Thompson claims Right to Life endorsement

by Mark Silva

Fred Thompson, the former senator from Tennessee and prime-time television star seeking the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, collected the National Right to Life Committee’s endorsement today despite his opposition to a constitutional amendment banning abortion.

The endorsement itself could offer a boost for a candidate who entered the race with great expectations but has not registered as the favorite among many Republicans surveyed. It also offers a new target of criticism for rivals who insist that Thompson is a newcomer to the cause of life.

“Fred Thompson has had a strong, consistent pro-life record throughout his political career," Wanda Franz, the National Right to Life Committee president, said at the announcement of the group’s endorsement in Washington today. “"As pro- lifers throughout the nation begin to unite behind his candidacy, he will be well-positioned to win the nomination and the presidency."

Yet the endorsement also provides another piece in a puzzling division among the religious right. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has claimed the backing of evangelist Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition, despite Guiliani’s support for abortion rights and gay rights. Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, has claimed the backing of Paul M. Weyrich, a founder of the Moral Majority. And John McCain, senator from Arizona, has claimed the support of an erstwhile rival in the race, Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas.

“It's almost like the endorsement was dreamed up by some sort of novelist who wanted to further create confusion in the Republican ranks," Stuart Rothenberg, an independent political analyst, suggests. "It just adds to the sense that there is no consensus developing as to who the nominee should be."

Thompson has explained his opposition to a constitutional amendment against abortion by saying, as he did on NBC News’ Meet the Press this month: “I think people ought to be free at state and local levels to make decisions that even Fred Thompson disagrees with.’’

Instead, Thompson has argued that Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in the U.S., should be overturned.

The Democratic National Committee stands ready with an analysis of Thompson’s record on abortion, which includes opposition to criminalizing it: In 1994, on an Eagle Forum survey, Thompson answered that he opposed criminalizing abortion. Two years later, on a Christian Coalition questionnaire, he checked ‘opposed’ to a proposed constitutional amendment protecting the sanctity of human life.”

The National Right to Life Committee’s own Web-site had reported less than 100 percent agreement with the former senator: Handing him scores of 87 percent on its issues from 1997-98, 78 percent from 1999-2000 and 33 percent from 2001-2002.

“Now Thompson Is trying to explain away his record with empty rhetoric and excuses that don’t add up,’’ the DNC says in a release today.

“Thompson is now campaigning on the pro-life position, claiming that he has no recollection of filling out the several surveys portraying his as pro-abortion rights other pro-choice statements. In a recent appearance on Fox News’ Hannity and Colmes, Thompson claimed, “I don’t remember that box. You know, it was a long time ago, and I don’t know if I filled it out or my staff – based on what they thought my position was – filled it out.”

Tribune wire services contributed to this report.

Posted by Mark Silva on November 13, 2007 1:52 PM | Permalink