Jeri "Mrs. Hollywood Fred" Thompson and the entrenched media's double standard

[johnfunk]

Once again, Oliver Willis shoots... and scooores!

Because she's a Republican, the media will never treat Jeri Thompson in the same shameful manner they have Hillary Clinton, but the Not Ready For Primetime Campaign of Hollywood actor Fred Thompson had yet another person jump ship.

Another aide to Fred Thompson's campaign-in-waiting resigned last night, two sources close to the campaign confirm. Tom Frechette had been effectively serving as campaign manager Tom Collamore's deputy. Collamore was removed from his post Tuesday and given a "senior adviser" role. Like Collamore, Frechhette was said to have chafed under the heavy influence of Thompson's wife, Jeri.

Note that Oliver links to an article at the hacktacular, GOP-fluffing, failing Politico--which means that the Beltway establishment is spinning this story to make it look as mild as possible.

Meanwhile, I'm in the favorable position of being a New Yorker close enough to one of the many people behind the making of the 28 flavors of Law & Order that I can say that there is the perception that Jeri is, shall we say, a tad know-it-allish, unpleasant when she cannot get her way, and not a terribly good listener.

And I agree with Oliver. I doubt that you'll ever see anyone in the established news media -- you know, the ones who were willing to cast Hillary Clinton as a shrew without using the word -- put any negative spin on Frederic of Hollywood's trophy wife -- but it would be interesting to hear someone (maybe a caller) on talk radio point out that nobody jumped ship on Bill Clinton's campaigns on Hillary, then point out that the wave of resignations from Team Freddie might lead one to think that comparing Hillary to Jeri is like "comparing a churchmouse to a shrew."

Sexist and un-PC, I know. But imagine the sound coming from the Beltway when DC pundits -- who consistently operate in a "reality" where these very same sexual clichés are taken as an element of the "real world" -- as their heads simultaneously explode when they hear someone dare say it -- and shove their own sexism right back in their face.

[rodeodance]

1. you mean she is the real 'b....ch'-------??

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. silica enhanced, no less.

She is one person you want to be with on the Love Boat. No, not for sex, but for when the iceberg sinks it. She can stay afloat for two.

and yet the MSM concentrates on Hillary's cleavage.

amazing.

[JitterbugPerfume]

3. A little bit slutty

a little bit nutty?

[cally]

4. Most of Bill Clinton's advisers have gone to work for Hillary

The media painted her as overbearing and shrill but those who worked closest with them are loyal.

[tammywammy]

5. I wonder if it's because

Bill and Hillary promoted themselves as "two for the price of one" basically a co-presidency. While Jeri's definitely pulling the strings in Fred's campaign, she hasn't been saying she'll be an integral part of Fred's administration.

[johnfunk]

6. Yeah, she'll be the "dutiful wifey." And if you believe that...

... I've got this bridge up for sale...

[tammywammy]

8. I didn't say that I'd thought she'd be a

"dutiful wifey." There's no need to put words in my mouth.

[johnfunk]

10. Apologies, was not my intention to do so...

... but that sure is my personal impression...

[tammywammy]

14. Sorry on my part

I'm tired today, so I shouldn't have been so snippy. :)

Yeah, she's definitely running the campaign. I don't think he'd even be entertaining the thought of running for president if it wasn't for her.

I think the difference between them and the Clinton's is how they're doing it. The Clinton's basically said vote Bill and you get Hillary too. But Jeri's not doing that, she's staying behind the scenes so far. Even like what kskiska mentioned below in the Rudy campaign. The was an uproar in the conservatives when Rudy said that his wife would be sitting in on cabinet meetings.

But it's still really early and too far out to see how this will play out. You never know, in two months the conservative base maybe screaming about Jeri's heavily involvement in the Thompson campaign. Or, in two month, Fred maybe completely out of the picture anyways.

I'm interested in seeing what happens, especially with so many jumping the Thompson ship and he's not even "officially" running yet.

[johnfunk]

20. Here's a thought: Keep our powder dry if Frederick of Hollywood gets traction...

... then point out Jeri's "Hillary-like" role in certain regressive circles.

Interesting that Thompson has a history of hooking up with women who happen to be right-wing political advisors. For a while, Hollywood Fredzie and notorious Clinton crotch-sniffer Kellyanne Fitzpatrick (now Kellyanne Conway) were an item.

[kskiska]

7. Same goes for Rudy

He did tell Barbara Walters that he and Judi were a team, and that she might sit in at cabinet meetings, but after an uproar, he backed off, and since then Judi's appearances have been limited.

[johnfunk]

16. Of course, the uproar came from the "Stuck in the 1950s" wing of the GOP

Gotta have your "nuclear family" values, and careerist women are a threat to Dominionist vision of the American family.

Memo to the GOP:

Ozzie and Harriet are dead. Meet today's family: the wife's name is Sheila...

[tammywammy]

18. I agree to a point

The only problem I have with the president's spouse participating heavily in an administration's policy, is what if they're corrupt, how do you remove a spouse? I mean there's impeachment for the president and such, but what could you do if the first spouse needs to be removed?

But I agree that the GOP needs to move their "values" up to current day standards and away from the 1950s.

[momster]

9. Judi and Jeri

Gad, what a team! Guiliani/Thompson but the women not the men? I can see the signs now with little hearts instead of dots over the i!

[aquart]

11. What?

[Swamp Rat]

13. Jedi mind trick

You be confused... me not fooled... heh heh heh heh heeeeeeeeehhh!!!

[johnfunk]

12. The campaign is being "Jeri-rigged" (heh-heh)

Yesterday's MSNBC First Read:

Apparently, every single staffer that decided to leave called a reporter or a blogger to give their version of "Jeri Thompson is micro-managing things too much." Lots of eye-rolling among those following this story.

Maybe there's "eye-rolling" among the incestuous Beltway press mandarins, but the reality-based world sees a pattern emerging -- and it does not exactly make Frederick of Hollywood look as if he's in control of his non-canpaign.

Meanwhile, over at the NY Times' weak excuse for a political blog:

As he tests the waters for a presidential campaign, Fred D. Thompson is changing his floaties before wading all the way in. The Times’s Susan Saulny reports that in addition to questions about his preparedness to run, this week’s broad staff turnover "also ignited speculation in Republican circles about who is really in charge, and in particular about the extent of the role being played by Mr. Thompson’s wife, Jeri Kehn Thompson, a former political operative."

Thank you for playing "Three days behind 'teh Interwebs'"! And you wonder why dead tree media is dying...

[gratuitous]

15. Yes, it IS okay if you're a Republican

See, Hollywood types are a bunch of buffoons, not to be taken seriously. Except for Charlton Heston, Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Fred Thompson, to name just four. And wives are supposed to be meek and unassuming, otherwise they're bitches on wheels. Except for Nancy Reagan, Elizabeth Dole, Jeri Thompson, and Judi Giuliani.

Democrats = Bad
Republicans = Good

All clear now on how the media report things?

[johnfunk]

17. Thank you for alleviating my utter confusion!

Heh-heh.

[UTUSN]

19. Well, he wants to be RAYGUN, so she wants to be Nancy!!1 n/t

[Gabi Hayes]

21. I love this thread for several reasons. First of which, I LOVE that couple!

second of which, very nautical: the mermaid and the creature from the Black Lagoon

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1427786

[Gabi Hayes]

22. who's the cat? who's the canary?