Deathwysh wrote:
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"I think people are somewhat disillusioned. I think a lot of people are cynical out there. I think they're looking for something different. ... and I think that they're going to be open to different things," he said.
Yeah, all of his positions are so very different from what's going on in the current administration. He's a real right-wing nonconformist, he is.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that perhaps what is "different" about Thompson is that he's a straight talker on these issues. He does not dance around when asked what he supports and what he opposes. Most politicians (yes, including Conservatives) will tend to avoid giving direct answers because they don't want to lock themselves into a position. They'll say just enough to make a given voting block think that they support their position but no more.
I finally heard an interview with him and he really was "different" in that manner. Even Obama, who's given lots of props for his speaking skills, tends to dance around certain issues. He's flowery, but when asked a question like "Do you support gay marriage", will spin off on a talk about the gay rights movement and solidarity for them and how he supported X, Y, and Z, but wont actually answer the direct question he was asked. Thompson does. Which unfortunately means he's likely got a snowball's chance in hell of going anywhere.
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# Is "pro-life," and believes federal judges should overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade abortion rights decision as "bad law and bad medical science."
This one actually surprised me, because he holds the exact same position on this that I do. He's not "pro-life" in the traditional sense. He believes that Roe V. Wade was a bad decision and should be overturned. However, he catagorically stated that he does not support any sort of pro-life ammendment to the constitution either. He believes that this is something that should be legistlated at the state level, not mandated at the federal level.
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# Opposes gay marriage, but would let states decide whether to allow civil unions. "Marriage is between a man and a woman, and I don't believe judges ought to come along and change that."
Unfortunately, in the interview I heard from him, he did not elaborate on this. My personal position is that there should be a sharp distinction made between the legal status of marriage and the civil contract of a civil union. I've made this point many times on this forum. Not sure where he is on this, but his answer didn't counter what I believe (he opposes change the legal status of marriage to include gay couples, but does believe that gays should be able to obtain civil unions).
Dunno. It was interesting to hear a Conservative politician who didn't seem to just be hitting talking points, but seemed to actually believe in certain political ideals that match with my own. Again. Probably means he wont go very far though...
He's for civil unions and believes that marriage should be kept between a man & a woman but does not favor a Constitutional amendment. This took me all of 25 seconds to find direct quotes for.