Nat'l Right To Life Endorses Thompson

Ex-Sen. Fred Thompson has won the endorsement of the National Right To Life Committee, NRLC and Republican sources say.

Thompson's voting record is pretty much down-the-line pro-life, but NRLC has apparently overlooked his support of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance legislation, which NRLC went to court to fight. Also, in the early 1990s, Thompson has admitted helping lobbying for a pro-choice group.

In October, Thompson addressed the NRLC's presidential forum via satellite.

The NRLC's co-executive director, Darla St. Martin., is close with Thompson's wife/campaign adviser Jeri Kehn Thompson, but it's unclear, of course, whether the friendship played any role in the announcement.

In 2000, NRLC waited until Feb. 9 to endorse George W. Bush over John McCain.

Comments

Its a joke that Nat'l Right To Life has endorsed a pro-choicer.

Thompson launched his political career as a "pro-choice moderate" in a contest against a conservative Democrat Jim Cooper in 1994 Tennessee senate race. He supported the Supreme Court's Roe vs. Wade decision that established a constitutional right to abortion.

On July 29, 1993, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported that Thompson, then running for a Tennessee U.S. Senate seat, said during an interview that he "supports the Supreme Court's Roe vs. Wade decision that established a constitutional right to abortion." In an October 21, 1994, article, The Washington Post similarly reported that "both" Thompson and his Democratic opponent in the 1994 Senate race, then-Rep. Jim Cooper, "believe in legal abortion."

The Tennessean has also done research into Fred Thompson's past public statements on abortion. In 1996, the then-senator indicated he was "opposed" to a constitutional amendment banning abortion, and added a handwritten note: "I do not believe
abortion should be criminalized. This battle will be won in the hearts and souls of the American people." He also answered "N/A" on a separate questionnaire asking if human life begins at conception.

According to the documents The Tennessean located in Thompson's Senate archive at the University of Tennessee show:

• On a 1996 Christian Coalition survey, he checked "opposed" to an amendment to the U.S. Constitution "protecting the sanctity of human life."

• He included a handwritten clarification: "I do not believe abortion should be criminalized. This battle will be won in the hearts and souls of the American people."

• In 1996, asked by the Memphis group FLARE (Family, Life, America, Responsible Education Under God Inc.) if human life begins at conception, Thompson circled "N/A."

• In a 1996 Tennessean article Thompson acknowledged his role as "an abortion-rights defender in a party with a pro-life tilt" as he headed to the Republican National Convention.

"We need to concentrate on what brings us together and not what divides us," Thompson said in an interview at the time, brushing aside his differences with the GOP's official pro-life stance.

Posted by fredo | November 12, 2007 1:12 PM

yuck. A 100% consistent pro-life Huckabee without a speck of doubt on wavering on this issue, and they choose to endorse Thompson?

Endorsements are increasingly being bought and paid for by the incestous power circle in Washington.

Posted by JR | November 12, 2007 1:22 PM

Thompson REALLY needs some good news right now. He came in sixth in two NH polls over the week-end, and he stumbled for second to fifth in yesterday's FL poll.

Posted by Daniel | November 12, 2007 1:55 PM

Hey Fredo!

Which of the positions you laughably list are not his right now?? Only one and that one is; "In a 1996 Tennessean article Thompson acknowledged his role as "an abortion-rights defender in a party with a pro-life tilt" as he headed to the Republican National Convention."

Where's the link Fredo?? Who wrote this garbage?? You perhaps??

Fred Thompson voted 100% pro-life throughout his eight years as a Senator. He has gone out of his way to define Federalism for us ofwhich you obviously don't understand the simple concept or refuse to learn it. Federalism is the principle upon which our form of government was created and we will not jeopardize our freedom for wrongheadedly fighting against judicial activism. Wake up and get a clue!

More over, the one and only influence a President has upon Roe vs. Wade and similar judicial activism is the judges he will appoint. Since Fred was hand-picked to personally escort Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts through the process I suggest your hand-wringing is sorely misplaced and I also suggest your laughable aspersions amount to nothing more than political spinswaying. So, who are you supporting to offer this pathetic hatchet-job on Fred for??

AND to JR;

Huckabee is an unelectable Liberal who happens to hold two, count them, t-w-o positions of a Republican. We can all point to several LibProgs who hold at least those two positions, so what!?

Posted by Winghunter | November 12, 2007 2:10 PM

Its just nice to know that all the Republican candidates are now pro-life. Doesn't make any difference when they came to that conclusion. As long as they believe it now, there is nothing wrong with that. If you learn what abortion really does, snuffing out the life of a human being, then everyone would be pro-life.

Posted by Abby | November 12, 2007 3:32 PM

Don't forget Ron Paul. Some of you may disagree with his stance on federal legislation, but his advocacy for right-to-life issues is as strong (if not stronger, given his OB/GYN past) as Huckabee, Hunter or Thompson.

Posted by Brian | November 12, 2007 3:43 PM

I agree with the person above me. Ron Paul should have gotten this endorsement.

Posted by Phil | November 12, 2007 3:46 PM

As an aside, endorsing Thompson is like endorsing myself. I am adamantly pro-life now. However, I used to be an escort for a local abortion clinic and I gave money to Planned Parenthood all the time from 2002-2005. In RTL's collective brain-fart of a mind, I would probably qualify for their endorsement as well.

Posted by Brian | November 12, 2007 3:56 PM

The notion that Fred Thompson was pro-choice is a liberal mirage designed to torpedo Fred with conservatives. It is abundantly clear that no pro-abortion group would consider that someone was part of their camp when that person says the most important thing to do is overturn Roe v. Wade - which is precisely the position that Fred Thompson has taken. That will be accomplished by the appointment of conservative judges to interpret law - and not make it up.

While the pro-life amendment to the Constitution has been an interesting theoretical goal in the Republican platform - it is NOT a realistic or achievable goal anytime soon. In stating that, and not simply giving lip service to an amendment that isn't going anywhere, Fred is demonstrating the quality of a good leader - which is to tell it like it is.

Posted by Robert L. Barney | November 12, 2007 5:26 PM

National Right To (some) lives has a trememdous incentive to keep abortion legal; like the pro-abort industry, it is a large part of the pro-life industry. These are people who would have to go out and get real jobs, since they would lose their paychecks is abortion were outlawed.
I am a person who was conceived by rape. I am against any exceptions, while RTL accepts exceptions. They refused to endorse me for state assembly because I don't believe that any unborn babies should be used as a barganing chip.
I should start another group - anti-abortionists aganist RTL.

Posted by Helen Westover | November 12, 2007 6:41 PM

"My record is clear. 100% Pro-life voting record over 8 years at the national level. The proof is in the pudding there. Go back and look at all that record. My whole life I've said Roe V. Wade was wrongfully decided. I've been pro-life all my career and always will be."

We accepted the Senator's challenge and went back and reviewed his record.

Senator Fred Thompson does not have a 100% pro-life voting record in the United States Senate. This is a blatant lie. Let's take a look at the ratings from the National Right to Life Committee.

2001-2002
Fred Thompson: 33% Bill Frist: 100%

1999-2000
Fred Thompson: 77% Bill Frist: 100%

1997-1998
Fred Thompson: 86% Bill Frist: 100%

His ratings from 1995-1996 were not readily available. Now, Fred's supporters will argue that these low ratings from the National Right to Life Committee have to do with his strong support for the Mccain-Feingold legislation (which Huckabee opposes). While true, these ratings are given by the National Right to Life Committee and based on the issues most important to the pro-life community. Few pieces of legislation could have been more devastating to the long-term strength of the pro-life movement than McCain-Feingold. If one accepts the premise that the NRLC is not a good judge of pro-life candidates, let us not forget these parts of Thompson's "100% pro-life record".

* Fred Thompson opposed and opposes the Republican Party Platform regarding abortion and a Human Life Amendment to the Constitution
* Fred Thompson lobbied on behalf of abortion advocates

For Fred Thompson to say he has a 100% Pro-life record is absolutely false. Senator, the proof is in the pudding…

Posted by Thompson Record | November 12, 2007 7:35 PM

So, NRTL is either stupid, or lying.
From my experience with them, I would choose the former.
On the other hand, they must have done the research; in that case, they are liars. In either case, they are worse enemies than NARAL.

Posted by Helen Westover | November 12, 2007 11:57 PM

Fred Thompson is Pro-Life. He's getting the endorsement because he has a 100% Lifetime Voting record for Life. He rightly believes in putting Justices on the Supreme Court who interpret laws, not write bad laws like Roe v. Wade where the killing of a baby up to and until it exits the birth canal is justified as a matter of "privacy" to the mother. Huh?

He also is honest enough to say what he believes and thinks in regards to a Constitutional Amendment banning abortion. He could have pandered taken the easy route and said he supports the Abortion Amendment, but he's honest and forthright. He thinks it's ill-advised and won't support it; because it is. The concept and intent is honorable and commendable, but America, it's House and Senate and all the States in the Union, will not pass or ratify it. It would be a huge waste of time, would cause a quagmire of our political system, and would permanently relegate the GOP to a minority party.

The key is the Court. That is why, no matter who the Republicans choose,(and Fred is my guy) we must support them over Hillary or the Democrat. Third parties, and sitting on your ballots, will ensure victory for the baby-killers, and further solidify their position on the Supreme Court. Get real, get pragmatic; Support Thompson or whoever gets the GOP nomination even Giuliani.

Posted by Michael Bednarz | November 13, 2007 2:58 AM

"Pragmatism" has gotten us nowhere for 35 years!
RINOS lik you, Mike, care more about party than principle. Rudy is 100% proabort. You would probably vote for Hillary, if she converted to the GOP.
Carhart gave us a map of babies bodies; how far he kid is born before we kill it; it also recommended the slice and dice abortion technique called D&E.
Yeah the courts won't save a single baby from the abortionist' knife.

Posted by Helen Westover | November 13, 2007 6:07 AM

Fred Thompson's voting record is indeed 100% Pro Life. He has taken this stand for as long as I can remember. He has two young children that have strengthened this stance in recent years. People keep trying to spread lies about Fred Thompson because they are afraid he will connect with the American people and ruin their dreams of another dishonest Clinton in the White House.

Posted by Dave Pippin | November 13, 2007 7:57 AM

The right for life group are complete hypocrites and even the dems, and independents like me see this. they will be held accountable by the Lord and they will be paying back every cent of every hard earned dollar of the "little people," the Christian people who have lost sleep and agonized over the right to life issue and funded and gave their last $10 or $20 donations to groups like this: the very folks these big organizations climbed on the backs of to get to the top. In the name of the Lord Jesus, Son of the Most High God, for this, they shall pay back every penny. And Pat Robertson will be right behind them paying up.

and a vote for thompson is a vote for hillary. the republicans are shooting their own foot off. which brings me to another fact: the republicans also have hoodwinked the true Christian hearts to win their party the past few years. however, they are neither Christians nor do they truly support Christian values. If they did, they would know Jesus only commanded a few things of us: the feed the poor, to clothe the hungry, to obey his commandments, and to caste out demons in His name. He never said to overindulge in self-righteousness, pride, gluttony, cowardice, lies, adultery, divorce for no good reason; and then circle only sins of homosexuality. it's like selective sins, only they focus only on one--but then again, they had to do that so they could scare and use the Christians for their votes.

i will warn all republican partisans that your chickens have come home to roost and your shenanigans have come to light. you never cared about the Christian values, except to win your party's elections. there is a good voting block that will not go to the polls to choose between the lesser of 2 evils. and that just may be the percentage the republicans need to win. i have nothing but rebuke of shame for you.

and i'm voting for Huck.

you republicans on the other hand, enjoy hillary. it was you who divided your own party and let her conquer.

Posted by monique alponte | November 13, 2007 11:56 AM

Might as well have endorsed Rudy. Guess his wife didn't get along with the NRTL's. Just another sellout organization putting power ahead of principle. On the bright side at least Thompson has some life in his campaign. Otherwise he looks like a corpse onstage. Totally unelectable. Got to go with Huckabee.

Posted by John | November 13, 2007 5:35 PM

For prolife records...i recommend that you check out http://prolifestance.com/

Posted by Robert | November 19, 2007 6:00 AM