I got a little upset by some of the comments in my earlier post, so here is an article from the New York Times that shows why it is a sensitive subject for him to comment on. It gives a little more background into what he went through.
TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 22 – In his public life, former Senator Fred D. Thompson has long refrained from speaking about the death of his daughter from an accidental drug overdose in 2002, an episode that friends and colleagues say played into his decision not to seek re-election to the Senate in 2002.
But on Monday, when questioned at a news conference about his reaction to the Terri Schiavo case, Mr. Thompson opened up about the death, suggesting the Schiavo matter had particular resonance for him because of how his daughter, Elizabeth Panici, known as Betsy, had died.
…
Mr. Thompson’s daughter suffered from bipolar disorder and died from an accidental drug overdose, according to hospital records obtained by The Tennessean in Nashville at the time.
Mr. Thompson released an angry statement then, saying that the newspaper’s report was “unfortunate.”
“Every public official has to understand there’s a price you pay, and for the most part it’s appropriate,” he said at the time. “But there are lines to be drawn.”
Toxicology tests ordered by the medical examiner showed that Ms. Panici had six times the lethal level of hydrocodone, a painkiller, in her blood when she arrived at the hospital, according the Tennessean report.
Hospital personnel revived her, but she never regained consciousness. Six days after she was brought to the hospital, she was pronounced dead.
Mr. Thompson did not say who ultimately made the decision to remove her from life support or even that she was on life support, although he clearly left the impression that she had been.
“I will assure you one thing,” he said. “No matter which decision you make, you will never know whether or not you made exactly the right decision.”
He said he would not talk about the Schiavo case any more, saying his position was clear.
“Making this into a political football is something that I don’t welcome, and this will probably be the last time I ever address it,” he said. “It should be decided by the families – the federal government and the state government too, except for the court system, ought to stay out of those matters as far as I am concerned.”
Back when his daughter died, the media just had to find all the little details. They went into the records and published the report in the Tennessean. That is one of the reasons why I am so skeptical of the media. Being a public figure, the reporters wanted to find any little dirt they could, and in the process, caused Thompson and his family even more pain, and he left the senate.
I don’t doubt it’s taken him a long time to open himself, and his personal life, back up to the media. They hurt him then, they said things about his wife over the summer, and I’m sure they’d do it again.
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:39 pm
call me a fool, but i think that’s an extremely rare peak into the soul of a politician.
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Amen, sampo. Things like these give us pause to step back and remember that these are real people with real families and real problems, just like everyone else. What we say can be hurtful, and what we read is not always the whole story.
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:02 am
Fred Thompson is a class act
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:12 am
Mr. T,
Thank you for that response. My job here is not so much to turn supporters of the other candidates into Thompson supporters, but to let them know that he is a good man whom they can trust, if he is their nominee.
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:13 am
I like Thompson.
And that’s all I’ve got to say about that!
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:15 am
Tommy — The more I see of Fred, the more I like him. Ironically, the fact that I’m starting to like him more as time goes along probably doesn’t bode too well for his chances at the nomination! He’s taken some unfair shots at Rudy, but, well, that’s politics, I suppose.
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:16 am
I guess I lied in the second part of #5.
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:26 am
Tommy,
I remain undecided on which candidate to support but I think we can all agree that, were he nominated, Fred would do us proud.
October 23rd, 2007 at 1:10 am
Yeah, at first I was skeptical of Thompson and felt he would just be a tool of the religious right. However, I’ve been surprised and impressed at how he sticks to his principles, in particular federalism. I think when people criticize Fred for not having the fire in his belly, it might be that Fred doesn’t want to deal with all the nonsense politicians have to put up with (appeasing every single interest group) as opposed to actual laziness.
October 23rd, 2007 at 1:19 am
“Making this into a political football is something that I don’t welcome, and this will probably be the last time I ever address it,†he said. “It should be decided by the families — the federal government and the state government too, except for the court system, ought to stay out of those matters as far as I am concerned.â€
I totally agree with Thompson on the Schiavo case. There is a huge difference in my opinion between taking someone off life support (especially when the person is already “brain-dead” and has no chance of recovery) and killing them. The Schiavo episode was silly both because she was already dead and because the parents though they had a right to interfere in the affairs of a husband and wife. The political grand standing bordered on insane.
Having said that, the above statement is almost identical to Thompson’s past views (and possibly current views) on abortion.
See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5a_Fpu_8KE
I hope Thompson knows the difference between taking someone off life support and aborting a fetus. However, my honest opinion is that he considers them very similar issues.
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:02 am
Tommy, I just have to say this. I think Fred Thompson is a great guy. I think he is a genuine person with conservative ideals — that has never been a doubt in my mind.
People extol him for the way he “says it like it is” and he “is one of us,” etc.
My problem with Fred Thompson is two-fold: Resume and Energy.
I don’t think I need to go into those two. You’re a smart guy and I’m sure you understand where I’m coming from.
He just does not behave like a man who wants the job.
And I get really sick and tired of people extolling this as a positive characteristic.
Tommy, POTUS is the most demanding, relentless, thankless job in the world. It requires someone who LIKES. TO. WORK.
I just don’t see that in Thompson.
He has great ideas. When I take candidate tests, he’s in the top 3-4 of my choices, but I’m looking for more than someone who just agrees with my views.
Do I believe that Thompson is genuine and sincere in what he believes? Yes!
Do I believe that he will be able to actually do the job of Commander in Chief, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? NO!
Do I believe that he wants to do the job of the President of the United States of America? NO!
I am not going to give my vote or support to someone who half-heartedly wants this job.
I am not going to give my vote or support to someone who worries me about his commitment or desire to do what he’s been elected to do.
I am not trying to throw senseless barbs of criticism at your candidate, Tommy. I am just really concerned about these things, and nothing Thompson has done so far as allayed my fears about him.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:28 am
Bethtopaz,
You’ve echoed my sentiments almost completely. I also believe Thompson is a good man in enough respects and would vote for him in a heartbeat over Hillary.
I will add just one more to the pot. Even though on this issue, he may have a point, he has shown a repetitive lack of knowledge in today’s affairs and current global status of other countries. That probably goes hand in hand with your comment, resume and energy. He does not put the time in to be abreast of the world as it really is, right now. He doesn’t have the get up and go to be on top of it. Bumping along as a good ‘ol boy seems to be a mode that has worked for him in Tennessee, but does not qualify him for POTUS.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:35 am
This is just another reason among many others to support Fred. Whether someone tries to say ‘he doesn’t have the fire in his belly’ or not, integrity requires that we admit that he is a man of conviction that cares deeply for his family and his nation.
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:43 am
I like those stories that give you peak into the real person. I can see how this would make peopl elike Thompson as a person. A peak into who he is when not running for president.
This article did much teh same for me when I was studying out Romney.
http://www.mittromney.com/News/In-The-News/NEWSMAX_Romney_Rescue
October 23rd, 2007 at 10:02 am
Dubious,
I LOVE that Romney story, but do you see the difference between the two reactions of Thompson and Romney? Thompson quit, recoiled, so to argue that this is a good, human reaction, you would also have to argue that nothing bad would happen to Fred while he is President. It is a sympathy appeal.
Romney’s reaction is pro-active. In other words he rolled up his sleeves and got to work, and the way he put this little girl’s life at a higher priority then profits, says everything.
I don’t blame Thompson, can understand where he is coming from, but to say that is a leadership quality, no way.
October 23rd, 2007 at 1:27 pm
#14 – dubious – that is an amazing story. This is the first time I have read it. It further cements my support for Mitt Romney.
Shawnie, as for your comment in #12, I agree.
Fred may be qualified for a lot of things: actor, lawyer, lobbyist, husband, father, substitute for Paul Harvey, even Senator — but qualified for POTUS?
Absolutely not.
Will I vote for him if he is nominated? Of course I will. I will vote for whomever gets the nomination.
Will I be happy if Fred Thompson gets the nomination? I will not be.
There are three things I’m looking for in a candidate:
Conservative Policy, Executive Experience and Proven Competency.
The only candidate that satisfies those three qualities for me is Mitt Romney.