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

[StevieNitro]

I reviewed many supreme court case as a freshman at SHSU... in 1977.

[MajorKong]

Even I can name 3 or 4 and I'm not running for freakin' Vice President of the United States.

[MajorKong]

Ain't that Thompson feller one o' them elitist Hollywood actor types?

[Maezeppa]

Hasn't "seen a list"? Hey, Tommy - what about the articles in the "vast variety" of media the appears before the Governor? I can think of several recent SCOTUS decisions off the top of my head. Bush v. Gore? Hamden? Exxon? What about the Golden Oldies we learned about in school? Miller? Drudge? etc. I'd name more but I never saw a list AND I'm not a lawyer.

[darthmaul]

Well if I were a Republican, I'd say that your not running for VP so there. "You have plenty of time to look at arcane journals. That kind of scholarship is for small-fry. Governor Palin has too much to worry about being a mom to five kids and running Alaska. Besides, the Supreme Court is made up of a bunch of activist judges, so who cares what their highbrow opinions are!"

[SILVANUS]

GOODBYE FRED. HAVE FUN GOLFING.

[BronxRobb]

Who needs a list? I am probably an anomaly, but I keep a copy of the US Constitution and I read it - often. Anytime there is a Supreme Court decision that is reported in the news, I pull out my Constuion to help understand how The Court came to its conclusion. I did not realize that I did this until a few years ago when The Court ruled in favor of the Boy Scouts of America for excluding gays. I learned from the Constitution that becasue the Scouts are a private organization, accepting no government funds, they are free to make those kinds of decisions.

Earlier this year, one of my friends called me laughing hysterically. She said that she had just seen an author on PBS who decried "Every American shold be reading The Constitution right now." My friend was laughing because just days before she called me and asked what I was doing. My response - "just reading The Constituti­on."

SELF DIAGNOSIS: I AM A GEEK!

[goosie29]

Yup, yup. You betcha!

[bettybrown]

hey fellow geek! i have a dictionary with the constitution at the beginning of it. the only problem is, the dictionary is enormous and can't be carried around with me. so, a few years ago, i bought a paperback of the constitution, as well as a book with the patriot act, and essays commenting on each part of it. i still re-read the constitution about 1 time every other month. it's filled with highlighted parts, and notes in the margin pointing out all the wrongs the bush administration has committed. have you noticed in the list of reasons why the "founding fathers" were splitting from the throne/king, that bush has done about 8 of those?
it still amazes me the constitution isn't required reading each year from about the 7th grade through senior year.

[mysterygirl18]

Oh he's just bitter because his chance at the supreme court is disappeari­ng...


http://www.myspace.com/wakeupnowpeople

[dwillisno1]

So that must be why Biden forgot who was president in 1929, the forgot to show him the list of possibles.

[landoffools]

Goodbye Fred !

D List Actor gone wild !

[PansyRose]

I am not a college graduate and not a lawyer but I knew 3 or 4 cases right off the top of my head. This Palin person has no intellectual curiosity. She obviously does not read newspapers or magazines. Just like George Bush. That may be fine in Alaska but not in the lower 48.

[deckbose]

I'm not a Fred Thompson fan -- I have never voted, and would never vote, for a Republican candidate -- but all the posters here who are so eager to dismiss Thompson as some has-been TV actor should realize that in 1973 he served as minority counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee and a few years later, after successfully representing Marie Ragghianti in a wrongful termination suit against Tennessee Governor Ray Blanton, he was offered the opportunity to play himself in the film "Marie" (starring Sissy Spacek) which documented the case against Blanton. That's how Thompson got started as an actor, and though he was later elected Senator from Tenn., it seems people think that Law and Order is his only claim to fame.

But the truth is that, in addition to his many acting roles, he has a distinguished legal and political background.

Of course, he's still a knucklehead, gievn the kind of statements he's been making of late, but give the man his due.

[DryIce]

Hasn't yet been given a list of cases to see? Does she need security clearance to read a newspaper?

Even if they're not recent didn't she learn about Plessy v. Ferguson or Brown v. Board of Education in high school? If she can recall Biden's speeches from 2nd grade surely a teacher standing in the same room 8 years later might have made a point or two worth noting.

As someone who claims to read any media source that appears in front of her Ms. Palin might have been able to cover at least the subject matter of recent cases. As the mayor of a small town perhaps the court's ruling on eminent domain and its impact on state/municipal governments might have been of interest.

I'm not a lawyer; I don't work in government, PR, consulting or any other field that might require an awareness of Supreme Courts activities, but I can at least rattle off the subject matter (not case names) of half a dozen cases.

She is a clear-cut example of how people can value personality over performance.

[yougogirl1948]

To DryIce@9:0­3PM/10/02/­08:

"She is a clear example of how people value personality over performanc­e."

Well, remember when one of Sen. McCain's minion's, I think it was Rick Davis(the one caught with his hand in the Freddie/Fanny cookie jar as recently as August '08) announced this campaign would not be about issues but personalities? This is becoming more and more evident with each passing day. McCain is such a drama king. Thanks to John McCain and Sarah Palin, campaign 2008 is becoming more surreal each hour. We the American people deserve much more.

[YunekFlava]

Fred Thompson is a good actor, but he's not that good. Palin may be a good govenor, but she is not that good.

[phoenix2000]

Okay, someone take Fred back to his room, don't forget his blanket and warm glass of milk..yech­!!

[Bongborg]

Please, people... we should admit Sarah is indeed qualified to be President.­.. look at Bush. He IS President, ergo he must be the level of qualification, and she is at least as smart as Dubya. That makes her qualified. Of course, it may also qualify any American-born Pan Troglodytes over the age of 35.

[Bongborg]

I take it back. She just said "team of mavericks". She is WAY stupider than W.

[dwillisno1]

Dallas Mavericks Cheerleader?