Looking at Thompson's lobbying past

[Dollface]

Source: The Associated Press

Looking at Thompson's lobbying past
6/25/2007, 5:09 p.m. ET
By TRAVIS LOLLER
The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Republican Fred Thompson, who likes to cast himself in the role of Washington outsider, has a long history as a political insider who earned more than $1 million lobbying the federal government. As a lobbyist for more than 20 years, billion-dollar corporations paid Thompson for his access to members of Congress and White House staff. During that time he was close to two Senate majority leaders, both from his home state of Tennessee — his political mentor Howard Baker and, more recently, his former colleague Bill Frist.

During Baker's tenure, Thompson lobbied for a savings-and-loan deregulation bill that helped hasten the industry's collapse and a failed nuclear energy project that cost taxpayers more than a billion dollars. More recently, while Frist led the Senate, Thompson earned more than $750,000 lobbying for a British reinsurance company that wanted to limit its liability from asbestos lawsuits.

That history as a Washington insider is at odds with the image Thompson has sought to convey to voters. When he first ran for the Senate in 1993, Thompson cast himself in the part of the gruff, plainspoken everyman, leased a red pickup truck and drove around Tennessee in his shirt sleeves. Now, as he considers an expected run for president in 2008, the actor-politician continues to position himself as a political outsider.

However, lobbying has been a steady side gig for Thompson ever since the end of the Watergate hearings that brought him to Washington in 1973 as minority counsel for the investigative committee co-chaired by the GOP's Baker. Lobbying clients paid him about half a million dollars between 1975 and 1993, when he started his campaign for the Senate. He released 20 years worth of tax returns during the race.

EDITED TO COMPLY WITH DU'S COPYRIGHT POLICY.

Read more: http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/politics/index.ssf?/base/politics-9/118279436870230.xml&storylist=politics

---

I'm keeping this handy in case any inquiring conservative minds want to know.

[Nikki Stone1]

1. kick and recommend

:kick:

[brentspeak]

2. The guy is an ACTOR, for Pete's sake. A phony.

A pretend "older male authority figure" who some weak-willed, insecure, pliable people want to have as their President simply because he makes them feel "protected" in a "daddy" sort of way.

[Dollface]

3. I hate to say it but someone who at least "ACTS" like a president would be an improvement

[Canuckistanian]

5. And even that's a low standard

At least other presidents had some "substance" behind the "style" they were putting forth.

[4_TN_TITANS]

11. I hate to agree with that, but I do....:) n/t

[Auggie]

4. And don't forget, so was Reagan.

[Dollface]

12. I still haven;t figures out the whole "Raygun as God" thing, forgot to drink my koolaid I guess

[never cry wolf]

6. yes, so was saint ronnie raygun

as unbelievable as it woul;d seem, over 50% of the country overlooked the fact that ronnie raygun was an actor without substance... don't ask me :shrug: seemed to be so obvious....

[Maryland Liberal]

7. Will Someone?

Pass a law the Lobbists cant run for President?

[UpInArms]

8. k & r

and welcome to DU, Dollface

We're glad to have you here :hi:

[Mika]

9. Maybe Obama will kick him back to K Street.

:crazy:

[coffeenap]

10. Thank you--I sent the link to a Repub. friend--we just talked

about Fred yesterday. My friend tells me that Pubs are looking at him because he carries none of the "insider" baggage of this administration and they want someone "fresh". She will learn a bit today, methinks! :)

Also, btw, she believes Pubs in her profession, mid-to high level law, would cross over to vote for one Dem--Obama! Interesting....

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

13. K & R

Thanks for posting this. I heard it on NPR or BC News last week and forgot to post it