Tommy Thompson Gets Some Hometown Explaining Gaffes

During the Republican debate, Tommy Thompson said that it was acceptable for private employers to fire homosexuals:

 

John Harris: If a private employer finds homosexuality immoral, should he be allowed to fire a gay worker?

Gov. Thompson: I think that is left up to the individual business.  I really sincerely believe that that is a issue that business people have got to make their own determination as to whether or not they should be.

John Harris: So the answer is yes?

Gov. Thompson: Yes.

Thompson received quite a bit a heat from this statement, especially in light of his remarks about Jews a few weeks ago.  Following the debate, Thompson quickly tried to address the issue claiming that he did not hear the question properly.  He appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher last friday to explain the circumstances surrounding the mistake and apologize:

Now, Thompson is receiving some hometown support from folks that are not necessarily pro-Thompson, but simply pointing out that he’s not a bigot.  Bill Wineke writes:

Of course it’s [firing homosexuals simply for being homosexual] not his position. Tommy Thompson may have attributes many people don’t like. But he is not a bigot and he is not a homophobe.

Those of us who live with him in Wisconsin know that. We may disagree with his politics and we may disagree with his policies, but we know he’s a decent man.

He goes on to articulate the real problem with Thompson’s campaign - lack of self control.  Neil Heinen echoes Wineke’s sentiment:

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.

I think that it’s true that Thompson is not a bigot.  I think what really happened during the debate is that he was trying to give the correct answer for the context that he was in and not the answer that he actually believed (which makes you wonder why he said he ”really sincerely believes”).  You can tell from his facial expression and the delay that he’s trying to think about what response would be response that prospective primary voters want to hear.  The problem with Thompson’s campaign is not that he’s a bigot, it’s that he doesn’t have the courage on the trail to stand up for the things he stood up for while in office.  He needs to run his campaign like he’s already got the job, that’s the only chance he’ll have at convincing prospective voters that he’s the right man for the job.