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Fred Thompson in Da Club

October 24, 2007 12:02 PM

ABC News' Christine Byun Reports: One of the last candidates to enter the Republican race has welcomed his fellow GOP presidential hopefuls to "the club."

"All my buddies running for president who have found the beauties of conservatism, I say, 'Welcome to the club,'" Thompson drawled while campaigning Wednesday at a diner in what he called "God's Country"  -- aka Charleston, South Carolina.

Thompson – the self-proclaimed “consistent conservative" – also expressed disdain at those who having been name-dropping former President Ronald Reagan on the campaign trail.

"I got to wonder, though, if Ronald Reagan is not smiling somewhere, looking down and shaking his head and saying, 'Who are these fellas who are using my name so often in the debates?'" Thompson said.

His campaign often uses an image on the stump of a much-younger Thompson shaking hands with Reagan.

A day after unveiling his seven-point immigration plan, the former senator/lawyer/actor whipped through his "plans" for troop withdrawal in Iraq.

Thomspon said he'd "win the war and then bring the troops home." He also talked about his plan for the nation's economy. He'd "keep the taxes low," he said, which drew hearty applause from the large crowd.

He asserted "the federal government has let people down," but that voters must prevent a Democratic win in 2008. While his rivals have often specifically railed against Democratic frontrunner Senator Hillary Clinton, Thompson simply chose to attack the Democratic party.

'Don't turn the keys to this country over to a political party who wants to do nothing more than create a giant welfare state for the United States of America," Thompson said, adding, "Don't turn this country over to a party who insults our generals and plays politics with national security, don't do that!"

Thompson also took note of the "fair-taxers," who huddled in between the restaurant booths. Members of the organization, Fair Tax, who advocate abolishing the current tax system and replacing it with a national 23 percent sales tax, often appear at various candidates' campaign events.

This past summer, Thompson –- who had not officially entered the race yet –- said he would sign the "Fair Tax" bill. Despite his answer, which was on tape, his then-spokeswoman Linda Rozett later backtracked and said he did not take a pledge of support.

Today, Thompson said while he was "on board with the concept," he was more cautious with his support.

"I will be honest with you, I'm not going to take anyone's plan lock, stock and barrel … I gotta look at it myself and put all this stuff on the table," Thompson said, but reassured the group that he would "work together" with them.

October 24, 2007 in Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (0)

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