CNN

instead of concentrating on trival matters that have no bearing on the long term agenda of this country that you and anyone in your goverment cant seem to get passed,why dont you and your fellow commrads look at the shape that you have put this nation in,why dont you address the issues that make a difference,if any of you were a 1/4 as smart as you think you are perhaps we could travel abroad,be able to plan a trip without taking out a loan, why dont you take back the control that rosevelt gave to the oil cartels in the 30s and step up to the plate admit you were wrong get us out of your godforsakin war,and start acting as americans that we the people have made,its a travisty,not one of you money hungry goverment people with your gas cards,insurance, and large salarys have any guts, just little mouth pieces, that dont add up to anything,thats how we the people see you!! now go get a job that means something, either change the direction to what it should be or get out of the way,your nothing witout us the backbone,further,i think i would stop worring about whos fault all of your 6th grade level ideas that have now almost destroyed the country,and start working torwards the repair, you want a platform? you want the american people to landslide your campain? then have some guts,stop talking your bs and go for the throat, get this country back on its feet with reform, give it back to the people and you would have your presidency, then you got something, do you get it yet? we want a fighter, you go after the reform youll have more backers than you can imagine

hey cnn, why dont you print something positive about the guy. I like him and i know many that do as well, he might just be what this country needs. I cant believe scrolling through the comments cnn had posted that there is nothing positive...good for you cnn thanks for the non-biased reporting, as usual.

Fred Thompson is boring. NEXT!

“You denied a child the right to live a wonderful life with an adopted family, the same type of life you see when you look at your children today living in a stable two parent household”

To David:
How do you know this child would have been adopted? If adopted, how do you know this child would have even gone to a staple two parent household? A lot of adopted children are worse off than they would have been with their “unfit” parent. And with all the red tape in adopting, a lot US kids are bounced around in foster care and in a lot of cases being abused to the extent you could not imagine and I know this personally. Unfortunately, a lot of these kids do wish they were never born and are angry at the world because of it and act in ways to show it. Also, if she had this child and got on welfare to support it, I would like to assume you would offer her assistance in any way possible including government assistance, since you want the government to force her to have this child anyway. I just wish all these anti-choice people gave a damn about the children that are here because if they did, there would be no US children in foster care and everyone would be blessed with a loving home. Although abortion would not be an option for me—not even if my life was in danger (only if I was raped), I will never force my personal religious beliefs onto anyone.

BTW-if we are going to legislate religion, then adultery and fornication should definitely be a serious felony and we all know the prisons will be filled up with BOTH Conservatives and Liberals.

This guy is hardly a "joke". Would we be better served by Hillary Clinton? I think not.

Dear Benjamin,

For starters, this post you have just created is much better than your previous one.

Nonetheless, while the ideas you present and meant with goodness (and I think you mean well); you must realize that's only you thinking.

It's true about the creation of the DNA roadmap at conception, but that's just it, no organs, no feelings, and no thoughts.

I too do not like abortions; they can be devastating for the mother. But I also realize I AM NOBODY to tell a woman she can't have an abortion; especially in cases such as rapes. That decision, in my opinion, will always lie with her.

Also, if we look at this realistically and we take a true assessment, we will find there are some things that could possibly be done about it. We can encourage family planning, fight to lower crime (this means solving domestic, not international, problems), and give harsher punishments to abusers, rapists, and people who throw their babies into garbage bins when they are born and unwanted.

However, if we absolutely bar abortions, then we are forcing a solution that will only lead to more problems. This would cause more back alley abortions, which put the mother's life at risk.

Also remember that those who do not history are doomed to repeat it (this is done too often unfortunately, just look around). People do not respond well to oppressions, and forcing women to have an unwanted child, a child that would suffer because of not being conceived under the proper conditions or desired time, is oppression.

Respectfully,
Joe

Posted By N: "...David, Have an abortion and then tell me how convenient it is. I had an abortion when my birth control failed. I was taking responsibility, but birth control is not failproof..."

I can appreciate the situation you were in but the reality is you did not have to get an abortion. You completely overlook the option of adoption.

You could not be more wrong when you say your abortion was the absolutely right thing to do at the time. You denied a child the right to live a wonderful life with an adopted family, the same type of life you see when you look at your children today living in a sable two parent household. It saddens me that you have no regrets about your "choice." I still say, even in your case, the abortion was a matter of convenience. It's very possible that you, a stable parent, could have a relationship now with your child you allowed to be adopted. Your loss is the biggest tragedy and you don't realize it.

Abortion should only be required in the case of incest, rape, and the life of the mother. It has nothing to do with religion. It's simply the right thing to do. Adoption was your solution and you missed the opportunity.

This is why I would be happy to vote for a candidate like Fred Thompson.

Joe: one can look at abortion from a purely scientific mentality or from a theological perspective.

From the purely scientific perspective human life begins at conception. The director of the Human Genome Project, Dr. Francis S. Collins, stated in the Appendix of his book, "The Language of God" that based on science there is no line of demarcation between human and non-human during human gestation.

Life begins at conception. At the moment of conception the single cell has a full set of human chromosomes, which contain the DNA, which will regulate the person's physical development. All the person's physical characteristics are already determined. That single cell is growing, taking in nutrients, and will one day be a full grown human being that may reproduce. These are the 3 basic characteristics of life - what separates life from inanimate objects.

The major step forward in human philosophy and morality is in the Declaration of Independence. No longer will human life be at the mercy of kings, queens, tyrants, and the superficial measures of the people; human life is an inalienable right granted by God. It is the first duty of the Government to protect human life.

From a theological perspective - Satan lied to Adam and Eve telling them that God cannot be trusted and if they said "no" to God they would become gods.

In accepting the lie - the lie about the nature of God and the nature of man - they became instruments of the Devil, which is to oppose God and his plan for creation.

Since human beings resemble God in a special manner - made in His image and likeness - Satan especially despises humanity; because he wants to be god and worshipped as god. His original lie was intended to separate man from God so that man would experience death.

In acting as if we are gods, which we are naturally incapable of, we have become each others worse enemy. Man is the enemy of man. We kill each other by the millions.

Now with abortion, we kill human beings before they can even defend themselves. There are well over 25 million abortions per year around the world.

If we would stop acting like gods and listen and obey the one true living God we would stop destroying ourselves and the rest of creation.

To Benjamin,

You are sick in the head man. "Sold their souls to the devil"? Surely, you can do better than that. All you are doing is making yourself along with every other pro-life individual out there look bad and ridiculous

Learn more about pregnancy, get educated, and then give a better opinion (this last comment goes to everyone out there who fits the stupid and uneducated person profile)

What an idiot. Its been proven through the former trends from Poland and the crime decrease in the U.S. in the 90's that banning abortion will eventually lead to an increase in crime. You cannot ban abortion. You cannot stop it. If you did stop abortion, you would increase unwanted births to mothers who will likley neglect their unwanted children, leading to unloved children that will likley lead a life of crime, particularly because single children are statistically more likley to become criminals.

Who cares about this loser views on abortion. This Guy is never going to be the next President. Go back to Law and Order TV serie, we have enough of non-sense from Juliani and Mc Cain.

I like Law & Order...and Fred Thompson is a decient actor.....Hollywood is where he needs to stay...from the comments he has made lately proves to me he knows little about running a government.

Former Senator Fred Thompson's pledge to overturn Roe Vs Wade just goes to show how disconnected Senator Thompson and the Republican party is from the American public.

While I believe that his qwest to protect unborn Americans is honorable, what about those that are born, and are dying in Afghanstan and Iraq?

Our domestic policy agenda should be clear and concise. Aimed at stabilizing Iraq with international forces and the launch of a phased withdrawal of our men and women in uniform.

David (in Gilbert)
While I agree with you on the fundementals of abortion, how is it possible for one to support the limitation of ones indivdual freedoms? The government needs to stay out of this debate for once as it clouds the electore with false divisions. Think about it. Is it worth a count divided just to have an excired republican or democrat voting base??? We need to unify in order to change the moral tone of this country not by democrat or republican princibals but on those of commin sense. Less governmnet, more community!!!!

PEOPLE!! PEOPLE!! PEOPLE!!

Are you all BLIND? Can't you see that Mr. Thompson would make a WONDERFUL leader?

Of the American Taliban.

Hey,,, just a few words of wisdom from me,,, in my opinion,,, this is to everyone who is complaining about roe vs wade, or alternative lifestyles,,, just think,,, you are probably someone who didnt even vote for president, according to statistics, which say that people just whine about decisions and policies,,, but when it comes down to people actually getting out and voting to make a difference,,,
people tend to just gripe and moan about who is president,,, go ahead and vote and make a difference. thanks.

Its amazing how all these divorced men and older men marrying younger women have all this moral authority. The Republicans voted in the first divorced President in our country's history. I guess Christianity in this country has decided that divorce and remarriage to a different woman is now bad law and bad medicine. Its amazing how these men can pick and choose whats moral and whats not.

David: thank you for the information and I agree with you.

My personal favorite is Senator Brownback.

As the former GOP Chair of California's 5th largest county and former state Young Republican chair, I remember when the Republican Party stood for freedom of the individual...now Thompson has emerged as yet another right wing clone who would deprive women of the most basic freedom. It would be better if Thompson would model himself after Barry Goldwater, who was pro-choice and pro-gay rights. The comment the Roe v. Wade is "bad medicine" is particulary offensive ... he is not a doctor, and has never even played one on TV. He is yet another example of why I left the Party.

Re: N

"Have an abortion and then tell me how convenient it is. I had an abortion when my birth control failed. I was taking responsibility, but birth control is not failproof. As for the father's choice, my live-in boyfriend's choice when he found out I was pregnant was to leave. Get a womb."

Methinks that those would be reasons of convenience.

Who is this guy? I'm voting for Ron Paul!

As a libertarian leaning Republican in the mold of Barry Goldwater, I would extremely hate to see a Thompson presidency. I'm tired of all these Bible thumping rednecks who always seem to be nominated.

Benjamin,

I understand that you are sincerely anti-abortion. What I don’t get is why you would support a candidate who took one position on the issue for money, and now takes another for votes.

Are you unaware that Thompson was a pro-abortion lobbyist. If you think this is the defining issue, why not vote for Huckabee, Brownback. McCain or Paul all of whom have been consistently pro-life. Thompson doesn’t believe in your cause. He’s just pandering.

Please stick with acting, Fred. Love your work. America needs you, just not as president.

If protecting human life makes one a right-wing extremist, facist, moron, moral majority, conservative, federalist, idiot, against freedom, unamerican, moralist, dark ages, and the other dozen names used.....

Where do I sign up?

Humans are the most magnificent creatures on earth and should not be killed by mother, father, or anyone else.

Democrats have sold their souls to the devil.

So, Fred Thompson opened the door to the cage and threw the raw meat in. "No Gay marriages, Overturn Roe v Wade"! Same old Reagan and 31 and 43 used to get elected. Think another acting cowboy can pull off the nomination?

He´ll lose to Hillary big time.

´Nuff said!

right wing extremist, mediocre actor, worn out views...much like reagen. he'll not 'overturn' anything: he's not on the supreme court, nor is he in congress – just another blow-hard.

When people try to step on the rights of others, it amazes me that these same people still have a sense of entitlement to them.

In Canada, we would call this guy a "moron"! Much like Bush himself!

ABORTION=MURDER Pure and simple. Why is a person who kills a pregnant lady also charged with murder of the unborn?? oh yeah, because IT IS MURDER. In order for a person to be charged with murder, a LIVING BEING HAS TO BE INVOLVED!!! If a fetus is NOT a living being, then you could not charge someone with murder...but these morons believe if a woman "chooses" to murder her own child in the womb, it is HER RIGHT TO DO SO????? America is a joke, full of idiots and incompetent, emotionally driven hypocrites

Fran: when will all the crazy people wake up and realize that "it is not the woman who is aborted." The phrase, "My body; my right" is ridiculous.

The woman isn't aborted, it is the new human being living within her.

People, you made the choice - the choice to have sexual relations. Now take responsibility for your actions and stop killing human being.

You people are sick!

This man's views of Roe V Wade just infuriates me. Running the risk of sounding like a total feminist I would just like to say, "Since when should an old man have the audacity to govern what a women chooses to do with her body". This is not an issue that should be raised at this time. We are in the middle of war, No Child Left Behind is NOT working, our economy could tank soon, because of preditory
lending and oh yeah, Hurricane Dean is on the way. Give me a break!!

For the information of the politicians. The saying is "The proof of the pudding is in the tasting." Not that this idiot would know that.

(Quote)

What and idiot!
Posted By Tia, Iowa : August 17, 2007 3:43 pm
(End Quote)

Tia, you only prove what a failed education system we have, thanks to the left. To those quoting the full faith and credit clause, or the 14th amendment, neither precludes any state from enacting its own ban on abortion, if Roe v Wade is overturned.

One problem I have with the left is you demand personal autonomy, without accepting personal responsibility.

Carson, I hear you.

First of all, why would you stop being a successful working actor to pursue an expensive futile presidential campaign? Well I guess the motivation is power, silly me.

Blah...abortion, blah...gay marriage. All the divisive issues that don't come around until election time.

Priority should be for the rights of pregnant women (to stay as they are) and gays (to get some for the first time ever). Gays as demographic pay an extraordinary amount of tax from their much higher than average income, that's a simple fact. Who the hell is anyone to say that my partner of 13 years can not inherit my property and earnings if something happens to me? Marriages are as valid as the sanctity of the vows two people make and keep to each other, regardless of gender. How is it that men and women (I love my straights BTW) can go to Vegas get trashed, go to the Chapel of Love and get married, then annul it the next day and write it off as a goof? Merely a story they tell their friends and get a good laugh.

How is it that you can attend a $100,000 wedding, where the happy couple makes promises of forever in front of god family & friends, gets lavished with gifts and good wishes only to get divorced 10 months later? You know what? I want my gift back. Everyone who attended that wedding got bamboozled!

So...why is priority given to people that are so sadly fearful and offended by women rights and gays?

The man is intelligent.. but too old, and is not a moderate. This country doesn't need another Republican Candidate that is supported by the Extreme Right. That will only lead to further erosion of our rights..

Moderation is the key... and those that are not centrists... should not win the coming election cycle. Our nation is in deep trouble if we keep catering to the extreme left or right.

Guys is an idiot. Have met him and most uninspiring.

I keep seeing these comments about how great of a guy he is because he stands for what he believes. The President;s (or any other elected official for that matter) job is not to stand for what he (in the non-gender sense of the word) believes...his job is to stand for what the people of this country believes. I can give a rat's behind if he doesn't agree with abortion, stem cell research, or gay marriage. It is completely irrelevant. He is entitled to his opinion.

When he says that he is going to work towards making his views the law of the land, that is when I say he is not qualified to hold office in this country.

We have far too many elected offical that forget that they are the servants of the people, not thier masters and that we dictate how they should vote on matters and that they should not be standing on personal convictions or any crap like that. We are their bosses and they should be doing what we tell them...nothing less.

I think our government has forgotten what it's role is on our socienty and needs to be reminded. Certain lines from the Declaration of Independance come to mind about when a government ceases to serve it's people...

Maybe Jefferson was right...

I follow American politics closely as an academic choice and I have to say – a good number, if not all, of the presidential aspirants on the republicn aisle are not in tune with reality neither are they demonstrating they have any iota of common sense. If Fred Thompson win the republican nomination on the basis of right-wing neo-con pandering then there's a problem with the bulk of American voters. It's not difficult to see that the best candidate to elected President in the present circumstances which you people have put yourselves in is Barack Obama.

I have no problem with someone who disagrees with abortion. That's your right. And if you, because you are an imperfect human being, ever find yourself in the precarious situation of having to make that choice, by all means do what you think is right. Trust me, I will never object to someone deciding to actually have a baby. It is your choice. I would like to see a world where that precarious situation never occurs, but that's not the world we live in. There are so many other problems facing our planet right now that are more important. The truly sad part is, all these politicians know that and the only reason that they even care about the abortion issue is because they would rather keep people pre-occupied with partisan politics than with the truth. Bottom line: if you don't like abortion, don't have one. In the meantime, mind your own business and keep your "moral superiority" off of a woman's body. Education is the answer to that problem but politicians would rather slit their wrists than have a well-educated populace asking them all the pertinent questions. It's a power play and the idiots who think that any politican seriously agrees with the Christian is the same breed of sucker that P.T. Barnum created a circus for. Look at duh pretty tigers!

"Gay Marriage": you tell me who has done more to disgrace marriage. A man who fell in love with another man and wants to share a life together, or a the several thousand other heterosexual couples who get divorced every year in this country. Homosexual men and women have not had any affect on the drastic divorce rate in heterosexual community in recent years. Why isn't Focus On The Family accosting divorced couples for poopooing on the sanctity of marriage? Why aren't they accosting the predator who created the girls gone wild empire for inspiring a new generation of rapists and sex offenders? Why aren't they crucifying every sex offender who happens to be an ordained priest? Now, presuming that what the GLBT community wants is to be legally free to spend the rest of their lives with the person of their choosing (remember: heterosexual people don't ALWAYS get married becuase they love each other but they do always choose to get married!) and receive the same legal rights as anyone else than there is no legal document that you can show me that denies them their rights to do so. Simply put: marriage is a uniquely religious term and should have nothing to do with the legality of equality in this country. If you want to hold onto the status of marriage, go ahead. You can do so in your private local church...with other people who feel the same way. Moreover, you'll find that it's not just a constitutional right, but it's also a CIVIL RIGHT. Once again, sad thing is that all the gung-ho homophobes out there are ignorant enough to fear them. After all, the Gay Menace has extremely wily and cunning strategies to recruit new members. What they won't tell you is that the recruitment model that the Gay Menace uses is based off the one that Karl Rove/Dick Cheney/George Bush/Donald Rumsfeld/John Ashcroft/Newt Gingrich/Ronald Reagan/Jerry Falwell/Pat Robertson/Fred Phelps/Jim Baker and the rest of the ol' gang of FAKE Republicans helped to create about 25 years ago. You know what's going to happen to this society once we legalize civil unions and recognize the rights of the GLBT community? Absolutely nothing. At the very least, things would improve a little. Your bastardized version of Christianity and the hate that it creates is comprable to the arguement for banning smoking in bars. I should not have to put up with it in public. That's it! I'm calling Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar to tell them that I am going to ban all hate in the state of Minnesota and there's nothing they can do about it. Amy might say "cool." Norm might say "I don't want ruffle any feathers in the hate economy, I mean, the Christian Right.

I am so tired of hearing the candidates talk about religious "issues" like they were all that mattered. Haven't we had enough of a Theocratic government for the last 7 years. When are we going to get a candidate that will work for the right reasons. Personally, I think that the pothole down the street is more important to me than whether Joe marries George.

Fred looks kind of sickly, with sunken eyes and he's lost some weight it looks like. He sure ain't Ronald Reagan. I think the interest in him is kind of a joke.

Did he get that line from a Law and Order cue card?

Abortion is none of Thompson's business, since he can't get pregnant himself.

Between either Romney or Thompson for the Republicans, this ought to be one hell of a fine show in the general election.

I think those who oppose abortion are standing up for the rights of the most innocent of all- the unborn who have no voice in their fate.
Posted By Steve – Peoria, IL : August 18, 2007 10:58 pm

And those who oppose this war are standing up for the rights of the most courageous of Americans – The American Soldiers...who unfortunately were sent to war under false pretenses and even though Bush declared victory over 4 years ago...They continue to die bravely in a war that should not be continuing today.

The biggest mistake of all the GOP could make would be to nominate a person who claims he will overturn Roe. Use some common sense–women vote much more frequently than men and have a majority of the population to start. Hillary will be the Democratic nominee. If you can't figure out the rest, you probably don't vote.

David in , Gilbert Arizona wrote: I don't have a problem with Fred Thompson's stance on Roe v Wade and not because of some right-wing neo-con moral stance. It is because women use their "right" to choose with almost wrecklace abandon. A woman's right to choose does not consider the choice of the father either....Abortion should not be used as a matter of convenience.

David, Have an abortion and then tell me how convenient it is. I had an abortion when my birth control failed. I was taking responsibility, but birth control is not failproof. As for the father's choice, my live-in boyfriend's choice when he found out I was pregnant was to leave. Get a womb. Then you can have an opinion on this. By the way, getting an abortion, while not something I would want to do again, was absolutely the right thing to do, and I am reminded of that every single day when I look at the two intelligent, polite, thoughtful children I am raising in a stable, happy two-parent household. I don't regret the decision for a moment.

Actually I meant to type "conception" not "contraception" – but it's worth noting...

Maybe if we spent more time working for greater use of contraception we wouldn't need to have this debate at all...

but who would want people to do that?

Oh, and Bob – noticed how you ignored all of my points in my last comment and focused on one comment which I stand by. It is about ME and MY body.

I think those who oppose abortion are standing up for the rights of the most innocent of all- the unborn who have no voice in their fate.

Fred Thompson...another moron who I won't be voting for. He's just another Bush!

Illegalizing abortion will not improve anything. It is wholly ignorant to believe anything else. And let me explain something to the Christian Right zealots who believe it is their mission in their horribly empty lives to tell others what to do (already sounds a bit facist to me): it is not your job to run the world for God, it is your job to give people enough peace of mind to be able to go back out into the inevitably cruel world that God created and encourage them to "love thy neighbor as thyself." When you bring your groupthink, your hate, your ignorance into the political spectrum and start enforcing your beliefs on others you have devolved into a facist.......yes, Hitler and Mussolini were both facists. I have no problem with any religious theology (I myself was brought up and am quite familiar with the teachings of Jesus Christ) so long as it stays out of politics....theocracies are destructive and archaic. Just ask England's history professors. I was once told by a Christian Right lumux of man that people like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are "crazy" and that makes them "dangerous." I then asked him if he would feel more or less safe if his very powerful elected leader suffered from a mental disorder. He said "I'd probabIy lose confidence in them, yes" I then quickly informed this dunce that one of the most clinically accepted red-flags of the bi-polar disorder in human beings is a severe, obsession-like religiosity. I have many friends who are diagnosed bi-polar who will attest to that. I then asked him if he thought that such great Christian warriors like Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and Fred Phelps would cease to be great Christian leaders if they were to be diagnosed as bi-polar, thereby making them "crazy" and "dangerous." He said he didn't know much about science. I laughed, long and hard, at him and his half-baked religous dogma that lacked any sort of common sense at all. Just blind hatred running around disguised as a Christian. I yearn for the day that Repulicans can go back to being founded in common sense and not religious lies. Isn't that a bastardization of what God's will in the first place? To use God in order to advance yourself? George Bush never came through on his religious promises. Why? Because he never had any intention to do so in the first place!

Don't you just love those folks who substitute the term "traditional values" for their personal values. Oh, how I long for the land of the free!

Rock oN!

I am so, so very tired of the bickering between the left and right on issues that aren't important. Let's talk about the future of the country, not its past. We need plans for progress, not dated dogma.

In comparing the two most conservative candidates, Gov. Romney wants the Presidency so bad, he can't come right out and alienate the centrists by saying he'd overturn Roe v. Wade.

Sen . Thompson doesn't care which voters he alienates; he's not pandering, he's the real red state dyed-in-the-wool conservative and he'd overturn Roe v. Wade without hesitation.

Excellent! It's good to see that someone in modern America is interested in doing what's morally right, rather than scrambling to try doing what's politically correct. He has my support for sure; I can't wait until he actually becomes an official candidate!

And the Reverend Thompson is
doing so well in the Republican polls because . . . .?

You have got to be kidding me! This caveman is the Republicans great hope???? This is Ronald Reagan's successor?????????? LMAO – this is too funny. Hillary will eat him alive and the press will turn him into a standing joke!! I can't wait for the guy to jump in.

Mr. Thompson you seem to speak for those of us who have this country's values in mind. Thankyou from a wife, mother and elementary teacher. I am liking what I hear. Get in this race and kick the Democrat butts.
Mrs. Deborah Cannon

I wonder if the Ron Paul people understand they're damaging him by spamming his name everywhere, especially unrelated topics. It's as tasteful as pollution.

To Sam from Knoxville who wrote: "If we can not protect life at its most innocent and precious point, then life means nothing. No wonder children are being treated like objects to sexual predators, the babies were nothing in the womb and not worth much more now, right?!" I admit to not having studied in depth the psychology of sexual predators, but to suggest that they exist in our society because of legalized abortions is simply ridiculous. In addition to being horrified by your twisted thought process, I am going out on a limb here and guessing that you, like most other right wing, pro-lifers, are a hypocrite. The right is always talking about protecting “innocent” life, yet they seem to have a distinct anti-living stance on many issues such as stem cell research, social services, death penalty, etc. (btw, pro-life, pro-death penalty types are my personal favorite hypocrites). The difference between pro-life and pro-choice I think really comes down to which you value more: cells or fetuses that are “innocent” simply because they are incapable of making moral choices, or those of us that are actually fully-developed humans breathing, living, and, in many cases suffering, on this Earth.

WAKE-UP all Freedom loving Americans!

We are just finally getting rid of KARL ROVE and his hateful policies of division.

Gay Marriage. Abortion. Gun Control.

All issues that are used to rally their REICH Wing Base.

America needs to stop allowing these type of people from stripping us of our rights AND our dignity.

We need to flush the toilet of all these hate mongerers.

Vote anything but Republican if you want to save the country from the steady erosion of the SEPARATION of Church and STATE!

What a joke....

Ron Paul said all of this stuff first before Thompason did and you dont put that on CNN.com.

Ron Paul is the MAN...quit censoring him.

Who does this man think he is?

It is my right to kill my child. It is my body my right! If I want to have all the sex I want without having children, that is my right.

The U.S. Supreme Court said it is my right to kill my child if I don't want him. Who does this man think he is to take away my right?

We don't live in Iraq people - we should be able to kill our children. Damn!

How the hell is this man an attorney? The Defense of Marriage Act (below) ALREADY grants states the right not to recognize gay marriages.

1. No state (or other political subdivision within the United States) need recognize a marriage between persons of the same sex, even if the marriage was concluded or recognized in another state.
2. The Federal Government may not recognize same-sex or polygamous marriages for any purpose, even if concluded or recognized by one of the states.

We could run my dog Spot and beat Hitlery Clinton out in this next election. He has a higher IQ and a better understanding of foreign policy, for sure!

Hillary is going to destroy this buffoon.

He is not a candidate yet so why in the world is CNN covering him. For that matter why is he getting any attention?
Everyone knows why he has not announced his entry into the race. It's because he gets more face time with America simply through reruns of Law & Order. He can skirt the rule of equal access to broadcast time for the candidates by waiting to announce until after the fall tv premiers. Until then he will continue to get free advertising for himself. What a lawyer!

I'm sorry to dissapoint you, Benjamin, but not all sexual contact is consensual. Those who are pregnant by rape or incest, have NOT concented! You sound like one of those men who believe that ALL women should carry to term ALL pregnancies, wanted or not.

In an ideal world, all babies would be wanted, but we don't have that. Contrary to the belief that women have abortions for birth control only, it should be noted, that it is a last resort for most of them. I would argue that an 11-year old, raped by her father, or brother, would want to have that baby.

All of you HOLIER THAN THOU people should wake-up and smell the reality of life in the big (and little) city. You all want to stop a woman from having an abortion, but then you complain bitterly, about all the un-wed mothers! You can't have it both ways!!!

This guy needs to form a convincing argument why Roe v. Wade should be turned over in the first place. Guys like him believe that life begins at conception, but I have never heard good support for that view. Why are some people so adamant about defending a single/few-celled cluster that is no different than a random skin cell? I have an MD, so embryo-huggers please feel free to prove me wrong.

Only a chump would continue to make abortion a campaign issue. I want to vote Republican, but I can't support this stupid idea! What are people like this thinking?

This guy is a real hack job! Don't the Republicans have ANYTHING new to talk about aside from abortion and gay rights?

Why would we elect another Bush-like quality and leadership as the likes of Fred Thompson? Someone who thinks he knows what's good for all Americans? Banning Gay Marriages, overturning the Abortion laws, and NO PRODUCTIVE PLAN FOR IRAQ!!! Enough is Enough
THINK AMERICA IT'S TIME TO STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS NOT THE VIEWS OF POOR LEADERSHIP

It amazes me how democrats can write about being civilized and in the same sentence write about how civilized it is to kill unborn human beings. This is not being civilized, this is inhumane! I agree with Thompson, this is bad law and bad medicine.

Every single person's life begins at conception. At this earliest stage of life it is a human being with human DNA. It is growing, taking in nutrients, and will one day reproduce. These are the three basic characteristics of life.

The movement forward in political theory and morality in the U.S. is that life will no longer be at the mercy of the strong. Life is an inalienable right given by God. Read the Declaration of Independence people!

Now, with Roe v. Wade, every person's existence is subject to the arbitrary measures and desires of the mother or parents. This is insanity.

The choice was made when the couple chose to have sexual relations. Now that a new person exists that person must be taken care of. You don't avoid responsibility for your actions by killing human life. Wake up people!!!

Roe v. Wade is bad law and bad medicine.

Doesn't this man realize that women are sick and tired of having old men telling them what is right and what is wrong. I think the women and open minded men of this country know that the government can't really legislate morality. If the the old men do, then how are we any different than the poltical situations in the Middle east.

Louis, you need to get a grip. I disagree with Thompson on everything he said, but hatemonger is a bit extreme. Your post is as intolerant as anything Thompson said. People can disagree on issues. Doesn't make them hatemongers. People like you are a bigger problem in this country than people like Thompson, and that's coming from a fellow (I'm assuming) liberal.

Thank God! Finally, someone who will listen to those of us in this country who have traditional values and who value life over convenience. I'm tired of politicians who listen to what the media portrays as American values instead of representing REAL family values, the ideals this country were founded upon.

There is far too much intollerance in America today. How can we allow a hate monger like this pathetic man – hardly a role model for morality – to seep in to the news and culture of our country. We already lag so far behind much of the civilized world in the areas of human rights – do we want our children growing up in a country that hates so much? This man will never be elected – Thank God – but he also deserves no coverage from CNN! I'll switch off Law & Order anytime he's on – and I'm certainly not the only one!

As people said, the Headline on the front page is very bad. Not quite objective on the part of CNN.

If Roe were overturned, as Thompson stated he wants, the issue of abortion goes back to the individual states. In some states, it would probably be illegal immediately, based on statutes that are still on the books. Other states (perhaps most of them) would keep it legal.

Even with Roe overturned, however, there is subsequent case law that would make a ban problematic.

Also, Thompson may not realize this but a President can't overturn Supreme Court case law. The Court would have to do it, or a Constitutional amendment would have to be passed to do it without the Court.

Amazing! Thompson would take established law (since 1973), work to overturn it and make people who have been involved in abortions (doctors, nurses, women, husbands/boyfriends) into criminals! This is a matter of choice for women; nothing more and nothing less. When it is a medical matter, it is between the woman and her doctor. Nobody else should get involved. These holy rollers try to decide what is best for everybody else – abortion is killing the unborn BUT killing abortion providers is perfectly FINE! Trying to intimidate the doctors' families including picketing the doctors' homes and where their children go to school is fine too! Spare us from these religous bigots. This is like oil and water; politics and religion also don't mix.

I would just like to ask the people on here that are against abortion, what will happen to a woman that has one? I want to hear every possible scenario please.

I am so tired of all these candidates (and sitting politians), mostly men, who try to foist THEIR religious views on the general public. Not everyone is an Evangelical Christian. This country was founded on the idea that ALL religions and beliefs are equal. Not all of them have this homophobic, anti-gay, anti-abortion stance that these guys would like to promote.

Maybe it's time that everyone of us who believe in a woman's right to decide her own fate, should dig out a clothes hanger and send one to each candidate who advocates the banning of abortion. Since they are obviously not LISTENING to the people, maybe a VISUAL AID is needed.

Mark Bishop, you stated that as a Republican, if Thompson got elected to run for president, you would vote Democrat unless Hillary were running, then you would move to Canada. Didn't you know, we only accept Democrats here, sorry.

It never fails. CNN taking someone's statement out of context.

Let me see if I understand this right. The Country is falling apart literally, such as the bridges. High School graduation rates are nearly as low as Bush's approval ratings in some major cities. Twelve million criminal invaders roam the country stealing the jobs those seniors would be trying for because most cannot afford college. Millions more job were sent to Asia by the bushies and the best the clone want-a-be of the second worst president after Bush is rabble rousing on abortion? How sad, but understandable from the party that could do no better than George W Loser.

By reading all these comments, I now believe the rumors that CNN is watched/read by "mostly" the liberal left. Abortion is murder everyone, plain and simple. If it's legal, why can't I go up to someone I don't like walking down the street and blow their head off? Same thing as abortion. You have a LIVING human inside you, then you suddenly don't want it. The conservative majority in this country needs someone like Thompson, and I can only hope Romney joins him on the ticket.

"What about Ron Paul"??? Ron Paul is anti-choice too. David in Arizona: The spelling is r-e-c-k-l-e-s-s. And I'll believe a woman ever has an abortion in a "reckless" way when we start arresting people for not being organ donors. I am sick and tired of old white men and their female apologists/groupies trying to tell me I should not have control of my own body at all times. Period.

Just what women need! Another old man calling the shots or trying to push their outdated beliefs on all women. He needs to stay on Law & Order and stay out of my life. It is a woman's body and she should be the only one to make the decisions.

For those that oppose abortion. Ask yourself this, the Bible says "thou shall not kill" this is the reason you are against abortion. So do you support the troops? Under certain circumstances that have to kill. Is that morally wrong? Lets not be a hypocrite.

Sara from New York:

"And YES it is about ME ME ME.

There you have it.

I don't think I have the right to take medical decisions away from women. Since when did pregnancy become an illness?

The choice isn't whether to end the pregnancy, but to start it.

But, I will post no more since your "open mind" is probably not willing to change and this is a moot argument.

All great reasons why Giuliani should, and will, win the Republican nomination.

The headline is very misleading (though I'm no friend of Fred). He's not saying he would ban abortion. He's saying he would let states ban abortion, which is what would happen if the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. That may be little better to pro-choice people, but it is unlikely than any pre-Roe anti-abortion laws would even still be in effect–each state wanting to ban abortion would have to pass new laws to that effect.

This country is at a serious tipping point in this election. We're still tying our country to fossil fuels, "miracle" drugs, fast food, and a single religion. Who can argue that we've been going in the wrong direction? What is this, 1957? If we go the way of another president in the mold of Bush, our standing in the world will be further diminished. I do not want the fall of America to happen in my lifetime. Shouldn't we be looking for a president who is very UNLIKE Bush? Besides, Reagan, Bush, Bush again (by proxy), Cheney and Thompson are all holdovers from the Nixon administration and it's international grudges. Why do we continually toy with these war-mongering crooks? Does anyone have any idea how much of their own paycheck goes to war and corporate welfare? Snap out of it folks!

As a proud Canadian I'm going to comment. This guy is a complete idiot. I hope the US doesn't vote Republican for president. We've had enough of Republicans and George Bush and every other idiot republican. Vote democrats, things ran a lot better for both countries when Clinton was in power...

peace

Fred Thompson is another self-serving Republican sycophant pandering to the same voter base that elected the current anti-christ in the White House. My take is that Fred Thompson is over his head, trying to play the role of presidential candidate but clueless as to what to do. As expected, as soon as he opens his mouth, non-sense and giberish is what will come out. This man has ZERO chance of getting elected.

Good post by Rich in Orlando, who said "Republicans let these religious extremists hijack their party"...

Gone are the politicans like Barry Goldwater, who believed in staying OUT of people's private lives; & instead focused on real issues like fiscal responsibility.....

Now, the Republicans are led by the insane clown christian/mormon posse....Sam Brownback, Mitt Romney, & Fred Thompson don't even qualify to be the county dog catcher or a librarian....There only focus are non-sense issues like abortion, banning rap music, & censoring Hollywood, etc....People like the aforementioned will NEVER solve the tremendous problems facing this country today.....Those 3 would be more divisive than Bush, & that is quite a feat....

If one of those dreadful 3 were to win the presidency, I will work on perfecting a British accent, so I will sound like I'm from London, cuz if Brownback, Romney, or Thompson were president, I'd be too embarassed to call myself an American....

Seriously...Who is Fred Thompson? And why does he think anyone will vote for him? Is he kidding?

I’m scared to even write about abortion considering the understandable emotions on both sides of the issue. I’m as conflicted on the issue as the American populace. I think both sides have good points and bad ones. I can see how a second-trimester fetus might deserve legal protection in conflict with the rights of the mother. I don’t see how using discarded embryonic stem-cells for medical research constitutes murder. I hate the labels “pro-life” and “pro-choice” and would never apply either of them to my position. I do believe that if we truly want to reduce the number of abortions in this country, (as I think we all do), we need to devote more resources to sex education and birth control. But I think we should curb the sexual programming we give to our kids in the media as well.. Some problems don’t have easy answers.

But here’s my difference with Senator Thompson: I’m not sure what my ethical position is, and I’m trying honestly to figure it out and to forge a compromise which takes into account the morality of all Americans. Fred Thompson took one position for money, and now he’s taking the opposite position for votes. I’m confused about abortion, but I’m certain that Fred Thompson is a hypocrite.

Thanks God for people like him, who have guts to stand for what is right for all of human beings. (no gay marriege, no abortion except medical reasons)

How Pompas! Why do men think they have the right to make laws pertaining to women's bodies and their choices as a woman. My vote is going elsewhere!

Finally, someone who is brave enough to stand for morality!!

PLEASE keep your laws off MY body and MY bedroom.....

another Bush!!!!!!

if this guy gets elected... Canada here i come!

For all of you who are blathering on about BABIES rights -

what about all of the babies and children who don't have health care? what about their rights?

Bob,

Thank you for your insightful comments

No I do not support life support. So you're right on – thanks for that but good try.

And so you're telling me that instead of comprehensive sex ed in schools we should have adult night classes at community colleges for people?

So all of those people who are too poor to afford a class, and who are working more than one job so they can't take a night off for a sex ed class don't deserve to learn how to protect themselves from STIs and unwanted pregnancy?

And YES it is about ME ME ME. I don't tell you what to do with your body. Don't tell me what to do with mine. I don't try to influence the law to limit your abilities to make a medical decision, please don't treat me as though I don't have the mental capacity to make anguishing medical decisions on my own.

You men who think that you have the right to take medical decisions away from all women have some nerve. I bet this wouldn't even be an issue if men were the ones who got pregnant.

Ya gotta be kidding me. Nothing in that post says he'll ban abortion. Overturning Roe does not = banning abortion. Claiming with your headline that it does is misleading. CNN, your credibility continues to slip.

Wow, are the Republicans in trouble. Their front-runner is a former mayor of NEW YORK CITY on his third marriage with a penchant for drag and a great gay-relations past. The second-place guy is a Mormon who, up until a few years ago, was a liberal from MASSACHUSETTS(!!!). Their "savior" is an undistinguished senator whose first major utterance as a quasi-candidate is the one issue that can mobilize the opposition and independents like no other. This is a train wreck...Dukakis could win in this environment.

The GOP has a terrible catch-22: everyone has to flee rightwards in order to capture the base for the primary (exacerbated by the fact that the front-runners have a crap record on conservative social values), but that sets them up to get slammed in the general election from an electorate who is completely dispirited from the Bush debacle. The conservative movement needs to take a step back and re-group because we're going to have to apply the Little League "mercy rule" in a bit here...

stay in telivision

Well there goes my vote or the desire to even listen to anything else this "possible" candidate may have to say...Never loose the right to choose!!!

I love how liberals blather on about women's rights, yet ignore the rights of babies inside their mothers. Many of them are females who will grow up to BECOME women. So what is the cutoff age for women's rights?

He should be arrested and treated as a terrorist!

Reality check ya'll: Abortion is not a right in any sense of the word. It is simply a law that was passed. Nowhere in the Constitution will you find a "right" to an abortion. I'm voting for Fred.

I laugh at the ignorance of Pro-Life people. These are the same people who are for lowering taxes and cuting funds for the Welfare program.

If they ever stopped to think eliminating abortion would lead to MORE underprivileged children, more poverty and a higher crime rate!

It's simple to say, abortion is murder but if you really stop and look at the big picture, it's beneficial to our society in the big picture.

Thanks goodness there is some sense left in our country. Abortion, the slaughter of innocent children in the name of "convenience" or protecting one's own selfish self-interests is beyond horrifying.

Your Presidential Future is very Clear...There is none...Who R U to decide what women can do with their own bodies. MY BODY, NOT YOURS, WHEN WILL PEOPLE REALIZE THIS. And Then U do want to acknowledge gay marriages...2 strikes..What else U got?

This is America. The year is 2007. There is no way this man will become president with this platform. Will be support all the unwanted children?

What a scary scary man. Just throw him in a pile with all the other right wing nut jobs.

Basically Linda from Phoenix says it is okay because guys do it to. This ins't mathematics where multiplying two negatives yields a positive. This is real life.

And there was an above mentioned post about what Republicans are truly supposed to stand for, I agree wholeheartedly. The Republican party has been hijacked by religious and socially oppressive conservatives. I would be a registered Republican except for that reason and if my party doesn't choose Hillary as the nominee I will be a registered Indy from that day forward. Many people may see this as contradictory due to her stance on abortion but I don't expect to agree on everything with my candidate.

Wow! All of these high moral liberals! I forgot the moral compass, Bill Clinton! He has a high level of morals right? Give me a break, this web site and network should stand for "Clinton News Network". Reading some of these comments attacking our "Commander in Chief" is a joke! If you don't like it, leave! Our country like it or not was founded on Christian principles and I commend Mr. Thompson for taking a stand on these issues that Rudy and Mr. Mccain are afraid to stand up for because they are afraid who they will offend! You have my vote sir! If not you, W08!

I'll vote for him if he will end these horrible crimes.

Anoher losey actor as president!

Didn't you get enough of that last phoney?

Fred Thompson for the Republican nomination ah, sweet music to my ears. There aren't enough crazy people, even in crazy Bible-Thump America, to vote this guy into office. Looks like a win for the Dems in '08!

If I would have known the blindness and unrealistic stubborness of this person, I would have refused to watch those 'Law and Order' episodes in which his images are included.
A disgrace to a responsible society.
A disgrace to human right issues already been fought and won.

CNN should get it straight – overturning Roe v. Wade is NOT a BAN ON ABORTION. What an ignorant thing to say.

A word in defense of actors: I spent many years as a Hollywood screenwriter and am very aware of the intelligence, sensitivity and hard work that goes into being a good actor. Our nation’s founders intended that citizens from all professions and walks of life should have access to power. Actors are citizens, too.

My problems with Ronald Reagan were that he escalated nuclear tensions, used excessive power to quell student protests, deregulated the savings & loans, fired striking air traffic controllers, ignored the AIDS crisis, ignored the homeless crisis, closed mental health facilities, traded arms to terrorists for hostages, and cut taxes for the rich while presiding over huge increases in the federal budget deficit and the national debt. I never minded that he used to pretend to be a cowboy in the movies. In fact I enjoyed his work.

My problems with Fred Thompson are that he was a Washington lobbyist who represented a foreign dictator as well as big tobacco, mining, asbestos interests which truly harmed the American people. I also don’t like his hypocritical position on abortion, given his lobbying record. Most important I don’t like the fact that he’s running for President after doing nothing of substance during his nine years in the Senate. I don’t mind that he used to pretend to be a D.A. on television. In fact I enjoyed his work.

So let’s go after Thompson for being a corrupt beltway insider, a flip-flopping panderer and an empty suit. But leave the actor-bashing out of it. We may want to run Ben Affleck someday.

Thank God, finally a Republican to take a stand on the right issues! God bless you Mr. Thompson!!

Congrats to Fred Thompson. It's time for America to "support" the moral things of America. This man is what
America needs; NOT naysayers that are
exploiting the Congress at present. God bless.

Sara of New York says:
"a fetus cannot survive outside of a uterus – therefore it is not capable of independent life."

So, are you an advocate of NOT using life support?

"So women cannot have abortions, but they cannot be educated in the methods which would prevent them from becoming pregnant in the first place."

Are you referring to parents/guardians sluffing the responsibility and relying on the gov't do it? I'd rather tell my kids how to prevent pregnancy and have them get another class of calculus during school.

"so please don't try to make a law to tell me that I can't make a MEDICAL decision about MY body."

Well, I need to back track here, if that's your attitude, maybe we should funf education on how methods to prevent them from becoming pregnant....for adults at the Community College or night school level.

ME, me, ME, myself, I, Me, MY, Mine, I, MY, Me, I, I, I, I want MY choice!!!!
To not take responsibility for what I've done...and YOU can pay for it.

Get over it.

I like him, he has alot of charisma however his stand on these above issues just chill me to the bone and I can't see myself voting for him.

Oh boy, he sounds like the poster boy for the fundamentalist Christians. To bad he doesn't realize that if he were president, he'd be representing ALL of america, with all if it's different faiths and even those who don't believe in God. Haven't we had our fill of these type of politicians? Ones who believe they are 'choosen' by God to set the nation on the right path? Perhaps he should take us back to the 50's, women would stay home and cook and clean, people of differen races couldn't marry, on and on. It's laughable (except to the few who truely believe they hold the 'truth' in their interpretation of the bible.
next please

Thompson has no idea about the Constitution. There's no need to protect states from adopting gay Marriage because this is already covered under the 10th Amendment. Just because Mass. and others allow Sodomite Marriages doesn't mean that NC or SC HAS to do it too. A Constitutional Amendment isn't needed because that is a STATE matter. No need for the FEDS to get involved with an issue of States' Rights.

As far as Roe V. Wade, that allows the murder of innocents which under Common Law the Govt. is required to protect with Internal and External forces.

Thompson is indeed a joke. Ron Paul is the man of the Constitution.

For those that call him a Bush or Reagan. He is neither. Neither came out as vocally as this guy has, and at least they had the excuse of ignorance due to the times. This guy is going back 50 years by making a sound bite that only speaks to those closed-minded individuals now in their 70's. If this country is going to espouse freedom and a true democracy, no government is going to tell the people of it how to live their personal lives.

The "proof in in the pudding"? I now understand why he is waiting to enter the race. To avoid as many public speeches as possible. I'm Republican and listening to this man speak makes my skin crawl.

I would vote for Obama over this man. If Republicans want to lose, he's your man.

I see all the whiner liberals are out this morning. By all mean, nominate Hillary. That will promise a republican victory. They could even nominate Jeb Bush and win by a landslide. This country will still never elect a woman president. As much as she doesn't look like a woman. Especially this woman. Are you libs just stupid? Bubba was brought to impeachment. He sat on his ass ordering pizza and hookers for 8 years taking credit for the ripples of Reagan. And you want his she male partner in there now? How moronic can you be. Please nominate her. half the dems won't even vote for her. Or go nominate the guy with Hussien in his name. that will get him some votes..not!

the libs only hope is that the right screw up and nominate Rudy. He's pretty much a liberal with dumb ideas. perfect match for the Dems.

How dare Fred Thompson interfere with a womans private reproductive rights?

How can men make these decisions when they are not the ones who carry the burden of reproduction.

How can the people of the United States keep allowing the Federal Govt. to remove their rights without protest?

well, lost my vote.

Why not focus on some real issues for a change? Here is a novel idea: if you disapprove of abortions, don't have one. It has been a legal precedence for over three decades now and a personal choice, unlike orientation for those of you too naive to get it. We do not want our government infringing upon the private decisions between a physician and their patients. Has Thompson learned nothing from the Terri Shiavo case? He used to lobby for Planned Parenthood, which makes him another flip-flopping hypocrite pandering to his extreme base. How much more out of touch can they get?

Republicans let these religious extremists hijack their party, to the point of losing sight of their core principles. Wake up already, no one is taking you serious anymore. Instead of looking for logical ways of dealing with today's problems, you choose these obnoxious wedge issues, desperately hoping it will repeat the same divisive results as before. Most Americans are awake now (thank God), and your party should do the same.

Take the issue of gay marriage. It is safe to say that most of us are tired of talking about it, so wouldn’t the common sense approach tell you to find a practical solution so our nation can move on from it. Instead of your discriminatory amendments (which won’t pass), why not propose a majority position of civil unions so that we can put it to rest? Most Americans are beginning to think Republicans do not care about solutions. What is it going to take, another thumping in 2008 for you to return to problem solving and your traditional platforms? That is exactly where you are heading and deserve at this point.

What a surprise – the undeclared candidate shows he can be just as anti-woman and homophobic as the rest of the the old white guys the GOP puts up as candidates.

Stick to acting. There's a lot off wonderful actors out there who are older, wealthy, white men and plenty of great roles for them. However they make terrible politicians and should play no part and government.

you just lost my vote. The political arena is not an appropriate venue to address abortion. Politicians that think they have a right to ban personal choice have no business being politicians. Get out of there!! Be a politician, and don't try to be an expert on social policy!

If I read one more comment calling abortion "murder", I may just flee the country. First of all, a fetus cannot survive outside of a uterus – therefore it is not capable of independent life. Second of all, as others have mentioned, you people who condemn all who appreciate their rights to make medical decisions in this country – you are all of the same people who are against comprehensive sex education.

So women cannot have abortions, but they cannot be educated in the methods which would prevent them from becoming pregnant in the first place. Totally makes sense.

And, frankly, it is my body and abortion should be a private decision between myself and my doctor. I don't try and tell others how to deal with an unplanned pregnancy – so please don't try to make a law to tell me that I can't make a MEDICAL decision about MY body. Frankly, it's none of your business.

And, as for the gay marriage comment – well who is hurting the so-called "sanctity" of marriage, this many-wived idiot or a two people of the same sex who want to make a commitment to one another?

If this guy get any of what he wants god help us all. This guy is a complete wacko! If for some reason he is voted in I pray he not around long enough to ruin 1000's of peoples lives!

I would love to adopt a child that needed a home. Let me check with my state though because I am not sure if they will let people like me adopt. Forgive me for being a Democratic Hillary supporter who also happens to believe that abortion is evil. I guess I should subscribe to "issues packaging" like most Americans who feel to be on the side of one issue automatically puts you on the same side as other issues. It makes me laugh when people ask me how I can be gay and pro-life.

Stick to L&O.

Another Hollywood Star with fascist leanings. Add Herr Thompson to the Reagan and Mel Gibson list. Bush is scary enough, Thompson would be down right frighting as Fuhrer.

Over turning ROE would take abortion down the dark alleys with a coat hanger for poor people. The rich will find it in other countries or abortion performed under other procedures.

How about a ban on trophy wives?

The age difference between him and his missus is borderline digusting.

Yeah, this is what we need.....some used up holier-than-thou, homophobic good old boy with a rigid right wing agenda and a "don't cut and run" attitude. What a farce. Sounds like what we already have, doesn't it?

What an intentionally mild headline.

It needs to read "Thompson will ban abortion if elected!"

No more neocons!

This country has too many wana-be’s and liberals right now, we need a Republican to lead the way in a different direction than Bush, maybe someone a little more conservative than Rudy. As long as they can beat Hillary I don’t care who gets in just not another Clinton. Let’s face it we can only pick through the lies all politicians tell us, they cannot change everything they say and if you believe it you need to wake up. As long as Fred or Rudy can beat the Democrats the people I know will be ok. In my opinion either Fred or Rudy should lead us in the right direction.

P.S. Most actors want to rake in more money and rub it in everyone’s face and complain poor them their life is so terrible when the rest of us bust our butts just to make it by and take care of our kids, I have not yet seen(remember keyword yet) this from Fred.

Wow, what a schmuck. Hahahahaha, and he believes he can win the Iowa caucuses! It MIGHT be a little cute in a toddler kind of way if it weren't so pathetic. Boo hiss!

I'll vote for him. Sounds like he is the only one that is not flip flopping.

You just blew your chance to become president. Go back to "Law and Order"

Nice to see another arrogant man display his superiority in public.

Just wondering how many of all these so-called "pro-lifers" have adopted children of their own, etc? Oh, that's right, "do as I say, not as I do."

Well, I had been intrigued by Mr. Thompson... A return to the "grumpy grandpa" image for a president. Yet, now I can effectively scratch him off the list of consideration. "Bad law and bad medicine"... cannot see Mr. Thompson as remotely qualified to judge on either count. His comments on abortion, gays, and Iraq security seem a more than obvious pandering to the far right Republican base, the vocal minority who control the primary. Honestly, seeing otherwise educated people debase themselves to such low intellectual levels in order to grab power is just sad. Democrats are just as bad in courting their base. Our current election system needs an overall... By the time of the general election, there is not a candidate still standing who is not directly beholden to their special interest supporters. Give us a choice for someone in government who wants to stay out of our wallets AND out of our bedrooms!! (?perhaps Ron Paul?)

Plain and simple Thompson is the old dusty philosphy who believes he has the moral advantage, and his goal is to protect US citizens from the mental midgets aka Americans.
This ignorant political model holds Americans under this false belief that we're evangelical christians. Wrong. Thompson is a fool pretending to understand the needs of America. We don't need or want politicians to decide our choices, we are not living inside a theocracy, even though evangelical christians think so.

Please people. If responsible adults with jobs, not addicted to drugs, or out of high school were the only people having babies we wouldn't need abortions. Not everyone "blessed" with the gift of a child deserves them. All of you that preach "Abortion is murder" Go rescue a child living in an orphanage or foster home abandoned by their drug addicted mother, abusive mother, or mentally ill mother. Morales...get real and really have some. As for Thompson-are those issues most important right now? Tom and Tom getting married down the road don't effect my life. Neither does some one having an abortion because it's what's best for them. The real question is: What are you going to do for this country? For me and my family? For my children?

I do however have to say that I feel that a woman feeling she has the right to choose is a sexist double standard. Men may not carry children, but we can't do anything to change that can we? I think that a lot of women who hold on to that position are extremely selfish. You have another life to consider, grow up and use protection or abstain, it isn't that hard. I think abortion is absolutely terrible, murder no matter how you look at it. But something about the way certain politicians go about it scares me. It's like they don't really care about the unborn child as much as they care about control. As for gay marriage, I am gay and I hope marriage never becomes legal for us. I don't need my relationships cheapened by turning it into a business arrangement on paper. I don't need the public's acceptance to live my life. So to the Right Wing Machine Thompson, Romney, Guiliani or whoever you need to throw at us:Bring it on!!!!

Finally a man with backbone. A weak heart caves in to the pressures around him.

More wedge issues; more smears, queers, and fears; more morality and ethics. Are we going to repeat the 2000 and 2004 elections and fail to talk about dire issues facing this country? I would like to hear about what candidates are going to do about 1.2 Trillion dollar annual deficits, environmental and energy policy to trigger our next economic boom, visa program abuse, outsourcing concerns, national security, decaying infrastructure, stagnating wages, and the convoluted intestinal mess called globalization that's ripping the lower, middle, and upper middle classes a new orifice. Instead of talking about issues that divide the nation, every candidate would get a boost if they addressed the 'numbers' facing this nation.

Unless you get become pregnant, I suggest leave abortion issue to women. It should be women's choice to decide what to do with their body. Please..

If marriage is a religious term then where is the push for a constitutional amendment to prohibit atheists getting married? I hope Thompson gets the nomination so Hillary can crush him. Of course in order for that to happen my party has to have the sense to elect her as their nominee....

And I won't be voting for him either...

God bless you Thompson...you, who work so diligently to undermine the Constitution, before you're even officially running for the highest office in the land.

When will people learn, that Abortion, is just an EMOTIONAL ISSUE to drag out the knuckle-draggers on BOTH sides of the political fence?

Someone, MANY posts back, stated, "who will protect the unborn?"

And, Bush himself has stated time and time again...

"Every life is sacred"

Yeah? Well all you high-and-mighty "Godly" Christian Extremists ( and that's what you are...extremists )...

When will someone fight to protect...THE BORN?

Bush, and ALL abortion opponents speak on and on and on about how life is sacred...and yet, when it comes to killing, our Right Wing Conservative Christian Extremist "President" and his followers are more than willing to send off thousands of young men and women to die for a cause, that even CHENEY HIMSELF didn't believe would've been the "right thing to do" back in 1994!

No, abortion is not, nor should it any longer be made into, a political issue.

It is a delicate, emotional, heart-wrenching decision that a family, or a single female, or a rape victim, or a mother in danger of dying during a risky pregnancy, must make under extreme and horrendous pressure.

They don't need idiots like the so-called "good Christians" in this country to tell them their murderers, or evil people...because the decisions these people have to make, affect them for the rest of their lives.

Stop making excuses for morons like Bush, Thompson, and anyone else that ACTUALLY BELIEVES they can ban abortion in this country...

The Republicans don't control the Senate...they don't control the House...it will never happen.

And if it DOES...then goodbye America. This is one less person who will put his family through anymore of these ridiculous quadrannual pissing matches.

Oh...and one other thing. These so-called "Christians" and "Moral People" are the same ones who fight tooth and nail against a national healthcare system.

If every life is so damned sacred, then WHY don't we have national healthcare?

I think Jesus would be all for it personally. Because, if every life is sacred, then EVERY life is worth saving...poor, rich, middle-class, indigent...doesn't matter.

The family of 4 that has 2 parents working 2 full-time jobs apiece but can't get medical benefits and has to decide between medicines and food for their families...

When are these "precious lives" going to finally catch a break from the government.

I don't remember going to Church as a child, and being preached to that Gays were bad...that abortion was bad...

I just remember being taught that God's love is gracious, and good...and all-encompassing.

Perhaps these folks who want to ban abortion, should really look into their hearts...and find out what it is they're really afraid of.

I want my government to listen to the people for once...and stop making threats AGAINST US.

And that's all this is...another threat.

"If you're different ( gay ), or if you want to / have to have an abortion for any number of reasons...then we're going to get you...by the grace of God..."

Frankly, I'm sick of it. Religion is supposed to teach morals, values, and love and respect for one another...

Instead, just like in the Madrassas in the Middle East, OUR OWN LEADERS, and OUR OWN CHURCHES have turned it into yet another means of control, fear-mongering...and hatred.

And for that...I hope there really is a God...and I hope he is vengeful...

And I for one can't wait to see GW and Fred Thompson, and the rest of them...cowering at his / her feet...

A mother who has to make the horrible choice to abort her pregnancy because it's a matter of her life versus that of her unborn child, will be met with compassion and grace.

And anyone who wanted to label her a murderer...will be sent straight through the trap-door and into the pits of hell...

Stick to acting Fred...Republicans don't stand a chance in 08.

And if they do win...well...God help us all...He / She won't...because we're beyond saving...but I can still hope.

I am so tired of hearing about every republican using Roe vs. Wade as a platform to start on.....same song and dance....this old man thinks he can rewrite history....let it be!

Oh, my...should he run, and somehow win, the country will be set back at least 100 years with views like those.

So, if abortion is made illegal, how much jail time should the woman serve? If abortion is murder, is it a life sentence or capital offence? Women should probably know how much time they'll serve if this becomes against the law.

Ok Christians, let a 29 year old lay it out for you.
1. Abortion was in the bible, performed by God almighty, and incest was also in the bible....good family values book huh?
2. I am not gay, but they should be allowed to marry as much as anyone, stop being stupid, homofobic asses.
3. There are more serious issues to worry about than gay marriage and abortion, give me a break.

Thanks for your time......hope i never run into any of you Republicans....you guys freak me out.....go get your own boring, mind controlling country.

SO, THIS CHARLATAN WANTS TO TAKE THE UNITED STATES BACK TO THE VICTORIAN AGES? HE VERY OBVIOUSLY HAS NO CONCEPT OF WHAT A WOMAN GOES THROUGH EVEN MAKING SUCH A DECISION. WILL IT BE BACK ALLEY BUTCHERS AGAIN? OR TRAVEL TO ANOTHER COUNTRY? A WOMANS' BODY AND WHAT SHE CHOOSES TO DO IS NOT ANYONE ELSES' BUSINESS! THIS HALF WIT NEEDS TO FOCUS ON THE REAL PROBLEMS IN THIS TROUBLED WORLD AND LEAVE A WOMANS' CHOICE HER OWN!!!

Well it looks like Law & Order can have Fred back sooner than later. His latest ramblings prove that his position will change to placate the neo-cons. This should get him about 25% of the vote. Bill Crystal, Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle can be counted on, but who else? Good luck Fred and keep on babbling!!

Great. Now I've got "Bad Medicine" by Bon Jovi in my head for the rest of the day. Thanks, guy from Law and Order and Die Hard 2.

He will get my vote. It is time for this country to drawn a line against murder unborn children.

Hopefully we will finally have a viable person who can command respect of other world leaders.

The other candidates so far have shown a sad lack of ability to show leadership.

Nina from Sacramento writes:

"Gee, what a shock, one more fat white American male who thinks he has the right to make decisions about my life and body."

Actually, this isn't him making a decision about your life and your body. People fail to break this down to its base premise.

The decision to do the "mating dance" (except in cases of rape) is between the participants. YOU decide whether or not to commit an act that can potentially result in the creation of another human being.

Furthermore, the decision or 'choice' to not use a means of protection/prevention during the act that would inhibit the possibility of impregnation falls, once again, on the participants.

If you do use contraception and it fails, you must weigh the consequences. You've rolled the dice and they came up not in your favor, presuming that use of contraception shows an inherent belief of potential outcome of the act. There is lifetime responsibility attached to the short period of self-gratification you are about to endeavor.

If a pregnancy results (after not using good judgment in the instances above) it then falls solely on the woman to make the decision?

If you end up carrying a baby "/fetus / potential human being (whatever you wish to call it)" there are now outside interests in YOUR body. In effect you have entered into a contract. Should the father of the embryo lose his "rights to property" simply because YOU wish to dissolve the contract? Does the "potential person" you are carrying have any rights?

Once at this stage and an abortion is desired, what are the reasons? Because it may be a financial drain on the participants? Or, would having a child at this stage of your life "cramp your style"?

Given that those are valid reasons, why constrain it to (in the case of partial birth abortion) a split second before many 'acknowledge' that it is a "viable life"?

Using that logic, what if you need a new car when your child is 3 years old, but you can't afford it? Take him out! Why not, he's still dependent upon you and isn't quite contributing to society yet, you know a drain on the tax-payers having to fund those Head-Start programs, plus it frees up more cash since you won't have to put him in daycare anymore.

What if that annoying neighbor is "cramping your style", if a consensus of your other neighbors think he's a jerk, Axe him!

I really don't think anyone is trying to "take control" of your body, they only ask that YOU control it before YOUR " choices" affect others.

This argument is always framed as 'fat white American males' (a racist comment on your part, don't ya think?) denying "rights" to women, when it is actually an issue that simply asks people to take responsibility for their own actions.

My $0.02,

Chip

Maybe if you weren't so closed minded you would see that there is nothing wrong with same sex marriage. This country talks about it being wrong and not what God wants, but has anyone stopped to think about the war. Is that what God wants? I don't think so but yet every day people die because of it. Has anyone died because of same sex marriage. NO! Get your head out of "Law and Order" and get into reality. There is no way YOU'RE going to be elected president. It's not what God wants!

Fred Thompson has exposed himself as just another "Karl Rove" Republican...Trying to skirt the big issues that his party has failed miserably dealing with...And focusing instead on gay marriage...abortion...and probably flag burning will be next on his agenda...These issues have their place...But not as the cornerstone of a presidential campaign...I thought Fred Thompson would be more than this...What a disappointment.

Fred Thompson and John McCain in 08'

Any Democrat can beat these guys!!!

Both are living and breathing contridictions...and we thought George Bush was the best thing for the Democrats in years...These guys will insure full Democratic Control of Congress and the White House...I say let him win the neo-cons, conservative, and religious right hypocrites nomination....

Got my vote. God bless you.

Do you really want to turn this country into El Salvador where women go into alleys to have coat hangers stuck up them? They put women in prison over there if they end up in the hospital from back alley abortions.

I've never met someone that was glad they had an abortion, or "a woman's right to choose". But I like the morning after pill, or "a woman's right to not have to choose".

You are old, we don't need any more old presidents, look at this mess the country is in. Time for new fresh ideas and policies. This is disgusting. Why don't we bring back Jim Crowe laws while he is at it!!!!

These are some constructive comments. By folks who show they are wholly uneducated and partisan. Let's get one thing straight. He is a pseudo-conservative who has name recognition and clout to back his opinions up. He doesn't need an MD to have an opinion on abortion, most of congress doesn't have MD's and they had an opinion on it.
His gay marriage law stance supports state's rights in the sense that says if Massachusetts wants gay marriage they can't force Ohio to recognize gay marriage. He is advocating for state rights.
As for abortion it's little more than a focused health care issue. Why should I through taxes, or because you have the same health insurance company I have help pay for you to make a choice? I'm ok with abortion but don't drag my dollar into your inability to use protection we need to label it as an elective surgery in many cases. No tax funding, little normal health insurance coverage. Special cases and exceptions may include but are not limited to health risks and rape.

I'm the mother of three, two of which are daughters who are now of voting age and I guarantee you this man would never get any of our votes. Why do men think they have the right to tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her body?
MEN don't carry a baby for nine months. MEN don't have the health risks women do when they are pregnant. MEN don't get pregnant. Therefore what gives them the right to make that decision for women? America is a great and strong country and I hope that women never lose their right of choice I think that would be a step back into the dark ages.
As for his gay issues, let them have their civil unions, the gay community has been around since before biblical times. I think our government has greater concerns than these at the moment.

CNN is misrepresenting the facts. The link on the CNN home page to this story reads "Ticker: 'Law & Order' star: I'll ban abortion". Fred Thompson makes no such statement. In fact, he makes clear his understanding that the President would have no such power. His words are being misrepresented by CNN, which shouldn't surprise anyone.

LLL, actually, being ignorant is a choice and I'm glad to see you're embracing your right to choose.

Yet another Republican proves he's a moron.

He's more of a great white dope than a hope. Open mouth and remove all doubt...

I know who I won't vote for now.

you wonderful man, you have our vote anyone who thinks like our LORD, is a man after our heart.Good for you and the Mighty LORD, be with you and watch your back.

I didn't get through the 207 comments posted before I started this one BUT what I did read was so negative. I agree with Fred on the two issues he mentioned, and the tidbit on Iraq. Of course there are many others that need the nation's attention.

Well he might as well not even get in the race. He has just killed his own race before it even became "offical".

Stick to acting!

America can afford to ban abortion when it can afford to take care of all unwanted children everywhere and give jobs to all unwed mothers while providing free child care. America can afford to ban abortion when the cost of having a child in hospital is free and that child's healthcare is free. And fathers can believe that they have a right to have a legal say in their child's life if they are prepared to pay for that child's upbringing, take custody if necessary, and women have full and equal pay, opportunity for work, access to advanced education, healthcare and child care, provided by the government. But since you insist on using all that government money on a military, you can't, so abortion has to stay legal. Republicans are too stupid to get that: either you have a military, OR you have no abortion. Choose one. Pay for guns, or pay for your nation's children.

Vote for this guy! Guaranteed you will never have to make decisions of your own! Abortion bad, War good, Gays bad.

You are not qualified to have an opinion. Plus, thinking for yourself would leave you with less time to watch tv or charge the card.

Everybody's happy, right!

Haven't you seen the soap series Law and Order...this guy already sort of worked for the government, he's got the credentials!

Not even officially in the race and he can't wait to spew his intolerance for others. Mr. Thompson would have a better chance of being president if he kept his mouth closed. The American people have had enough of Bush and his like minded arrogant fools who erode the constitution and our rights under the guise of religious beliefs. Only a fool would think that we, the middle class, are better off after seven long years of Bush, Cheney, and the republicans. I am a republican who will vote for anyone but a republican!

my vote will be for anyone who is pro gun........

Mr. Thompson just lost my potential vote. Although I personally would not encourage abortion, I do feel that abortion should be a personal choice.

Thank you for posting Thompson's comments. Now I can work hard to make sure this close-minded neolithic simpleton doesn't even receive consideration. Shame on him for not understanding the larger picture.

All the more reason why Thompson will never be elected. He would set our country back 200 years!

Don't we have an opening for dog catcher???

GO FRED GO.. Anybody against abortion has my vote. I don't see how anybody can kill an innocent baby. Overturn Roe v Wade.

I always find it amusing how most conservatives want to protect life in the womb. They are very hardcore about it. But then on the onther side of the coin, when that child is born, it seems that they are cast aside (okay not just by conservatives,but, in general). It is even more hilarious though because conservatives campaign as pro life, but also are for the most part pro death penalty. Dear god I love the taste of irony in the morning. You would think that since they were so hell bent on saving that life before it left the womb they would want to save it from a pretty public execution. Then again that doesn't get you votes. Neither does allowing gays to marry, but maybe they're just scared the divorce rate will go down and make all us hetro's look bad. Or maybe they really believe there is somewhere out there in this great wide world a ligit reason a man shouldn't marry a man or woman a woman. Cause the bible don't hold any weight in the gov't nor should it.

Thank you. Someone who stands up for what is right, not for the minorities who bring up the same thing every election, abortion and gays. Those have no business in politics. They are moral issues. There seems to be more important priorities like medical care and the high cost of just living.

In response to Potential Presidential Candidate Fred Thompson's statement that "“We need to make every effort to make sure that we don’t get run out of there with our tail between our legs." Apparently Mr.Thompson and most of the other politicians have never met my Uncle Frank who told me that "he who learns to run away, lives to fight another day." I see no national disgrace or dishonor in leaving Iraq as a losing combatant. The invasion was wrong from the start. How many more American soldiers' lives will this misguided thinking cost? The prolongation of this tragedy to prevent "losing the war" will not honor our soldiers nor will it gain respect of friendly nations or strike fear within the axis of evil. There comes a time to cut your losses, tail up or down.

Geez, Fred, I'm kind of hoping that you'll also say that you don't believe in evolution, too, so that you can complete the perfect idiot trifecta. I'd like to live in a contemporary and progressive America, not the Dark Ages that you're proposing.

I can't believe with all that is going on all he has to comment on is gay marriages. You know all I have heard from the republican party is how unemployment is at an all time low. Question is when the troops come home, where will the unemployment rate be then?? Im sorry but I worry more about having a job and keeping it than if my neighbors next door are gay.. I have mouths to feed in my house, I don't worry about other homes sexual activities. Seems to me others are too busy worry about issues of the past to figure out what to do with our future.

This is the kind of commentary we can expect from those pandering to the religious right (and there is nothing right about them). Despite the fact that a very large majority supports abortion and a substantial minority supports gay marriage, Fred Thompson and the religious right would attempt to overturn established law in the one case and impair the full faith and credit clause of the Constitution on the other hand. Its really time to show Fred Thompson those that he courts that this is a secular state and that their religious beliefs should not be imposed on the rest of us.

"One word: MENACE. People like him should be deported! Instead of trying to track down illegal immigrants, we should be deporting hate mongers like Thompson!

Posted By Iridius, Seattle WA : August 17, 2007 5:13 pm"

Seriously? I mean come on; what an unintelligent, uninformed comment.

It makes me so angry that someone can be so ignorant and closed minded about the world and so unwilling to accept it that he is going to trying to amend the constitution to only put this country more out of date than it already is to the rest of the world. The rest of the world views our country to be living in the past, out dated and ignorant. And ignorance is unacceptable, it suggests stupidity and being happy with be judgmental and unreasonable.

Now just a minute! Your headline said Thompson would ban abortion, leading us to believe he would ban all abortions. He has said no such thing. I'm Democrat and an Edwards supporter and have watched the media distort John Edwards speeches in a similar manner. I am sick of it. What Thompson said was he was personally oppossed to aborton and that was it. His position is no different whatsoever than the oubic position of Hillary Clinton.

Disgusting. After eight years of Bush, he offers up THIS?? What a sad, pathetic man.

Up to fifty percent of conceptions are estimated to "spontaneously abort," or miscarry, before the twentieth week. Or, to put it another way, fifty percent of pro-life-defined-babies are aborted by God before their twentieth week of life.

Some would say that this holocaust is due to our "fallen state," or that it's God's will and beyond our understanding. With those stats, though, God's purported position as a pro-lifer seems pretty dubious. Hope Fred Thompson's aware of this, because once you put God on your team it's very tough to distance yourself from Him if things get sticky.

Perhaps after he finds a way to overturn RvW he can come up with a plan to deal with the 1.3 million extra mouths per year in the US that will need to be fed. That's roughly the population of the entire state of Idaho... PER YEAR. Have fun with that.

dear right wing men....unless you can give an intelligent and scientifically sound definition of what the so called "unborn" is, do all of us a favor and save it. really, it's not our fault that some of you were born into under priviledged families because your mother was forced to conceive you at the age of 10. and whoever it was that tried to equate bearing arms with abortion rights....ahh please. telling a woman what to do with her body versus banning guns that both kill others due to negligence of the owner/seller and destroy our ecosystems and its inhabitants...i sooo see your point. THIS IS CNN not FOX.

I appreciate the honesty, but as a lif-long Repuplican in the minority, I will no longer support Mr. Thompson, His view on Roe Vs. Wade seriously conflicts with my beliefs and I no longer can support hin, I guess I have to get behind Ron Paul now, as he is the best repulican Candidate

AND EFFECTIVE TODAY FRED THOMPSON JUST ESSENTIALLY REMOVED HIMSELF FROM HAVING ANY CHANCE OF WINNING.

Another who fails at life.

god is dead. man is king and the temple of god is the body that has been given us and it is to be here a very long time!

seriously, this guy could set human rights back a good 40 years. another arrogant old white man with a cigar peddling hate. fantastic.

Why shouldn't other states be required to recognize gay marriage? They recognize straight marriages. Not recognizing a gay marriage or civil union is actually an *exception* to the norm.

Joke is a understatement ...I wonder why you have grown men telling what women to do with their bodies..the real issue is there are thousands of kids in america right now without parents..i dont see any of these people advocating against abortion.taking in young minority kids in their nice homes ..end of story ..that what wrong with america right now..

Meredith from Kansas City said-
"Until Fred Thompson grows ovaries and a uterus, he should keep his opinions to himself regarding a woman's reproductive freedom."

When the father of said fetus can opt out of an accidental pregnancy with no responsibility of paternity, then you can tell men to stop discussing abortion. It takes two to tango, but only the women gets to choose? The mans life is affected as well. You'd do well to remember that.

Reading through these, I keep running across comments like, "Abortion is murder", "I'd vote for anyone willing to protect babies", and the like.

Yes, abortion is an awful thing that should be used as a last resort. But overturning Roe v Wade is not the answer. It does not solve the PROBLEM, unwanted pregnancies.

A problem that WE have created by stigmatizing open discussion about sex, by enforcing abstinence-only education programs that have proven to be ineffective, by limiting access to contraception.

What then happens is an unfit mother and usually absent father give birth to a child she (or they) cannot afford to feed, house, clothe, educate, and nurture.

So then OUR hard-earned tax money goes to raise these children, who usually grow up in dysfunctional homes and all too often repeat the tragic same cycle, or become thugs that commit crimes and end up in jail, where we have to continue to pay for their care.

Why don't you protect the unborn by making sure they do not get created in the first place, rather than fight to make them one more drain on society?

Further, there are already hundreds of thousands of children in state care desperate for a family to love and nurture them. Where is your voice for their cause? Instead of fighting for the already suffering, you fight to add to their numbers and further stretch their already limited resources.

It disgusts me!

On the topic of banning gay marriage, I am appalled that there are Americans that feel justified in trying to regulate what two consenting sane adults do with their lives when it harms no one else.

Just because a certain lifestyle does not fit a certain set of religious social policy does not give the government the right to ban it. After all, that's what the Taliban decided to do, and look where that ended up.

Fred Thompson, stick with acting. No one wants another neocon in office, and everyone's tired of Religious Governance. Separation of Church and State, learn it buck-o and keep your moral views to yourself.

Look, Fred is talking about Roe being bad law. It is! Abortions should be resolved at a state level. He never used the words banned in that article. He wants an amendment to protect states rights to choose what they will and will not honor based on their own rights as a state. You folks that leap right on the hate-the-Republican bandwagon need to use some reading comprehension when dissecting these soundbyte articles. Leave the liberal talking points at the door, ffs.

The federal government has trampled on states rights over the last 5 decades and I think Fred is speaking to that. It's similar with gay 'marriage', if a state doesn't want to honor a gay 'marriage', they shouldn't be forced to.

Frankly, the entitlement society we live in has bloomed a federal government about 25 sizes too big and performing functions the STATES need to be performing. The Fed should be providing common defense, infrastructure and other functions of that sort. Welfare and social security need to be scrapped, national health care needs to be avoided and can we please finish off Iraq/Afghanistan and learn to keep our hands to ourselves?!

Quit putting words into Fred's mouth and actually READ what he says! At least he stands for something, unlike the tell-you-what-you-want-to-hear Giuliani and Clinton!

If this is where Thompson is going, the faster he goes off the edge into the nowhere the better. The country has had enough of this divisive religiosity. This is not Iraq. This is a secular country and the right-wing GOP jihadists don't have to like it. But they can't ruin it for everyone else.

Well another one bites the dust. I was thinking he might not be too bad until I just read this article..

Abortions, although I may not agree with them, are a necessary medical offering. People have pregnancies that simply must be terminated for health or safety reasons. Not having that option puts us back in the stone age. I abhor the idea of people using abortions as a form of birth control.. use ANYTHING but an abortion! However, people want what they want and if they want an abortion and it's illegal, they'll do it anyway. Remember the nightmarish stories of coat-hangers in back alleys? At least this way it's sanitary, safe and done by someone who knows what they're doing.

What a bone head.

God have mercy on this party referred to as Republicans. They are the biggest bunch of hypocrites ever! Nothing but lies,lies,lies,lies come out of that area between their nose and their chins! No more fraudulent elections and discrimination from this racist crowd! America has gotten wise to their tricks! Finally! And also as soon as we get a Democrat President in the White House that will actually work with Congress then you will see that our Congress is doing their jobs. The only reason they can't get anything accomplished right now is because everything is getting vetoed. GO DEMOCRATS 2008!!!!!!!!!!!

Who does this guy think he is? He not gay and he is certainly isnt capable of getting pregnant, so his opinions on these issues is irrelevant and out of touch. This is the 21 century, change with the times or preach your "beliefs" to those with the same anti-liberal mentality

Great, just what we need...another old man telling women what to do with their bodies. Stop trying to take away OUR right to choose. Also, to the few people on here talking about how their tax dollars is paying for the abortions for "poor folk", are you freaking kidding me! Everyone that pays taxes can say they are paying for something they don't think is needed (like a new stadium). Lastly, to imply that "poor folk" use abortion as a form of birth control, sometimes abortion is a viable option. Bottom line it should be the Woman’s choice, since she knows the situation better than anyone.

Your title for this article is misleading journalism and spin-doctoring at its best. Nowhere does Fred Thompson say "I'll ban abortion" in the story...yet you use that line as the headline to imply that this is his stated position.

Unless I missed something, he only said he is opposed to Roe v. Wade, which many people oppose because of its "judicial legislative" and anti-federalist nature regardless of their stance on abortion.

Point is, your headline is a lie and misleads the reader. I would ask that you retract.

Thank you.

This guy needs to be sent back to the stoneages. Banning abortion is an assault against women; what will he do next, take away a woman's right to vote?

What goes on in a woman's womb is no one's business but her's and her doctor's. Stay the hell out of it, Fred Thompson.

Oh, my...this guy is sick, sick, sick! He is trying to bring the Taliban mentality to the United States! Yes, let's have the government dictate what a woman can and cannot do with her own body. What is next?...Morality Police? Why do men think they have the final decision over women and their bodies...who gave them the power? I, for one, do not think men or governments have that right.

There are too many unwanted children who are abused, murdered and abandoned today. If a woman is smart enough to know she doesn't want the child or can cope with it to begin with...why force her to have it if she knows she can't handle it?

Here's an idea...these supercilious, holier-than-thou jerks have to adopt all the would-be-aborted pregnencies! Let's see how many children they can take on and how much they are willing to pay from their own pockets. They, and he, would be singing an entirely different tune.

Why is that whenever someone tries to stand up for what is right there are always those who want to tear that person down? It is not wrong to stand up for what is right regardless of the mistakes you've made. Otherwise no one would be able to. And talk about forcing things down people's throats: isn't that what was done with the Roe vs. Wade decision?
Thompson, you have my vote!!

I'm confused. The headline says "I'll Ban Abortion." Yet when I read the article and watch the interview he says no such thing. He says he would work to overturn Roe v. Wade... that is a FAR cry from banning abortion. Is CNN intentionally deceiving their readers or does Thompson actually say "I'll ban abortion" somewhere?

BBC will be my new homepage thanks to the CNN headline writers who are either very stupid or intentionally misleading. Almost as bad are those who's criticisms show they didn't bother to get the full story or are obviously intellectually dishonest. Thompson is not my favored candidate, but this thread is full of tripe.

Law and Order: FIRE FRED! I am appauled at his campaign promises. I wonder what else he will ban or pass to make HIS world the way HE likes it. Not the way the citizens of the USA vote.

and that is why you will never be president.

What has become of our world when Rod says not being able to marry who you choose meaning same-sex marriages is abominable? In the King James Version of the Bible God states in Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. We humans can change all the things we wish to suit our standards and perversions but the road is wide that leads to hell and many therewith shall go. As for Fred, I believe he is trying to bring our nation back to decency. I am a woman and my doctor told me after my second child if I became pregnant again he would take the baby because it would kill me to have another. I said I would never allow that and he said he would not ask me I Would Die. I made sure I never was put in that position. I understand rape and sickness but let's get real I also know women that have had a least nine abortions because they said it was so easy to do they did not worry about getting pregnant while having sex.

Basic biology teaches that human life begins at conception. At the moment of conception a new, unique, and unrepeatable human being is brought into existence. Existence is the first and basic good of every creature.

The Declaration of Independence states that one of the inalienable (not granted by man) rights humans have is the right to life. This means that human life is not dependent upon the arbitrary measures and desires of others but is a God-given right. It is the first and primary duty of the Government to secure this right.

Abortion contradicts the basic principles this country was founded upon: all men are created equal and all men have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Did whoever wrote the tag line on the main page ever go to journalism school (or for that matter bother to think for a second before coming up with the idiocy about 'banning abortion')?

There's nothing here about banning abortion. The link from the main page is one of the most pathetic things I've seen on a news site in a long time.

Not that Thompson makes a good candidate, but try to at least pretend to be fair here CNN.

and as much as I admire him as an actor. That ONE pronouncement about attempting to reverse Roe v Wade won't ever get him elected and he'd lose my vote. The man can't know the dilemma of a pregnant woman and he can't give birth. He's not fit to make judgement on it either.

TALK ABOUT SITTING ON YOUR BRAIN. HE MUST THINK HE IS STILL ON TV AND CAN WRITE A SCRIPT AND PRESENT IT AS HE PLEASES. I WONDER IF RICH GIRLS WILL STILL BE ABLE TO GET ABORTIONS IN HIS WORLD.

FINALLY... a presidential candidate who has the guts to stand up and speak his mind. You got my vote Fred.

Law & Order? Knock it off Reagan wannabe. You'd think all off those leagal situations would give you a sense of the constitution and its meanings

Me a TV star. Me like old laws better. Move to Florida and retire. We don't need leaders like you, who refuse to acknowledge reality. I guess we can send all the unwanted kids to your house then, you obviously have lots of "L&O" money...

FYI – overturning Roe v. Wade does not ban abortion. It puts the issue in the hands of voters and legislatures, not nine justices appointed by the president. Deceptive headline lies to you.

Fred, stay in acting. Making a fool of yourself there is acceptable and reasonably harmless.

What's next, a stop at Bob Jones? If these are going to be his main issues, he has no clue regarding the problems facing this country and has no business running for President. Can we please get a candidate who doesn't run on irrelevant emotional issues and who will focus on the nuts and bolts of what needs fixing??

He uses the word 'cure' in a curious way.
Seems to be indicative of a black & white way of thinking going on here, and that's just not practical for a president (God forbid we should have a 'flip-flopper'). Haven't we learned that ('winning' or 'losing') lesson in Iraq? Looks like he hasn't.
His 'cures' seem like 'bad medicine' to me.

Here comes the Republican diversion. GAYS GAYS GAYS. Haven't we had enough of closet gay Republicans already this year?

CNN should be ashamed of the flagrantly incorrect headline linking to this story: "'Law & Order' star: I'll ban abortion"

I strongly support abortion rights, but agree that Roe v. Wade should be overturned. Nowhere in the story do I see any support for the idea that he wants to "ban abortion" or has stated, as the link implies, "I'll ban abortion."

And while I would not support a constitutional amendment exempting gay marriages from full faith and credit, at least Thompson's got his head on straight in one respect here: he's talking about achieving his policy goals through constitutional amendments instead of judicial activism.

"Another religious nut runs for office"
maybe if we elect more women to office we can rid ourselves of the Good-Old-Boy systems like religion and finally move ahead in our evolution.

It is legal in Mexico City. Certainly conditions have improved over the years. Maybe it wouldn't be back to square one but more of a hassle. What a creep. A nosy creep at that.........

As usual liberals can't read, or at least read what was said. He didn't say he's outlaw abortion, only support overturning Rowe. He also didn't say he outlaw homosexual marriage, he did say he would try to make sure just because one state did marry homosexuals another wouldn't be forced to recognize the marriage. These are basic principles of Federalism and no different than saying that just because one state gives you a concealed weapon license each evry other state must allow you to carry when you travel.

Really, try comprehending what's been said.

Finally, someone who speaks his mind and doesn't worry about political correctness. Roe vs. Wade – right pn target. Gay marriage – thanks, Fred, for being a voice of reason. He's got my vote.

Republicans are such hypocrites. I find it hypocritical that while they use the Fox News Network to bash the Hollywood elite, the Republican and Right Wing neo-cons are pushing an ACTOR to represent their party in the presidential race. GO FIGURE!

Fred Thompson definitely would get my vote!

I guess being an actor and an elected official really doesn't mix. The fact that Roe v. Wade has been law for over 30 years and a states right to govern dates back to the contstitution means squat to Mr. Thompson. Next up another civil war.

What an idiot! It's 2007, not 1907! Get a clue!

From what I understand about Roe vs Wade,if it is overtured it then becomes a state issue. So what does that accomplish? I am not for abortion as it is being used for contraception but I also believe in a womans choice. This will never be an easy issue to solve.

He has my attention so far, unlike anyone else in the running! I like what he is saying so far and I will following him closely to see what else he has to say. There is not one person male or female that is in the running that has made one statement that impresses me, until now that is!

Everything that Mr. Thompson said in the interview is correct. Roe v. Wade is bad law. The Supreme Court based it's decision on a so-called privacy right that does not exist in the U.S. Constitution. The "right" to abortion was, and should be, a matter to be decided by each state. That is the way our states were designed to work. On the other point, one state does not have to give "full faith and credit" to an act by one state that is illegal in the other one. Reagan was right. Vote with your feet. If you want to live in a homosexual marriage, move to Massachussetts or Vermont, states in which that kind of marriage is legal. The U.S. is not a unitary state. It is a federation with 50 different states. It should stay that way.

Tom wrote:
What will Thompson do when Ginsburg, Breyer, Stevens, Souter and Kennedy declare interspecies "marriage", bestiality and same-sex "marriage" to be "fundamental constitutional rights"?
You forgot about them dropping the legal age of consent to13 so all of those perverts caught on tape on NBC’s “To Catch a Predator” won’t have to hide in the shadows any more. That will also allow those same pervs in the House and Senate to “come out of the toy chest.” Your comments may have been meant as satire… But that IS where we are heading. God help us!

Oh brother, another overly invasive social conservative..They're all the same; all the worlds problems can be traced to abortion, pornography, & Howard Stern...I HATE social conservatives, & will never vote Republican again soley because of that awful group..

Straight Democratic tickets, then again, that's the only way I've voted....

I would not want to see Roe vs. Wade overturned. It is not that I agree with abortion, because I do not. I think it is murder. Doing so would only force women into back alleys to be operated on by shady, inept doctors. That’s not the answer. If we cannot convince people that abortion is wrong through intelligent dialogue, then trying to force that believe upon them by overturning Roe vs. Wade isn’t going to work. I am a republican, conservative, Christian, Hispanic male who would NEVER vote for the likes of Fred Thompson. We need some who can unite not divide. If Fred gets the nomination, I’ll be sitting out this election!

It is impossible to legislate morals. That is what the GOP has been trying to do. Evidently, it isn't working and won't work if the Supreme Court does its job. But if another George Bush wanna-be gets into office, we might see a rise in peaceful civil disobedience. I refuse to have someone legislate how I care for my body and who I can or cannot marry. I don't think any of the GOP candidates understand that they must reflect the concerns of the constituents...and not their own personal agendas.

To all you goof-ball RTL'rs: What is your level of concern in regard to the aborted 18 year-old men and women in the Middle East Mess? Dull and slow minded fools are so easily duped by these overtly calculated splitting topics. Let's focus on feeding, providing health care, and educating our nation before we approach such fringe matters. This guy is a hack.

I agree with most comments above. Mr Thompson might want to stick with his acting. I am really doubting and mass media polls that give him such high numbers when Ron Paul is sweeping reactions everywhere and still is not on board. Can someone explain who is controlling these polls?

I used to think maybe Fred Thompson was pretty much harmless. However, after hearing his stand on abortion and gay rights...now I think this man would be the absolute WORST choice for an American president, and set our coutry back 50 years. Please America, PLEASE...do not let this man get elected to anything ever again.

If Thompson really thinks that the women of this country will allow their right to reproductive choice to be taken away he is delusional.

If this is a true statement than he can save time, money, and energy by not bothering to run.

I heard that Thompson was pro-choice back when he was a young Hollywood hunk making the rounds with the ladies. Hmmm... I'd chalk him up as another GOP hypocrite.

Thomoson needs to go back to the farm and stay there.We really do not need another bigot in the White House

Saving the lives of innocent human beings is a justice issue. Fred Thompson however has no finesse and will never be elected. If abortion is outlawed then women will flock to Canada to have one. Our society does not see the sacredness of sex.....it's all for fun and pleasure. When you look @ sexuality with it's many gifts...then you will see how precious life is....especially from conception.
I really don't understand all the debate about gay marriage...as if men will stop having sex with women. Please!!! Let people marry whom they choose.

I'm sure at some point all of us have had the daydream of....if only I was the one in charge....welcome to the real world Mr.Thompson...it doesn't happen that way. I dont subscribe to cable tv, or any other kind, so i dont know your work, never seen you before to remember anyway. Your comments about this one issue are all I need to hear from you. I dont believe that a country made up of millions of diverse individuals like America needs another President who wants nothing more than to "play act". Have we not just spent the last 7 years seeing what damage can be caused by someone who has the belief that THEY in fact know whats best for everyone, and their way is the only right way? You, and other politicians, dont give enough credit to the American people and their intelligence. I cannot possibly consider you as a serious candidate for Presidency, we need to repair this country and its reputation, not continue the bumblings of someone who wants to play dictator. This is a role for REAL MR. Thompson, not for a silly tv show.

Shades of the Taliban.
If our founders came for religious freedom, where do we go next?

Yeah, so what... What about Ron Paul?

Leave it up to "Old Fred for Real" to bring up non-issues in a national debate! Fred – where do you stand on the middle class poverty, middle class national dept, middle class education, middle class health care, veterans health care, housing for American poor, hungry school children, etc! No, you have to bring up right wing hot button issues and ignore what's really wrong in America today. Oh yes, you don't have a clue – go back to acting fool!

Who does he think he is to ban abortion? I would definitely vote Democratic if he is the Republican candidate.

He will most certainly not get my vote and I will make sure other people know about it too!

before anyone yells at me i know i meant the declaration of independance, not the constitution. im lousy at history but i remember the line from the doument well

Ridiculous. What, is every half-assed politician-wannabe running for president now? I had respect for him as an actor on Law & Order, but as a politician.... Especially with those views on abortion? Please. He is nuts.

I have read over 200 comments thus far.

About ONE in TWENTY was either supporting or stating that they would vote for Fred Thompson....Hopefully, that will be the same election result. ONE in TWENTY for Fred and the'CONSERVATIVES'

Wow, it really works! Gays and abortion really do get Americans to hate each other. Gotta give it to the Republicans.

CNN needs to be more accurate in its headlines. Saying Thompson wants to overturn Roe v. Wade is NOT the same thing as saying he would ban abortion. As CNN should know, the effect of overturning Roe v. Wade would be to return regulation of abortion to the states, NOT to outlaw it. This sort of inaccuracy is the kind of thing that exposes CNN to legitimate criticism of liberal bias.

WOW! Fred I hope you win the Republican nomination! GOOD LUCK! You will be a gift to Democrats all across the nation, you are going to get roasted buddy! God bless you!

Considering his Senate record, Thompson would simply be a Tennessee version of Bush, and possibly worse. For goodness sakes, his first campaign manager was a Tobacco executive.

After seeing him speak on TV, I can't think of any candidate that seems more out of touch with American citizens that desperately want change.

Fred Thompson has my vote. Banning 2 different immoralities (abortion and homosexuality) is a great start. Liberals are such morons. I see idiots on here posting that it is 2007 not 1907. Morality has no sense of time. What was wrong and immoral then is wrong and immoral now. Thompson will win. Liberals and CNN idiots will not stop him

I am a Republican and consider myself conservative, but I would not vote for Fred if he is the nominee – he scares me. I would just have to skip casting a vote in 2008.

Right-to-life advocates and those in favor of abortion are never going to agree; so why attack each other?

Why not say what it is about abortion that you think is proper and good, for the other side, what you think about abortion that is evil and bad.

he just lost my vote

What a misleading headline. Overturning Roe v. Wade would not ban abortion. It would simply return the decision about the legality of abortion to the state legislatures, where it belongs.

"I am tired of gays pushing their agenda down my throat and that of my children in the name of "tolerance." Tolerance is nothing more than a handy way of silencing those who disagree.

Posted By KUI : August 17, 2007 4:42 pm"

Would someone please tell me what the "gay agenda" is? I'm a gay man, and I don't even know. And by the way, please stop taking Karl Rove's talking points as the word of God. Just stop for a minute and think.

Yes I'm scared. There are plenty of hateful, anti-women's rights, gay hating people that will march their way to the polls and vote for a guy like this. That's just what this country needs, someone who will split and polarize the people more. Isn't there a candidate who can actually heal the country and get things moving in the positive direction? It's all hate, hate, hate. Yes, unfortunately religion teaches more hatred than anything else.
America, love it or change it.

Thompson better try to keep the day job.
He lost 60% of the vote expressing his vision of the future.

Come on in Fred! We need another landslide like Goldwater/Johnson. The more tough right wing garbage talk the bigger the gap will be.

I will no longer watch "Law and Order" with Fred Thompson in the cast. He is an ignorant man who clearly doesn't respect diversity or human rights. Woman and gay people in this country will be at risk if he is elected president. He makes me sick.

What about the cancer thing? This isn't a part-time job. Aren't you being just a little selfish and irresponsible, Fred?

Fred is right. Go Fred Go.

First of all, I would like Thompson to formally enter the race. Get in or stay out and make a decision. Once you are in, I hope you do end up like the other Thompson: off the race very quickly.

On the substantive issues, why do people care so much about gays getting married. Let them if they want. Who care s who marries whom?

On the abortion question. Nobody likes abortion. Least of all the women who carry them out. It is a tragic experience for all involved. But making it illegal will not change anything? What are you planning Tom to send women to jail? Sure that will make things better.

"What will Thompson do when Ginsburg, Breyer, Stevens, Souter and Kennedy declare interspecies "marriage", bestiality and same-sex "marriage" to be "fundamental constitutional rights"?
Posted By Tom : August 17, 2007 7:25 pm"

Don't worry; If you keep your tin-foil hat on, the aliens won't be able to take your brain. Zyprexa, by the way is a very effective medication.

Van

Wow, who ever thought that this guy was evil too. This country has so much to learn, and I doubt it'll ever learn it because to many Americans are just too dumb.

Being opposed to gay marriage, as far as I'm concerned, is reveling in shameless homophobia. As many progressives repeatedly have observed, there is not a single logical, rational, reasonable argument for opposing gay marriage. The only arguments ever presented are derived from faith-based religions, which, in my opinion, themselves are outmoded. Those feeble arguments, even if accepted, should not speak to public policy, since this country is avowedly secular–not Christian. Luckily for atheists such as I, theocrats of every stripe cannot legally impose their moral opinions on me.

Of course gay marriage should be legal; it's fundamentally the same as interracial marriage and regular straight marriage. And, even if you morally disapprove of homosexuality (which, itself, would be irrational), why is anybody else's sex life your business?

Keep your shudders closed and leave the neighbors alone!

http://mycaseagainstgod.blogspot.com

I never knew Fred Thompson had such a mean streak and despicable nature in him. He seemed like a man with some intelligence, but he has doomed himself from getting any votes except the hard-core, nut wing evangelicals.

Since I as a taxpayer am forced to pay for abortions for poor women, women in prison, and to publicly subsidize Planned Parenthood, I have every right to want to overturn Roe v. Wade. I am voting for Fred.

What will Thompson do when Ginsburg, Breyer, Stevens, Souter and Kennedy declare interspecies "marriage", bestiality and same-sex "marriage" to be "fundamental constitutional rights"?

Fred Thompson just lost my vote. I am a small-government pro-gun libertarian but I am also pro-choice and gay-friendly (not gay myself though). I'll probably never find somebody I agree with on everything.

We are trying to get ride of the stuffy fat old white guys not bring in more. This is nothing to even blink at this guy is a TV joke. This is just a publicity Stunt by the republicans to try and
re-gain some ground. He is easily manipulated, as we have seen he keep’s changing his mind on abortion. We need some one with knew and intelligent Ideas not another bush.

Being black is not a choice. Being gay is a choice.

It is about time we have real person in this race that is not looking to please groups of anykind, but that has the back bone to stand what is moral in this country and not some I need your vote trying put on an act.

Lance from Monrovia, what kids are you going to protect? They're all being aborted as we speak.

I love how the feminist crazies on this board don't want men to have a say in abortion, yet they want them to pay for it out of their taxes, such as through welfare or the prison system. Maybe you should make people stop paying for it before you spout off about rights.

FRED THOMPSON WOULD BE BAD MEDICINE FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. END OF STORY!

One more thing - I as a taxpayer am forced to pay for abortions whether I like it or not, including for women on welfare or those that are in prison. Therefore I have every right to want to end this practice.

Um, it still takes a man and a woman to make a baby, the last time I checked. A man has every d– right to have a say on abortion, particular if he is having to pay for it, either by taxes or for that of someone he got pregnant. And don't you think he should have a say in what happens to his own CHILD??? What a stupid statement by another crazy feminist.

Let's see now;

As President, he’ll grant himself the power to overturn Roe V. Wade, cuz it's 'bad law and bad medicine'. No, Fred, bloody wire coat hangers, fetuses, and sometimes women found in dumpsters was bad medicine. This from the man who SPENT 10 YEARS AS A LOBBYIST FOR THE NATIONAL FAMILY PLANNING AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ASSN. IN THE 90'S.

He'll use his big booming voice and pound a big ham fist on a table or two and have gay and lesbian marriages “banned by Constitutional Amendment” – he actually SAID THOSE WORDS TODAY.

If he'd been President during the Viet Nam years we'd still be there, but instead he won't let us run home with our tails between our legs from Iraq, his Viet Nam. And more and more will die.

He's nearly as bad as Dubya, and anyone who even remotely resembles Dubya is the one who is fatally flawed.

I can't believe some people. NOTHING is more important that stopping the murder of millions innocent babies. Do you really hear yourselves? What a callous and heartless country we live in. Thank God you people weren't around when slavery was legal; it probably still would be.

I am tired of gays (blacks) pushing their agenda down my throat and that of my children in the name of "tolerance." Tolerance is nothing more than a handy way of silencing those who disagree.
Posted By KUI : August 17, 2007 4:42 pm

If your post was about any minority other than Gays, Your bigotry would stink up the whole thread.

Van

The ranting, nonsensical posts of the people on this board have convinced me...to vote for Fred. Never in my life have I seen more vitriol or hate-filled speech than I have here. Aside from that, people actually believe that abortion is a God-given right up there with life, liberty and happiness. Our country is going down the toilet if we vote for a Democrat.

This guy shouldn't be president and shouldn't even be allowed to have an opinion....I think the only thing he should be allowed to do is hand out some Werther's Originals to toddlers at church bake sale. old fool.

Way to go, Dumbass. You aren't even in the race yet, and you've already forfeited the moderate vote. Better keep paying your SAG dues. You'll be needing more acting gigs, cause you ain;t gonna be President.

I love how liberals always like to justify abortion by claiming that conservatives don't do anything to help them after they are born. Why do you think people have to adopt overseas? Because all the babies here that should be getting adopted are getting aborted instead. As far as services, I have no problem paying for services for children and families, and in fact, already do. How dare you make a sweeping and ridiculous judgment about people in order to justify the barbaric practice of abortion.

Frankly, I don't get the abortion debate. Abortion has existed for as long as pregnancy has. If abortions are not available legally, in a safe, sterile facility, there will quickly pop up an underground network that will provide the same service to women. What exactly is the goal of making this service illegal?

It is really sad that we've come to the point that offing your unborn at will is considered a "right."

People keep saying that "This guy Fred Thompson is a straight shooter, I like that."

Uh... what has he said. "Abortion is bad, I would ban it."

"Terrorists are bad, I would stop them."

This guy is Reagan, minus the passion, vision, and hair.

He speaks in soundbites because honestly I don't think he knows or understands the issues. I think I know the last guy they said was a "straight shooter." His name was George W. Bush and he can't even shoot straight enough to kill Bin Laden, much less say what he means to the American people.

My advice to all those interested in Thompson, actually go research his Senate career and his votes. You'll find a lot of votes where he didn't even bother to show up, and when he did, he wasn't a "straight shooter" or even a visionary. He was a party huckster who voted whichever way the lobbyists paid him too.

Oh, and his stance on abortion? That one is classic. Go back and look over his lobbyist days, as reported by a recent newsweek. Good ol' straight shooter Fred was a lobbyist himself for abortionists. He was paid money by PACS to talk to Senators about upholding Roe vs. Wade.

If he's so anti-abortionist, if he's so much of a straight shooter, he better reckon what he's saying now with what he was saying back then, because back then it was a whole other ball of wax.

don't be suckered by the hound dog face and the overly simple words.

Maybe we deserve a guy like this, but the rest of the world and our kids sure don't. He's poison, pure and simple.

doesnt it figure that a man would want to put a ban on abortion? it is a womans choice. i would like to see him explain to a woman who has been raped and became pregnant that she no longer has control of her reproductive organs.

Fred Thompson sounds like another "life begins at conception and ends at birth" neo-con.

Until Fred Thompson grows ovaries and a uterus, he should keep his opinions to himself regarding a woman's reproductive freedom.

The Republican party must be in a sad state if Rudy "I'm for family values, just ask my ex-wives" Guiliani and this clown are their top candidates.

You all make it sound like it's a bad thing to be anti-gay.

Too bad I liked Thompson, but with a stance like making abortion illegal and gay marriage being banned I will no longer be a fan or supporter. No man should ever call the shots on abortion, sorry but until a man has a uterus and truly understands the weight and responsibilty a woman takes on with pregnancy and having a child he should not be allowed to make the ultimate decision on that subject. With the growing lack of child support from men and their denail or reponsibility for childern these days, please do not tell me a man has a right to make abortion illegal. As far as gay marriage..I have nothing good to say about that stance. I think it is ignorant.

lol, thank you for the folks who shot down K... duh... eating animals is murder... and bringing a child into the world to parents who don't want it or shouldn't have had it is tantamount to murder really... it's like abuse... anyway, maybe i'm getting too far fetched, but compared to Fred Thompson, i'm totally reasonable, lol... and yeah he doesn't have an MD so he wouldn't know bad medicine if we managed to get him a date with Kovorkian... bleh

Gee, I can't think of any more important issue right now than taking away a woman's right to have control over her own body. Please go away Fred, you are a DINOSAUR and you are not even in the race yet anyway. Take your bimbo wife #2 or is it #3 and go back the acting. At least you don't suck at that.

Why is abortion the rallying flag for some people? Isn't health care or the lack there of more important for the entire population? What about the roads and bridges falling apart? Illegal immigration...what is his opinion on that touchy subject? Would he provide more money for schools overrun by extra non English speaking children? They have to meet No Child Left Behind too and there's no extra funding for that program. Gasoline or the lack thereof..why aren't candidates asked what they would do to promote our weaning from foreign oil.
No, abortion is the first question and gay marriage the second. There are more important issues.

What I would love to see is a candidate that would bring the country back together instead of coming up with these hardline statements that alienate people. I dont know if they are thinking before they start to speak or if this is just a case of trying to appeal to one group. This is one reason I really dont care for the people in politics, they mainly want to get on TV. Anyone know if he can get a role on another tv series instead.

It's ironic that people talk about "pressing his moral views on others" when something doesn't mesh with their own ideas. I'm glad a potential president has strong views, whether or not their agree with mine.

GO FRED GO, RUN FRED RUN, SEE FRED LOSE! SEE FRED RETURN TO BEING A BAD ACTOR. HOORAY FOR HILLARY..JUST ONE MORE MALE WASP ATTEMPTING TO TRAMPLE ON GAY AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS. I SAY BRING IT ON OLE BOY...YOU ARE JUST ONE MORE DISTRACTION FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THAT CAN BE NOTHING BUT A BIG PLUS FOR THE DEMOCRATS. DIVIDE AND CONQUER HILLARY! WELL AMERICA, HAVE YOU HAD ENOUGH OF THE REPUBLICAN SHENANIGANS YET? MOVE OVER BOYS, LET'S GET A STRONG WOMAN IN THAT OFFICE WHO HAS SOME SENSE!

Finally, someone is running who has sanity! I think that if any Democrat gets into office we are doomed as a nation. The great works of Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Handcock, Adams and other other fathers will crumble under the heavy weight of iniquity of the ilk of Bill Clinton.

Thank you, CNN.

This story and these comments have given me the best laugh I've had in a long time.

Thank you, America, for allowing us ordinary citizens to sound off like this.

No matter how you feel about either issue, Thompson just signed his ticket for the off ramp. He won't be elected president after this move. It's too divided even amung conservatives. Too bad.

He needs to work on increasing his vocabulary.

Ladies of America, Unite! Now is the time to elect a qualified woman as president such as Hillary Clinton because candidates like Fred Thompson will have you lurking in back allies again to correct the mistake a lying male snake foisted on you! Overturning Roe v. Wade also means preventing women from making and keeping the advances they have made since Roe v. Wade was passed. Men do not get pregnant and have a million excuses for not using protection ! This is why our forefathers were wise enough to declare a separation of church and state. We cannot go backward, we must keep moving forward! Ladies, do not allow this to happen. As the father of several daughters, I ask you to see this for what it is! Sexist grandstanding.

Yeah, he's against abortion, until his wife slaps him around. I heard she's a firecracker, fires his staff right and right. Another Hollywood republican, what a surprise.

thats a pretty dumb thing to say. He's just lost the confidence of a good majority of the American People. Oh wait, he's a republican, they can get away with saying crap like that.

My apologies...

K. in Charlotte, NC...

Do you also think we should be doing something to protect the socioeconomically disadvantage 18 year old men and women in the Middle East right now! If abortion is murder so isn't this Republican induced Middle East Mess! It's entertaining to see the slow minded fools who are so easily roped in by these inconsequential purposely splitting issues! To boot, you're likely a low income conservative. Never will understand!

I don't get liberals – they don't mind killing 50 million babies since '72 but they can't appreciate military heroes who have given their lives to save us all from jihad.

One has to wonder how Thompson hopes to be elected president, while espousing views opposed by a solid majority of Americans.

This is the great white hope of the Republican party? You have got to be kidding! With quotes like these flying out of his mouth, Fred will sink himself in all but the redest or should I say redneck of states. Things are suddenly looking up for Mrs. Clinton. Ha!

Jim (of Fayette, VA), I think your statement about governors being the best presidents is egregious at best. All you have to do is look at Rod Blagojevich of Illinois to see governorship at its worst. Rod may think he's governing but I shudder to think of him in the highest office of the land. Also, Fred Thompson as president would be an unmitigated disaster. Banning abortion is always the rallying cry of men who don't have to actually have a hand in raising an unwanted kid. And if gays are working, voting, dying in Iraq and serving our country, they deserve the same rights as straights, hands down. No vote from this late middle age woman!

I guess he's a doctor now too, or he just played one on TV. Oh please, just go away.

oops, there go your political aspirations! better stick to sitcoms!

I always thought conservatives felt Hollywood stars should stay in Hollywood and out of politics. Except of course for Ronnie, Arnold and now Fred! Of course, the Republican party is the most hypocritical party there is.

I say Fred for President. I like his straight line conservative views.

Law and Order sucks, and so does this tool.

At first I thought this article was a spoof posted by the Onion. It's somehow funnier that this guy is really considering running!

THANK YOU FRED THOMPSON MORAL VALUES ARE IMPORTANT YOU ARE MY GUY A STRAIGHT SHOOTER GO FRED

Its funny that people care so much about the unborn until they are born, and then could care less afterwards. The same people with these "superior morals" are the same people who want to cut back on social programs like health insurance for children, welfare, SSI, food stamps, housing programs and other needs based programs. They are so eager to protect the child but could care less how that child's needs are going to be met once its born. Statistics say a majority of abortions are performed on the poor. So for you people out there who want your personal/religious beliefs to become law, you better put your money where you mouth is and start paying more taxes to help working mothers support these children. How is a mother working for minimum wage supposed to support a child, not to mention have enough time to raise that child. Are you going to pay to support her, because she can't be at two places at once, and last I checked babies don't raise themselves. You can argue that she should have made better choices, but doesn't the bible talk about the issue of free will? Didn't Jesus not talk about forgiveness and understanding for all people including those less fortunate or those who make bad choices. If you read the bible more and stopped listening to preachers you might find yourself being a better person all together.

Are you kidding me? Is this guy serious?

Fred Thompson is saying whatever he can possibly say to get noticed and get elected without saying too much or having to actually make a real effort.

This guy is the EPITOME of politics as usual. He would be even more asleep at the wheel than Bush is, and Bush is in a vegatitive state.

Our only hope is if this jerk got elected would be that he'd develop Alzhiemers and forget he was president.

The only problem is, that nobody would notice.

What the hell does he stand for anyway? He speaks in cryptic nothings about what he would do with no tangible information given.

He'd repeal Roe vs. Wade? It was a bad law? Give me the constitutional evidence.

I'm tired of Presidents that want constitutional ammendments to take AWAY our rights. That would be the first time in history ever that a ammendment has been a restriction instead of a freedom.

don't try to legislate my body or those around me. If gays want to get married, that's the church's issue, not my governments.

What ever happened to the conservative party that said big goverment and big legistation was bad? What ever happened to the party that felt government should be neither visible or divisive?

It used to be called the Republican party, but instead, they decided to go for devisive sound bites to whip up the Christian right.

That ain't America dude, and you sure as hell ain't presidential just because you play a guy with a brain on the tee vee.

I'm so shocked! Not another holier-than-thou,hateful and bigoted right-to-lifer running for the GOP nomination! That's precisely what has been wrong with this country for the last six years. The current administration is so preoccupied with what other people do in their bedrooms and about the holy crusade to protect the fetus that it is unable to address the real issues that are important to the rest of Americans (e.g. healthcare, education, our crumbling infrastructure, the war in Iraq, our disappearing middle-class and the loss of our civil liberties) I hope Thompson gets the GOP nomination so he can taking "thumping" in 2008. Go Dems!

good actor-bad candidate

Well, he just lost my vote. Rudy 2008!

Well, put Thompson down in the Hate mongor book – and he had so much potential. what a lost soul...

To Kuro in Long Beach CA...if we want deliberate misquotes I'll tune into Fox News Channel!!

[...] I can write another Republican off: [...]

I am a Democrat (usually) and there is always one candidate from the other side that worries me but the jokesters running for the republican nomination have me in stitches. Are they trying to give it away so they don't have to fix everything Bush as done? I think they are.

Love him or hate him, at least he has the courage to state exactly where he stands on these positions.

Wow, I'd say he's out of touch with America. Perhaps he's too old to be President. Does he really think if you make something illegal that it will stop it? Drugs are illegal...does that mean there's no trouble with drugs in this country? We can't go back to the days of back alley abortions and self abortions! This is still America.....isn't it??

Fred only thinks he's a lawyer. Writing for the Court in Roe was one of the major accomplishments of Justice Harry Blackmun, who served as counsel to the Mayo clinic. Fred probably couldn't spell "flu" if you spotted him the "f" and the "l".

Who wrote the teaser on the front page? Nothing Thomspson said can be legitimately paraphrased as "I'll ban abortion."

To those of you here who are anti-abortion and anti-women's choice - an unwanted baby SHOULD BE a baby who is never born!!! If the person who has to raise it for the next 18 years doesn't want it/can't afford it/never wanted to have children but had a husband/man in her life who insisted, then it should never be born, and I say it is a better-late-than-never decision, and the person who has to carry it for 9 months and then raise it for 18 years is the ONLY PERSON who is fit to make that decision!!

Oh good, another male WASP (white, anglo-saxon, protestant – or catholic – it doesn't much matter) who wants to run the country. I'm tired of it. I'm tired of the religious right (who are neither religious or right) trying to run the country. Our country has no place for religious fundamentalists – Christian, Jewish, or Muslim (nor does the world at large have room for "my god's the only god".} I can't believe there are still Republicans out there supporting this stuff. You're either males making 6 figure incomes thinking the world revolves around you or you're dumber than dirt males thinking the Republic party is great for letting you keep your guns. Get real. I'd like to see the USA once again become a world leader – trade with Cuba – what are we afraid of? – Taking a serious look at global warming. Let's show some leadership and vote for someone who believes in privacy, civil liberties, constitutional rights, affordable health care for everyone in the USA.

"Asked about critics who call him “too lazy” to put in the long hours necessary to run for president..."

We've already got one of those (too lazy to put in the long hours) in the office of President right now, don't we? And we see how well that's worked out.

How about RON PAUL who would overturn it but ALLOW THE STATES TO DECIDE WHAT THEY SHOULD DO. RON PAUL says that the local level should decide contraversial issues such as this. The federal govt should not be intervening in matters such as these!

HM... reading these scathing comments might be enough to make me consider this guy. Obviously he's gotten under people's skin! I like a guy that can stand for what he believes, and say it with no shame or spin. I hope he officially joins the race – it might be a breath of fresh air from all the rehearsed doublespeak that we see from other candidates on both sides of the aisle.

Thompson’s record as a Washington lobbyist is truly shocking. He’s represented Westinghouse, German mining concerns, insurance companies avoiding asbestos claims, pro-abortion groups, cable t.v. and Haitian dictator Jean Bertand Aristide.

I’m trying to post links, but they’re not going through. I don’t suspect CNN censorship. I think it’s something technical. Moderators – are my posts cached somewhere?

Fred might ban abortion. But he would NOT stop it. Women will still have abortions. But in far less safe conditions.

Let's all be gay and kill babies! YAY! Vote Democrat and help end overpopulation!

Smart people vote on issues that are NOT 'knee-jerk'issues or extremist-related issues. We all know that abortion and gay rights concerns often fall at extreme ends (esp. in the media)– so why fall victim to yet another politician's scheme to get an government seat of power? Vote for candidates whose issues are important to you day to day, (not in rare cases), like: education, healthcare, public safety, foreign policy, economics, and many others. Vote smart, not black & white (or even down party lines!)

Where in there did he say "I'll ban abortion"?!?!? He wants to toss it back to the states so that LEGISLATORS in those states can write the law for themselves instead of having SCOTUS do it for them. Simple, uncontroversial Federalism. The left leaning headline writers at CNN must really be afraid that Fred will obliterate Hillary. Otherwise there's no explanation for such a backhanded report. Shameful, just shameful. Don't dare criticize Fox for being right leaning so long as you continue in this manner.

Well, that does it for Thompson. I appreciate his candor before even jumping into the race. I can now safely cross him off the list of potential next presidents.

The callousness of the people toward the unborn is truly astonishing. What makes you assume that all these kids are going to be on welfare? There are plenty of loving adults, including myself, who want to adopt. Even if some of them were poor, isn't that still better than not existing at all? And what about giving the kids up for adoption?

He's only waiting until he gets the word from Cheney that the fix is in. Takes time, hacking all those vote machines.

Oh boy, here we go!! If that's how he wants his opening headlines to read as he jumps into the presidential candidacy fray, is he ever in for a shock!! And he's the last thing the Republican party needs, though he is in line with their usual devisiveness that they spew on the rest of us!!
I say bring him on, and those of us with common sense enough to want to keep the government out of our bedrooms will lay him down quickly, and but good. That's why I no longer vote Republican, when it began to kow-tow to the religious nuts who've been creeping into higher places in the party, and trying to hold more and more sway over candidates and the party platform. The GOPs need to re-think their strategies, cuz I know quite a few others, especially women like myself, who have been quietly voting for Democratic (and Libertarian!) candidates, going against what even their husbands would think they would vote. So let the fur start to fly, and let's start tearing it up with old Freddie boy!!!

Here we go. He couldn't wait to play the abortion card. Now we will have to put up with this non issue for a year or so.

what a jerk! there are so many more important issues than abortion and gay marriage...no wonder this country is going to ruin! while the rest of the 1st world countries are offering health care, education, legal rights for everyone, policitians here only fixate on issues that do nothing for the country besides divide it even further. roe vs. wade should be left alone. good thing i got my abortion already!! and let me tell you...until a man has to make that decision with his body, he has absolutely no right to tell women what they can legally do. fred thompson-you seriously suck and you're a bad actor! find a different job!

This type of political platform makes me sick. Banning gay marriage and abortion.....If these are the items at the top of his agenda he should become a priest NOT the President of the United States. WAKE UP! We've got much more pressing issues in this country to deal with.

So, Fred is for federalism when it comes to abortion, but against it when it comes to the right of states to decide their own marriage laws. Great, so he's for something except when he's against it. Just what we need, another guy who is going to do whatever he wants and not really care about justifying it with any sort of consistent principle, other than "God told me to".

Another "Ripped from the headlines" republican populist idealogue.

Wow, can he suck up to the right wing christian fundamentalists a little harder? Thats just what this country needs is another 4 more years of neoconservative insanity!! I think the winner of the '08 presidential election is going to be the anti-bush. thompson will get the fundies money, but mainstream America wont buy into this garbage anymore.

They can overturn Roe v Wade right after they make vasectomies mandatory. Vasectomies are reverseable and every male should be forced to comply with this. When they are ready to be daddies, they can have the procedure reversed. When they are done making babies it can be done again.

UNTIL men are forced to be responsible with THEIR reproductive organs, women need to have the right to be responsible for theirs, and in cases of rape, incest, the mothers health this is important. It is ALSO important when birth control methods fail those who are being responsible to be able to terminate a pregnancy they are not prepared for.

Lastly, the day men act responsibly when their hormones are raging is the day they MIGHT be able to try to dictate what I can and cannot do with my own body (and I can't have more children).

And for all those perfect people out there; there is no 100% full proof method of birth control outside of abstinance. Human beings ARE sexual creatures by nature, therefore abstinence is NOT realistic, at least not for the normal average person (especially where men are concerned by my experience).

I also don't understand this obsession with caring who loves who. If two people love each other enough to commit to each other, why not let them get married. On the other hand.......I say let's just ban "marriage" and grant everyone who is together as a couple and co-habitating, the same rights now afforded only "married" couples. A notorized letter of commitment would suffice, and a notarized notice of separation would remove those rights. This will eliminate the need for going broke paying some lawyer to produce the same results.

Oh Lord I am praying that a lot of idiots don't vote for this geezer….Heck, you thought Bush/Cheney was bad—well hopefully we won’t have this senile old goat running the country. Someone please tell me what qualifies this man to be president besides being a lobbyist and low level actor???

If Fred Thompson makes it through the primary, he will be another Bob Dole. He will lose and lose badly.

The headline poses him as "star" of "Law & Order". He is at best a B rated actor who has a total of about 2 minutes max on any episode. Fred Thompson is a phoney who rented a red pickup to portray himself as a "good ole boy" in the Tennessee Senate race he won. He was also a Nixon "mole" in the Watergate hearings, who informed the Nixon whitehouse of evidence the committee had when they were considering impeachment, although he was supposedly the counsel to the committee considering impeachment. He is a skalawag througn and through.

Nice to see that Daily Kos kids are out in force.
If he's no danger to Shrill Hill, why hammer him so hard?
Me thinks thou(s) doth protest too much...

One word: MENACE. People like him should be deported! Instead of trying to track down illegal immigrants, we should be deporting hate mongers like Thompson!

Conservatives are no longer conservatives. A true conservative is an advocate of the federalist papers and would not attempt to override state rights. A constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage would do just that.
This is the same rhetoric as the other republican candidates. they think they can garner the neo-conservative vote by pandering to their main issues which are a ban on abortions and gay rights. Personally, I think that an abortion should only be performed in the case of rape, incest or if the mother's life is in danger. However, I do not think the federal government should intrude upon a woman's right to choose. Nor do I think the federal government should intrude in one's bedroom.
We have other issues that need to be addressed such as that abysmal debacle in iraq, global warming, health insurance issues among others. This "candidate"(and i use the word in the broadest context possible) is just like the rest of the Bush wantabees. Much too much time is spent on gay rights and abortion rights when there are a myriad of other issues that need to be discussed but none of the republican candidates are doing so.
As far as I'm concerned there isn't much difference between al-quaeda and the neo-conservative republican base. they both have a very narrow definition of what they deem right and acceptable and if you deviate from their prescribed list of rights and wrongs you are castigated. one is just like the other and fred is just pandering to the neo-conservative republican base.

[...] isn't anything he hasn't said before, but CNN's Political Ticker has a new video of Thompson discussing his views on gay marriage, Roe vs. Wade, and when he will [...]

Fred Thompson would propose banning abortion???? He should add except for those who can't afford a first class plane ticket to a first class, safe, European clinic where such a procedure can be performed with absolute privacy.

"mayors of large cities, are the best executive heads"

Yep ... and that's one of the reasons why Rudy will most likely get my vote ... that and the fact that he is a republican, but actually has a brain inside that head that's on top of his shoulders.

To: Mike, Reston, VA

Um.. WOW.

1) People have the Right to use drugs, the Viagra Thompson uses to keep up with is child bride is a DRUG

2) Prostitution is legal... ever been to Nevada?

3) Gambling is legal, ever been to the United State?

4) What is the difference b/w a AK 47(legal)/automatic pistol (legal) and a machine gun (probably legal esp. Texas)

5) It is not illegal (in every state) to ride a motorcycle w/o a helmet. Stupid but not illegal

Conservatives are all about personal rights until the personal rights of others conflict with their beliefs. What is right for you MIKE is not right for all. Stay in your bubble while I live my live.

18th Century Puritans like this are we are laughed at by all of the "civilized" nations of the world.
Yes, he will make agreat candidate, for the DEMS!

Another few important questions to ask the "pro-life" people here are –

(Yes, I put pro-life in sarcastic quotes because you usually support the death penalty, and do not support stem cell research that would help save existing people, and you support a war that kills many Middle Easterners as well as American soldiers (in vain))

–Are you people going to adopt all these unwanted babies if abortion was to be deemed illegal?

–Are you going to give money to overcrowded orphanages filled with unwanted babies?

–Are you going to agree with the large tax increases that would be caused by the even more overcrowded prisons and orphanages filled with these unwanted, unloved babies as they grow up?

My guess is that your answers to all of these would be no.

This just highlights the complete hypocrisy of most "pro-lifers".

Jess...actually Giuliani has recently withdrawn his support for civil unions for homosexual couples, saying that he favors a much more limited set of protections for same-sex couples than for heterosexual couples. Any way you slice it, Giuliani is now (sadly) pandering to the right as well.

It's so funny how some conservatives blame CNN for anything negative about their political idols.
The far right (complete idiots) claim the "liberal media" and the far left (also idiots) complain about the media being totally part of the corporate agenda. Maybe there's some truth to these arguments, but you people are no worse than feeble-minded who see a conspiracy behind EVERYTHING.
Oh, and Fred Thompson...whatever buddy.

These phony GOP hopefuls (one and all) don't have anything to say other than abortion, gay marriage, religion, or faith. They are more worried about preserving an unborn life (not conceived) than the human genocide taking place elsewhere in the world. And, the loss of these innocent human lives is due to Bush's arrogant policies. If these hypocrite bunch call themselves as true christians, then they should care for the welfare of millions of unisured children, and do something about the massacre that is going on elsewhere than to talk about these irrelevant issues. No wonder this country is considered as backward in its policies and welfare of its nation. If you elect these idiots, then there is no difference between us and the sponsorers of Taliban like government.

Just because you want to ban gay marriage does not mean you are a "gay basher" it can simply mean that you feel marriage is between a man and a woman. It doesn't mean you are trying to pass laws against someones sexual preference.
And for the abortion issue- I just cant understand why people think that if the mother and the mother alone-no say so from the father- wants to kill her unborn child than thats just fine as long is the child is still -or just a part of the childs body to be exact- is still in the mothers body -partial birth abortion- but once the baby is totally out we call that murder? Whats wrong with you people! Your outraged -as you should be- when a mother kills her newborn or when some crazy husband kills his pregant wife and child but you want to keep it perfecly fine and legal for her to have it done by a "doctor". The father should be able to press murder charges cause he sure would have to pay if the woman decided to keep the baby. Where are his rights? Why does he only have them once the child is born? Womens rights my rearend- by abortion your killin off half the future population of women.

Lisa ~ San Diego

You wrote, "I really don't understand the conservative agenda. They want big government to stay out of people’s affairs by taking away from Medicare and privatizing social security and health insurance, but they want to be all up in my uterus and in my bedroom. Why is that? Who gave this guy the right to judge what is good or bad for me? Stay out of my bedroom and my reproductive system, Fred!"

Lisa, I don't think Fred, or any of us want to be "all up in your uterus". I'm not speaking for the whole conservative agenda (I don't think there really is an agenda unless your husband is being pursued for an elicit affair in the White House... then there is a VAST agenda) – but what most conservatives espouse are courts, which simply decide whether laws are good (constitutional) or bad (unconstitutional). Conservatives do not want courts, which legislate (create new laws) from the bench. Congress should create new Laws.

Why is this important?

Hypothetically – what would happen if the US Supreme court reversed Roe V Wade? (suggesting abortions are not legal). There would be an outcry. Congress would draft and pass some type of legislation supporting a woman's right to choose. THAT's how it's supposed to be done – through congress.

People on these blogs always cite "the Constitution" as the source for allowing all kinds of choices (abortion, gay marriage, etc) – but that is flat wrong. The Constitution SIMPLY names a few basic rights and then says the rest it up to the will-of-the-people (democratic legislation).

If the majority of Americans do not agree with Gay "Marriage" (as many states have already passed legislation) then Gay Marriage will not be legalized/recognized. If the majority of Americans do not support abortion (which clearly more DO support some type of choice) then things would change.

Everyone gets so hyped up when a conservative voices their opinion about social issues. It's ok, Lisa. You and your uterus are safe.

PS – many fiscal conservatives want to change social security (not Medicare) because it's going broke and can't sustain the aging retiring population. If your car is on empty you don't keep driving and think ignoring the warning light somehow makes the problem go away.

So besides the fact that this guy is a joke, cant we worry about issues that are actually effecting the country? How does a woman having an abortion, or let alone even the right to have one, solve terrorism? How will that lower the crime rate? Why are sex offenders out on the street to harm other children and women? Gay marriage is not affecting me in anyway, Im sleeping just fine at night. No one has lost there job or gotten sick over till! I just dont understand! Lets try to fix the things that are actually bringing thid country down, how about that?

I agree with some of my fellow posters who assert that Thompson would be the BEST thing for the democrats.

He would do the same thing for Democrats that Hillary Clinton is currently doing for Republicans.

Talk like this (Roe) would also preclude the Republican candidate from getting ANY independent support.

It would be VERY bad for Republicans if this guy were to get the nomination.

Fortunately for them, he has NO chance to get the nomination.

I hope that we the people are not stupid enough to elect another moron to the White House.

And all you pro life people out there – if you are so pro life then go out and adopt a black child. And I say black child because black and older children are less likely to ever be adopted. So save a kids life if you are so eager to. And get your face out of abortion rights. Its not your business what I chose to do.

On the CNN homepage the link reads that Thompson would 'Ban Abortion', when in fact, he would not ban it at all! He would simply work to overturn Roe v. Wade, and when that happens the issue simply becomes one that the States can decide for themselves. But most people are uneducated to the extent that they believe that overturning Roe v Wade would ban all abortions, which simply isn't true. It is a State's rights issue, not a Federal one. Let the people decide and over turn Roe v Wade! More power to Thompson

gee, i guess all those unwanted pregnancies that turn into unwanted children that turn into welfare recipients have something to look forward to – let's get his home address and send him some kids to take care of – what an idiot. i am never watching a Law & Order show again.

So, CNN throws a slam-article out there with the idea of making Thompson look bad, and every one of the left-wing CNN-ites jump on it like a live grenade (oh, if only it were).

The hypocrisy in all these "comments" is overwhelming to the point of sickening. Courts don't make laws, congress does. Presidents don't make laws, although WJClinton certainly thought he could.

The real problem in the US right now is a population that refuses to read, learn, apply critical thinking, and examine issues without all the flag-waving (or -burning) hyperbole.

Anyone who commented here and included the idea that they'd rather move to another country: do it. Do it now. Don't wait to see how the vote goes. Just pack up and move to a better place. Don't let the screen door hit ya on the way out.

he has my vote...

As a Democrat, I would really like to see Fred run for President. It would be let's say, a gift from God and the Republicans!

As their fearful leader has said – "Bring Fred on!"

Abortion for all is just an easy out for not having the common sense to use protection in the first place. If you can't deal with the consequence don't do the deed.

I am not totally against abortion, only when it is a matter of convenience. I also don't think the state should pay to end a life when the state won't pay to help a couple with fertility problems.

But hey leave it to all you Democrats to be all about being reliant on the government to do everything, including whiping your butt for yah. It is why certain groups of people are thankful for your willingness to re-distribute wealth and act like the constitution doesn't specifically address equality in taxation.

As far as Womans Reproductive Rights, If you have willingly engaged in unprotected sex, you should bare the results if conception occurs.

To say you have the right to wipe away the results of a decision you made, you're a hypocritical cheater of the gift you abuse by your own own flip-flop in not accepting the consequences of your choices and actions.

If your health or that of the baby are in jeopardy, or if the engagement was not consentual or legal, then you have the right to reconsider the terms of the resulting outcome. Otherwise – accept the consequences of your choices and actions.

The results are a likelihood, not an OOPS!

As a woman who was unable to naturally miscarry a failed fetus, the ability to have a safe medical procedure to remove this was an absolute necessity. (It is possible to carry a dead fetus, make no mistake of that.) If not for Roe vs Wade, my life would have ended a year ago.

It is appalling that anyone in a country that prides itself on equality and acceptance would support someone filled with such hate. Abortion & Homosexuality are persecuted by religion. The option must be permitted on a government level. Every American does not share the same religious beliefs. That is exactly why the Constitution supports “separation of Church & State”. The options must be within government so that the People may decide as they believe. Tolerance is the essence of this country. The Federal Government as well as the State Government has absolutely no right to create laws that force inequality, bigotry, and segregation.

It's the 21st Century. I thought we had evolved beyond such hatred.

I really wish that the Democrats would wake up and smell the coffee when it comes to abortion. If they modified their position to allow some limits and oversite of this procedure, this could take this issue right off the table and the wind out of the holier than thou sails of this unproductive debate.

I really do not understand the conservative viewpoint on abortion. The state does sanction the killing of innocent people, when it serves the greater good. What the heck is a war? A lot of innocent people get killed in a war. Or how about when the EPA needs to set guidelines? They have policies that deal with acceptable risks – its a nicer word than saying how many people will die as a result of their decision. The state DOES NOT require people to donate their organs upon death, a situation that kills hundreds of innocents every day. Abortion is horrible, but so is the long, agonizing death from liver or heart failure. Death is bad. Period.

So the state does set limits and deals with issues that result directly in death to someone. It would be so much better for this country if everyone would just give a little on this issue.

PS – Fred, we just don't need another guy who has to learn on the job.

while we are at it lets just ban guns, free speech, and 8 year term limits.. why not just get rid of the constitution all together since everyone just wants to keep changing it..

here we go... men should stay out of these women issues and stop using Roe VS Wade for political points...

next it will be the "gay" issue...
the GOP play book... it get's so sickening and so old.... we have real problems we need to fix in this country and these jerks just love the politics of divide... stop for god sakes stop.. stop ...
we only need solutions not the old GOP bull crap...please

Allowing the government to make a decision to take away womens rights is rediculous. I will be ashamed to be part of a country that takes the rights of women away.

How about we set up a time line for the government to stop interfering with personal freedom? Or maybe we could focus on real issues like education, health care or all the money we are wasting in Iraq? My idea of "bad medicine" is the disgustingly inflated prices on prescription medication. Perhaps we should focus on things that actually affect all American's rather than just a few people who feel they have the right to dictate morality to everyone based on their own religious beliefs...go back to the 1950's and stay there Thompson!

What? Are you joking! What is wrong with this republicans(american Taliban). This guy is just another Bush. God help us all.

These pronouncements are proof positive that he will continue the arrogant Republican platform of telling Americans what to do, not asking them what they want to do.

Banning gay marriage and abortion? While I am a HUGE fan of L&W, this man won't be getting MY vote! I'm not gay and neither have I ever had an abortion in my 40+years on this planet (and I am of the female persuasion), but I support the "right to choose" on both issues.

Thompson needs to stay on "Law and DISorder". What a dimwit!

With their miserable slate of candidates the Republicans are going to find it impossible to win in '08 even if they rig the voting machines!

Whoever said Abortion is murder is fact is sorely mistaken. It's not fact if it were fact everyone would believe it. Don't vote for the man because of one opinion take his opinions as a whole! He wants us back in the late 1800's no rights for women or minorities, only old rich white guys should have their say so! It'll be a sad sad day if Fred Thompson wins!

When are people finally going to get tired of many Republicans open bigotry? if they were trying to prevent some other minority from marrying their loved ones they would (correctly) be described as racists and such, but because its gay people discrimination is ok? besides, to quote george carlin, 'who has less abortions than gay people? youd think they would be natural allies'

To answer your question Mike from Virginia, the Ninth Amendment states: "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." Since Congress and the states can't define these rights because they cannot abridge the people's constitutional rights, by default, it has to be the Supreme Court. In Roe, the Court was not making law, it was interpreting the Constitution. And for you so-called strict constructionists, please identify the constitutional provision that gave Karl Rove the right to ignore a Congressional subpoena under a claim of executive priviledge? I couldn't find that right in Article II.

Thompson disparages the Supreme Court vote on Roe v Wade, calling it undemocratic and without opinions from the American people. Does he feel the same way about the Supreme Court decision, which did not consider or reflect the opinions of the American people, when the Supreme Court decided George W Bush won his first election even though Al Gore won the popular vote?

I've always said that if men got pregnant, termination would NEVER have been an issue. The republican party still uses the "under my thumb" tactics.
Grow up with the rest to of the country.

In seven years George W has nearly destroyed America. Now Fred wants to finish the job. At least on TV we had a handy OFF button! What a jerk!!

Fred Thompson: the new self-declared leader of the Christian Taliban.

Some states are "requiring" gay marriage now? That's certainly news to me!

God forbid this man should ever become president.

glad to see Fred attacking the issues that affect (effect?) about 3% of the population: abortion and gay marriage. He should be ashamed of himself for pandering to the politics of fear. He can not promise to ban abortion–the people will ultimately decide (and apparantly have decided) that issue. Nothing scares the devil out of people to vote republican quite like the thought of gays getting married. Can't say I'd blame him, its a tried and true formula.

And what an actor: loved him in "Joe Dirt". Oscar.

Abortion is not a right; it is a law that was passed. When did it become sacrosanct to kill your baby as a matter of convenience?

There goes his shot at the White House....oh well!!

One less candidate I need to consider now.

Oh dear! There are so many things in this life that involve the State or Federal Government. Deciding what an individual( a woman) should do with their own bodies is not one of them. No one I know supports women using abortion as birth control, but what overwhelms this isuue is the right to control your own life. That supercedes anyone else's personal belief system. Also, you has yet to agree when a zygot becomes a human being able to sustain life? Doctors cannot decide, politicians do not have a right to decide, religious leaders cannot even agree on a definition. It is only the women who knows. Back to Fred Thompson. I just hope that our country will not vote for another dictator like Bush. Both believe that the Presidency is a throne which to rule the world. Guess what, it ain't! They are a representative of all of the people. Not just the religious right Repulicans, not just the Democrats or the Progressives...everyone. Do not push personal belief systems down my throat and pass them off as a moral right of your power. Personal beliefs do not equal political law. Let consenting adults marry, let people have personal rights and let America stand for freedom and greatness again.

I am tired of gays pushing their agenda down my throat and that of my children in the name of "tolerance." Tolerance is nothing more than a handy way of silencing those who disagree.

What an idiot, he should stick to acting, he's not a leader.

His views are so far out of touch with the majority of the US, he should stay home.

Keep the ignorant, discriminating comments coming Fred... cause it will certainly keep you from getting to the White House!

Abortion is not a "right." It is a law that was passed, and a bad one at that.

[...] under: Asides - Sarah August 17, 2007 @ 2:41 pm I appreciate your blunt honesty on your campaign platform.  Now, please excuse me while I donate gobs of money to ANYONE WHO'S NOT [...]

If his statements hold water, I am definitely voting for him. Abortion is a cancer on this country. We are a sick society that, out of personal convenience, prefers to dispose of "unwanted" children. Gay marriage is no better; I am sick of homosexuals pushing their views down my throat and those of my children, lest I or they be called a "bigot." They have far too much power, and need to be stopped.

That is why I can not be a republican. Let gays and lesbian alone. Stop using the gay issue to divide the contry. We all know that eventually gays are going to have the same rights as everybody else. Stop the nonsense.

Is there an intelligient fiber in this man at all? What are the chances we and the MSM start giving him the nickname "Bozo" Thompson.

I am really starting to think he is solely in politics because he is super envious of Schwarzeneggar and Reagan. Either that, or he is trying really hard to prove he is NOT a leftist Hollywood type.

Earth to Liberals. The US Constitution does not protect murdering babies and homosexuality. If you are so enamored with the US Constitution, then why do insist on destroying the right to keep and bear arms, something that is actually constitutionally protected.

The Constitution provides what is called a 'penumbra' of privacy protection. This is well established and based on the the 1st (right to association), 4th (prohibition of unwarranted search and seizure), 5th (due process and right to private property), and 9th (protection of rights not enumerated). As such, what two consenting adult do in the privacy of their own homes is *none* of your business.

Oh, its *really* important you understand the 9th Amendment boyo. Here is the full text for you. Think on it. The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

We also ought to ban heterosexual marriage between people who are past child-bearing age. After all, marriage is for the purpose of having kids, right, not for love?

I believe you misquoted Fred.

He actually said, "we are in the testing the Kool-Aid phase”.

Fred Thompson just got my vote!

All I can say is THANK GOD I'M CANADIAN!!!!!!

Hey there Mr. Constitution! The Constitution does protect one thing – Have you heard of the 10th Amendment? I won't explain it to you – since it seems that you have to brush up on it anyway. Roe v. Wade prevents federal tampering with an abortion law.

Likewise, we do not need a constitutional law banning homosexuality since ALL marriage laws are state laws (Federalism) with the exception of filing Federal income tax. In addition, no states allow Gay Marriage – so you might as well ban Unicorns since neither exist anyway. So good job, you have just proved that you do not know very much.

By the way the person who said "the constitution does not protect a woman's right to kill babies" is probably the most unintelligent comment I have heard in a political debate in months. It is hard not to laugh at something like that.

Whatever happened to the Conservatives who used to believe in small government and personal freedom? Were they destroyed by theocratic neocons?

No one is going to ban abortion – the country would go nuts. The only people who care about the abortion issue are the religous right who won't let it go.

Abortion will stay legal – so just move on to another topic – and who the hell cares about gay marriage?

The freaken polar ice caps are melting – let's worry about that.

Gee, what a shock, one more fat white American male who thinks he has the right to make decisions about my life and body. And, how amazing, one more moral-free politician pandering to the religious right. Shades of Bush's false promises, no?

To Kay in Charlotte N.C. : So, I'm assuming, if Thompson does what he sets out to do and repeals Roe V. Wade, you'll be adopting lots of unwanted babies. Right?

Sounds more and more like Thompson's campaign is going to be over before it's even begun.

"Testing the waters" phase? He's joking right? I thought he was entering the race back on the Fourth of July. Now he's STILL testing the waters? All the while collecting campaing cash I'm sure.

Does that comment he made about getting into the race even make sense? I suppose he'll appeal to the "I'd have a beer with the guy" voter.

Oh, and is he bringing his little red pickup prop? The one he left abandoned after his Senate race? It may be a little rusty, new paint will fix that up.

I agree, this bozo's a JOKE.

Abortion: Look, I don't support abortion but I am not about to impose *my* personal beliefs on another person. Why? Because I don't want anyone imposing their beliefs on me.

Hypocrisy: I know a man who is pro-life – he is opposed to abortion. He is also opposed to the death penalty, the war, and the dimunition of civil rights we are facing. I respect this man. Thompson? No, I don't respect him.

Gay marraige: Why do some people have such a problem with this? Civil marraige is a contract – thats all. Any two competent people should be able to enter into a contract if its their wish to. Personally, I feel that God is the embodiment of love. Where there is love there is God. Where there is hate there is an absence of God. As such, if any two people love each other God has already given His blessing. Even those that reject God are blessed by His love because love cannot exist without God. Unless you want to argue that love isn't a gift of God I don't see where you have a leg to stand on.

In the words of Reagan..."I feel very strongly about those social issues, but I also place my confidence in the fact that the one thing that I do seek are judges that will interpret the law and not write the law. We've had too many examples in recent years of courts and judges legislating."

And Laurie...Start shredding our Constitution??? Roe vs. Wade set a precedent for how abortion is considered legal and that should not have happened as the Supreme Court over stepped their boundaries as they have not the power to make laws According to the CONSTITUTION – Article 1, section 1. "All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives" which means Congress has the sole power to make laws and needs to rule on issues such as these.

Hey, Ladies, if you used birth control (or just merely kept your legs crossed) we wouldn't be having discussions about abortion (incest, rape, excluded). Abortion is just a very convenient form of birth control. You are taking a life – it is murder. And you do have a right to choice – of birth control!!!!! (talk about idiots!)

I think old Fred needs to go hunting with Dick Cheney.

I am very disappointed in the Ticker Headline: "'Law & Order' star: I'll ban abortion". Overturning Roe would mean that abortion law would return to the states, instead of being a federally mandated 'right' opposed by over half the country. Some states would ban abortion, but most would not. Overturning Roe does not mean BANNING abortion!

Dear Mr. Thompson

It seems like you may be even dumber than Bush. Congratulations that is a rare feat. By the way if you stumble upon this and happen to know how to read

1) Only the Supreme Court can overturn Roe v. Wade, and last I checked you are not a Justice. Even if you are a justice you would need to be 5 justices to overturn Roe

2) One state CAN NOT force another state to deny/grant/recognize a gay marriage. That is already law. For this you can thank Bill Clinton and DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act)

Once again you Sir are an IDIOT.

OK Men STOP PUNISHING WOMEN!
and keep safe abortion legal for those
who wish it else the mafia will perform
this procedure or worse.
It will be impossible to overturn Roe
Vs.Wade ,Have people forgotten Gore won
the popular vote for president?
Go Democratics!
Gore/Clinton will be the ticket i'd bet on it.

WE ARE SCREWED IF HE BECOMES PRESIDENT.

WE ARE TOTALLY SCREWED

If you really think that banning access to abortion is really going to solve the abortion issue, then you are blind, Mr. Thompson!

The goal of both sides of the coin is to reduce the number of abortions- but those of us who are pro-choice want to do it by providing reliable access to birth control. But OH, you don't have to dispense it if you don't believe in it! And abstinence is the only way (as long as you love Jesus and your Bible)!

Give me a break! Give me someone who actually understands women's rights and is willing to help.

HILLARY FOR PRESIDENT

Let's have separation of church and state and have civil unions available to all couples of leagal age. Enough discrimination, yes, it's Discrimination not to give gays the same rights given to straight "married" couples. We did the same to blacks and women in the past. When will they WAKE UP.

Like clock work, every four years a Republican will dust off the issues of abortion and gay marriage to rally the base. Trouble is, over the last decade-plus, their base has been conservative Christians who like a family values kind of guy. Hmmm...the Republicans better keep looking.

Even though I never had any intention of voting for him, I thought Fred Thompson had more common sense than this.

Thompson's idiotic opposition to gay marriage and misguided assault on abortion rights perfectly encapsulate the Republican Party's animosity toward the principle of bodily sovereignty. What Thompson and those of his ilk seem to forget is this: I own my body, and I may do with it whatever I wish. My marriage is none of Fred's business. My medical decisions are none of Fred's business. In short, Fred's moral opinions are inapplicable to me, just as my moral whims are inapplicable to Fred.

We have descended into a state of moralistic busybodies, intent on telling everybody what they can and cannot do. Buzz off, morality police!

The Dems are far from perfect. But, at the very least, they seem to respect bodily sovereignty. That, by itself, makes every Democratic candidate infinitely more palatable than every GOP would-be Big Brother.

http://mycaseagainstgod.blogspot.com

I really don't understand the conservative agenda. They want big government to stay out of peoples affairs by taking away from Medicare and privatizing social security and health insurance, but they want to be all up in my uterus and in my bedroom. Why is that? Who gave this guy the right to judge what is good or bad for me? Stay out of my bedroom and my reproductive system, Fred!

He's a great actor. Leave politics to the ones that do it full time and know what is really going on. Don't run. I

After listening to Fred Thompson call for a ban on gay marriage and working to overturn Roe v Wade, we say how about a constitutional amendment banning stupid men that want to turn back the clock to the 1950s.

J.Miller, more qualified than the Democrat candidates. Let's see. Obama, a one term senator. Hillary, two term senator, but wife of former president. Not qualified at all. The best presidents tend to be governors, who have run an executive branch. Senators don't run anything. They are bought by lobbyists, and vote on legislation. Senators, by and large, are not qualified. Governors, or mayors of large cities, are the best executive heads.

And to think that I was wondering and even concerned what Thompson getting into the race could mean for the Democratic Party's shot for the white House. What does Fred Thompson bring to the race and to his party’s chances? Obviously, he’s hoping to rely on the tried-and-true knee-jerk reaction votes of the extreme of the religious right, by using misinformation, bigotry and fear as his hot button sound byte issues. In other words, “Vote for me and we’ll show those “liberated” women and awful gays that were not having any of that!” Thanks, Fred. Now I can rest easy knowing that educated, reasonably minded, real people of both parties aren’t going buy that and let someone like you have the opportunity to take this country BACKWARDS. Thanks again! I’m relieved.

Well, he's certainly sounding worse by the minute.

Misleading text in article ...
overturn Roe v. Wade implies banning abortions.

He's saying the Congress and the People of US should VOTE on this ... not the courts.

I't very important that the people of the US have their say.

Courts are too powerful and are making laws.

First his not commiting allows his free publicity on Law and Order. As soon as he stated his intentions all the segments of L.& O. in which he acts should have been pulled.
He is not that good of an actor but his far right wing stance scares me.
I think he is a joke. But then I thought Rush Limbaugh was a joke, until I found some take him seriously. I hope no one considers Fred seriously.

Sigh. He didn't say he'd "ban abortion", as your link indicated. The President doesn't have that authority, as anyone who has read your Constitution knows – apparently this doesn't include folks at Cnn.com. Thompson said he'd work to overturn Roe V. Wade. By all means : throw it back to the states, and create an abortion growth industry in Canada and Mexico.

Thompson is no Jed Clampett-Hello Rudy!

Rock oN!

Earth to Liberals. The US Constitution does not protect murdering babies and homosexuality. If you are so enamored with the US Constitution, then why do insist on destroying the right to keep and bear arms, something that is actually constitutionally protected.

I really hope the American people are tired of an over bearing president whom oversteps his powers. In that light a vote for Fred is a vote for more of the same. Let the courts make law, congress pass legislation and the president handle the executive branch and the direction of the country.

As a Democrat, I plead for the Republicans to nominate this pandering buffoon.

The party of less government wants to tell everyone what they can or cannot do with their body.

Time for your photo-op with Pat Robertson, Dr. Land and Dr. Dobson Freddie.

Go Fred Go!!!

did I say Fred as president would be "really bad new" ?? Let me rephrase that: Fred as pres. would be an unmitigated disaster for every human being on the planet!

The Republican party was founded on the premises to give States more rights with less Federal intrusion. If he is the Republican candidate for President I am going to vote Democrat for the first time in my life (unless it is Hillary, then I am moving to Canada).

I wonder how many gay and lesbians are involved in the production of Law and Order and why he wasn't so persistent on the abortion issue when he was lobbying. This man is suite with no conviction. America we can do better!

You have to appreciate the moxey of a guy who can look you straight in the eye and openly advocate discrimination, undermining the US Constitution, and a return to the dark ages of medicine and civil rights. Only in a Republican America! And I thought "W" was a low as the right could go.

So, pro-life country-boy Fred Thompson has a history of working for an abortion rights group. The alleged pro-life conservative Fred Thompson worked as a lobbyist for the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Assn. in the early 1990s, reports the LA Times.

It was Thompson's job to lobby the H. W. Bush Administration "to withdraw or relax" the abortion "gag rule" - a rule that "barred abortion counseling at clinics that receive federal money."

By the way Fred, How old's your grandaughter, I mean wife?

Oh plueeze. First thing this clown does it start an anti-woman campaign.

How about we ban condoms, Viagra, and vasectomies?

LEAVE WOMEN ALONE YOU BIG, MORONIC PHILISTINE!!!

Ol' Fred (as he likes to call himself) looks a couple of years ol'er every time I see him.

Not another actor in the White House, please! What makes these people think that they are at all qualified to be the President?!

"Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense. As a former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of our armed forces, and he always puts them first. We need to keep him fighting for our country!"

-President Ronald Reagan

To Susan from New York,
Please identify the section in the Constitution that protects a women's right to kill babies. Even if it was some kind of personal right, why is it not a right to use drugs, ride a motorcycle without a helmet, drive without a seatbelt, buy machine guns, engage in prostitution, gamble. If you are going to be pro-choice, be pro-choice across the board. Else, you are hypocrite.

I look forward to a straight shooting candidate entering the race. Perhaps this is one candidate the we conservatives can finally embrace.

This man represents a scary future for America. Even though you may not believe in something, that does not mean that you should press your views on everyone else. If gay marriage and abortion are banned, people will find loopholes and still continue to live as they choose. People need to understand that America was founded on the principle of freedoms, and trying to force your ideas on everyone is bad policy. What needs to be done is to balance law, beliefs, and policy so that people are still able to safely do what they choose, while causing the smallest disruption possible.

I was initially excited to see that my favorite Law & Order character was going to run for presidency. I was just about to cross over from Hilary, UNTIL he opend his mouth. The problem is, the people that want to ban abortion are the same people that CANNOT get pregnant, carry a baby, or have to be responsible for it for the rest of their life. I love how men can make this decision when the product of rape or incest is not something that they will have to deal with. Thank God they can sit on their high horses, and dictate that some poor helpless victim will have to relive their pain every minute of every day for the rest of their life. What a country we live in.

Too bad this isn't the Dark Ages of the mid-20th Century, old Fred would surely win with his "ban abortion" platform. We seriously need to keep this dinosaur from further polluting the White House and dragging women down to 2nd class citizens who are unable to decide themselves what is best for them and their family. Fred as president would be Really Bad News!

I agree that abortion should only be used in the cases of rape, incest and to save the mother's life. If the mother is too sick and near death, it wont do the child any good if she dies (and takes the baby with her). Often times if the father doesn't want anything to do with the baby, then he wont be in the baby's life anyway. I suffered from Hyperemesis Gravidarum while pregnant with my son and it is a very real and life-threatening disease that only a very small amount of pregnant women get; it often gets trumped up as really bad morning sickness, but its much worse than that. It does pose the neccessary option of abortion. I feel it should definately be an option if needed, though not as a form of birth control.

As far as the gays and marriage, if they have the right to fight for our country and vote, then they should have the right to marriage.

“We are going to be getting in if we get in, and of course, we are in the testing the waters phase. We’re going to be making a statement shortly that will cure all of that. But yeah, we’ll be in traditionally when people get in this race”

What did he just say?!?? This stream of consciousness nonsense does not bode well for him.

WOW! I love this guy! He is a strait shooter! Really, though, have some of you thought this through, Abortion. I have never talked to someone that is pregnant and they say, "Oh yea, I have a lifeless fetus inside me", they always say "I am having a baby!" If we can not protect life at its most innocent and precious point, then life means nothing. No wonder children are being treated like objects to sexual predators, the babies were nothing in the womb and not worth much more now, right?! If you think a baby with a heart beat and movement is like cancer then by all means abort it! Some people would hug a tree to save it but witness having a babies, sorry lifeless fetus, brains sucked out. Anyway, Fred is talking about it from a Constitutional stand point. Does not everyone in America have a right to LIFE, Liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness?

Sam
Knoxville, TN

Jerry Orbach would be so disappointed. BOO FRED, BOO. "Marriage" is a religious term. Unions/Partnerships should be allowed, by law to all consenting adults. All people are guaranteed the SAME RIGHTS as citizens of this country. Let people practice marriage in their churches, synogogues and mosques. As for abortion, sure let's go back to backroom abortions, cause those really turned out well.

I think that the idea of conservatism has been corrupted somewhat in this country. It has been redefined to be a social conservative. Its very odd now because some of the things the Bush administration does to forward its Social Morals agenda would normally be considered rather liberal as far as I can see.

Until the day when Mr. Thompson can walk in the shoes of others without bigotry AND miraculously grow a uterus, he should stay quiet! Get out of lives of women & those who have the right to marry whomever they wish!

“We are going to be getting in if we get in, and of course, we are in the testing the waters phase,” he said, adding, “we’re going to be making a statement shortly that will cure all of that. But yeah, we’ll be in traditionally when people get in this race,”

Who is writing the lines for this actor?

Hey K from NC–you're against abortion, but I bet you're also against family planning, and I bet you're also against higher taxes that will pay for the social services that will required in order to feed those kids born to mothers who cannot afford and aren't equipped to raise them. Sure, you love babies. But only until they're born. The arrogance of Fred Thompson at once revolts and frightens me. I cannot stand another bigoted, sexist and ignorant person posing as the president of my country who plans to start shredding our Constitution, as if it wasn't damaged enough already. If this is what he is outwardly saying he'll do, I can only imagine what his real objectives are. This country can't take another one of these bozoes.

Candidates such as Fred are the reason that Republicans will lose. Rudy is the only hope-someone that is socially liberal and fiscally conservative.

Fred, while you make a good actor, and I enjoy watching you do act in fictional roles, you make a lousy politician.

Thompson's level of conservatism is draconian, and I shudder to think of him anywhere near the White House, much less in it.

It must have been a deliberate misquote by CNN that he would overturn Roe v. Wade. He obviously knows that only the US Supreme Court could do that. CNN, as usual, is guilty of attempting to influence the ignorant masses. I'm certain that many Democrats actually believe that the President could single handily overtun the law of the land. The truth is the biggest enemy of the Democrat party (and CNN).

Fred is the reason we need Rudy. Rudy is socially liberal on issues of gay marriage and abortion and conservative when it comes to taxing hard working people.

Stick to acting Freddy and don't push your personal views on me-remember this is AMERICA!!!

K from NC,

Eating animals is murder!!! It happens.

PS. As Giuliani would say "Fred you're a loser"

Ugh, Fred, just go back to being a mediocre actor and leave us alone.

By overturning Roe vs. Wade you'll be pushing women into "backalley" abortions which is far more dangerous. If an abortion is a danger to a woman's health then there should be that option. Also if a woman, or a teenager is raped the option for an abortion should be there. What right does anyone have to tell them that they HAVE to carry to term? Abortion shouldn't be used as a form of birth control, but you shouldn't have the government or religious zealots decide what's best for a woman.

Hey, all you people who are so concerned about the unborn, maybe you could become more concerned about sentient human beings already living, and support a troop withdrawal from Iraq, or stem cell research, alleviating poverty, etc. I don't understand people like Fred Thompson who are all for life, but clearly despise living human beings.

Another man who wants to dictate morals and take away a woman's right to choose. Sounds alot like the Taliban to me. I may have to apply for political asylum in another "democratic" country.

Who the heck is this guy?

I don't have a problem with Fred Thompson's stance on Roe v Wade and not because of some right-wing neo-con moral stance. It is because women use their "right" to choose with almost wrecklace abandon. A woman's right to choose does not consider the choice of the father either. Abortion should be used only in extreme cases of rape, incest, and to save the life of the mother. Abortion should not be used as a matter of convenience.

I do have an issue with anyone who would tamper with the Constitution of the United States, especially when the matter is being addressed at the state level. This is the United States, meaning a group of states that are united together. A constitutional ammendment disregards the rights of a state government to pass legislation based on the will of the people.

I am interested to know how Fred will approach the issue of immigration reform. Right now Fred resembles Dubya WAY too much to get elected. If Fred is in favor of a guest worker program and a path to citizenship for the 12 million illegal immigrants Fred is pretty much toast, just like what happened to McCain.

Geez, I'm a registered Republican and I would never give this guy my vote. If by some bizarre miracle he becomes the Republican front-runner, I'm going independant...

For those naive enough to say they will ban Abortion, I have two questions... 1. How will you fund the needed additional jails and prisons? and 2. How long a sentence will you recommend for our women and daughters to serve? Abortion illegal = women in jail for it, no ifs ands or buts...

Same old Republican line, pandering to the would-be Christian ayatollahs and their campaign cash. Please, no more actors or cowboys in the White House.

God I hate politicians. Power hungry bible thumper. What about abortions for rape and incest? Why so concerned about gays getting married. If they love each other why not. Get off it. Not an important issues. Geeze!

Thank goodness! We finally have a genuine homophobic sexist protestant white male in the race. Please save us Fred!!!

What and idiot!

I don't know a single person who will vote for this guy.
His comments concerning Roe vs Wade and Gay Marriage make me feel like qualifying him as against personal freedom and completely unamerican.
Imposing your core belief that someone should not have the right to choose marriage or abortion is abominable. People have to have choices and do what is right for them and their families. Be it gay, straight, white, black, hispanic, asian whatever we need to remember that personal freedom is a key core value of our nation.

Abortion is murder. This is not an opinion; it is a fact. I'd vote for anyone willing to protect babies in a heartbeat! When will someone stand up for the unborn?

Give me a break? This guy is the GOP's great hope for holding on to the presidency? He sounds like a total idiot to me.

“We need to make every effort to make sure that we don’t get run out of there with our tail between our legs before we’ve done the job of securing that place.” Real tough talk from yet another chickenhawk.

My sister was very sick while pregnant and was told she would stroke out and die if she did not terminate the pregancy. I feel some abortions are neccessary in that sense, and do not feel comfortable with that option being removed.

What an idiot. Why does this country love idiots so much?????

How the heck would he know if abortion is bad medicine? Last I checked, he doesn't have an MD. And as for his comments on gay marriage: "I don’t think that one state ought to be able to pass a law requiring gay marriage or allowing gay marriage and have another state be required to follow along..." Um, doesn't that fly right in the face of the full faith and credit clause of the Constitution (not to mention, more broadly speaking, the equal protection clause). Sure, if a state like Alabama doesn't want to recognize a gay marriage legally performed in Massachusetts, they can pass a state law doing so (which several states have done). But to try to completely ignore the principles of full faith and credit on the federal level, and via Constitutional amendment no less, screams federal over-reach and a violation of states' rights (two things one would think a conservative like Thompson would be against). For someone with a law degree, you'd think he'd consider the legal ramifications of his policy positions more carefully.

[...] Republican Law and Order star Fred Thompson running for President: "I don’t think that one state ought to be able to pass a law requiring gay marriage or allowing gay...."  Aside from banning marriage, he wants to completely restrict women's reproductive [...]

Actually, the author of this story is not especially up on his politics. A conservative person would advocate Federalism and want the states to decide their own laws, or as Reagan said, "Vote with your feet."

So the person who compared him to Reagan is completely wrong and needs to brush up on history.

He will make a great candidate...for the democrats. lol
Hillary will crush him and then a little man in Phoenix Az. will be crawling back under his rock for EIGHT YEARS.

Van

Fred Thompson does a pretty fair job of portraying a hard line conservative.
Acting is a great discipline for honing your pandering skills.

Just another George Bush and a Reagan want to be!!! I am tired of the worn out diversions Republicans use to keep people from realizing what they really stand for...What is next, Flag burning?

Oh puhleeze, like he's the moral majority? He's been married how many times? What gives him the right to overturn Roe V. Wade, and more importantly pass judgement on alternative lifestyles.

Just another George Bush!!!Do we really want that or can we even afford that? I am tired of the same old worn out diversions the Republicans use to keep people from voting on real issues...What is next Flag Burning? Get real, please...

This guy is a JOKE, end of story.

Wonder if he will wear a Ronald Reagan mask to appearances.