After all, censorship is becoming America's favorite past-time. The US gov't (and their corporate friends), already detain protesters, ban books like America Deceived (book) from Amazon and Wikipedia, shut down Imus and fire 21-year tenured, BYU physics professor Steven Jones because he proved explosives, thermite in particular, took down the WTC buildings.
I thought Fox loved Fred. He's on Hannity and Colmes all the time. Maybe they're still holding out for uber-favorite Newt Gingrich. Or Carl Cameron just has a grudge.
I think that told more about the reporter than about Fred Thompson. Most people don't go around looking at men's shoes unless they looked weird or would even notice what brand they are.
i'm a bit surprised how savage some of these smears against Thompson are. so the guy was a lawyer - like most other candidates - and that makes him an unlikable jerk that kicks children and baby seals? maybe instead of attacking the man personally, you should explain (rationally, I know, it's hard) why exactly you disagree with thompson's policy stances. and god, wait until he's actually running for something to crucify him. right now it's like making fun of sam watterson or angie harmon, leave the l&o bros alone!
Let's see: Allen Edmonds shoes start at around $200.00 Cole Haan shoes start at around $150.00 Johnston & Murphy shoes start at around $150.00 These shoes last forever. If Fox news wants to talk about shoes and golf carts, then we must all listen because that is what is the most important topic of my last few days. Shoes and golf carts. WOW! Some people are just hacks.
it would be like making fun of Watterson if he constantly polled second or third in national and state polls. they pointed out Gucci shoes without suggesting it linked him to something awful and Italian. Now if Gucci were French?
"and god, wait until he's actually running for something to crucify him" That's exactly why people like Thompson wait forever to announce. He is hoping to get a free pass on criticism by playing the "I'm not running" card for as long as he can while the other candidates take the hits. You may have fallen for it, but I'm not.
Reports have to talk about his shoes because he has no policy to discuss. He never has.
Those are obviously Ferragamo loafs, not gucci.
Maybe it's not the shoes at all. Maybe the grudge is "network snobbery". Law and Order is an NBC show, so maybe Thompson has an "understanding" with NBC that he will make the campaign announcement on NBC, and Fox News will miss out. Just a thought. Oh, and Iowa, don't feel bad - the media has made Texas out to be a big prairie where we ride around on covered wagons for years. It's fun to let people actually believe that after a while.
I'll admit to not being up on 2nd tier Republic party pols - but what has Fred done? Is his appeal all in the Big Daddy looks and mannerisms and spouting pretty standard right wing views?
So what if he has Gucci loafers? They probably don't cost any more than one of John Edward's haircuts!
I like Fred. I'm glad he's not been in the muckraking business the last 5 years since he left the Senate. I would love a Fred/Leiberman ticket.
i used to watch FoxNews (Brit Hume, O'Reilly, Hannity & Colmes, coverage of news in general) all the time. now, it's funny when i remember it's there now. they've gotten too sensational with all the car chases and the like . . . FOX NEWS ALERT . . . car chase in Los Angeles. Big deal! i like nice shoes, too. they just wear / feel better. but reporters today, of all stripes, spot something, no matter how trivial, and look to how they can make that into something. i do think thompson has hurt himself by waiting so long. now he just looks like he doesn't want to put forth the effort, which you do NOT run for president if that's your personality. give me rudy or romney and i'll be happy. the democratic field is far too scary and inexperienced this go around.
Hard to see the remark as harsh in any way. And this was clipped before the thread was completed. Following was a phrase that began with "But he made up for that by....." This is like a Michael Moore film.....use of selective editing to change meaning. A popular Liberal smear tool. I'm for a Giuliani/Romney ticket, by the way. This is a real winning team. I don't believe Mr. Thompson is!
You don't hear about candidates shoes too much. (Oh, Yeah! I think it was reported that George Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger wear Jack Boots.), but the prudent thing to do is wear and drive American made EVERYTHING. Then the left can only wail that your Allen-Edmonds cost three hundred bucks! Enough to get a Ph.D. for a homeless crack addict.
Carl Cameron posted a false report on John Kerry when Cameron was reporting on the 2004 election. The story was posted on Cameron's link at foxnews.com. He acknowledged his treachery but was not dismissed. The liars at CBS were fired for their false story about Bush and his guard duty. Cameron is a joke whether he's covering Republicans or Democrats. FoxNews = Fluff and Opinion It's a joke but pretty entertaining in a sick sort of way.
how can you trust anything fox says or does. fair and balanced my ass.......
The Gucci shoes hurt his feet so much that he was unable to walk - that is why he was driving around in the golf cart.
Ok, last week a brilliant newspaper journalist published a potentially pulitzer prize winning article bashing/poking fun at the name 'Fred'.
May be he bought the shoes at T J Max. If he did he's not a big spender. He would be good for this country.
Yeah, Huckabee, thats a real canidate... "I want to abolish the tax code". What an idiot. Anyone with a law degree would understand the widespread negative implications of such a policy. Fred Thompson is the only current electable conservative on the ballot.
Well he also owns many pairs of Allen Edmond shoes as do I. They are American made still, in Minnesota and I have a pair that is 25 years old and still in good shape! Good for hime.
What is all the b.s. about shoes?You would think the ones writing about shoes have never worn a pair.As far as Fox news is concerned, they at least cover all the candidates. The other liberal networks, which I do not have to name, never mentions any one but hilary and the one who is not black enough. I wonder why Osama never takes his white granmother to his rallies.I would suggest that all you liberal kos boys watch Fox more, and find out the truth about all the candidates. They report and you decide.
Give Thompson credit. Instead of motoring around the Iowa State Fair in a golf cart, he could have just stopped by the local Wal-Mart. It's the same demographic, but offers the added luxury of air conditioning. And the linoleum is a bit easier on loafers.
Fred who??? This is just a side show. There are 500 people in Congress that are more qualified than Fred. And they wouldn't win the party nomination either! Lucky that whom ever the GOP runs will be able to beat Hillary due solely to her personality......
I agree, these are Ferragamo - confirmed by a search on ebay. You could pay $400 retail for these, but there are lots on ebay for under $250. And even if he paid $400 for the shoes, what's more sensible - $400 shoes or a $400 haircut? Personally, I buy all my shoes on ebay and I go for high quality leather at reasonable prices. That seems to be what Fred is, high quality at a reasonable price. Do you think Fox engineered this shoe fetish to help Fred with the Iowa vote? I suspect most Iownans would be insulted to think they don't know the value of a good pair of shoes or that Fred shouldn't wear good shoes to a fair. What should he have worn - Nike?
Relax everyone. Its only Fox, not real news. They slip in a little of their brand of political coverage only when no celebrities are in jail and no cute blondes are missing.
Any people who would look for a president in a tv personality like Thompson deserves whatever it finally gets.
WAITED TO LONG TO ANNOUNCE!!!!? Personally I would prefer that this stupid process was limited to 60 days and the only thing that could be discussed was REAL ISSUES and TRUE and CLEAR policy stands on those issues. Who cares about Shoes, Hair, and cleavage? 1. What are you going to do about International Terror? (Note: How about the story of the man in the wheelchair outside Orlando Int Airport, suffering a stroke, and no one inquired as to why he was there for so long THREE DAYS! soiling his clothes... talk about airport security!) 2.What are you going to do about the mess we have made of the immigration system? (These are not the jobs American "Will not Do" they are Roofers, Framers, Plumbers, truck drivers, Computer Programmers etc) 3. What are you going to do about the rising cost every American Faces getting to WORK? The cost of gas! Yes contrary to popular belief "Americans have not stopped driving with the rising cost" the truth is Americans have not stopped GOING TO WORK 4. What about the stagnant wages the middle income worker faces? CEOS and top level management have seen record increases in wages and benefits, yet the average middle income worker has seen stagnant or declining income and benefits. 5. How about that whole Social Security thing? kind of hard to get a hold of that money when the Congress spends it as soon as it comes in! Just a few thoughts from… YES ... A CONSERVITIVE
Hey, no bother....I'm voting for Romney! Now there's a man who can fill a pair of Gucci shoes and keep in step walking the walk! :) And no, I don't even care about his religion, I just care about if the candidate can run the Country! Romney 2008!
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And they apparently think he's from North Carolina... subliminably tying connecting Thompson to hated liberal John Edwards??? (jk)
Posted by Algernon | August 17, 2007 7:34 PM