Thompson the Lobbyist

David Sirota has a good post up about how the media is overlooking Fred Thompson's lucrative stint as a lobbyist. In a profile of the possible presidential candidate yesterday, the New York Times mentioned that during the eighteen year gap between working as a Congressional staffer and winning a Senate seat in 1994, Thompson "took on some lobbying clients." Who those clients were and what the work entailed, goes unmentioned. It's a mere throwaway in the larger narrative of the Reagan Republican returning to save the GOP.

In case you were curious, Thompson represented Westinghouse and General Electric in the deregulation of the savings and loan industry, which eventually led to the S&L crisis of the 1980s. After leaving the Senate in 2002, he was paid $760,000 to protect the British reinsurance company Equitas from asbestos claims. He registered to represent foreign clients such as deposed Haitian leader Jean Baptiste Aristide, Toyota and a German mining company.

Thompson's all-but-announced campaign has downplayed this history. "It being so far back, that's an awful undue pressure, burden for the senator to have to go dragging back through records," spokesman Mark Corallo (who recently worked for Karl Rove) told the Politico when asked to provide more information on Thompson's lobbying days. It may behoove his campaign to dust off those records. In 1994, Thompson's Democratic opponent, Congressman Jim Cooper, called him "a Gucci-wearing, Lincoln-driving, Perrier-drinking, Grey Poupon-spreading millionaire Washington special interest lobbyist." It's not hard to imagine a Republican rival saying nearly the same thing.

Comments (30)

1. Maybe you should write an article on something current that might raise some eye brows..like Feinsteins approipiations commitee where Madam Chairman steered $1 billion(yep, thats a"b") to her husbands companies...and no, its not Haliburton, and yes, she is a democrat...

   but an old article on Freds lobbying? I believe it was and is legal..no?

   Posted by john maasch at 05/02/2007 @ 11:31am

2. "After leaving the Senate in 2002, he was paid $760,000 to protect the British reinsurance company Equitas from asbestos claims. He registered to represent foreign clients such as deposed Haitian leader Jean Baptiste Aristide, Toyota and a German mining company."

   So the former senator is guilty of being a lawyer to foreign clients?! Should we convict him for crimes against the state?

   Posted by ACook at 05/02/2007 @ 11:34am

3. Hman,

   Are you out there?

   I arrive Providence Thursday night and leave Sat AM..I have a 1:00 PM meeting in Boston and then can be avaialable to pay my debt...:)

   Posted by john maasch at 05/02/2007 @ 11:34am

4. John, that's "appropriations".... :)

   Posted by ACook at 05/02/2007 @ 11:35am

5. John, does your work ever take you to the South East US?

   Posted by ACook at 05/02/2007 @ 11:39am

6. John, that's "appropriations".... :)

   Posted by ACOOK 05/02/2007 @ 11:35am

   Sounds more like "inapproiations.."...funny how Walmart makes constant storys and Haliburton, but now one of their own does it as public policy and no big deal...

   Yes I do get to the SE...where do you reside?

   Posted by john maasch at 05/02/2007 @ 11:48am

7. METROACTIVE

   Feinstein Resigns

   Senator exits MILCON following Metro exposé, vet-care scandal

   By Peter Byrne

   Perhaps she resigned from MILCON because she could not take the heat generated by Metro's expose of her ethics (which was partially funded by the Investigative Fund of the Nation Institute). Or was her work on the subcommittee finished because Blum divested ownership of his military construction and advanced weapons manufacturing firms in late 2005? (http://www.metroactive.com/metro/03.21.07/dianne-feinstein-resigns-0712 .html)

   The Nation Institute is part of The Nation, moron.

   Posted by mtspence05 at 05/02/2007 @ 12:01pm

8. I'm sorry, Mr Berman, but if "he was a lobbyist and got paid $760,000 once" is the best you can throw at Thompson....

   I'm starting to see why he worries the Dems and gives hope to the despondent Republicans.

   Posted by Mask at 05/02/2007 @ 12:02pm

9. The Feinstein story clearly demonstrates that you don't get rich by following the letter of the law, by behaving ethically, by being "decent". The Senate is a millionaires club. Repub or Dem, they're all dirty, corrupt.

   Posted by mtspence05 at 05/02/2007 @ 12:08pm

10. "The Feinstein story clearly demonstrates that you don't get rich by following the letter of the law, by behaving ethically, by being "decent". The Senate is a millionaires club. Repub or Dem, they're all dirty, corrupt.

    Posted by MTSPENCE05 05/02/2007 @ 12:08pm

    You are destined tom poverty and not becayse of the reason you believe...you should never remarry..spare some one else poverty.

    Posted by john maasch at 05/02/2007 @ 12:25pm

11. Money, power corrupt, you old fool. And that's not just my opinion.

    Posted by mtspence05 at 05/02/2007 @ 12:27pm

12. "Money, power corrupt, you old fool. And that's not just my opinion."

    Your opinions are well known and discarded my most who have an honset drive...it is you who is a fool and anyone who finds themself in a position to rely on you will also begin to feel the fool.

    You have placed yourself in a corner of having very limited options..a sort of self fulfilling prophecy..your poverty is the saddest of sorts..for it is self imposed..you are correct in one sense..unions are definitely needed..for men like you.

    Off to my corrupt lunch meeting where I aim to increase my money supply..for power, of course.......you are a full blown kook.

    Posted by john maasch at 05/02/2007 @ 12:42pm

13. The Feinstein story clearly demonstrates that you don't get rich by following the letter of the law, by behaving ethically, by being "decent". ---Posted by MTSPENCE05 05/02/2007 @ 12:08pm

    MTSP....if somebody had, say, made between $13 million and $14 million over the course of their career; and according to financial disclosure statements were found to be worth at least $3.8 million....would you think that it was likely that they didn't "follow the letter of the law, behaved ethically, or were acting 'decently'"?

    Now, remember you just made a blanket statement...so you either have to stick to it...or say "Okay, no I didn't REALLY mean that" and start back-pedalling.

    Posted by Mask at 05/02/2007 @ 12:49pm

14. Posted by JOHN MAASCH 05/02/2007 @ 11:31am | ignore this person So the former senator is guilty of being a lawyer to foreign clients?! Should we convict him for crimes against the state?

    Posted by ACOOK 05/02/2007 @ 11:34am | ignore this person

    no one said that there was anything illegal or unethical about it, that is your invention. it is however an important part of his CV, and needs to be aired.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 05/02/2007 @ 12:56pm

15. I'm starting to see why he worries the Dems and gives hope to the despondent Republicans.

    Posted by MASK 05/02/2007 @ 12:02pm

    I'llsecond that. The guy hasn't even declared his candidacy and The Nation already is trying to tear him down...and with a non-story, too.

    Posted by usc1 at 05/02/2007 @ 1:36pm

16. they're all crooks -

    Posted by ZERO 05/02/2007 @ 1:49pm | ignore this person

    no, they're not. if you would take off your lead colored glasses you might be able to make distinctions.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 05/02/2007 @ 2:10pm

17. is fred thompson even electable?

    Posted by katamantulo at 05/02/2007 @ 2:43pm

18. Seriously, how long can THIS "scandal" last, if every ex-Democratic office-holder, or their spouse (like Mrs Tom Daschle) was ALSO a lobbyist and probably got more cash than Thompson???

    Posted by Mask at 05/02/2007 @ 3:59pm

19. Now, remember you just made a blanket statement...so you either have to stick to it...or say "Okay, no I didn't REALLY mean that" and start back-pedalling.

    Posted by MASK

    I don't have to do a damn thing.

    And I stand by my statement.

    Posted by mtspence05 at 05/02/2007 @ 4:41pm

20. Posted by JOHN MAASCH

    Good for you. Enjoy the money you make off that Third World labor, old lying bald coward.

    Posted by mtspence05 at 05/02/2007 @ 4:42pm

21. And I stand by my statement.

    Posted by MTSPENCE05 05/02/2007 @ 4:41pm

    Cool...and now...."the Prestige"...

    "The Feinstein story clearly demonstrates that you don't get rich by following the letter of the law, by behaving ethically, by being "decent"." ---Posted by MTSPENCE05 05/02/2007 @ 12:08pm

    "MTSP....if somebody had, say, made between $13 million and $14 million over the course of their career; and according to financial disclosure statements were found to be worth at least $3.8 million....would you think that it was likely that they didn't "follow the letter of the law, behaved ethically, or were acting 'decently'"?"---Posted by MASK 05/02/2007 @ 12:49pm

    The person I was referencing...........Ralph Nader.

    Posted by Mask at 05/02/2007 @ 4:51pm

22. Gee, next time I'll have to waste my time playing your little games and include all the exceptions to the rule, like pro athletes, actors, musicians, writers, etc.

    You know damn well what I was referring to. I'm talking about the business world, where you have to cheat to win and nice guys finish last.

    But congratulations. You won this little girl game of yours. Your parents should be proud. Print this out and frame it for your wall.

    Posted by mtspence05 at 05/02/2007 @ 5:43pm

23. Your opinions are well known and discarded my most who have an honset drive...it is you who is a fool and anyone who finds themself in a position to rely on you will also begin to feel the fool. Posted by JOHN MAASCH

    And you are doomed to a life of abject ignorance. Too bad money can't buy intelligence, objectivity, knowledge.

    Posted by mtspence05 at 05/02/2007 @ 5:58pm

24. You know damn well what I was referring to. I'm talking about the business world, where you have to cheat to win and nice guys finish last. ----Posted by MTSPENCE05 05/02/2007 @ 5:43pm

    No...I didn't. You make these blanket statements and then can't back them up. Also, NO, not everybody in the business world either cheat to win....how about Ben & Jerry, the ice cream guys? Exploit the workers, did they?

    Now, here's where you FURTHER backpedal (i.e. "You KNOW I meant the MAJORITY of business people, not the rare exceptions")

    Actually what "my little game" proved is that you're some kind of an extremist form of socialist (your lack of ANY support of capitalism proves that...no "progressive" definition required) and hence your view that all capitalism is some kind of "scam". That a person can't come up with an idea, market it, and sell it and make a lot of money without CHEATING somebody.

    Ergo, MAASCH is right. You'll ALWAYS be an employee, always hope for the Big Guys to be dragged down (by Government or some "revolution"), instead of trying to lift yourself up. And the motivation...simply put....you're ENVIOUS.

    That is your sin. Mine may be cynicism...but yours is envy.

    Posted by Mask at 05/02/2007 @ 8:41pm

25. Actually what "my little game" proved is that you're some kind of an extremist form of socialist (your lack of ANY support of capitalism proves that...no "progressive" definition required) and hence your view that all capitalism is some kind of "scam". That a person can't come up with an idea, market it, and sell it and make a lot of money without CHEATING somebody.

    Ergo, MAASCH is right. You'll ALWAYS be an employee, always hope for the Big Guys to be dragged down (by Government or some "revolution"), instead of trying to lift yourself up. And the motivation...simply put....you're ENVIOUS.

    That is your sin. Mine may be cynicism...but yours is envy.

    Posted by MASK

    Is that what you proved? Tell me something, have you ever worked before? It doesn't sound like it.

    And if a man is not interested in entering the market then he's simply envious, a failure? What a convenient method to dismiss the opposition. So, tell me, if we were all owners who would do the work, who would be the employees? I have absolutely no problem with admitting I do not have any interest in being a capitalist, entrepeneur or anything of the sort. So what? I fail to see how allowing these no nothing fools to run the government is such a good idea. Making money doesn't mean you're intelligent, knowledgeable or any of the other many things you need to have a fair government. I have consistently argued in favor of creating a balance between the various competing interests in our country--not too far one way or the other. What do you favor, other than nit picking, playing little games?

    A cynic? No, you're a cheerleader, a political transvestite.

    Posted by mtspence05 at 05/03/2007 @ 10:36am

26. And if a man is not interested in entering the market then he's simply envious, a failure?

    Posted by MTSPENCE05 05/03/2007 @ 10:36am

    You didn't say that. You accused ALL (later redacted from actors, etc) who got rich of cheating or doing something underhanded to achieve that wealth. (Notice you skipped over Ben & Jerry...hehe).

    You didn't say "Oh, I don't care how folks get their wealth, I'm not into money"....you made this blaneket statement about the "evil rich", which shows that in your little MATERIALISTIC world-view evil and rich are synonymous.

    And THAT proves where your heart lies...in the ENVIOUS world of looking at those who have more than you do and saying "Well, so, they didn't WORK for it...they cheated!"

    And the only reason to think that way is not some "Oh, I'm so above the need for material things"...but in a way that says "I WANT what they have, but it makes me feel bad, so I'll TRANSFER my bad feeling...in a classic Aesop fable way...by claiming that 'the grapes are sour'"

    Posted by Mask at 05/03/2007 @ 1:58pm

27. Posted by MASK

    Really? Maybe you should try reading what I posted again. You're only attempting the usual twisting to make my words mean what you want them to mean. Always trying to frame the subject to suit your agenda.

    Posted by mtspence05 at 05/03/2007 @ 3:04pm

28. "And the only reason to think that way..." (Posted by MASK)

    According to you. And while this may come as a shock, you are not the authority on the way people think.

    I like material things. I'd be thrilled to when the lottery this weekend. I am not willing, however, to lower myself to doing things that I find reprehensible, abhorrent. I do not want to become what I detest. I want only to be free, to be left alone, but that (as you well know, if you do indeed work) is next to impossible, unless you're in a union (without the protection of a union you are at the mercy of whatever whim your employer may have, no matter how asinine it may be). I have one of those extremely sensitive backs; the moment I feel the slightest bit of pressure on it (as in someone trying to ride me) I can't help but buck; it is my nature.

    My concern is for all the people that will grow up in circumstances similar to mine. They will be for the most part limited by the circumstances of their birth; they will grow up to be every bit as ignorant as the old lying bald cowards, Chips, libertyliars, defecatiouses. You see, I grew up working class in Fort Worth, Texas; I held all the untruths, misconceptions that the uneducated, unobjective cherish. Education, experience, and an innate need to simply ask "why" allowed me to develope intellectually. Low pay for working families, and the steadily increasing costs of a college education spells the end of all that.

    And--for all you growing up in the comfort of middle class America-- if current trends continue, what little democracy we have will wither rather than grow.

    Posted by mtspence05 at 05/03/2007 @ 3:34pm

29. The evidence keeps piling up, MTSP...

    "at the mercy of whatever whim your employer may have, no matter how asinine it may be"

    "You see, I grew up working class in Fort Worth, Texas..."

    "And--for all you (my bold) growing up in the comfort of middle class America-- if current trends continue, what little democracy we have will wither rather than grow."---Posted by MTSPENCE05 05/03/2007 @ 3:34pm

    Oppressed by the capitalist "asinine" exploitors, the working class hero who KNOWS that the only way the rich get rich (less liberal actors and activists) is by robbing, cheating, and stealing from those...like himself.

    Sorry for you dude. "The Revolution" is never going to come for you...you don't vote so even under a democracy you're irrelevant.

    Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to give more of my hard-earned labor scrip to those vile bougeouise oppressors of the masses who have raped the proletariat to gain their filthy lucre....

    and buy some "Cherry Garcia" or some "Everything But The" out of the freezer case!

    Posted by Mask at 05/03/2007 @ 4:14pm

30. You really are a pompous ass, Mask. At least make a reasoned argument, if anything reasoned could be made to support that tripe you call an argument.

    Posted by brantl at 05/07/2007 @ 1:23pm