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Thompson Tentatively Standing By Former Drug Dealer Friend And Fundraiser
Fred Thompson is defending (for now) his association with fundraiser Philip J. Martin, despite Martin's 1979 guilty plea for trafficking in marijuana and 1983 no-contest plea for trafficking in cocaine. Martin never served any time in prison, but was given probation both times.
"I'm going to have to take a look at it. I'm going to have to talk to Phil and make sure I understand the nature of the situation and figure out what the right thing is," Thompson said on Meet The Press. "I'm not going to throw my friend under the bus for something he did 25 years ago if he's okay now. On the other hand, I'm running for president; I've got, you know, to do the right thing."
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In a quote that will live about at long as his run for office... "On the other hand, I'm running for president; I've got, you know, to do the right thing."
"Wha...? Huh..? Oh, yeah, I clean forgot about that running for the Presidency thing I've got goin' on the side..., dagnabit!"
November 5, 2007 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
F-Freddie.....too right!
Cuz, ya know, if I wasn't running for president I probably WOULDN'T do the right thing...but since I am, garsh darn it, as much as I hate it, as much as it goes against the grain for me....I guess I will HAVE to do the right thing.
November 5, 2007 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
and if he's elected, he's no longer running, so doing the right thing is out the window again
November 5, 2007 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why is Thompson being attacked for this? I'm a solid progressive, and I applaud it. If the guy's reformed, then that's great for him and great for society.
November 5, 2007 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
He is being attacked because if it were someone else (Hillary?), rest assured he would be beating them over the head with it. . .
November 5, 2007 12:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Then let's be actual progressives and raise the level of discourse. When we stoop to the other side's level, no one benefits.
November 5, 2007 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
JBB, I agree with you. I liked Thompson's answer to that query. He said he wasn't going to attack his friend if that was way in the past, but, would certainly take a closer look at the facts that emerge.
November 5, 2007 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree that there's no need for Thompson to drop the supporter for something he did as a youth (presumably he was not over 22-23 when he did this stuff?).
But incidentally, this guy was convicted for trafficking in grass, then in *cocaine*, and never served a day in prison? Can I, like, go way out on a limb and assume the guy is *white*? :)
November 5, 2007 1:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Fred Thompson is a total waste of space, but I have to say it's refreshing to see a candidate stick by a friend and not throw him under the bus for such a silly reason. The guy would be a shitty President, but I've got to give him points for this one.
November 5, 2007 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think a reasonable question to ask Thompson is if he agrees with the current harsh sentencing practices for convicted drug offenders.
If the courts had been as tough on drug traffickers as they are today, his friend would likely have still been languishing in prison, not a multimillionaire rubbing shoulders with with presidential candidates.
November 5, 2007 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink