Two of the heavyweights of conservative punditry take their shots at Hollywood Fred.
George Will flays Thompson for his inability to talk straight about his position on campaign finance law:
Fred Thompson’s plunge into the presidential pool — more belly-flop than swan dive — was the strangest product launch since that of New Coke in 1985. Then, the question was: Is this product necessary? A similar question stumped Thompson the day he plunged.
Sean Hannity, who is no Torquemada conducting inquisitions of conservatives, asked Thompson: “When you look at the other current crop of candidates — Republicans — where is the distinction between your positions and what you view as theirs?” Thompson replied: “Well, to tell you the truth, I haven’t spent a whole lot of time going into the details of their positions.”
He also is unfamiliar with the details of his own positions….
And Robert Novak criticizes his campaign for shutting out would-be supporters:
Almost immediately after the launch of Fred Thompson’s long anticipated presidential candidacy, important neutral Republicans decreed privately that it had crashed and burned on takeoff. Many of these critics had wanted to board the Thompson campaign but were repelled by his ”gatekeepers.” That helps explain their attitude now, and not merely because of bruised feelings caused by their exclusion.
Thompson’s late start in itself is not a fatal flaw. Still, it had been conceded in party circles that when he finally became a candidate, his beginning better be memorable. It was not. While Thompson voiced obligatory conservative slogans in New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina, he was not the white knight that worried Republican loyalists desperately desire. His debut might have been more blood-stirring had his gatekeepers not turned away talented helpers.
Unlike Will, Novak doesn’t question the premise of a Thompson campaign — given the mediocrity of the competition, Novak thinks Thompson’s got a pretty good shot, but only if he doesn’t blow it. Unfortunately for Thompson, so far he’s showing every sign of blowing it.
2 Responses to “And Yet More Problems for Fred”
[...] Thompson appears to have a conservative pundit problem. [...]
Something to say?
Late, lack luster and laid back…. I think it is a style thing. However, it isn’t playing too well for this campaign.
Left by MJN
September 14, 2007 at 5:24pm