The Federalist Connection
Tonight, skipping from Ace to Captain Ed I stumbled across Let Freedom Ring, which tries to make the case that Fred Thompson is actually "a closet movement conservative." No less than David McIntosh, former congressman and co-founder of the Federalist Society has said, "he’s a real conservative." And now McIntosh is working on the Thompson campaign.
It was this last point that caused my nose to twitch. Back on St. Pat's, when the flame was just starting to kindle for Fred, OpinionJournal.com did an interview with him, where he discussed his federalist principles.
Mr. Thompson has also been criticized for failing to back some comprehensive tort-reform bills because of his background as a trial lawyer. Here he insists his stance was based on grounds of federalism. "I'm consistent. I address Federalist Society meetings," he says, noting that more issues should be left to the states. For example, he cast the lonely "nay" in 99-1 votes against a national 0.8% blood alcohol level for drivers, a federal law banning guns in schools, and a measure limiting the tort liability of Good Samaritans. "Washington overreaches, and by doing so ends up not doing well the basics people really care about."These multiple connections, including his multiple appearances as a speaker before the group, beg the question if Thompson is just a big fan of federalism, or if he is indeed a dues-paying member of the Federalist Society. I haven't been able to find out yet, but I'll keep looking.
