OK, lots of people have taken pot shots at Jeri Thompson, calling her, among other things, a trophy wife. The standard reply to this rather sexist accusation is that, no, Jeri Thompson is no bimbo, in fact, she's a lawyer. Dozens of stories have run in major news outlets propagating this claim. Fox, the AP, the Chicago Tribune, London's The Independent, The National Review, the USA Today, even (gasp!) some writers at this very blog. It seems that everybody in the media was eager to defend Jeri's credentials as a smart, competent woman by stating that she practiced law.
The problem? Jeri Thompson isn't a lawyer. Where does this revelation come to us from? Well, the Washington Post got it straight from Thompson campaign spokeswoman Linda Rozett. Money quote:
"Jeri Thompson does not have a law degree."As Nixguy pointed out earlier, Fred himself also chose this day to clear up the confusion by chatting with the National Review's Byron York. Funny that. Especially after all the ink that has been spilled assuring the public that Mrs. Thompson is a practicing lawyer. Guess it just slipped Fred's and Jeri's mind to correct the record until now.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 4)
1. Lets all hope that Fred Thompson wins this election He is the strongest of them all. I am from Nashville Tn. and would love to see a real man win. Who cares if his a lawyer or a housewife he is his own man. AlmaRowe
AlmaRowe at 10:42PM on Aug 6th 2007
2. Never mind about Jeri Thompson, Is Fred ever going to Make a Statement about RUNNING and When?????
Gene at 11:31PM on Aug 6th 2007
3. I think having being married and having children does not equate to a trophy wife. Who cares what her education or occupation is/was unless you want a Hilliary first lady who wants to conduct a 'healthgate' fiasco. I am more concerned about the candidates, not their spouses. I take that back...Although I am a registered democrat and unfortunately voted for Bill Clinton twice, the LAST thing we need is a Hilliary-Bill team in the White House. They both have disgraced the party and this great nation on multiple fronts too many times. If Al-Quaida thinks we have no morals, must be destroyed, etc., what will they think if the Clintons return to the White House?
...by their fruit ye shall know them....
Debi at 5:10AM on Aug 7th 2007
4. I'm guessing that they don't have all day, every day to scour blogs, papers and pundits to make sure that every journalist (so-called) knows how to actually research and present facts. They'd be running to the media every 10 minutes to straighten something out. Better idea? Next interview, present the truth. And that's what they did. David, you may not like him, but you need to practice the phrase "President Thompson." You're gonna need it.
Ray at 5:25AM on Aug 7th 2007
5. "no more corrupt Republican Administration" Lets see can we say "stolen vote on the House Floor"???? Yep thats not corrupt that "Patriotic" right Annette?
I agree with Debi, lets hear about the CANDIDATES!!!!! This "gotcha" reporting is what most people are sick of David!!!
jchild314 at 10:08AM on Aug 7th 2007
6. I echo Debi's comments. Lets hear about the CANDIDATE. Everyone is sick of the "gotcha" media angles. And Annette "no more corrupt Republican Administration", can you say "stolen vote on House Floor" five times in a row???? And walk???
jchild314 at 10:10AM on Aug 7th 2007
7. Jchild,
Thanks for taking the time to comment. As to your point about "gotcha reporting," I guess what struck me about this story was the fact that it was those in the media who so adamantly played this back and forth game with Jeri Thompson. Literally hundreds of articles have been written either smearing her or coming to her defense. Google her, if you don't believe me. The central claim of the defenders seemed to hinge on the question on her being a lawyer. Of course Fred Thompson read all of these stories. He was incredibly slow to react and correct the record, just as he's incredibly slow to enter the race. He's not doing a very good job at fighting the perception that he's lazy. That reputation, by the way, is one that was fostered by many of the Republicans who worked in the Senate with Mr. Thompson.
Does it matter whether or not Jeri is a lawyer? No. She's obviously no mere pretty face. Then again, she's gotten a lot of attention for being the driving force behind Thompson's campaign (or lack thereof), and on that score she and Fred goofed up by not setting the record straight months ago when these claims of her legal status proliferated.
david knowles at 10:17AM on Aug 7th 2007
8. Do you really think for a minute thatthe Washington Post is a reliable source for information about any republican? Come on, man, use your brain!!
Paul Brown at 10:24AM on Aug 7th 2007
9. Dear Paul,
While I appreciate your skepticism, you don't have to take the Post's word for it. Thompson himself said as much to Byron York at the National Review Online.
david knowles at 10:24AM on Aug 7th 2007
10. Lets have another actor if he can do as well as Regan. We sure don't need Bill or Hilliary messing up the White House again. Maybe they could bring back all the things they stole and leave. Can't you just see Bill messing with all thos interns again with so much time on his hands.
James at 11:17AM on Aug 7th 2007
11. the dogs are out. fred is the man for the job, but the left is barking. you can see they are scared and should say they are scared. we from tennessee know about fred. we also know about some of idiots. run fred, run hard.
delcogw at 12:01PM on Aug 7th 2007
12. I think that Thompson's approach to running for President is brillant. The others have been at each other for months now and have spent loads of their campaign funds doing so. I'm sure most of you would agree that we are about sick of hearing all the back-stabbing and name calling. Now enters Thompson. A new fresh name, having not spent campaign monies to early and has equal TV, radio, press time as the others. Brillant! That is the kind of man we need in the White House....one with a Brain! Who cares if he was or is an actor, plumber, or yardman! He saw a need to speak out and represent his country when he started in the Senate! What are the rest of us doing...setting in the back ground picking everyone apart and trashing them. How does that help American. Why don't we trash the others for what they did before. That is exactly why we don't need the Clinton's again. They disgraced the US! Thompson..he is the right man for the Job!
Jackie at 12:33PM on Aug 7th 2007
13. The post is a left wing mouth piece, nothing more. I don't ever listen to a word. We need Thompson and his basic integrity. His wife is a pretty( dosn't make her a bad person) and those who don't like her for that can go get a face lift and stop eating Mcdonalds every day. The Repulicans need this change, and the democrats need to quit their disgusting childish bantar towards the other party.
Bill and hilary disgraced this nation and for NY and the democtartic party to stand with her. well I say you should be ashamed. I am disturbed by the partisan discussions filled wth lies and hate but more than that is that our country and politics have become a digrace around the world. What happened to character, self decipline, integrity and honor. Bill destryed that and hillary just sat back and watched. Well what would she do in a national crisis, go to her room and bajke cookies? I dont think so
Do unto others as you would have done to you
Think before you react and mayvbe we can salvage what our fore fathers had intended
John McCafferty at 12:42PM on Aug 7th 2007
14. I'm so happy. On September 5, our true conservative couple returns from their vacation with the Iraqi Parliament. The true conservatives will have a new website all ready. The latest version of campaign central calls him George Washington!? Funny, none of the founders voted for a war only to leave public service to act and lobby.
jimrob at 12:42PM on Aug 7th 2007
15. I have to tell you that there is more than enough corruption to go around, but you people amaze me! Do you ever read outside our "Non News System"? We do not get the news, we have become a corporate society and what ever makes the coporations and their operatives money, that's the way it'll be. All the news organizations are owned by corporations, you can see a connection???
Now that we speak of stolen votes, we need go no further than florida (2000) and Ohio (2004). We have not had a legitimate president for 7 years now.
I personally don't know if Hillary's campaign is a possible winner but I do know we HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT HEALTH CARE.
I watched my brother lose his house because he has heart disease and needed surgery to survive. As soon as he found out the diagnosis, his job gave him the heave ho (police officer with insufficient years to retire) and his new job's insurance said it was a pre-existing condition. This same situation is possible with so many of us, it is a true shame and we should do something about it.
Before you start in with the prepared speech about not seeing a Doctor for years under universal health care, realize that it is propoganda from insurance companies to continue to rape you and everyone else they can.
Of the millions that have full benefits at work, do you realize that they funnel 10's of BILLIONS into insurance company pockets every month? The sole purpose of insurance is to make money so they deny claims that they can, discount those they can't and raise rate insane amounts every chance they get.
The whole notion of "for profit" medicine is foreign to me, it's like for profit police protection, for profit basic education or for profit charity. We need to wake up and smell the coffee.
The changes needed as I see it are:
#1 should be health care across the board
#2 should be outlaw all campaign contributions or gifts and the lobbying of candidates and elected officials. There should be only individual voices from the electorate, not the likes of lawyers, insurance companies, drug companies and coporate lackies subverting the will of the people.
#3 We need to get our news back. The deregulation of the airwaves was one of the largest mistakes of the 20th century. Rupert Murdoch and his ilk need to be stripped of the booming voice that has drowned out and or killed the voices that are truthful, dependable and independant.
#4 We need to simply delete Nafta and all the other "free trade" treaties. This was a complete shell game where the american worker was sold down the river. We can manufacture anything as well as or better than the rest of the world. Why on earth should we compete against countries with no health care at all, no minimum wage, no working standards, no safety standards and no retirement/social security system? The only real competition that is legitimate are those countries that are on an equal with us in the above mentioned infrastructure. The rest, we are "competing against slavery".
Those of you citing religious references, get over it already! Organized religion is a pathology (sickness) and religion was meant for personal level actions anyway. No one of us, Clinton or Bush, are any better than the other. If it took "deserving" to be looked on as acceptable by God, we'd all fail miserably. And one more thing, God does not need our help winning people over, or for us to be sanctimonious. I suspect he is very sad we are like that.
carteachr at 12:59PM on Aug 7th 2007