Fred Thompson, soul of flexibility
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3489306&page=1
He Said, He Said: Thompson on Abortion
Former Senator’s Archives Contain Two Position Papers on Abortion,
One Labeled ‘Pro-Life’ and Another Labeled ‘Pro-Choice’
In what seems a sure indication he will soon officially declare his
presidential candidacy, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson will
appear in the first-in-the-nation caucus state of Iowa Friday,
meeting with locals and even making a trip to the Iowa State Fair.
But though the actor and lawyer is being celebrated by social
conservatives as a possible answer to their prayers for an electable
presidential candidate with whom they agree on key issues, Thompson’s
foray into the Hawkeye State comes at a time when documents from his
Senate and campaign archives provoke further questions about whether
he truly is the political savior that conservative Republicans hope
he is.
The papers that Thompson donated to the University of Tennessee –
which, unlike the first lady papers of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.,
at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library, were made accessible
to the public by Thompson — offer a view as to Thompson’s political
career that seems not always in firm alliance with Christian
conservatives.
ABC News has obtained, for instance, two sets of position papers on
abortion from Thompson’s 1996 Senate race that indicate Thompson may
have been to a degree trying to appeal to both those who support and
those who oppose abortion rights.
CLICK HERE to read these two position papers in full.
In one “position paper on abortion” someone has written “(PRO-LIFE)”
on the top right-hand corner, and the document states “Senator
Thompson has a strong pro-life voting record in the Senate.” The
paper contains seven examples of votes Thompson cast against legal
abortion.
Another “position paper on abortion,” however, on which someone has
written “(PRO-CHOICE)” omits the statement that “Senator Thompson has
a strong pro-life voting record in the Senate,” and it does not
mention the seven votes he cast against legal abortion.
The “PRO-CHOICE” position paper mentions, as does the “PRO-LIFE” one,
that Thompson opposes “federal funding of abortion, except in cases
of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is in danger,” and
supports other restrictions, while concluding that “(b)eyond that,
Senator Thompson has said that the federal government should not be
involved in the issue of abortion. He does not believe that early
term-abortions should be criminalized. He feels instead that this is
a battle that must be won in the hearts and minds of the American
people.”
Asked for comment, Thompson spokeswoman Linda Rozett said in a
statement, “These papers show Sen. Thompson’s position on abortion is
clear and consistent. He has a 100 percent pro-life voting record in
the Senate.”
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