So Grandpa Fred is officially in the race now, or will be on September 6th. Does that date ring a bell? It should, Kos even front paged a clip of some real political reporting by Jake Tapper, ABC News' Senior National Correspondent:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/...
The real issue here, for campaign finance reformer types?
Disclosure.
If Thompson waits until September 6 to formally declare his candidacy, he wouldn't have to disclose any of the cash given to his campaign until January 31 -- after many major contests are over, including the Iowa and Nevada Caucuses, and the New Hampshire, South Carolina, Michigan and Florida primaries.
And just like clockwork, really badly assembled clockwork:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...
CNN's John King and Candy Crowley
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson will officially announce his candidacy for president on the Web next Thursday, September 6, sources working on the actor's formal entry into the race told CNN Thursday.
The announcement video will be posted at 12:01 a.m. ET Thursday at www.imwithfred.com.
The sources said Thompson would travel and campaign in key primary states following the Internet announcement.
Early this week, the New Hampshire Union-Leader called on Thompson to attend the debate.
"If Thompson announces before the debate, New Hampshire voters will expect him to be at the University of New Hampshire with the other announced candidates," the newspaper said. "A no-show will be counted here as a snub.
"If Thompson waits until after the debate to make his announcement, it will appear to some as if he timed the announcement just to avoid the New Hampshire debate. That would give his foes the chance to say he is either not serious about running for the nomination or is too unprepared to be considered a credible candidate."
Hey Grandpa, this is not Midnight Madness, this is a national election for president. The highest office in the land. Did you really think no one would notice you waited till exactly one minute past when you would be required to disclose who is funding your campaign until after several primaries?
Do you really think that rivals for the Republican ticket, much less the Democrats, would just let you slide on this one?
Especially since half the blogosphere was already talking about?
Seriously, who is running your campaign?
Oh, that's right.....
And oh, give props to Kos and Jack Tapper, they totally called this one.
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Here is a list of Primaries that will have occurred before Grandpa Fred has to disclose his fund-raising:
Iowa
Nevada
South Carolina (R)
New Hampshire
Wyoming (R)
Hawaii
Florida
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Any voters in these states should demand full disclosure from Grandpa Fred.