ABC Tries to Tar Fred Thompson With Their Dan Quayle Brush

By Warner Todd Huston (Bio | Archive)
October 20, 2007 - 19:59 ET

If you are old enough to remember how badly the press corps treated vice president Dan Quayle -- you might recall specifically that they made fun of how he once spelled potato(e) -- you will understand why ABC's Political Radar blog is trying to associate Fred Thompson with Dan Quayle in theirs headlined, "Fred Thompson's Quayle-Hunting?" They mean the association to be a detraction, something with which they can smear Fred Thompson as he makes his run for the White House.

But, their obvious ulterior motives aside, this attempt to associate Quayle and Fred doesn't even make much sense. In fact, the whole story is not only a ho hum incident in light of American history, but the fact that they are associating Quayle and Thompson has no teeth to it.

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Was Fred Thompson channeling Dan Quayle?

Speaking at a gathering of social-conservatives in Washington, Thompson, R-Tenn., said on Friday that wasn't sure what he'd do in his first 100 days as president, but he was pretty certain about what he'd do shortly after assuming the presidency.

"I know the first hour, I would go into the Oval Office and close the door, and pray for the wisdom to know what was right," Thompson said. "I would pray for the strength to do what is right."

Then the Political Radar bloggers try to equate that rather common American response to taking office to something Quayle once said to Brit Hume.

"First, I'd say a prayer for myself and for the country that I'm about to lead. And then I would assemble his people and talk."

So, ABC is trying to claim that Thompson's intent to pray for wisdom upon first entering the Oval Office can only be equated to Dan Quayle's similar claim?

Excuse me if I laugh at the transparent attempt to equate Fred Thompson with one of the MSM's favorite whipping boys, but can you please show me more than just Thomas Jefferson who would have eschewed praying for strength upon becoming president?

Far from being something only Dan Quayle might have done, such a sentiment by an American politician entering the White House is a pretty common American reaction to becoming president. Just about every president has gone on record saying that they have prayed to God for strength... even the most self-indulgent playboys we've had in office have talked of their prayer life in office.

But, here is the money line for the ABC bloggers.

The line contributed to public perceptions of Quayle as unequipped for the job. Bentsen himself liked to say that -- should the Bush-Quayle ticket win -- he would say a prayer for the health of George H.W. Bush, to keep Quayle from becoming president.

So, what are we to infer with this report? That the ABC bloggers feel that Thompson is obviously unqualified because he would pray for strength because that is what Dan Quayle once said? And, what exactly is wrong with wanting to pray for strength to lead this great country, anyway?

Sometimes you have to wonder just how stupid the MSM really is? This ABC post lacks context, it lack logic and it lacks relevance. But there is one thing it doesn't lack, an attempt to create guilt by association, at least in the minds of the hatemongers in the MSM.


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The more the left and the

October 20, 2007 - 20:40 ET by Clear thinker

The more the left and the liberal media goes after my man Fred, the more I'm convinced they fear him the most. As it turns out, conservatives have no reason to fear Fred.

I pray that he wins the primary!!!!

Get Email updates from Fred http://socialnet.imwithfred.com/email_alert_july_26.html

Want Our Borders Secured?

October 23, 2007 - 13:43 ET by BigSpoon65

BigSpoon65

Go check out Fred's newly released policy positions on immigration.  He stands alone on this issue as all other candidates except Tancredo are "AMNESTY" guys.  Go read up on his position.

 http://www.fred08.com/virtual/Immigration.aspx

More affirmation that I am supporting the right guy!  Go Fred! 

 

 

Next thing you know they are going to say Jeri is not a lawyer

October 20, 2007 - 20:41 ET by Daniel Baker

After all the conservative blogs told us she was.

Raising the bar

October 20, 2007 - 21:10 ET by third eye

While I see Fred as all talk and no action, I do wish to compliment you on your writing style, Mr. Houston. I have noticed your writing is becoming better and better lately, and it hasnt escaped my attention.

I am a tryin'! Thanks for

October 20, 2007 - 21:17 ET by Warner Todd Huston

I am a tryin'!

Thanks for the kind words.

third eye... And your

October 20, 2007 - 21:20 ET by Clear thinker

third eye...

And your writing has gone downhill. What's your point? 

Get Email updates from Fred http://socialnet.imwithfred.com/email_alert_july_26.html

What, no mention of

October 20, 2007 - 21:21 ET by balboa

What, no mention of testicles? C'mon. It's like you're not even trying anymore.

Warner - Dan Quayle, is he still around? Homer Simpson.

October 20, 2007 - 21:14 ET by acaiguana

Could not resist that.

The lack of ideas and the inability to recover from the already defined parameters of the so-called 'campaign' for President (gee aren't you as tired of it as I?) shows itself in the MSM just as quickly as a Stark comment on the floor of the House.

And I guess that is about all I have to say about this.

Keep on truckin'

ACA 

...

Quoted from:  'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)

I want a president humble enough to pray

October 20, 2007 - 21:25 ET by nkviking75

"The line contributed to public perceptions of Quayle as unequipped for the job."

Give me a president who knows he or she is not up to the job without God's help over one who thinks he/she is supremely qualified on his/her own.  Thompson and Quayle's humility, along with that of many of the men who already have done the same thing when they took over the office, is a prerequisite, IMHO.

When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.

nkviking.... Funny you

October 20, 2007 - 21:35 ET by Clear thinker

nkviking....

Funny you should mention this.

Fred spoke at the Value Voters Summit, a gathering of social conservatives. He delivered his message of limited government, personal responsiblity, and traditional American values.

That included Fred’s heartfelt remark about his opposition to abortion:

“I must say it took life’s experiences for me to absorb the real importance of it all,’’ he said, recalling seeing a sonogram of his daughter in the womb. “I will never feel exactly the same again… Because my heart now is fully engaged with my head.

Fred was also straight to the point on another important life issue, embryonic stem cell research: “You don’t create life in order to destroy it.”

While not usually considered a moral issue, Fred pointed out America’s impending entitlement problems which will impact future generations unless our leaders act. Redstate’s Erick Erickson, who watched the speech at the event, remarked:

He takes an interesting turn here. Fred says that he and Tom Coburn (R-OK) agree that we are bankrupting the country and this is a moral issue. “Those who are yet to be board do not have a seat at the table as we kick the can down the road for someone else to deal with,” he says. “We have to blow the whistle on this irresponsibility,” gets pretty good applause. He says he’s going to talk about social security, which something a lot of people want to hear about, but he says “If you can’t tell the truth, you shouldn’t be President.”

The crowd appreciated Fred’s message by giving him multiple standing ovations. One came after he said, “If you can’t tell the truth. you shouldn’t be running for president of the United States.”

The biggest ovation came from this line,

People ask me what I would do in the first 100 days and I tell them I don’t know, it depends on the circumstances, but I know what I would do in the first hour and that is to go into the oval office, close the door, and pray for the wisdom to know what to do and the strength to do it.

On values, Fred has previously said,

A healthy society is predicated on belief in God; respect for all life; strong families centered on the institution of marriage—the union of a man and a woman; and self-respect and tolerance of others.

It’s clear Fred has acted on his principles. National Right to Life executive co-director Darla St. Martin unequivocally told The American Spectator, “[Fred] has a consistent voting record that is pro-life.”

UPDATE: Two prominent social conservatives were pleased with Fred’s speech:

Conservative leaders gave optimistic reviews of the speech. “Senator Thompson helped himself here today,” said Gary Bauer, a former presidential candidate and top voice in religious political circles. “I think he did well. He’s got a solid conservative message,” agreed FRC chief Tony Perkins.

Get Email updates from Fred http://socialnet.imwithfred.com/email_alert_july_26.html

Clear

October 20, 2007 - 22:18 ET by Blonde

I can't wait for tomorrow's debate.

I hope Fred knocks one out of the park.  Or two, or three.

I am sick and tired of the MsM setting the (R) agenda for us.  It's tiresome.

Last I heard...McCain was on the way back....as if!  Maybe in the lib world...not in mine. 

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

Blonde... Amen! What

October 20, 2007 - 22:24 ET by Clear thinker

Blonde...

Amen!

What time does it start? 

Get Email updates from Fred http://socialnet.imwithfred.com/email_alert_july_26.html

8:00 EST

October 20, 2007 - 22:28 ET by Blonde

Plasma monster is all warmed up. 

A note to our august Master of Technology & Other Good Stuff here....please turn the chat on.  (Thanks, Matt).

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

   Dan Quayle had some

October 20, 2007 - 23:10 ET by MidAmerica

   Dan Quayle had some real qualifications and accomplishments.  Obama is an empty suit running on his race.  Edwards is an empty suit running on his slickster lawyer training.  Hillary is an empty pant suit running on who she is married to and the fact she's a woman.  None of these people would be qualified to run as a Republican candidate.  There's no there there.  Only democrats can look at clouds and think the images they see are real objects.

I wonder what the MSM would

October 21, 2007 - 00:04 ET by Tom1969ca

I wonder what the MSM would do if they ever discovered that Democrat Presidents also spoke to God, whether for specific needs...

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest -- until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them -- help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire
is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keeness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment -- let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace -- a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

-- Franklin D. Roosevelt, June 6 1944

... daily guidance ...

O Almighty and Everlasting God, Creator of Heaven, Earth and the Universe: Help me to be, to think, to act what is right, because it is right; make me truthful, honest and honorable in all things; make me intellectually honest for the sake of right and honor and without thought of reward to me. Give me the ability to be charitable, forgiving and patient with my fellow men -- help me to understand their motives and their shortcomings -- even as Thou understandest mine!
-- Harry Truman's daily prayer

... oh, and let's not forget St. Jack ...

No man who enters upon the office to which I have succeeded can fail to recognize how every President of the United States has placed special reliance upon his faith in God … While they came from a variety of religious backgrounds and held a wide variety of religious beliefs, each of our presidents in his own way has placed a special trust in God. Those who were the strongest intellectually were also the strongest spiritually.
-- John F. Kennedy, Presidential prayer breakfast, February 1961 (emphasis mine)

God knows no political affiliation; He will work with anyone who seeks His wisdom.

~~~

If you don't stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them!

I will spell it potatoe with an E always

October 21, 2007 - 00:16 ET by Lame Cherry

I actually had a snot on a gardening site try and bigot potato my potatoe in not finding any information in my studies on potatoes to challenge, the liberal bigot complained I used an E. For the record most of the English speaking world uses the word potatoe. Speak with our Canuck brothers of the north and you will find all sorts of strange coloured words popping up. EH.

As for ABC, I would love being put into the box with Dan Quayle as he has proven as time passes to be correct about every policy and statement he ever issued. The worst thing for American government is that Mr. Quayle has gone into successful private life and we have been left without his input on foreign and domestic policy. While the following statement will have liberals reeling, "Dan Quayle is every bit as formidable and keen as Richard Nixon was...........and Nixon was the greatest foreign policy player in United States history next to Ronald Reagan, Teddy Roosevelt and the absolute best in John Adams."

If ABC wants to cast Fred Thompson in that light then by all means please continue ABC as the catty remarks you make are uneducated to the extreme. I do not worry about Fred Thompson as God is not on his side, but Fred Thompson is on God's side........
I will take those odds every time.

 

*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS

So, you're not interested

October 21, 2007 - 00:39 ET by balboa

So, you're not interested how the rest of the world does anything -- way of life, government, business -- except when it comes to spelling potato? 

bal,

October 21, 2007 - 00:48 ET by Dave R

When you can demonstrate that any other country in the world (who bears an equal amount of the burden of keeping the rogue nations in line) does it better than us, please let us know.

I won't hold my breath waiting.

Dave

October 21, 2007 - 12:06 ET by Chris Norman

Ironic, how liberals keep wanting us to look to Europe for answers to problems, when this country was founded upon being the answer to the problems in Europe. The only things for which is Europe is useful is to demonstrate how not to do things - that and maybe cuisine...

By the way, since then, how many problems caused by Europe (WWI & WWII, Bosnia, etc.) have we had to solve for them - in blood and sacrifice?

Amen to that!

October 21, 2007 - 17:57 ET by Indiana Joe

"Ironic, how liberals keep wanting us to look to Europe for answers to problems, when this country was founded upon being the answer to the problems in Europe."

Spot on, Chris. I've been saying something similar to Euro-phile liberals for a few years now. If Europe is so great, why have so many Europeans come here over the years?

Regards,
IJ

Which again begs the

October 21, 2007 - 18:09 ET by balboa

Which again begs the question, why would Lame Cherry go with the rest of the world on "potato"?

And I'd imagine the problems Europe has had over the past 100 years has more to do with geography than anything else.

But bal, Why would

October 21, 2007 - 19:42 ET by Indiana Joe

But bal,

Why would liberals want to emulate other countries in nearly every way EXCEPT in the spelling of "potatoe?"

And is it an "all-or-nothing" proposition? I mean, REALLY?

Wouldn't you agree that this country's success is in gathering the strengths from many cultures, while discarding the weaknesses?

Isn't this the basis of most "modern" liberal thought?

Why aren't you glad to have us jingoistic conservatives embrace such a major liberal tenet? 

oh, almost forgot....

"And I'd imagine the problems Europe has had over the past 100 years has more to do with geography than anything else."

Sure. It also explains all those wars we've had with Canada and Mexico during the same time-span! 

;^) 

Chris,

October 23, 2007 - 21:02 ET by Dave R

It is also ironic that those very same European countries would not now exist if it weren't for the US of A.

Bal needs to read a little history.

Sorry, replied to wrong

October 21, 2007 - 18:03 ET by Indiana Joe

Sorry, replied to wrong comment!

But bal, Why would

October 21, 2007 - 18:04 ET by Indiana Joe

But bal,

Why would liberals want to emulate other countries in nearly every way EXCEPT in the spelling of "potatoe?"

:^D

IJ

Come on Lame, you know the

October 21, 2007 - 00:42 ET by Carl Kolchak

Come on Lame, you know the MSM would never print or say antyhing about Quayle that wasn't true. Now, how about that Michael Jackson, isn't he the best basketball player ever for the Bulls.

 http://www.snopes.com/quotes/quayle.asp

"Well I got nothing against the press, they wouldn't print it if it wasn't true"  'Sunday Papers'

Well, Fred showed remarkable wisdom and humility

October 21, 2007 - 11:22 ET by c5then

Somethings that all the Democratic candidates show they are lacking on an almost daily basis.



The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Fred08.com

My stand-out Dan Quayle memory...

October 21, 2007 - 14:08 ET by rx4music

Back during the first Gulf War, Danny Boy was visiting the troops. A friend who was serving sent back a few pictures of one of his stops. They had been taking fire from snipers for several weeks and everyone was required to wear helmets, stay within the perimeter and otherwise keep a low profile. So then along comes DQ and his entourage for a few photo ops. He climbs to the top of a bunch of empty ammo crates and proceeds to give an impromptu speech like a soap box minister. The picture shows about 50 to 75 troops standing around in desert cammies and rising above the crowd, in a baby blue dress shirt, the VP of the USA. Even from a mile away, in a sea of tans and browns, a bright blue beacon makes a target that even a blind sniper could hit 8 out of 10 times.
It only took a minute or two before smarter heads prevailed and talked him down from his perch and draped a khaki jacket over his shoulders. They pointed out how close he came to being target practice and for the rest of his tour, in all the subsequent photos, he was draped in khaki or desert camouflage.

That's quite a story...

October 21, 2007 - 17:52 ET by Indiana Joe

I'm surprised this wasn't played up more in the media. I would think it would make an even better "Dan Quayle is a moron" story than the infamous "potatoe" incident (Of course, I've never heard of a spelling bee letting someone's memory decide if a word is properly spelled. The card that has the word on it should have the correct spelling, no?).

In any event, it sounds like "Danny Boy," as you call him, needed some lefty spin-meisters to handle this incident for him. They could have pointed out his bravery and the fact that he was more concerned with speaking to and encouraging the troops than he was with his own safety. I'm sure if he had stayed in the rear areas and constantly worn camo and kevlar, he would have been vilified as a coward.

The expression is, "Can't win for losing." 

What's with the boat shoes

October 21, 2007 - 18:55 ET by stratman

What's with the boat shoes out in the desert?

You'd think someone would advise our folks how to dress in an inclement climate let alone a potentially dangerous area.

Killing them with kindness isn't working.  Time to get scrappy with the Donkeys.