This is an issue about Fred Thompson that I don't like!

Yesterday I read, that Fred Thompson's son, Daniel, got paid $170,000 by his father's political action committee (PAC). Now, before anybody flips out, let me tell you that the Federal Election Commission voted in 2001, that it was perfectly legal to do what Fred's done. Their ruling came in the case of the Revvv-randdddd Jack-son hiring his wife to be his campaign manager. So what Fred Thompson has done is all perfectly legal.......however.

Here's the problem. As skeavey as I think Jesse Jack-son is, at least Mrs. Jackson had experience running campaigns for other candidates. (And I'm sure she is the professional in that relationship - God help her!) Daniel Thompson didn't then and doesn't now have the reputation of let's say.....Mary Matalin or James Carville.

In Fred Thompson's case, he legally rolled over left over Senatorial campaign funds ($378,600) into the Fred D. Thompson PAC.
Starting in April 2003, Daniel Thompson Associates started drawing a $4000.00 monthly retainer for "management consultant services." To date Daniel Thompson's firm has "consulted" to the tune of $170,000.00. You may be saying that $170,000 isn't a whole lot of money to get upset about - and you'd be right - it isn't.

You see, we've gotten to the point here in the United States, where we don't really get excited about "things" anymore unless it gets into the millions of dollars. The problem with Daniel Thompson Associates when someone tries to look into the work they do, is that there are/were no offices, no phones, and no other employees - except for the Senator's son. So, you see it isn't a question of magnitude here, for me it's perception.

"Perceived impropriety" or "the Appearance of Impropriety." A real good couple of phrases to get to know and remember. We all know generally what they mean, and when they apply......it's when you see your neighbors husband or wife laughing and having ice cream with another man or woman......it's when a ballplayer claims not to have known the substance he was placing under his tongue 5x's a day was a steroid - after he's hit 20 homers in a week and his head has swelled twice the size.....it's when a campaign gets a million dollar donation, after a pardon is granted.....it's when an elected official's 3 sons, all get lucrative lobbyist jobs, or another elected official's problems with a labor union at their vineyard and hotel - go away. What it all boils down to is one word - ethics.

My Pop used to say, "Something stinks here." And, more often than not, he was right. We all know when something doesn't pass "the smell test!" It's like the feeling I got when I heard Teddy Kennedy's explanation of Chappaquiddick 38 years ago last week; and Richard Nixon's explanation after Watergate; and Bill Clinton's explanation of "it all depends on what is, is." Ewwww Skeavey!

Well for me, this is one of those times. It may be legal, but it doesn't smell right! In my opinion Fred Thompson blew this one, and it could be a costly mistake! Coupled with statements coming from some of his former senatorial colleagues saying he was "lazy" when he was a Senator, and I'd say Freddy has a pretty big hill to climb, if and when he gets into the race.

Maybe this doesn't come up to the level of impropriety that Kennedy, Nixon and Clinton's explanations did, but still........it's the perception, the feeling I get when I read about crap like this. Just one more example of Congress - politicians - living by a set of rules that are different from the rules you and I live by. And when they've lived free off the public like that for a number of years, they start thinking that there really is something different between them and us.

Oscar Wilde said, "The truth is rarely pure, and seldom (never?) simple." And George Carlin always says, "We get what we deserve!"
Maybe it's time for all of us to start voting for people who don't make us want to take a shower every time we see or hear them make a speech! Maybe what we need to do is leave seats in Congress open until we find candidates who actually make us proud we elected them.

Just a thought.


Dum Spiro Spero!