In the New York Times' version of the gossip pages (the Sunday Styles section), reporter Susan Saulny injects a novel Democratic talking point into the potential candidacy of Republican Fred Thompson -- one involving his wife, in "Will Her Face Determine His Fortune?"
"As the election of 2008 approaches with its cast of contenders who bring unprecedented diversity to the quest for the White House, the voting public has been called on to ponder several questions: Is America ready for a woman to be president? What about a black man? A Mormon?
"Now, with the possible candidacy of Fred D. Thompson, the grandfatherly actor and former Republican senator from Tennessee, whose second wife is almost a quarter-century his junior, comes a less palatable inquiry that is spurring debate in Internet chat rooms, on cable television and on talk radio: Is America ready for a president with a trophy wife?
"The question may seem sexist, even crass, but serious people -- as well as Mr. Thompson's supporters -- have been wrestling with the public reaction to Jeri Kehn Thompson, whose youthfulness, permanent tan and bleached blond hair present a contrast to the 64-year-old man who hopes to win the hearts of the conservative core of the Republican party. Will the so-called values voters accept this union?"
When was the last time the Times went ahead and asked a "sexist, even crass" question in its news pages despite it being potentially offensive to its P.C. readership? And who, exactly, were those "serious people" who were really "wrestling with the public reaction" before the Times made it an issue in its newspaper?
"Mr. Thompson, who needs the support of early primary voters, is expected to formally announce his candidacy any day now. Meanwhile, much of the brouhaha around Mrs. Thompson, 40, is being stirred by photos of her in form-fitting gowns circulating on the Internet."
Journalist Mickey Kaus wondered: "Wasn't Jacqueline Bouvier kind of a 'trophy wife'?"
John Hinderaker at Powerline questioned where the Times got its idea: "Funny, I haven't seen any discussion of this topic, and the Times doesn't identify a single TV show, talk radio program or chat room. I suppose, though, that every conceivable subject has been discussed in one internet chat room or another. Notice how this technique allows the Times to selectively propagate gossip, rumors and speculation that it thinks may damage a Republican candidate, and justify its conduct with the defense that the subject is 'spurring debate' somewhere in the vast gutter of left-wing web sites and chat rooms."
For more New York Times bias, visit Times Watch.
—Clay Waters is the director of Times Watch, an MRC project tracking the New York Times.
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I'm ready:)
July 12, 2007 - 10:28 ET by TruthMongerI'm ready:)
Wouldent a woman or black pre
July 12, 2007 - 10:30 ET by bassndudeWouldent a woman or black president at this point, be nothing but a trophy president? Would not a woman be elected simply because she is a woman? And in Obamas case, wouldent he be elected because he is "young", "good looking" and "black"? Now tell me that those would not be a trophy president.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
I'm a so called "value v
July 12, 2007 - 10:35 ET by TruthMongerI'm a so called "value voter..."
But can I possibly accept Fred Thompson's marriage?!?!?!?!?!
Is the New York Times still the nation's official leading frackin' newspaper...?
I cannot possibly pity the left any more than this...it is just not possible...
Bass, I've been thinking that
July 12, 2007 - 10:45 ET by vrwc13Bass, I've been thinking that too. Wasn't sure I could say it out loud though. Thanks for taking the hit. : )
vrwc, normaly I would not thi
July 12, 2007 - 10:53 ET by bassndudevrwc, normaly I would not think such a thing. But when you look at who the candidates are, the front runners, that is how it seems to me. Simply trophys for the MSM to photograph and put their pictures in the paper, on magazines and such. Not because they really stand for the American people. Those dont.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Me neither but as they are bo
July 12, 2007 - 11:01 ET by vrwc13Me neither but as they are both "qualified" per our laws, are these really people ones we as a country want running things? esp hillary - posted this awhile ago:
...and your democrat possibilities:
...in Obamas case, wouldent
July 12, 2007 - 11:04 ET by Tom1969caYou left out "clean" and "articulate"... ;-)
~~~
"The current tax code is harder to understand than Bob Dylan reading Finnegan's Wake in a wind tunnel."-- Dennis Miller
You could probably call any o
July 12, 2007 - 11:50 ET by TruthMongerYou could probably call any of the Dem guys trophy wives...they're very pretty!
Gay haters unite!
Since Lil Johnny Edwards is s
July 12, 2007 - 11:32 ET by EvilRoySince Lil Johnny Edwards is sooooo good lookin, wouldn't he be considered a "trophy husband"? I've seen some pictures of Obamallama's wife and she's not hard on the eyes, is she a trophy wife? My wife of 37 years is widely recognized by my circle of friends as very attractive, can a first wife be a trophy wife?
I say hooray for Freddy, he got himself a hottie and I think that's good. Rudy's current wife is good lookin too. Mitt's wife is too. I bet even Hillary will get a trophy wife in the future. Hell, Rosie did.
Is the country ready for a tr
July 12, 2007 - 10:30 ET by Gat New YorkIs the country ready for a trophy wife 20 years his junior? In their eyes is it better having extra-marital affairs with an intern 20 years Clinton's junior in the Oval Office?
I think Fred said it best at
July 12, 2007 - 10:33 ET by BruzillaI think Fred said it best at the Freedom Concert: "They know who to be afraid of." If this is the best attack they can make on Thompson, I just hope that his trophy wife knows how to measure curtains for the White House.
trophy wife
July 12, 2007 - 10:42 ET by conantAnd Jackie Kennedy was what? Oh yes I forgot--First Door Mat
I think that question has alr
July 12, 2007 - 10:48 ET by jpatchI think that question has already been answered. I mean, didn't our country elect Bill Clinton? Hillary was the trophy wife that Bill won at the Arkansas State Fair for winning the pie eating contest.
Yeeeeeeeehaw!!!!!
Will the so-called values v
July 12, 2007 - 11:09 ET by Tom1969caWould the so-called values voters prefer that he just shack-up with her on weekends at Camp David?
And did I not get a memo about there being an age limit to what is considered an acceptable marriage?
~~~
"The current tax code is harder to understand than Bob Dylan reading Finnegan's Wake in a wind tunnel."-- Dennis Miller
Its on your karl rove fax thi
July 12, 2007 - 12:06 ET by TruthMongerIts on your karl rove fax this morning...
Gay haters unite!
Trophy Wives
July 12, 2007 - 11:25 ET by Gordon SchumwayThe Drive-Bys won't tell you that. I just did.
Gordo
Melmac
I recall nothing about any
July 12, 2007 - 11:31 ET by sarcasmoI recall nothing about any first wife. JFK had plenty of girlfriends (including allegedly a German spy...) but might you provide a cite for this allegation? IMO you might be confusing JFK with Reagan (Nancy was wife#2). Keeping a single long marriage isn't always easy...
JMR
I recall hearing that Reaga
July 12, 2007 - 11:38 ET by Free StinkerI recall hearing that Reagan was the first "divorced" president, never heard anything about JFK. Did he have a marriage annuled? I don't recall ever hearing about that either.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Fred Thompson and Ann Coulter walk into a bar. The bar is instantly destroyed because that much awesome cannot be contained in on
Here's a link to the rumor...
July 12, 2007 - 11:39 ET by motherbeltHere's a link to the rumor....I don't think it was ever proven to be true....
Hersh's Dark Camelot
Count me "dubious"
July 12, 2007 - 11:46 ET by sarcasmoCount me "dubious" and I've only read about halfway-down...
JMR
Don't listen to the biased media without also listening to this principled man, who btw has been married to ONE lady for a LONG time...
Trophy Wives
July 12, 2007 - 11:42 ET by Gordon SchumwayGordo
Melmac
I am really getting tired o
July 12, 2007 - 11:35 ET by motherbeltI am really getting tired of the NY Times and other outlets bringing up questions and trying to hide the fact that they are the ones bringing them up, as in "some say" or "critics say." Susan Saulny is of that ilk. She doesn't even have the guts to say..."I'm wondering if America is ready for a President with a trophy wife.." No, she has to attribute it to "serious people -- as well as Mr. Thompson's supporters."
Please, Ms. Saulny, name a couple of Mr. Thompson's "supporters", or even a couple of "serious people" who intensely dislike Mr. Thompson, who are concerned about his wife. Come on, it's easy...just a couple.
It is, in fact, the NY Times, which is "stirring up debate" on the subject. That's what this story is intended to do.
Trophy wife... and "Will
July 12, 2007 - 11:54 ET by Jack BauerHang on a second. Aside from being a hottie, isn't she the mother of their two toddlers?
And wouldn't this be the first time since JFK that the White House has heard the laughter of young children echoing the halls?
So now "value voters" are supposed to be upset because a married man and woman are raising their kids together?
BIG MEDIA just gets more and more bizarre. Have a guess what the spin would be had the 64 year old Thompson been a Democrat.
Jack I'm a value voter (flash
July 12, 2007 - 12:01 ET by TruthMongerJack I'm a value voter (flashes ID card and ghetto arm band)...I wasn't upset but then the NYT said I was...so what can I do, ya know?
Gay haters unite!
lol TM... but surely you're a
July 12, 2007 - 12:10 ET by Jack Bauerlol TM... but surely you're a so-called value voter
Well jack - I've sure called
July 12, 2007 - 12:12 ET by TruthMongerWell jack - I've sure called myself worse - so what's your classification...?
Are you at least essential to the war effort:)?
Gay haters unite!
Well, if you gotta have a tro
July 12, 2007 - 12:15 ET by Ruths husband BenWell, if you gotta have a trophy wife, she might as well be a knockout. It looks to me (any deer hunters will understand) that Thompson got himself a Boone and Crockett record here.
Well I think it's about tim
July 12, 2007 - 12:16 ET by MightyMouthWell I think it's about time we had a hottie, milffy mommy as First Lady. And I am about as close to a "value voter" as you can get! :-o
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
So, Fred Thompson, a 64 yo ma
July 12, 2007 - 13:50 ET by Dave RSo, Fred Thompson has a wife that is 24 years his junior.
All I can say is, God bless the man!
Twenty-five years hence, when I am Fred's age, I would hope I could do likewise.
The NYT must be scared to death of this man, as they have undergone some rather painful mental gymnastics in order to try and fling dirt on this man.
Just exactly how low will they go?
Help Fred defeat the RINOs, along with the Hitllary-Obama Axis, & win the White House in '08.
Ahhh..the leftist msm of all
July 12, 2007 - 19:22 ET by bigtimerAhhh..the leftist msm of all venues are rearing their ugly heads now aren't they?
The Green-Eyed monster isn't going to get you twits anywhere....
LMAO
Of course we are going to vote for Fred and his gorgeous younger wife....
I would advise you nitwits to be ready to call her First Lady...and of course Fred, Pres. Thompson....
Hahahaaaahahahaaa....
Trophy Wife
July 12, 2007 - 19:43 ET by BlondeHmmm....
I wonder why the MsM hasn't made any mention of how much younger the (second) wife of their favorite RINO is than her husband?
John McCain ring a bell, anyone?
Ooops...no chance of winning.
Apples & Watermelons, folks...move on.
Chris Dodd and trophy wife...hypocrites all
July 12, 2007 - 20:14 ET by bigtimerI want to know where the MSM is on another man running for President and his trophy wife...they hypocrisy is unbelievable.
Chris Dodd anyone...a DEMOCRAT....he and is wife have two very young girls, she is something like twenty years younger than him if memory serves me correctly...may be off a year or two, but same difference.
Mighty silent on this aren't they....shhhhh...mums the word.