Fred Thompson...abortion rights lobbyist?

[TexasTiger 13,005]

Anything for money?

Lobbyist Thompson had abortion-rights role

A spokesman for the GOP presidential hopeful denies he did the work, a claim an ex-colleague calls 'bizarre.'

By Michael Finnegan, Times Staff Writer

6:34 PM PDT, July 6, 2007

Former Tennessee Sen. Fred D. Thompson, who is campaigning for president as a "pro-life" Republican, accepted an assignment from a family-planning group to lobby the first Bush White House to ease a controversial abortion restriction, according to a 1991 document and several people familiar with the matter.

A spokesman for the former senator denied that Thompson did the lobbying work. But the minutes of a 1991 board meeting of the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Assn. say that the group hired Thompson that year.

His task was to urge the administration of President George H. W. Bush to withdraw or relax a rule that barred abortion counseling at clinics that receive federal money, according to the records and to people who worked on the matter.

The abortion "gag rule" was a major political flashpoint at the time. Lobbying against the rule would have placed Thompson at odds with the anti-abortion movement that he is now trying to rally behind his expected campaign for president.

Thompson spokesman Mark Corallo adamantly denied that Thompson worked for the family planning group. "Fred Thompson did not lobby for this group, period," he said in an e-mail.

In a telephone interview, he added: "There's no documents to prove it, there's no billing records, and Thompson says he has no recollection of it, says it didn't happen." In a separate interview, John E. Sununu, the White House official whom the family planning group wanted to contact, said he had no memory of the lobbying and doubted it took place.

But Judith DeSarno, who was president of the family planning association in 1991, said Thompson lobbied for the group for several months.

Minutes from the board's meeting of Sept. 14, 1991 — a copy of which DeSarno gave to The Times — say: "Judy [DeSarno] reported that the association had hired Fred Thompson Esq. as counsel to aid us in discussions with the administration" on the abortion-counseling rule.

Former Rep. Michael D. Barnes of Maryland, a colleague at the lobbying and law firm where Thompson worked, said DeSarno had asked him to recommend someone for the lobbying work, and that he had suggested that she hire Thompson. He said it was "absolutely bizarre" for Thompson to deny that he lobbied against the abortion counseling rule.

"I talked to him while he was doing it, and I talked to [DeSarno] about the fact that she was very pleased with the work that he was doing for her organization," said Barnes, a Democrat. "I have strong, total recollection of that. This is not something I dreamed up or she dreamed up. This is fact."

DeSarno said that Thompson, after being hired, reported to her that he had held multiple conversations about the abortion "gag rule" with Sununu, who was then the White House chief of staff and the president's point man on the abortion rule.

Thompson kept her updated on his progress in telephone conversations and over meals at Washington restaurants, including dinner at Galileo and lunch at the Monocle, she said. At one of the meals, she recalled, Thompson told her that Sununu had just given him tickets for a VIP tour of the White House for one of Thompson's sons and his wife.

"It would be an odd thing for me to construct that thing out of whole cloth," DeSarno said. "It happened, and I think it's quite astonishing they're denying it."

Sununu said in a telephone interview: "I don't recall him ever lobbying me on that at all. I don't think that ever happened. In fact, I know that never happened." He added that he had "absolutely no idea" whether Thompson had met with anybody else at the White House, but said it would have been a waste of time, given the president's opposition to abortion rights.

In response to Sununu's denial, DeSarno said Thompson "owes [the family planning association] a bunch of money" if he never talked to Sununu, as he said he had.

At the time, Thompson was a lobbyist and lawyer "of counsel" to the Washington firm of Arent Fox Kintner Plotkin & Kahn.

DeSarno said the family planning association paid the firm for Thompson's work. Marc L. Fleischaker, chairman of Arent Fox, declined to comment.

Corallo, the spokesman for Thompson, was asked Friday about the board minutes and the five people who said they recall Thompson accepting the lobbying assignment. He responded in an e-mail, saying that Thompson "may have been consulted by one of [his] firm's partners who represented this group in 1991."

Corallo said it was "not unusual for one lawyer on one side of an issue to be asked to give advice to colleagues for clients who engage in conduct or activities with which they personally disagree."

Any work that Thompson did to challenge the abortion rule could complicate his appeals to conservatives in the contest for the Republican presidential nomination. He reportedly plans to join the race this month.

For weeks, Thompson has tried to pick up support from religious conservatives dissatisfied with the top GOP White House contenders, some of whom have backed abortion rights. In a videotaped message to the National Right to Life Convention in Kansas City last month, Thompson said the group's issues were "ever more profound to me as the years go by."

A senator from December 1994 to January 2003, Thompson voted along anti-abortion lines, but his statements have occasionally raised questions about his commitment to the cause.

On Fox News last month, he was asked why he checked a box on a questionnaire in his 1994 Senate campaign beside a statement saying that abortion "should be legal in all circumstances for the first three months."

"I don't remember that box," Thompson replied. "You know, it was a long time ago, and I don't know if I filled it out or my staff, based on what they thought my position was, filled it out."

The Tennessean newspaper reported that Thompson, when filling out a 1996 Christian Coalition survey, marked himself as "opposed" to a constitutional amendment protecting "the sanctity of human life." The newspaper said he included a handwritten notation saying: "I do not believe abortion should be criminalized. This battle will be won in the hearts and souls of the American people."

But in recent weeks, Thompson has described himself as fundamentally "pro-life," saying the issue has "meant a little more to me" since seeing the sonogram of his daughter, who is now 3.

Best known for playing a district attorney on NBC-TV's "Law and Order," Thompson worked as a part-time lobbyist over nearly three decades, both before and after his Senate term. His clients included a General Electric aircraft-engine maker, Westinghouse Electric Corp. and the Equitas insurance company.

DeSarno and others said the family planning group hired Thompson shortly after the Supreme Court upheld the "gag rule" in 1991. That ruling led to a protracted tussle between Bush and Congress. The rule was eliminated in 1993 by President Clinton on his third day in office.

In addition to Barnes and DeSarno, three other people said they recalled Thompson lobbying against the rule on behalf of the family planning association.

"We were looking, of course, for a Republican who might have some inroads to the White House at that time, and so that's how she came upon contacting him," said Susan Cohen, a member of the association's board of directors in 1991, referring to DeSarno and Thompson.

"I definitely recall her reaching out to [Thompson] and engaging him in some way, and trying to squeeze the White House through him," said Bill Hamilton, then-director of the Washington office of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The group was DeSarno's main ally in lobbying on the abortion-counseling rule.

Sarah L. Szanton, who worked for DeSarno as director of government relations for the family planning association, said that she too recalled that Thompson "consulted on our behalf against the gag rule."

"I remember that he did it," Szanton said. "I just knew he was part of the good fight."

The National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Assn. is a Washington nonprofit organization that represents family planning clinics and other groups. It advocates broad access to birth control and "reproductive freedom."

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na...=la-home-center

[AURaptor 1,126]

Abortion is about 157th on the list of things which matter most to a country which is under attack from Muslim terrorist .

[TexasTiger 13,005]

Abortion is about 157th on the list of things which matter most to a country which is under attack from Muslim terrorist .

Tell it to the single issue voters who believe it is #1. They will tell you that abortion kills more Americans every year than died on 9/11.

[AURaptor 1,126]

Not only would I tell them that, I'd shove it in their faces. If they want to be controled by a socialist loving bitch in Hillary Clinton, by all means....vote for some a-hole like Brownback. See how far your vote destroys the country, and how many MORE innocents are murdered by YOUR lame ass vote.

Go ahead. See what the **** I care.

[TexasTiger 13,005]

Not only would I tell them that, I'd shove it in their faces. If they want to be controled by a socialist loving bitch in Hillary Clinton, by all means....vote for some a-hole like Brownback. See how far your vote destroys the country, and how many MORE innocents are murdered by YOUR lame ass vote.

Go ahead. See what the **** I care.

You have definite anger issues.

Ironic that I have more respect for the Republican base than you do.

[CShine 0]

Abortion is about 157th on the list of things which matter most to a country which is under attack from Muslim terrorist .

Unless you're a member of the religious right, but then the GOP takes them for granted don't they?? If Fred wins the GOP nomination, might the religious right just stay home on election day?

[Tigermike 3,052]

Abortion is about 157th on the list of things which matter most to a country which is under attack from Muslim terrorist .

Tell it to the single issue voters who believe it is #1. They will tell you that abortion kills more Americans every year than died on 9/11.

So you are worried he will pick us some of those democrat single issue voters?

[TexasTiger 13,005]

Abortion is about 157th on the list of things which matter most to a country which is under attack from Muslim terrorist .

Tell it to the single issue voters who believe it is #1. They will tell you that abortion kills more Americans every year than died on 9/11.

So you are worried he will pick us some of those democrat single issue voters?

No, I'm wondering if he'll even pick up the Republicans. But either way, my point was that this is an issue that many people care very deeply about and that what is most important is very subjective.

[BZ770 2]

I am a pro choice republican, where does that put me?

[TexasTiger 13,005]

I am a pro choice republican, where does that put me?

SOL, unless you like Rudy...or Mitt on every other Tuesday...or Fred when he's having a flashback...or McCain when it's his own daughter.

[AURaptor 1,126]

I'm just so sick of the single issue religious zealots who will toss everything to the wind to fight a unwinable battle. Tax reform, national security, border control, there are countless issues which impact our every day lives more. Don't like abortion myself, but it seems to me that the best, quickest way to lower the amount of abortions is through education. I've seen some smartly done ads campaigns intent on manking people THINK about the issue, while not showing dead fetuses or trying to bash heads in w/ the Bible. and fear tactics of eternal fires and such. Unfortunately, these ads are far too few. Meanwhile, we have the Left threatening our freedom of speech w/ the Fairness Doctrine, the intrusion of imminent domain on people's right to property, etc...

[TitanTiger 20,510]

I'm just so sick of the single issue religious zealots who will toss everything to the wind to fight a unwinable battle. Tax reform, national security, border control, there are countless issues which impact our every day lives more. Don't like abortion myself, but it seems to me that the best, quickest way to lower the amount of abortions is through education. I've seen some smartly done ads campaigns intent on manking people THINK about the issue, while not showing dead fetuses or trying to bash heads in w/ the Bible. and fear tactics of eternal fires and such. Unfortunately, these ads are far too few. Meanwhile, we have the Left threatening our freedom of speech w/ the Fairness Doctrine, the intrusion of imminent domain on people's right to property, etc...

Let's not act like there aren't single issue voters, who aren't religious at all except in their religious devotion to "choice", on the other side of this issue. There are legions of voters who vote for Democrats (or Greenies) without fail over this one thing: they refuse to support a candidate who doesn't affirm the eternal dogma of Roe v Wade. It wouldn't matter if the guy was an out and out socialist, wanted to end the Iraq war tomorrow and promised to fight for universal health care. If he/she stated opposition to Roe v Wade and indicated they'd appoint justices who view the issue the same way, they wouldn't have a snowball's chance in hell of making it through.

And while I agree with the ads you speak of, frankly I don't think people seeing the results of abortions and understanding what they're doing in stark terms is that bad a thing. If you can't stomach the reality of what you've cast aside, is it really the fault of those who point it out to you?

[AURaptor 1,126]

It just seems to me ( and that might be it ) that the Pro-Life crowd will vote for a candidate who had no chance of winning what so ever, or worse, not vote at all. This allows for the Bill and Hillary Clintons of th world to win elections, and guess what ? They sure as hell won't be doing anything to hinder the amount of abortions. The religious Right actually shoots its self in the foot 2 x's by being so blindly stubborn over 1 issue.

[TitanTiger 20,510]

It just seems to me ( and that might be it ) that the Pro-Life crowd will vote for a candidate who had no chance of winning what so ever, or worse, not vote at all. This allows for the Bill and Hillary Clintons of th world to win elections, and guess what ? They sure as hell won't be doing anything to hinder the amount of abortions. The religious Right actually shoots its self in the foot 2 x's by being so blindly stubborn over 1 issue.

When is the last time such a thing happened? The Pro-Life crowd has been so reliably Republican it's made me uncomfortable actually when they ignore other pressing moral issues over one or two of them. Even when Perot took 19% and essentially gave the election to Clinton in '92, it wasn't the religious conservatives that bailed on Bush, Sr., it was the moderates and social liberal/economic conservatives.

I do agree that pro-life people need to expand their definition of pro-life to include helping reduce abortions in other ways that don't necessarily involve an absolute ban on the procedure. Work harder to make adoptions more affordable and less likely to be reversed by some wacko judge. Make it easier to collect money from the biological fathers for child support (in other words, make it just as much the man's responsibility as the woman's). Work with colleges to create child care on campus so women don't have to drop out of school and lose scholarships and such when they have a baby. Think outside the box and come up with other incentives for women to carry the child to term.

But honestly, why would someone compromise too deeply on such a huge issue? For them to abandon what they believe is an issue of life and death of an innocent human being would be the height of hypocrisy.

[AU alum 2]

I am a pro choice republican, where does that put me?

I feel better to know I'm not the only pro choice Republican.

[TitanTiger 20,510]

Personally, I'd be a pro-life Democrat before I'd be a pro-choice Republican. And that's saying a lot if you knew my voting record.

[Tigermike 3,052]

Personally, I'd be a pro-life Democrat before I'd be a pro-choice Republican. And that's saying a lot if you knew my voting record.

I know you are making a point about a "a pro-life Democrat", but just for conversation, what are the odds of that happening? Being pro-choice is built into the democrats platform as solidly as grape juice for Baptist communion.

[TitanTiger 20,510]

Personally, I'd be a pro-life Democrat before I'd be a pro-choice Republican. And that's saying a lot if you knew my voting record.

I know you are making a point about a "a pro-life Democrat", but just for conversation, what are the odds of that happening? Being pro-choice is built into the democrats platform as solidly as grape juice for Baptist communion.

That largely depends on whether the GOP sells its soul (and the lives of innocent human beings) any further on this issue. The way they spend money and execute wars lately, their stance on the abortion issue is quickly becoming their only redeeming quality.

There are such animals as pro-life Democrats already. The likelihood of me personally becoming one isn't high at the moment. But the option isn't off the table. There used to be social conservative/economic moderate/strong on defense Democrats about 30-40 years ago. There's nothing to say there can't be again. And if the Republicans decide they want to abandon social conservatives, that may kickstart the process faster than they think.

[AFTiger 282]

As usual, TT is wrong again:

AP/LAT Don't Mention Thompson Abortion Lobbying Claims Are Made by Hillary Supporters

Posted by Warner Todd Huston on July 7, 2007 - 02:14.

The AP, taking their cue from the new because-she-said-so story offered by the L.A.Times, has run with a short clip on a story that claims Fred Thompson was working as a lobbyist for an abortion agency in 1991, giving the hearsay evidence against him but not offering the meat of his against the claim. The result is that the AP offers more "evidence" against Thompson than it does for him making it too easy to conclude he is "guilty" of the charge of lobbying for an abortion advocacy organization.

The AP did a wonderful job making this story seem more cut and dried than it really is, of course, but the fact is, this claim of Thompson's supposed lobbying for the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association is nothing but an unproven (and maybe unprovable) claim against Thompson made by people who are well-known, far left activists and heavy contributors to the Hillary Clinton for President campaign. Naturally, neither the AP nor the L.A.Times wastes any time to detail the history of those making these claims against Thompson, leaving their relevant backgrounds completely out of the story.

Gee... why do you think they'd forget to let readers know that this story is based solely of the good word of Hillary supporters?

linky dinky

[TexasTiger 13,005]

Thompson's speech came on the heels of reports that a pro-abortion rights group hired him to lobby President George H.W. Bush's administration 16 years ago. At issue were attempts to ease a regulation that prevented clinics that received federal money from offering abortion counseling.

Thompson gave an oblique response when asked about the matter, first reported by the Los Angeles Times.

"I'd just say the flies get bigger in the summertime. I guess the flies are buzzing," said Thompson, who is considering running for president as a social conservative. He refused comment on whether he recalled doing the work.

Some totally meaningless homespun sounding reply, but no denial.

[bojack34 2]

Thompson's speech came on the heels of reports that a pro-abortion rights group hired him to lobby President George H.W. Bush's administration 16 years ago. At issue were attempts to ease a regulation that prevented clinics that received federal money from offering abortion counseling.

Thompson gave an oblique response when asked about the matter, first reported by the Los Angeles Times.

"I'd just say the flies get bigger in the summertime. I guess the flies are buzzing," said Thompson, who is considering running for president as a social conservative. He refused comment on whether he recalled doing the work.

Some totally meaningless homespun sounding reply, but no denial.

Another fine example of how providing a link backs anything up.