Fred Thompson (Republican)
Former Senator Fred Thompson has touted himself as being the "consistent conservative" and states that his positions are based on his "First Principles": Individual Liberty, Personal Responsibility, Free Markets, Limited Government, Federalism, Protecting our Country, Traditional American Values, The Rule of Law, and Conserving Our Nation's Resources. He has focused much attention in his campaign on issues of security and tax reform.
Competitiveness & Innovation
Thompson argues that keeping taxes low increases economic growth and enhances American competitiveness in the global economy. He has stated that the rate of government spending is unsustainable, and aims to create a more limited, more effective federal government.
In June 2007, Thompson stated that "We're not afraid of globalization. It works to our benefit. We innovate more and invest in that innovation better than anywhere else in the world."
STEM Education & Workforce
Part of Thompson's plan for education includes encouraging students and teachers to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math—fields he claims are crucial to American security, competitiveness, and prosperity. Specifically, his platform includes:
- "Giving parents more choices in education and schools less bureaucracy.
- Reviewing federal programs for cost-effectiveness, reducing federal mandates, returning education money to the states, and empowering parents by promoting voucher programs, charter schools, and other innovations that enhance education excellence through competition and choice.
- Encouraging students and teachers to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math
- Promoting transparency to assess performance, promote accountability, and share innovations in education at all levels."
Better Health for Americans
Thompson criticizes federally controlled health care programs as being expensive and inefficient, arguing that all Americans can be provided with health care without raising taxes or imposing government mandates. He instead plans to encourage free-market forces to provide individuals with more health care options, while encouraging prevention as well as the deployment of medical information technology and other innovations. Thompson has also stated that he is committed to speeding medical research and life sciences innovation as part of a high-quality health care system. Thompson supports adult stem-cell research, but not "stem-cell research where embryos of unborn children are destroyed."
Energy & Environment
Thompson claims that while "we don't know for certain how or why climate change is occurring," it is reasonable to take steps to reduce CO2 emissions as long as those steps do not harm the American economy. He stated in April 2007 that the Solar System is warming, not just Earth (source: Paul Harvey Show, ABC Radio Networks) . Thompson supports an energy policy that invests in future advanced technologies and places more emphasis on conservation and energy efficiency in addition to conducting research and development (R&D) in technologies that improve the environment. He has not, as of this time, released an environmental platform.
National & Homeland Security
Thompson has stated his commitment to a larger, more modern military and intelligence community. Specifically, his platform includes:
- "A missile defense system that can protect the U.S. and our allies from long-range ballistic missiles.
- An enhanced intelligence community, with robust human-intelligence capabilities, focused on terrorism and proliferation.
- A robust approach to homeland security that will protect our nation from terrorists and WMD [weapons of mass destruction], regardless of where they come from.
- A strengthened system of global alliances to better combat terrorists, proliferators, and traditional threats to our interests.
- A judicial system that deals with the realities of terrorists and unlawful enemy combatants."
