Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Thompson stumps in Iowa after making candidacy official
By Christopher Patton
The Daily Iowan (U. Iowa)
09/10/2007

(U-WIRE) CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Speaking in a placid and deliberate voice, former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., laid out his plan to lead the United States into what he said would be an unprecedented era of strength, prosperity, and unity.

The former senator's stop in Cedar Rapids was part of his first tour through Iowa after formally announcing his candidacy for president of the United States on Sept. 5. His entry into the race for the Republican nomination came after he spent several months testing the waters through an exploratory committee.

"I'm not here today because I've had a lifelong ambition to hold this office," Thompson said. "And I'm not here because I have all the answers to all the problems we have in this country."

Rather, the Tennessee Republican explained, he sees himself primarily as a concerned American — a man who loves his country, but worries about its future. He said he wants to be president to help guide the country through a series of difficult challenges that lie ahead.

Thompson focused on the threat of terrorism as a particularly important issue.

"Now we're in a conflict with people who are trying to get their hands on the most dangerous weapons," he said. "We have yet to come to terms fully with the threat that Islamic radicalism presents to this country."

The greatest terrorism-related threat is the possibility of terrorists obtaining a nuclear weapons, the former senator said. The detonation of a nuclear device inside the United States would result in more deaths and destruction of property than most people can imagine, he added.

Though he did not delve into any specific policies to minimize the likelihood of such an attack, Thompson said the country needs to remain united in the fight against its enemies.

"It is extremely important, my friends, that we do not show weakness and division in this country at this time," he insisted.

The 65 year-old also raised an issue he said most other politicians are ignoring: The aging of America.

The baby boomers' impending retirement will result in fewer workers paying taxes to support a growing population of the elderly, Thompson said. Although this problem will not fully manifest itself for several years, the government must address it now so the country can develop a plan in advance, he added.

Thompson concluded his remarks by arguing that the environment in Congress is currently too divided and acrimonious to effectively address the issues the United States will face in coming years. He accused other politicians of looking out for themselves in the next election instead of looking out for the next generation of Americans.

"Remember, we share more in common than what divides us," he said. "No one man can solve these problems, no one party can solve these problems."

Cedar Rapids resident Mike Pearson attended the Thompson event Saturday, but said he has yet to decide which candidate to support in the Republican caucus.

Pearson favors former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee because of his conservative record, but said he thinks Thompson's greater media presence makes it more likely he will win the GOP nomination. Most of the other Republican-nomination hopefuls aren't sufficiently conservative, he said.

"I'm disappointed that Republicans haven't stuck to their principles," he added.

Coleen Ball, who also lives in Cedar Rapids, said she went into the event wanting more information about Thompson. After Thompson spoke, she said she was leaning toward him, despite also liking Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo.

Regarding questions about whether Thompson's comparatively late entry into the race hurts his chances of success, Ball said she thought waiting until now to jump in was politically savvy.

"Too much too soon wears people out," she said.

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