Before hitting South Carolina, Thompson watched the Patriots battle the Jets in a New Hampshire bar Sunday.
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) – Former senator and Republican White House hopeful Fred Thompson called on Democratic presidential candidates Monday to refund all donations received from MoveOn.org after the liberal advocacy group ran an ad attacking Gen. David Petraeus in The New York Times.
"I understand there's a front page ad that's been taken out by this outfit called MoveOn.org in the New York Times today," said Thompson at a campaign rally at Doc's Barbecue in this capital city. "And it basically accuses our general who's leading our troops in Iraq right now of betraying his own country. This outfit basically, in large part, funds the Democratic party. I call upon the Democratic party and all those Democratic contenders for the White House to disavow this libel against this brave American." (Related: Dems join GOP in slamming ad attacking Petraeus)
Moveon.org supporters have contributed over $108,000 to Democratic presidential candidates this year through the group’s political action committee, according to Federal Election Commission records. Sen. Barack Obama lead his party’s field in contributions received through Moveon.org, with just over $30,000 received since the start of his campaign. Rep. Dennis Kucinich received almost $25,000 compared to just over $23,000 for former Sen. John Edwards and $18,000 for New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden each received between $5,000 and $6000, while Sen. Chris Dodd received just under $1000.
Earlier in the day, Sen. John Ensign, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, called on Democratic Senate candidates to return MoveOn.org donations. So far, only one Democratic Senate candidate, Tom Allen of Maine, has received money from the group, though the amount he has received, almost $250,000, makes up nearly half of the group’s total campaign contributions this year.
FEC records also show that Moveon.org has collected $176,000 from its supporters and distributed them to four vulnerable House Democrats.
From CNN Politics
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Dream on. This is only going to get us Dems to give more money to Moveon.org.
Thank you Moveon.org for the truth.
Dems return donations because donors call US generals traitors?? Yeah right... Then they would have to give back most of what they've collected and not just from moveon.org.
The culture of corruption at its finest..
And yet they all, save Richardson's, pledged not to take money from lobbyist..
Hmmm, another broken dem promise??
Why doesn't Fred Thompson return all that money he received as salary from the liberal dominated TV industry (Law and Order). I'm sure some of those folks donated money to Moveon.org. Aaaah....the old Potomac two step. Get with it Fred!
Get a life, Fred. You won't get anywhere sucking up to Gen. Petraeus. Once Bush has used him up he'll be dumped, like all the others.
This is no way to gain traction in a race that you entered too late anyway.
Petreaus is a partisan hack, just like his new buddy Fred.
General Dave is running off to FOX News (ha ha..."news"...good one, FOX!) for an exclusive interview after his testimony.
What a farce. MoveOn is right about him. His 4 stars don't excuse his hackery.
How about all the money contributed by FOX Attack dogs on the generals that disagree with republican views. In fact Thompson candidate is looking like a joke to me.
Where are his policies on how to get this country fixed? Instead all we here is reaction to moveon.orgg. You are not runing as a pundict rather as a candidate.
Anyone else here find it amusing that "spinstopper" and "therealist" are shilling for a political ideology that rejects science and panders to pseudo-religious crazies?
Man, the Orwellian GOP doublespeak never ends. Hilarious.
Sad thing is, they actually believe their own deceptions...like General Petreaus.
Perhaps "spinstopper" and "therealist" should drop into Baghdad and take a spin in the reality of Iraq. However, being conservatives, I highly doubt they'll be found anywhere near a war zone.
Are you for real, why should anyone give back anything...this coming from a candidate who represents the most corrupt & hypocritcial party ever...we have a right in this country to speak our feelings...everyone is not a republican where you are told what to say & how to think by the GOP and if you don't you are unamerican & not a christian...Thompson fits the mold of a typical right winger...he can say what he wants to say and everyone else is to listen and say nothing...
Moveon.org is the antithesis of the industrial military establishment that powers, to a great degree, the GOP elite including the president and vp. I think they may be on to something. It is in the generals best interest to keep the war going. To keep his troops in the field and doing their war thing. What other reason do they have to exist. In a true peace time world they would be relegated to continental bases doing war games. Now they get to globetrot all around the world living like royalty without oversight, billions of dollars at their disposal, tons of toys to play with AND they get to keep pushing the mantra that they are "fighting a war on terrorism" or "fighting for our freedom." America desperately needs Moveon.org because without it this is a dictatorship of war lords.
I'm glad they called him "betray us",because I clearly heard him promote his own military campaign indefinitely,without any expectation of success.Then I listened to that crock of -- go on and on about how well things were going there,more garbage from mental midgets. Now petraus can share company with powell in their immoral and unethical abyss.History.
L'arthitec karl Rove brainwash the morality of the President of the United States, George W Bush, to approve Immoral Swift boat adds; putting war heros against each other.And with the faxe morality of the republicans.America should quit voting republican if you want leave in a Democratic State.
Hmmmmmm . . . . seems like every time Thompson speaks I'm hearing (and seeing)the "Dueling Banjos" scene from "Deliverence"?
Now this guy is "Bush-lite"! I swear he is acting like he is following some GOP playbook or something. He must be thinking that if he plays the "role" of Reagan throughout the next few months then he is in. It's just sooo fake.
1). Act like Reagan...
2). Recite GOP platform word for word...
3). Sell soul to the politicos so they let me be the next president.
Telling it like I see it,
Wynter
Patreaus learned from all the other generals that you better stick to the script or you're going to have to retire. While I think Moveon's ad did go a little over the top, for a Repugnantcan candidate to call for a return of campaign money is ridiculous. I call on Fred "Red Truck" Thompson to return all his lobbyist money...which, of course, would leave him broke, which, of course, would mean his 28-year-old wife would then leave him, which, of course, we all know Fred won't let happen, which, of course, means he'll hang on to that tainted money.
I agree. I mean, if you run out of people to attack, do you go after an army general? Sheesh.
Very clever and typical Republican manipulation and spin. We saw so much of it in the last election. The first Dem that's stupid enough to fall for it and returns the money is being crossed off my list.
Would someone tell Fraiser to shut up.
If anything people should give more money to Move On.
Tell me again why we should listen to Fred Thompson? Oh, he was on TV....
Oh okay.
jack jett
Thompson and the rest of the republicans are just grandstanding. They are desperate to paint the democrats as weak. The democrats did not take out that ad.
HA HA!!! Way to go, Fred! Sadly, this kind of thing is par for the course for the collection of infantile leftist moonbats that support outfits like MoveOn.org and "Code Pink". But let's see if any of the Dems are brave enough to repudiate this kind of repulsive character assassination. Personally, I'm betting that they won't because they need the support of the "Moonbat Left" in order to get the nomination. That should tell you all you need to know about the sorry state of today's Democratic Party. It has been thoroughly "McGovernized" just like it was back in the early 1970s.
Of course, the Democrats should return all donations that came via MoveOn.org. But, first Thompson should set the example by returning all lobbyist funds that he got from lobbyists. Second, he should make public who donated to him. Anybody he has a conflict of interest with, he should return those funds.
Freddy – set the example.
Where was Mr. Thompson standing when the "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" ran their despicable ads questioning the patriotism of John Kerry, a U. S. Senator and decorated Veteran of Vietnam? It seems that so many Republicans had no problem associating themselves with that ad yet now they want to cry when someone questions the motives and actions of a Bush crony. You are seriously deluding yourself if you thought that Petraeus would not give a biased account based on what the President wants to hear and serves to prop up his agenda.
I am sick to death of this "let's not question anyone in the military" mentality! No guys, do whatever you want, invade whatever country you want! Seriously! We're behind you 100%!! Two things that will never happen: Democrats returning Moveon.org contributions, and Fred Thompson getting elected.
We need more NeoCon Ex-TV actors to finish the complete destruction of the Bill of Rights, the fornication of the Judicial Branch, and the streamlining and coalescing of Power to the Executive Branch so we have a complete Fascistic Totalitarian Dictatorship disguised as a President of a Democracy! Then and only then will we stop the "Terrorists" (and keep the Michael Moores at bay, so we can go back shopping to the mall.)
ha! never thought i would ever donate to an pac...but just did...this one deserved my praise...god bless you moveon.org!
What an idiot.
I don't know at this point whether General Petraeus's testimony was accurate or inaccurate. I do know that he is all grown up and can take care of himself. So he has to tolerate a little "swift boating", big deal. He'll get over it. The men and women coming home in body bags, and those that have been maimed for life will not.
I have no sympathy for this General, the Department of Defense, or this Administration. This is a disaster of their own making.
I have tremendous empathy, sympathy and prayers for the men and women of the the United States Military, their friends and family; as well the Iraqi people. For these brave souls I pray every day.
Former Senator Thompson is trying to capitalize on the misery of others, shame on him!
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
FREEDOM TO SUPPORT ANY ORGANIZATION I CHOSE
FREEDOM TO VOTE HOW THE HECK I WANT
THIS IS AMERICA ~ OOPS, YEAH, THE REPUBLICANS SEEM TO HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT MINOR FACT.....SEE YA IN NOVEMBER!!!!!!
So it would appear that Bush got himself another dog to join the one in the White House, the poodle named Blair, and now Petraeus. What kind of dog is he? Apparently one that has attended obedience to the Master School.
So, it is okay for the republican attack machine to call dems traitors and worse, but it is not okay for Moveon to utilize their Constitutional right to free speech?
I think I might have this all figured out soon...
A republican calling for a democrats to return money to a liberal organization for saying something liberal? Is this not just a blatant attempt by the GOP to take an honest ad (yes, honest! ... most americans agree on the content of the ad) and parlay it into a political advantage. There is nothing to hide from here for dems. General Betray-Us is a correct term for a Bush cronie! Bush HIMSELF has betrayed us and the world. Let the world try Bush and his treasonous administration for war crimes!
Now they get to globetrot all around the world living like royalty without oversight, billions of dollars at their disposal,
Another liberal elitist looking down his nose at a military he knows nothing about fighting and dying for his right to talk tough on the internet.
Give us a break Fred, after all the lies and distortions your party has spread around over the last few years.– remember- swiftboat- wmd- mission accomplished– Why Fred next thing we hear, you will be claiming the people of Tennessee will support one of their own. Now Move On Fred and take your great record for being environmentally friendly with you!
"Hmmmmmm . . . . seems like every time Thompson speaks I'm hearing (and seeing)the "Dueling Banjos" scene from "Deliverence"?
Posted By Cable King Pittsburgh Pa : September 10, 2007 5:27 pm
Ok too funny, LOL me toooo. Sad thing, those notes reverberate in my head wayyyyy more than they should re: the people running to be our LEADER.
One can only pray the American people, both "right" and "left" wing leaning have smartened up. We need a thoughtful, intelligent, visionary pres people.
This is the 5th story on Thompson today on the ticker. Are you helping him play catch up. I'm from Tn and I know how he ACTS. (As they say around here.) It ain't good!
Maybe someone should have asked the "Swiftboaters" to return money they raised.
How about Fred returning all the money he made as a lobyist?
It's easy to throw stones at a guy that's sitting on top of a military superpower, but do you really think he got there by betraying people? It proves that moveOn not only wants republicans to fail politically, but it wants our protectors to fail as well. People have taken for granted the great freedoms that are protected by our military.
hearing the lies Patraeus said today makes Thompson's speech seem a little silly. This GOP hack wants this war..it brings honor and death,,what more could you want as president.
Funny how spinstopper talks about corruption in the democratic party...yet fails on a consistent basis to mention his own party's failures...I won't even go through the names...you know them...and you wince everytime you hear them because you can't put your "spin" on issues like this...Awww poor baby...here's a pacifier just for you Spinstopper!
Right on Wynter. Unfortunately, he kept having to delay his entry because he wasn't smart enough to grasp all the information being fed to him on what his positions would be. He was too lazy to put in extra hours either. The scary thing is, that formula has put him at the top of the pack. The reason is clear. They do not want an independent thinker- they want a spokesmodel for the republican machine. 4 more years so they can continue to erode the separation of church and state, stack the supreme court with young staunch conservatives which would take DECADES to fix, and turn the USA into Iran- the only difference being christian vs. muslim religious state. Terrifying, isn't it?
Truth hurts, don't it, Freddie?
'Bout time someone like Move On showed some balls against these fascists.
Petreus is cooking the books. This whole farce has been cooked. Impeach Cheney now, Bush later.
What, are you people stupid? Why do you think Bush got rid of the rest of the generals – who all thought Iraq was an insalvagable wreck – and replaced them with Petreus?
WAKE UP, AMERICA!
Moveon.org is the only organization without a right or left cause or ethnic majority to say or do anything versus this monolithic, say nothing, do nothing Congress and administration, mostly Republicans with hot air and no way out of another Vietnam. We, the people, are getting WRONG info on troop deaths and disfigurement, Iraqi civilian deaths, Iraq itself, Afghanistan,where the oil money is going (did they ever find it???), and the cost of the war, in lives and taxpayer dollars. That's why there are so many in the organization. Dems would be foolish to take a completely grassroot organizations' individually decided funds from any campaign.They will pay the price for doing whatever the White House and scared Republicans want them to do!
In response to Tom from Anaheim's unfounded comment: No one in Iraq is living like royalty enjoying "globetrotting" around the world with our toys. Soldiers are dying here, officer and enlisted alike. The military is also not without oversight, proven by the countless Marines and soldiers now in prison for indefinite terms for their actions here. Again, officers and enlisted alike. Have a basis for your comments or don't make them. It amazes me how those with no real world knowledge of the military are the first to criticize how it operates.
Moveon.org should be ashamed of themselves.
ThirstyJon
freedomthirst.com
MoveOn.Org has passed its peak. Desperation tactics such as this poorly done ad demonstrate it has lost its luster and political clout. It may as well have been presented at the VMA awards show. A 13 year old could have come up with a better advertisement.
Well, that's one way for Thompson to keep his name out there, I guess. I keep waiting for his participation in Watergate to surface-this is not an honest man, but he does seem to have Rove's playbook front and center. If you don't have anything valid to say, attack the other party. Worked twice! May not hold water this time around. This is still America-we have free speech-at least until Bush comes up with another executive order banning that too! This crew can't leave soon enough!
Everyone is so quick to criticize but I don't believe there is 1 person out there that has the guts to step forward and try to run this country. If you voted you have the right to complain, but if you did ot vote SHUT-UP. You have no right. As for the ones who are quick to criticize the way the war is being portrayed to us you can get a life. There is progress out there. There is an end to this. Having faith in the people who run this country is hard, but I know tat our president has the most influential being helping run this country. He is running it the way he told us he would run it, with God by his side.
MoveOn.org just jumped the shark.
I agree that the Ad was in poor taste and should be withdrawn.
But when opportunists like Fred Thompson get on their sanctimonious soap box it is time to draw the line.
How come Republicans didn't object when the Swift Boat Campaign ran all those ads besmirching John Kerrey's service? It didn't seem to make any difference to them that Kerrey served his country with honor during Vietnam while George was desparately trying to get into the National Guard, Dick Cheney had other priorities and Fred found a way out of military service.
It's OK when Republicans do it, but not OK if someone else does it. The Republican double-standard rears its ugly head again.
If I returned money every time a non-profit used language I did not agree with in an ad...I would never get to claim anything on my taxes.
Get over it. Don't these folks have more important issues to discuss – like rising costs of health care?
Of course the right wing wants to marginalize MoveOn – they're becoming effective. "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."
Of course Patraeus has betrayed us – he was put in place to stoke the Republican Lie Machine. If he had alkl this "honor" he wouldn't have taken the job in the first place.
Where was Mr. Thompson standing when the "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" ran their despicable ads questioning the patriotism of John Kerry, a U. S. Senator and decorated Veteran of Vietnam?And what part of the Swift Boats story was not true. Why did John Kerry not sue them for slander. I will give you a hint, if he sued it would have opened up all his sevice records to discovery in court. Why did the head of the Swift Boats encourage John Kerry to sue them? Again, it would open up his records to discovery. Why did John Kerry not release his records as promised on national television? He is hiding something!