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DEL.ICIO.USA question for the GOP faithful: Where will Fred Thompson be at 11 a.m. this Sunday?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Now that we’ve had Rudy Giuliani hemming and hawing his way through Georgia on the issue of immigration, it seems only fair to offer up something to put supporters of his chief Republican rival on the defensive.
GOP blogs are still buzzing over Tuesday’s Bloomberg article out of South Carolina, in which former U.S. senator Fred Thompson confessed that he’s not a regular church-goer.
After Thompson told an audience that he got his values from his parents and “the good Church of Christ,” reporters asked him for specifics.
“I attend church when I’m in Tennessee. I’m in McLean right now,” he said — a reference to his home in the Virginia suburb of Washington, D.C. “I don’t attend regularly when I’m up there.” Thompson said he’s not a member of any church in the Washington area.
“Me getting up and talking about what a wonderful person I am and that sort of thing, I’m not comfortable with that, and I don’t think it does me any good. People will make up their own mind about that, and that’s the way I like it,” Thompson said.
It doesn’t sound like Thompson’s Sunday habits are that different from those of the largely unchurched Ronald Reagan. But the issue could be a problem for Thompson in close-fought primaries across the South.
As a topic, Thompson’s church attendance has been cooking since this spring, when James Dobson of Focus on the Family famously questioned Thompson’s faith — though Dobson quickly backed away.
The Bloomberg piece arrived a few days after Richard Land, a Thompson supporter and head of the the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, declared that Thompson sat in a Virginia pew on a “regular basis.”
(Land is also the fellow who described Thompson as a “Southern-fried Reagan.”)
So far, the web site EthicsDaily.com has taken the most thorough look at the issue of Thompson and his church attendance. It’s worth a look.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Anonymous
September 14, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this
WHY is it worth a look? Thompson’s church attendance is his own business, not a campaign issue.
And if you want to make it one, I consider his non-attendance a point in his favor. It means he has better things to do with his weekends than sit and listen to lectures about how evil and sinful we all are.
By edward
September 14, 2007 1:48 PM | Link to this
Saint Fred doesn’t attend church? Let’s watch how quickly the FredHeads dismiss this. Then they can dismiss the “I don’t remember” the Schiavo case. Just as they dismissed the McCain Feingold screwup, and the lobbying for pro-abortion.
It doesn’t matter. He’s a Federalist. It doesn’t matter if he attends church. When is it going to start mattering?
Just keep repeating: “He’s a conservative…he’s a conservative…he’s a….”
By Susan
September 14, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this
Church goer or non church goer, you got to ask yourself if you want a candidate who dated country singer Lorrie Morgan - I think in between her 5th and 6th marriage. Besides lacking in “pew sitting”, he is lacking in good judgement.
By Kahuna
September 14, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this
How often did Jesus go to church?
By Dick
September 14, 2007 5:07 PM | Link to this
I am not a regular church goer also, as well as many are not. I, as Mr.Thompson, have a deep abiding faith in God Almighty. Not being in church on Sunday morning does not make you less able to lead nor tag you as non-religous. WE’RE READY FOR FREDDIE’
By Memmie
September 14, 2007 5:20 PM | Link to this
Personally - I don’t care if he’s a church goer. I want a man or woman of faith, faith in america and what we can do when we put our mind to it. Who believes in our basic goodness. Not one who believes we should be ashamed for breathing. See I was raised at the kitchen table too. Mornings started there with a love you have a great day - the question of the day were faced there and in the evening a good meal and a good laugh or cry were exchanged there.
There is something people tend to forget. in the bible it is written, Huckabee quoted it to score points at a debate - “God created the heavens and the Earth.” that’s what it says sure enough what it doesn’t say “God created the mega church a round the corner, and you damn well better be there sunday 11 am to 12 with your wallet open”
Keep bashing boys - just another reason to make me vote for Freddy
By Jim
September 14, 2007 5:27 PM | Link to this
This article just tries to add fuel to the fire. Him not attending regularly is not the issue. His beliefs and morals are. As to the “The largly unchurched Ronald Reagan”? Did you ever read Reagans writings including his newly published diary? RR was a very Godly man and put Christ first in his life. No he did not attend church regulary, but his morals were never an issue either.
By Craig
September 14, 2007 5:56 PM | Link to this
RR “put Christ first in his life?” He was divorced and remarried. Jesus said that was adultery. Paul said adulterers won’t see the kingdom of Heaven.
Please…. Reagan was a good president, and Fred might be also. But let’s not make them out to be saints.
By Unaffiliated Voter
September 14, 2007 7:15 PM | Link to this
Fred Thompson makes me yawn.
Whatta a lackadaisical laid back actor with no credentials other than he’s ‘conservative’…sheesh, whatta DUD!
By S Shiver
September 14, 2007 8:51 PM | Link to this
How often does Mrs. Bill Clinton go to church. And I am not talking about once a year in Selma, AL. I do not doubt Fred’s faith. I do, however, doubt the intelligence of those who question the faith of others. Of whom they know nothing about, or have ever met.
Its just bash republican time on the Insider. Still no discussion of the Hsuicide/Clinton/funny Chinese money scandal.
By Winghunter
September 15, 2007 1:47 AM | Link to this
So, Fred doesn’t need to be reminded on a weekly basis what right from wrong is?
Another excellent reason to vote for the right man.
By S Shiver
September 15, 2007 2:28 AM | Link to this
Right.
By NAV
September 15, 2007 5:47 AM | Link to this
the only thing that should matter is if they are a good person or not and if they probably could handle the job. we don’t need anybody to polarize this country anymore, the far right is completely wrong and so is the far left. the thing that scares me about religion is it’s history and the fact that religion is about manipulation and control. I love God, but I don’t like religion, and I would think a lot of times God might not like religion either. once somebody has religious freedom, why do they need anything else? why is it necessary to make others join up and demand they live the same way? if you love God, church is where you are. besides, as we have seen from Republicans, going to church doesn’t make you a true Christian, or even a really good person. sometimes religion is a facade to hide behind, while the whole time the real person is doing dirty deeds behind the scenes(see Foley, Vitter, Craig, Haggard, etc., etc., etc.,…). and it’s funny to watch the holy rollers be the ones to condemn liberals, when Jesus was the original long-haired hippie liberal with his entitlement programs like the breads and fishes. his compassion for the weak and the poor, his disdain for greed and selfishness. what is patriotic, or good for children, or Christian about out-sourcing jobs to China that give us hazardous and dangerous products? and why are entitlement programs so bad to conservatives when they have created the two largest entitlement programs this world has ever known, Illegal Immigration and Iraq? God loves you if you try to do good, but he’s eagerly waiting for you at Judgement Day if you use his name as a tool of manipulation just to get something you want for your own selfish reasons. our country needs to abolish political parties, there should be no collusion on Capitol Hill, people should be elected, and then just go up there and vote for what they told the voters they would vote for. but the name calling and the divide and conquer stategy people are using to get their own political party elected is hurting this country! America is not the enemy, so we shouldn’t be using a military tactic like divide and conquer on ourselves. everybody that doesn’t automatically agree with you isn’t a liberal or a neocon. maybe they just love their country and want to best for it. and as much as they want to make him out to be Saint Reagan, Iran Contra was neither saintly or patriotic, I mean come on, arms to Iran and drugs in return? the BS is rising in this country and we need to stop fighting against each other and we really need to leave Jesus out of it, too, I really believe he would prefer that.
By teller
September 15, 2007 5:49 AM | Link to this
Jesus Saves…at the First National Bank!
By collin28
September 15, 2007 8:26 AM | Link to this
Great post Teller. I have to agree. I have not made up my mind yet if I (we) can trust Fred. I do like him and he makes me feel it ease. I also like ron Paul because of his faith and belief and his record. Please anyone but Hillary. And off the record — BRING OUR TROOPS HOME.
By collin28
September 15, 2007 8:27 AM | Link to this
Great post Teller. I have to agree. I have not made up my mind yet if I (we) can trust Fred. I do like him and he makes me feel it ease. I also like Ron Paul because of his faith and belief and his record. Please anyone but Hillary. And off the record — BRING OUR TROOPS HOME.
By collin28
September 15, 2007 8:28 AM | Link to this
Great post Teller. I have to agree. I have not made up my mind yet if I (we) can trust Fred. I do like him and he makes me feel it ease. I also like Ron Paul because of his faith and belief and his record. Please anyone but Hillary. And off the record — BRING OUR TROOPS HOME.
By S Shiver
September 15, 2007 2:42 PM | Link to this
Ru Paul is the Mike Gravel of the Republican party
By Bitter EX democrackkk
September 15, 2007 5:57 PM | Link to this
Ru Paul is an male drag queen entertainer, very successful, and a real hoot…
RON Paul is a distinguished member of Congress elected 10 times from Texas with over 60% of the vote everytime!
www.RonPaul2008.com
By S Shiver
September 15, 2007 6:53 PM | Link to this
Fine. They both have about the same chances of being elected President.
By GodHatesTrash
September 16, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this
Reality check, Georgia GOP retards - if you are stupid enough to vote for Fred Thompson, nothing that’s printed here or anywhere is going to sway you.
Trash votes for trash.
Thompson, being trash, counts on your vote.