Editorial: Tommy Not As He Sounds
Neil Heinen Weighs In On Thompson's Recent Verbal Stumbles
Updated: 11:16 am CDT May 8, 2007
By Neil Heinen
Editorial DirectorAs we consider the recent verbal gaffes of presidential candidate and former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson. an old phrase comes to mind: Do as I say, not as I do. Or in Tommy's case, do as he does, not as he says.Our friend Bill Wineke kind of beat us to the punch in his column in Monday's Wisconsin State Journal but he expressed it well. Those of us in Wisconsin who know Tommy Thompson, understand that despite his embarrassing remarks having to do with Jews and money and business owners and gay employees, he is neither a bigot nor a homophobe. He's a guy who is eager to please, a little too comfortable that his folksiness will buy him forgiveness with a mouth that sometimes works just a second before his brain kicks in. It's what makes him Tommy, the same Tommy who could do almost no wrong as governor of Wisconsin.We have plenty of disagreements with Thompson on substantive policy matters. And we'll not be Tommy apologists. But on these two issues, we're comfortable saying we know the guy, and in the interest of fairness, look at his record and do as he does, not as he says.What do you think? Give your two cents in Channel 3000's TALKBACK section.
Editorial DirectorAs we consider the recent verbal gaffes of presidential candidate and former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson. an old phrase comes to mind: Do as I say, not as I do. Or in Tommy's case, do as he does, not as he says.Our friend Bill Wineke kind of beat us to the punch in his column in Monday's Wisconsin State Journal but he expressed it well. Those of us in Wisconsin who know Tommy Thompson, understand that despite his embarrassing remarks having to do with Jews and money and business owners and gay employees, he is neither a bigot nor a homophobe. He's a guy who is eager to please, a little too comfortable that his folksiness will buy him forgiveness with a mouth that sometimes works just a second before his brain kicks in. It's what makes him Tommy, the same Tommy who could do almost no wrong as governor of Wisconsin.We have plenty of disagreements with Thompson on substantive policy matters. And we'll not be Tommy apologists. But on these two issues, we're comfortable saying we know the guy, and in the interest of fairness, look at his record and do as he does, not as he says.What do you think? Give your two cents in Channel 3000's TALKBACK section.
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