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 4 of 4)
46. Fred Thompson leaked for the Nixon White House as a republican prosecutor during Watergate ,lobbied for big tobacco,planned parenthood and has a private life that could be an episode of Law and Order.His wife is not an attorney she is a political advisor.His son is a lobbyist now.This man is a Washington insider for decades.If he is a "real man" or" presidential "in any way what so ever it is for in this nation.Please do not waste your one vote on an illusion that has been produced for you not lived by this man.
queenshoop at 8:26PM on Sep 4th 2007
47. never estimate the importance of communication. Reagen was tops, and Slick willie was close second. Of course there was a huge gap in the area of integrity and honesty between them. But the incapacity for communication by Bush is perhaps the main reason for his failures. The actor's experience served RWR well, it will do the same for Fred.
archinmo at 9:19AM on Aug 11th 2007
48. "But the incapacity for communication by Bush is perhaps the main reason for his failures" -
Watch how Mr. Bush listens, thinks on his feet and speaks. If he's reading a speech, see how he enunciates the occasional word his speech-writer has put into the text and with which Mr. Bush is plainly unfamiliar. If it is a press conference, compare the question with the President's response and gauge if his response is germane or, in the event he evaded the question, how artfully he pulled off the evasion.
I have been doing this for some 5 years now. This is what I have found: 1.) Mr. Bush is astonishingly devoid of imagination. 2.) He is lacking in curiosity. 3.) He shows few signs of being able to empathize.
Mr. Bush may or may not be intelligent. He may have a physiologically adequate brain, but he is quite lacking in those faculties of the mind we usually attribute to the "heart." I'm afraid in this sad void runs the roots of the national tragedy that is the George W Bush administration.
holywoodog at 8:12AM on Aug 9th 2007
49. Not another actor!!!! Like we need more drama in the White House?!...While Mr. Thompson is a good actor he is no Ronald Reagan and no "Great Communicator" that is not to say that RR was any better at "memorizing" the monitor. We need a person in the White House who will return our nation to it's "pre-industrial meltdown" state. We also need a President who seeks to use our resources wisely-not to rebuild a "sinking city" but to rebuild our nations production of goods. We have enough services, managers, accountants...we need DURABLE GOODS to sell.....made by other than war profiteers like Haliburton?
"Rustbelt Rosie"
dems&does at 1:29PM on Aug 9th 2007
50. This Thompson fellow is somewhat of a joke to me. He is an actor, he was a senator, and those who knew him in his senator years said he was lazy. Now, we are soon getting rid of a stubborn and clueless president who has all but run our country into the ground. We do not need to follow him up with a lazy man. Whoever wins is going to have to work his/her ass off to correct the disaster created by the Bush administration. In fact, we not only don't need a lazy man, we don't need a Republican. Nixon, Reagan (the most overrated president in history!!) and W Bush have done enough damage to last for a century.
Joette Bailey at 9:48PM on Aug 9th 2007
51. Just one aside observation here. Candidates generally are under no obligation to correct the mistakes of the media. If Fred chooses to let everyone quibble over his wife's resume for a few weeks, so what? All that does is reinforce his assertion that getting information from public servants to the public is much more accurate when the mainstream media filters are removed from the equation. If you want to tell everyone that the moon is made of green cheese, it's not my job to stop you. In the long run, which of us has done more damage to our credibility?
Pastor Dan at 8:57AM on Aug 10th 2007
52. What exactly does "trophy wife" mean. Marriage is a commitment based on principle (oh those fickle feelings rise and fall all the time don't they) to spend your life with someone whom you chose to be a husband or wife to. Do you think he made a bad choice ?? Did she ?? I don't think so. The people who report this, do they think that because she is obviously attractive she shouldn't have married him, she should have married someone else ?? Regardless of her dislikes, likes, personality, looks.......etc she chose to marry him. Stop objectifying her. She is his WIFE regardless of why they chose to marry. Lets find out who she is. Does she have a lot to say.... will she be a big part of his presidency......if so then we need to know how that will be. If not, if she is just going to stand by him, then thats all we really need to know. Either way, judging her is rediculous. Find out what you need to find out about her and make your decision accordingly. Shouldn't we be more concerned with her actions then her level of intelligence.... regardless of whether her IQ is high or low, she without saying a word has proved herself to be plenty smarter than ANYONE who is going to go out and concern themselves with her intelligence. Whats of more concern is whether a person is a FOOL and there are plenty of highly INTELLIGENT fools out there aren't there ?? Its time we turned the pointing fingers back at those fools who define themselves with their endless supply of negative, low class and ubsubstantiated DRIBBLE. Take a closer look and always check the facts behind what people say. A lot of the time they are pointing the finger at someone else but they are really talking about themselves..........
racingcountryllc at 12:23PM on Aug 11th 2007
53. In reality, does anyone believe Jeri would be by Fred's side if he wasn't rich? First of all she wouldn't have had access to him if he was less than wealthy. Secondly, his last job did expose him to women like her. I don't say she doesn't love him. What I am saying is if he were not in the position he is in, he'd have someone else by his side.
cassjr at 5:14PM on Aug 15th 2007