Fred Thompson Eliminated from Consideration

I have never been a single issue voter. That is to say, I was never a single issue voter. I can be flexible with many things. I can appreciate nuanced views on complex issues, and I can tolerate disagreement.

But when a candidate has supported disenfranchisement (which is one way to describe McCain-Feingold), I draw the line. McCain-Feingold wasn't campaign finance reform, it was an effort to make politics inaccessible to individuals and it created a penumbra in which the likes of Norman Hsu could freely move to influence campaigns through back-channel donations outside the light of public scrutiny.

Some will argue that has always happened. They would be right. But in a truly representative world, individuals would be able to place their fortunes in a campaign on the public record. That isn't required now.

Sure, Norman Hsu was caught by some saavy Wall Street Journal reporters. But how many Hsu knock-offs are influencing the 2008 campaigns without being caught? Do you really believe that a bunch of Swiftboat Veterans could mount a multi-million dollar campaign with media saavy on par with presidential candidates? Who supported them? Give a try in finding those details.

The same goes for the "Defenders of Wildlife," who launched attacks about forced abortion and slave labor to oust a congressman. Neither fall within a 501 (c)(4) wildlife education imperative, but thanks to a segregated 527 fund, they could say and do what they liked, and they did. Who funded their efforts? Look it up and tell me.

The fact is that McCain-Feingold has been awful for the American political process and should be repealed before it can do more damage. It is single-handedly pushing the people away from the ability to control their government.

Fred Thompson was instrumental in the passage of, and continues to support McCain-Feingold.

That may not mean much to many, but it is a single issue which removes Senator Thompson from my consideration.