Thompson Defends Palin: She Hasn't Seen List Of Supreme Court Cases

Sarah Palin couldn't name a Supreme Court case that she disagreed with because she had yet to be given a "list of cases to see," Fred Thompson explained Thursda, on the Early Show with CBS.

"You know, I think you got the answer there of probably almost 100 percent of non-lawyer candidates if they have not been given a list of cases to see; `They might ask you about this one, they might ask you about that one.'"

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Thompson's odd defense came a the morning after CBS Evening News posted a clip of Palin unable to name a specific case she disagreed with other than Roe v. Wade. In a way, it was reflective of the tough bind in which the Alaska Governor has put her Republican defenders. While some conservatives have abandoned ship (calling on Palin to gently step out of the race), others have tried to lower the bar for acceptable standards for vice presidential candidate performance.

Thompson, for instance, suggested that it was okay for Palin not to have rudimentary knowledge of judicial history because she was not a lawyer. Of course, Palin is a journalism major but still couldn't name a news source she reads.

"Now, you could say she should have had time to go over that list," said Thompson, "and of course she will, and she'll have a chance to deal with the whole judicial side of things, which is new to people who are not lawyers."

Challenged by correspondent Maggie Rodriguez over the claim, the former Tennessee Senator -- as other members of the McCain campaign have -- turned his scorn on members of the media.

Mr. THOMPSON: She's coming in here with an array of things against her like nobody else ever has. There's a lot of people vested in her not doing well. The media...

RODRIGUEZ: But the Republicans want her to do well.

Mr. THOMPSON: She was not--she was not vetted by the media, she was not on the media short-list, the media does not like surprises, she's not giving the media access that they want. They're irritated about that.

Comments

[Roxanna]

Who listens to Fred Thompson ..... another Hollywood star ???

He needs to go away and stick himself in a closet....­.Mr. Tennessee Stud, that was what he used to be called.

[Passenger57]

Hey,I thought the Pubs hated actors who stick their noses in politics..­.

[w8aminute]

....except for Ronnie Reagan & Arnie Schwarzene­gger....

[jimbobuddy]

That was a softball question from Couric. Baker vs. Exxon was a case, last year , that slashed the awards to residents whose lives were destroyed by Exxon-Valdez. After the decision , Palin voiced her opposition to it. It's weird. Does Palin NOT REMEMBER this most impactful court decision - in decades - to the people of Alaska ? Palin should have knocked it out of the park. It would have been a twofer; showing her compassion for 'joe 6pack', and knowlege - or the appearance - of the Supreme Court, and the constitution. I conclude that not only is her effective knowlege an inch deep, but her retention of events that SHOULD be important is shockingly defifient.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

If I'm not mistaken, her husband, Todd - the First Dude of Alaska, had a part-time job as a commercial fisherman and therefore the Palin household was directly impacted by the opinion rendered on this case.

God knows if EXXON owed me money and the Supreme Court slashed the amount of $$$ I was to receive, I'd DAMN SURE remember it!

[Dr Scott]

Agreed. Fred Thompson has just proven he's dumber than Sarah Palin.

[Passenger57]

Is this the SAME Fred Thompson who was just running for President? Whose, uh, "campaign" kinda went rudderless and just fizzled out?
Bestill your beating tongue,Fre­d...

[ObamAtomic]

He's late to bed,get his blankeet,,,,,,

[cagirl]

Too bad. She could be a much more effective Governor if she paid attention to some of the wonderful rulings the past few years. Especially the one where she could grab up homes and property for a new shopping center (new and improved eminent domain).

[RobinSeattle]

Actually, it was a sports complex and that matter is, AFAIK, still in litigation because Palin mishandled the eminent domain proceeding.

[Frout]

She wasn't given a list to read! C'mon, are you kidding me? I'm her age and an operations manager by profession and I would have been able to answer that question. How about the patriot act!

[Zyzzygowski]

I am irritated by her not talking to the media. Is she going to have a sit down conversation with all 300 million of us? I do not want to be spoken to. I would like to have an exchange, and that is done through the media.

Yeah, go ahead and have a townhall meeting. How many people get to ask a question? And, what about follow-ups? And, who selects the town, and the hall?

Good greif, I am a not a lawyer and I can name a Supreme Court decision that I disagree with. Not so sure I can name one that I agree with. But, I could talk close enough to a decision that it will jog my memory.


And, who is going to give her the list of Supreme Court decisions? I suspect she would be given a biased list. And, what good is a list without the text of the rulings and opinions as written by the justices?

[davispty5]

This should've been a no-brainer for Governor Palin, unless of course she agrees with the court's ruling!
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/6/26/supreme_court_slashes_exxon_valdez_oil

[TurgidCaterwauling]

Couldn't even recall this year when the Supreme Court voted in favor of Exxon against Alaska's own citizens. Duh!

[btanner]

Ugly old grouch really thought he had a chance to win in the primaries. Hahaha. You're no Reagan, and that's not even a compliment.

[jackdaddy]

Fred, Come ON!!!

I can name that list!!

And to think I was ready to vote for you....

[charon]

Thompson is a one-dimensional actor and a Republican ideologue. I have no respect for him as an actor or as a politician. Of course a no-talent hack like him will defend a fellow no-talent hack like Palin.

[jaxsax1]

What do you mean she didn't get a friggin list of cases? Any person who went to high school was taught about Dred Scott, Plessy, Brown v Board, and every American can even cite Miranda for cripes sake. I asked my mom who is 76 and she couldn't name them either BUT she could recite the theory such as "Oh, the one about separate but equal is never equal" or "the one where they have to read a suspect their rights." But we aren't electing Joe six pack we are electing a potential President of the United States and the bar has to be higher than just Joe Six pack. Sorry, she's not even as qualified as my 76 year old mother in failing mental health.

[wazzucoug]

Thompson is a bad actor and he was even worse as a senator!

[RobinSeattle]

So now we know that Palin, who wanted to be a journalist (albeit a sports reporter and they really aren't journalists), wasn't paying attention in her Poli Sci 101 class, where she would have learned about important Supreme Court cases through time, whether it was Marbury vs. Madison, Dred Scott, Plessy vs. Ferguson, Brown vs. the Board of Education, the Bakke case, the Miranda decision, and, most importantly in today's context after you get to Roe vs. Wade, Griswold vs. Connecticut, which allowed women to use birth control with no state interference. The GOP would like to see the Griswold decision reversed.

There was a time in this country where magazine publishers could be jailed by printing ads for diaphragms. Again, the GOP would like to see that happen again and that underlines one reason why they must not be allowed to run the country right now.

[dadw5boys]

THOMPSON WOULD BE McCAIN ATTORNEY GENERAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A LOBBYIST AS ATTORNEY GENERAL !