Fred Thompson's Hesitancy over Right to Life

Fred Thompson, the Republican candidate running in the 2008 elections, has been endorsed by the National Right to Life Committee. This may seem surprising to those who have been following Thompson's record on issues such as abortion, the proposed human life amendment, or Terri Schiavo.

It has been claimed that Thompson has a 100 percent record when it comes to voting pro-life, but this is debatable. In a 'Meet the Press' interview, Thompson's response to Terri Schiavo and the right-to-life question sounded weak and unconvincing. As the facts of the case stood, Schiavo's parents—who wanted to ensure that she continued to receive treatment and nutrition through the feeding tube—had sought congressional intervention towards that end. However, Thompson dismissed it as an end-of-life family matter.

Subsequently David N O’Steen, executive director of the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), said that Thompson had later assured NRLC that he favored steps to ensure that a patient like Schiavo would legally have the right to receive treatment, food, and water. O’Steen said Thompson "…believes that in cases where the patient wants treatment and the families want treatment, it should certainly be provided.”

There are other issues that seriously question Thompson's allegiance to the cause of the right to live. For instance, his lobbying efforts in favor of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the deposed Haitian tyrant who was responsible for ruthless murders and human rights abuse. Or his legal counsel in favor of the two Libyans charged with the Pan Am 103 bombing. Contradicting stands such as these will only serve to make voters wary of supporting Thompson's candidacy.