Thompson Says He's No Churchgoer, Won't Tout Religion on Stump

[oberliner]

Republican presidential contender Fred Thompson, who has based his campaign on appealing to conservative voters, said he isn't a regular churchgoer and doesn't plan to speak about his religion on the stump.

Thompson, in his first campaign stop in South Carolina, told a crowd of about 500 Republicans yesterday that he gained his values from ``sitting around the kitchen table'' with his parents and ``the good Church of Christ.''

Talking to reporters later, Thompson, a former Tennessee senator, said his church attendance ``varies.''

``I attend church when I'm in Tennessee. I'm in McLean right now,'' he said referring to the Virginia suburb of Washington, D.C., where he lives. ``I don't attend regularly when I'm up there.''

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20070911/pl_bloomberg/a23dx3a8oufe;_ylt=Akv2PhjF1wkIDdqB9lYBsl6yFz4D

[Apollo11]

1. Good for him. Let's keep religion out of politics.

I think it's wrong to put too much emphasis on what candidates believe concerning the creation of the earth, the origins of life and the chances of some kind of afterlife.

It's even more stupid to think that the best candidate is the one who goes to church most regularly.

As an atheist, I would love to see a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy when it comes to religion and politics.

We shouldn't ask candidates about their religious beliefs, and they shouldn't talk about their beliefs.

But sometimes it is relevant, like if they believe all gays are sinners who are going to hell.

Or if they believe disabled people are being punished for what they did in a former life.

Or if they believe abortion is murder. So it's hard to escape from the "Faith" thing!

[Joe Bacon]

9. I can see it now--REPUBLICANS GIVE GOOD FRED

:evilgrin:

[Mythsaje]

2. Ain't gonna make the "values voters" happy...

The Republican primary's going to be a meatgrinder.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. Frederick90027 Better Pray He Can Close The Gap Against HRC

http://www.pollingreport.com/wh08gen.htm

[FormerDittoHead]

4. That's ONE up on HRClinton...

I like the sound of this better than hearing about Senator Clinton's bible reading classes with top Republicans... n/t

[Arugula Latte]

14. No kidding.

That whole aspect of HRC just makes me want to hurl.

[iamahaingttta]

5. Well that's refreshing!

And, it's good to know this early that there's now no way the man is going to win.

[Netbeavis]

6. I swear he really doesn't want to run and is now tanking it...

I sense that his younger trophy wife is really driving things as she wants to be queen/First Lady and he is doing a "OK, honey". His "campaign" can't go a week with out something smacking them down and most of their smackdowns are self inflicted.

Lazy like a Fox indeed.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. BAWAWAWAWAWAWA

He was the Great Freeper Hope...

He was their Tom Tancredo with panache...

BAWAWAWAWAWAWA

[saltpoint]

11. I get the same impression about his true commitment. He just doesn't

sound like a man who wants to be the president.

He sounds like a man who wants the best grill you can buy and the thickest steak to slap on it, and a torrent of sweet barbecue sauce at both ends of the table.

Man, that's good eatin', ain't it, Fred?

[Joe Bacon]

8. Freddy wears his cross on his sleeve just like every other Republican

Just wait till FREDERICK of HOLLYWOOD® gets up in front of those crooked preachers at their convocations. You'll hear Jesus ooze out of every mitochondria in his sleazy body.

[saltpoint]

10. One is brought up short when Republicans don't pander to the fundie nutbags.

[Netbeavis]

12. just goes to show you, watch what you wish for.... n/t

[ToeBot]

13. Doesn't mean much, after all the years of Bush's faux religiosity...

the Republican elite know that they can't keep playing that strategy; the swing voters are sick of it. Besides if they keep it up, the religious rubes they are fleecing may finally get a clue.

[Pool Hall Ace]

15. On the one hand, I like the idea that he isn't going to bring up religion.

On the other hand, why does he attend church in Tennessee, but not in McLean? There are churches in Northern Virginia, yes?