On June 28, the Associated Press reported that former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-TN), who has strongly indicated that he will seek the Republican presidential nomination, made a speech in South Carolina on June 27 in which he “expressed his opposition to the immigration bill in Congress and decried the flow of illegal immigrants from Cuba, saying: 'I don't imagine they're coming here to bring greetings from [Fidel] Castro. We're living in the era of the suitcase bomb.' ” From Thompson's June 27 speech:
THOMPSON: You talk about national security, one of the biggest national security issues that we face is right here at home. We're having a big debate now with the immigration bill. They say it's dividing our party. I think to a certain extent, that's right, and I don't think it will always be that way. I think we have to have our honest disagreements and honest opinions and then move on. Some very good friends of mine is on the other - or, are on the other side from where I am. That's all right; we're adults. Let's air our views and decide what's best for this country.
The bottom line is not what's best for one party or another or who's going to get the most votes when the dust settles. The bottom line is what's best for the strength and the long-term endurance of this country, and this immigration bill is not it.
We're catching, over a period of years, thousands of illegal immigrants coming from southern borders that are non-fence-able. Many of them come from terrorist-related states. We were just talking earlier, and I remember the figure that stuck out to me -- in the year 2005, we apprehended over 1,000 folks that originally has come from Cuba. If they're coming from Cuba, where else are they coming from? And I don't imagine they're coming here to bring greetings from Castro. We're living in the era of the suitcase bomb. We can't be talking seriously about national security while that's going on. We're catching one for every three that we don't catch -- they say. That's our government's estimate, so you can imagine what the real ratio is.
So -- in 1986 we were offered a deal that we'll grant amnesty for a certain amount of people and we'll secure the border. Well now they're coming back and offering the same deal. And basically saying that we want -- we want you to deal with 12 million now, and this time we really mean it -- we'll secure the border. And the American people are saying, “Fool me twice, shame on me.” And they say, “No, it's right here in the bill. I mean, we'll secure the border.” And they're saying, “I don't care if it's in the bill -- secure the border.”
On June 29, the Miami Herald reported the quote and that “Thompson said he was referring to Cuban spies, not legal immigrants.” From the Herald article:
The video of Thompson's Castro-suitcase bomb remarks during a speech in South Carolina was posted on YouTube and circulated by Democratic operatives.
Thompson spokesman Burson Snyder said Thompson was expressing concerns about Castro sending spies from Mexico into the U.S. The former Tennessee senator and actor wrote Thursday on his blog: “We must oppose the illegal immigration of Castro's agents into the United States while welcoming the vast majority who immigrate legally and with legal intentions.''
Yet aside from the AP and Herald articles, no media report* on Thompson's speech has noted his suggestion that Cubans are ”coming here" with a “suitcase bomb.”
Reports on Thompson's appearance in South Carolina on CNN and Fox News, and by The New York Times, McClatchy Newspapers, and The State of Columbia, South Carolina, all failed to note Thompson's “suitcase bomb” comment. In fact, while reporting on the speech, CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley said: “His speech was what he hopes to be -- Reaganesque -- both optimistic and tough, calling for an America strong enough, patient enough to confront the new age of global terrorism.” Since April 2007, ABC Radio Networks has featured a daily commentary from Thompson titled the “Fred Thompson Report.”
From the June 28 edition of CNN's American Morning:
TOM FOREMAN (CNN correspondent): The campaign held hostage day 100, or at least that's how long it feels like we have been talking about Fred Thompson maybe getting into the Republican race.
[begin video clip]
FOREMAN: He's at it again in South Carolina, talking low taxes, a strong military, security.
THOMPSON: This is going to be not a war of bombs. This is going to be a war of will, a war of will that we have to win.
From the June 28 New York Times article:
Former Senator Fred D. Thompson of Tennessee delivered a pep talk to his fellow Republicans here Wednesday, reminding voters in this early primary state about what he called the virtue of conservative ideals.
Over lunch in a hotel ballroom, he paid homage to Ronald Reagan, low taxes and “the sanctity of life,” while lamenting Congress's spending habits and government bureaucracy in general.
The speech, replete with folksy humor and anecdotes from Mr. Thompson's life as a Hollywood actor, was as much about the aspirations of the Republican Party as Mr. Thompson, who has yet to declare his candidacy for president officially but is expected to do so in the next few weeks.
At no point was Mr. Thompson, 64, so direct as to suggest that he was looking for support. Rather, his intentions were implied -- and judging by the crowd's reactions -- clearly understood.
“A lot of people think our party is on its heels right now, but we're not going to stay there long,” he said, adding later: “I think we can be a magnet, form a new coalition. Let's come out the other end stronger and wiser than we were before.”
From the June 28 article in The State:
Thompson, in his first visit to South Carolina, showed Wednesday he could fulfill the unmet hopes of the most conservative voters.
Stressing his conservative credentials, Thompson delivered a pro-military, anti-illegal immigration speech to a group of Republicans at the Clarion Townhouse downtown.
Some of the 300 supporters who greeted him during the luncheon -- dedicated to presidential politics and the party's commitment to holding the first primary in the South in 2008 -- agreed Thompson would do well among conservatives.
“He's the right guy,” said Sen. Jim Ritchie, R-Spartanburg, who committed to Thompson three weeks ago.
Because Thompson approaches the race late in the game by 2008 standards, many of the state's political leaders already have committed to other GOP hopefuls, and some of the organizational talent available in the state also has been sucked up.
Thompson said he is undeterred.
“South Carolina is extremely important to this campaign,” he said, adding, “It's too late to play by somebody else's rules.”
Thompson lightheartedly said his late entry could save him $50 million. “They said you'd have to raise $100 million (to run), and without a dime, I'm in the pack.”
From the 4 p.m. hour of the June 27 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:
WOLF BLITZER (host): Like any good actor, Fred Thompson realizes it's good to know your audience. The former senator is in South Carolina today, his first trip to that key primary state since becoming a prospective presidential candidate. And he's playing up conservative themes that could be -- could be a ticket to victory.
Our senior political correspondent Candy Crowley is joining us from Columbia, South Carolina, right now. Candy, he's giving a speech there today. Tell our viewers what happened.
CROWLEY: Well, he came here for a fundraiser for the South Carolina party, but I can tell you, there were a lot of people in this event who want him to run. They already have signs made up. It looks very much like a campaign, Wolf, except for one thing -- the say-so of the candidate.
[begin video clip]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're glad you're here.
THOMPSON: Thank you very much. And I'm glad you're here.
CROWLEY: There he is, the un-candidate, campaigning -- sorry -- speaking at a South Carolina party fundraiser, hitting all the right conservative notes.
THOMPSON: The bottom line is what's best for the strength of the long-term endurance of this country. And this immigration bill is not it.
CROWLEY: His speech was what he hopes to be -- Reaganesque -- both optimistic and tough, calling for an America strong enough, patient enough, to confront the new age of global terrorism.
From the June 27 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume:
BRIT HUME (host): Several hundred South Carolina Republicans today got what might be called the Thompson treatment. At a fundraiser for the state GOP, former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson talked about conservative issues and said maybe he could come back later in a different capacity.
Thompson has not yet announced he is running for president, but he is leading some national polls anyway. Tomorrow in New Hampshire, chief political correspondent Carl Cameron will have an exclusive interview with Thompson. And who knows, maybe he'll tell Carl what his plans are.
From the June 27 McClatchy Newspapers article:
After watching from offstage and seeing his poll numbers soar, actor and former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson on Wednesday made his first public appearance in a state that could help him star in a new role, as a presidential candidate.
The former Tennessee senator and star of TV's Law & Order spoke to more than 300 South Carolina Republicans at a Columbia hotel. Invoking Ronald Reagan and what he called his party's “underlying principles,” he gave many what they came for.
*Terms used in a search of the Nexis database: “Fred Thompson” and “suitcase bomb” between 6/27/07 and 6/29/07 in News (All).