NPR: Fred Thompson Goes to Hollywood to Enter Race

Fred Thompson Goes to Hollywood to Enter Race

Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson speaks to Jay Leno during Wednesday's taping of The Tonight Show. Thompson announced on the show that he is running for president.

Paul Drinkwater/NBC Universal via Getty Images

I don't know, there's something about launching your run for the most important job on the planet on a late-night talk show that seems, well, a little low rent, even if you are a former movie star like Fred Thompson. It's like you couldn't get permission from your hometown to announce your candidacy on the front steps of city hall. I understand there's wisdom in appearing on such a show if you're running (say, to play your saxophone) and that other candidates have done it, but there's a tradition to saying "I want to be president" formally that I kind of like.

At any rate, it was pretty anticlimactic at this point. When Arnold Schwarzenegger announced on Leno that he was going to run for governor of California, it actually surprised people. (It would have been hard for him to announce his run from the steps of a city hall somewhere in Austria, anyway.)

Thompson's decision to make his announcement on The Tonight Show on the same night that the rest of the GOP field was debating in New Hampshire also gave the other candidates a chance to take a few rather funny shots at him.

The former Tennessee senator seems to want to set himself apart. He waits to actually announce his bid until long after the other candidates have hit the ground running. And he says that he's not really interested in taking part in multi-candidate debates. "I'll do my share, but I don't think it's a very enlightening forum, to tell you the truth," he said.

Oh well, I've seen him on TV and in the movies. That's all I need to know about his qualifications to be president, right?

12:15 PM ET | 09- 6-2007 | permalink

Comments

Well, they don't call him Frederick of Hollywood (http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/frederick-of-hollywood-and-tiny.html) for nothin'.

Sent by UncommonSense | 2:21 PM ET | 09-06-2007

Yeah and Al Gore showed up on Jay by accident. LOL! NPRs true colors show through in every bit of press.

Sent by Gus Burk | 11:22 PM ET | 09-07-2007

I knew it was just a matter of time before someone made a lame criticism about Fred Thompson announcing his candidacy on The Tonight Show, inferring that it was beneath the Office, but it was okay for Clinton. Man, oh man. Will the double-standards never cease on the Left?

Sent by Not your Cool-Aid | 1:07 AM ET | 09-08-2007

Smart move on Mr. Thompson's part to skip the debate, I'd have to agree with him that large debates are good for little more than 10 second sound bites. Mr. Thompson was practicing law and active in government long before he became an actor. He brings with him a sense of character, direction, and purpose that our nation hasn't seen in a long time. God help this nation if we get the likes of Hillary or Osama.

Sent by Thomas Lang | 11:37 AM ET | 09-08-2007

The tradition of the actor becoming president comes to an end. This time the actor will be the vice president.

The only more perfect scenario would be that Mit Romney was married to Angelina Jolie. Now, there's a First Lady to vote for as president in the future.

For all you 'I hate George Bush' groupies gearing up for the next eight years of 'I hate Romney/Thompson' groupies....remember this. In 2016, Jeb Bush becomes president for eight years.

Unless the GOP changes the Constitution so that the president can stay in office until he dies of old age. Which will probably happen right after the GOP changes the Constitution so Arnold can be president.

Ya know, we need to give the Democrats a job. Something to do with their time. I know. Let's let them call themselves Republicans so they can get some respect back.

fred call aka bigbro

Sent by fred call | 12:17 PM ET | 09-08-2007

I would like to see more coverage for Ron Paul, anyone with me?

Sent by E.L. Gulbranson | 4:52 PM ET | 09-08-2007

Fred Thompson is the man for the Job...he will stay the course in Iraq...and deal with Iran before the islamo facists overrun us!

Discuss Fred Thompson at the neoconservative Fred Forum.

Http://www.fredthompsonforum.com/

Sent by Neocon4Fred | 3:47 AM ET | 09-09-2007

OK, Neocon4Fred, who exactly are these Islamofascists, and how are they going to overrun us, the country with the most nuclear weapons, by far, in the world? How exactly are they going to invade, hmmm? You cannot make fearmongering statements like these and expect to be taken seriously. Please think clearly about the world's situation, and refrain from spreading fear.

Sent by A Reasonable Voter | 11:48 AM ET | 09-10-2007

The last thing we need is another neoconservative administration. Stay the course? Give me a break. If a C student stays the course, well, he'll always be a C student. And If can avoid putting military action before diplomacy perhaps we'll start the healing process for the last 6 years of wanton destruction (socially, politically, and militarily).

Sent by E.L. Gulbranson | 2:58 PM ET | 09-10-2007

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