(CNN) - Former Sen. Fred Thompson, the real life lawyer perhaps best known for playing one on television, announced his endorsement of Newt Gingrich Monday evening.
"I have come to the growing realization that Newt Gingrich is the guy who can articulate what America is all about," Thompson said of the former House speaker on Fox News.
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Thompson, who played District Attorney Arthur Branch on "Law and Order," landed the role after a nearly ten-year tenure in the Senate. Before that, he practiced law privately and for the federal government. He ran for the GOP presidential nomination in 2008, and said Monday the next president would be well served to have an insider's view of Washington.
"I don't think it's any more an advantage to be able to say I know nothing about the operation of the federal government," he said. "I know something about it. Newt knows something about it. It's a colossal mess."
But fans seeking a glimpse of Thompson – besides on TV reruns – may be out of luck.
"I'll do some things, I'm sure. It's not a full-time job," he said of his role with the Gingrich campaign. "I'm not going to be a spokesman for the campaign or anything like that."
The endorsement came as Gingrich debated his rivals before GOP voters in Tampa, Fla.
Also see:
Romney takes aim at Gingrich in Florida
i hope america is better than that..fleecing freedie mac.. run out as speaker of the house...3 marriages... ugh...
Sarah Palin, Fred Thompson, ....any other losers who back Gingrich?
Thompson said – "I have come to the growing realization that Newt Gingrich is the guy who can articulate what America is all about," If by 'all about' he means rancor, divisiveness and constantly playing the victim, then yes, Gingrich does articulate this very well.
Obama 2012
A Fred Thompson endorsement? WOW! One step up from an Octomom endorsement. Way to go Newt!
one failed candidate endorses another will be failed candidate..nothing new here
Fred Thompson? When will Gopher give us his thoughts?
who cares?
Who is Gingrich going to pull in next, Andy Griffith? Aunt Bea? Got some big hitters there, Newt!
Why heck, that should make all the difference. Are we supposed to be impressed by a former candidate who was to lazy to actually take his run seriously. In Fred's case. the only one who wanted him to run was his wife. What a joke. Go back to Hollywood, loser and reprise another naval role.
Fred Thompson wants old people to get "Absolutely FREE," government-backed reverse mortgages. What do we know about this shady company Thompson is endorsing?
First of all, did you know that reverse or "lifetime" mortgages are the hot new thing for investors lookin' for a high yield on mortgages-backed securities?
Newt / Fred 2012
The guy who speaks for Gingrich's super-pac has just said on national television that Newt Gingrich was not forced out of the House of Representatives and that he left the House with honor. During the debate Gingrich said that he left on his own accord and that he wasn't really fined. He said that he was exonerated and that he just paid for the cost of the hearings - +$300k. I wonder how Fred Thompson feels about that.
Thanks Sen. Fred Thompson, proud of Tennessean
Lobbyist endorses lobbyist. Thompson go back to Law and Order... seriously!
And then?
This is truly a feather in Gingrich's cap, Why... to land the endorsement of THE fred thompson is just the bomb man.
After tonights debate its obvious to me Mitt Romney would loose in a debate with Barak Obama. He does not think on his feet and is trying to remember talking points and pot shots told to him by his advisors. He is not real. Contrast that with Newt speaking from his very well informed brain.
Shows another morally corrupt ex politician who couldn't win either
like an endorsement from fred "dead" thompson is really newsworthy!
I've always enjoyed Fred Thompson as an actor, but when it comes to politics, he's a joke, as we all saw when he "ran" for president in 2008. Not much of an endorsement, if you ask me.
Are we supposed to care what he does?
I hold much respect for Mr. Thompson. If anyone observed the debate you could immediately see that Newt is the Conservative to bring our country back to greatness.
That has got to be the absolute worst picture that CNN has ever used for anyone. I know that CNN leans to the left and is still a bit hurt from the whoopin' that Gingrich laid on Brian Ross... but come on... There are better pictures out there.
Wow!!!! Fred Thompson endorsing Newt Now that would make me race out and vote for newt??? NO!!! That says a lot about Thompson – he really has poor taste and his endorsement is so insignificant. How many votes will that get him?? Not many!!! But if he wants a reverse mortgage, then he has come to the right man!!!!!
LOL 🙂 Can his campaign stop gettin endorsements from nobody's. Trhompson? Really?
The man known more for being a two second two bit actor in Law and Order than as a senator?
If there was no other reason to not like Newt, this sub-human would be reason enough. I have to mute the tv every time I see him. And all his reruns? No thanks. I'd rather watch Howdy Doodie - A lot more intelligence and integrity.