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. Come on people, we certainly do not need another actor as President. There are only two competent, crediable, intelligent, articulate, honest, courageous people running and that is Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
There is absolutely no one in the Republican party that has the above credentials.
Face it..............no more corrupt Republican Administration
Annette K at 10:35PM 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. "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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. For any Democrat to claim that Republicans are the corrupt party, "even more corrupt". as Annette and others sadly believe, is a Paper Napkin asking Toilet Paper the embarrasing question, "So, what do you do for a liviing?"
Roy at 6:13PM on Aug 8th 2007
12. 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
13. Fred Thompson is the hope for our future, another potential Harry Truman. Truman pulled this Country out of a downward spiral. We even more need to have someone pull us out of the crash we are headed for with the current political climate on both sides of the aisle. I can imagine the bleeding heart liberals are propogating the trash about Fred Thompson's wife. Politics in our Country has stooped to a low unmatched by anything in our past.
Bill at 4:58PM on Aug 7th 2007
14. 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
15. We do need our next President to be ready to defend our country, at ANY cost, against the terrorists! Candidates who think we can co-exist with Muslin radicals are fooling
themselves. Look at Europe. What have they done to make the radicals bomb, burn and destroy in their country. Surely, we can see that once the Muslins control and run any country, they do not extend freedom and rights to ANY of the citizens,even their own kind. The goal of Muslins is to convert the world to their way of life, at any cost. Our next president MUST know this, and lead with this ALWAYS in mind. We need to remember Former Pres. Clinton pardoning the 12 South American terrorists(NY)tohelpHillary in as Senator. What else will the Clintons do to get and stay in power? We certainly do not need a socialist as our president. AND, are we ready to send federal agents after truck loads of White House furniture, etc. once the Clinton term is over? We need to remember how low class, unethical and underhanded the Clintons have been over just about Everything in order to get their way. Instead of taking out one party, and installing another in power every 20 or so years, why not keep the power divided?! What better way to have bipartism, and MAYBE get something done. Has anyone seen very much accomplisted since thedemocratetake over in Congress? We certainly do not need ONE party in control ever again. Once they (either party) has full control, they become MORE corrupt than ever, forgetting ALTOGETHER the people who put them there, caring nothing about what we the people want and need. Letsforget'party' and vote for the candidate who we honestly believe IS at least halfway honest, and will do the right thing for us and our country instead of themselves and the contributors. Should Hillary get back in the White House, who and how many will be murdered and fired THIS time/!
Janice Brown at 12:15AM on Aug 8th 2007