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Fred Thompson: I'm supporting Newt Gingrich

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    Exclusive: Former presidential candidate on GOP primary

  • Duration 8:03
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Senator Fred Thompson spent much of his life in Washington both as a lawyer and later as a senator from the great state senate to about Tennessee.

And 2008 following -- -- run for the White House he endorse fellow GOP candidate John McCain but tonight Fred Thompson is here with us -- -- -- exclusive to announce.

Who is supporting in twenty fall for the Republican nomination seder welcome back.

Thanks John good to be back -- All right good I don't I read your statement and most people haven't seen it so I think it's really important that I let you -- -- apple would you go under some really really specific details.

Why this race is so important what is at stake here and -- who you decide to endorse explain.

-- -- -- From lead the way have you restrict the strength of these candidates had to do with the way I view the status in the direction of our government.

I think we're in deep trouble.

I'll probably think -- think that we probably -- in greater trouble than most people -- it.

Even these numbers that are coming out of -- that looked so bleak.

Are.

Understated.

There based on faulty projections of growth and things of that nature.

We have restored historically low interest rates now those interest rates start to come -- there's the largest debtor in the world.

We're going to be in an additional.

Fix that we can't bail ourselves out.

I think we're at a tipping point in this country.

I think they're going to be more people in the wagon saloons.

So that that are pulling the way.

Yeah.

I think I think we're there you know almost the people a recipient of some federal government program.

Almost half the people play no federal income tax.

I think this president is taking us.

-- the road -- Virginia one welfare state full fledged.

Even when we have the example of of Europe due to teachers and guidance and I think the American people see what's going on there see what's going on in their own country and that's why they're organizing.

And hamlets in communities and towns all across this nation -- Osama -- -- parties.

-- and that's not that's my view and and I've come to have to move.

Food growing realization for me anyway that Newt Gingrich.

Is is the guy who can articulate.

What America is all about American exceptional -- -- can make the case not just read the talking points or or or do it off a teleprompter.

To make the case for -- markets and and our basic case that lower taxes can be good for for everybody and -- and and bring about growth that's good forward forward everybody and he.

-- -- not afraid.

And he's tough and and his experience I don't think any more -- -- it's an advantage to be able to say.

I know nothing about the operation of the federal government.

I don't something about it Newt knows something about it -- there is -- colossal mess.

I came to Washington in 1990 -- In part because.

Of what was going on in the country right now that have been generated in large part by the leadership of of Newt Gingrich.

Did he concede conceived.

And and -- -- and carried out.

Really a revolution in American politics at that time and we were able as he's pointed out to balance the budget for.

About four years in -- -- -- welfare reform and then Begin to rebuild depleted military official these things can be done.

But we we can't be apologetic about it and we -- be tentative but we can't look like it would surprise you know if we get off our talking points.

And we've we've got to have to stand up to the to reestablish model both sides of the hour and threw it to the news media and and and -- this thing through these times are these times are different in America -- -- the old rules don't apply anymore people are concerned.

People are frightened people -- either country going -- -- direction.

That's different from the first principles that -- the envy of the world and that's why you're seeing people react the way did did in South Carolina.

You say you were released a report -- you you mentioned this in your statement you put this together when you're the chairman of the S senate government affairs committee in 2001.

Those government on the brink you say it's fall worse now than it was then.

You see the -- you see the deficits.

What do you make governing even tonight.

You know governor Romney is is coming down hard on -- and the Washington insider resigning and -- it was one attack after another after another and so I don't think this is the path towards inspiring people.

On either side what any of these guys are attacking each other and you know that they spent twenty minutes on this earlier tonight in a debate via.

Well I.

I'm not really surprise I guess I am surprised -- Newt's doing his own.

-- -- -- Tough when.

Gritty work.

Usually leaves that to his -- surrogate -- to.

Through the super -- to put almost television ads and they've spent millions and millions of dollars on.

Owned a tax -- long loops -- meanwhile Mitt stands up there you know and I think in the last debates and one of his arrest was that -- -- said something negative torched it.

One of the -- now he's coming out with -- and -- Ravi of of accusations.

That you know -- -- can be address you know on the proper time.

So -- if these candidates want to spend their time talking about what happened 101520.

Years ago.

And mistakes that were made in their personal -- -- their business lives of political lives.

I'm sure of of these candidates gonna have -- him talk about but I think the American people.

Are fed up of all of that -- and and are asking the question who's going to be bold enough.

Smart enough articulate enough to carry the mail.

It's -- brought to Britain beat Barack Obama.

And start a difficult difficult task of writing this American ship.

-- you head out on the campaign trail with Newt Gingrich.

Full I'll I'll -- I'll lose them.

Things I'm sure.

But.

It's not on this -- -- times and I'm not gonna be a spokesman for the campaign or anything like.

I have the same concern that every.

Father and grandfather has and same thing that got him involved in politics to start with -- -- is gonna probably be placed little butter.

Then.

Then you found -- -- an album the recipient you know I above all else -- That you know you can be born and then the modest circumstances in this country but -- blessed in ways that kings of old could not even Begin to contemplate you know you born with a legacy of freedom and independence and and and and free choice and and -- and -- -- people than than than the the founding fathers of this country understood human nature and they understood the wisdom of the ages and then the lessons of of civilizations that have come and go wrong.

And these these things we have have come together you know to give us the count of laughter we've had enough I'm I'm -- I'm -- kind of -- Of what our generation.

Is in the process of -- the next.

You know I just turned fifty senator and to think about life a little different -- about that age is just that I that you you're about to turn fifty so he'll know what it's like -- a couple of months -- long ball below.

-- -- -- -- Senator but it's always good to see it thank you so much for being -- set I think isn't worth reading as our new website.

-- -- -- it's -- lower Zetterberg and I'm sure we'll somebody's -- -- -- -- dot com well all right Fred Thompson thanks for being with us end.

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