Thompson: No Habeus Corpus for Gitmo Prisoners

By: John Bentley
Topics: Fred Thompson

(CBS)

From CBS News' John Bentley:

WATERLOO, IOWA -- For the first time since he started his presidential campaign, Fred Thompson took a position directly opposite that of his friend John McCain.

"When I hear one of the fellows running say that we should shut down Guantanamo and bring those prisoners over here ... I wonder if he understands how the world really operates," Thompson said.

"Well, I don't wonder, either, I think I have a pretty good idea."

The Thompson campaign later clarified that the senator was referring to Mike Huckabee, the only other Republican running that has talked about shutting down the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.

Thompson was answering an audience question about habeas corpus.

"The detainees at Guantanamo are not American citizens, they are enemies of this nation and they do not enjoy the rights of American citizens," he said. "And they are not entitled to habeas corpus protection."

The crowd of a little over 100 people in Waterloo applauded the line, as they did several others on the last stop of first day of "The Clear Conservative Choice: Hands Down!" tour across Iowa. Thompson also clarified when he would he would be willing to raise his hand. "When Chief Justice John Roberts swears me in, I won't mind raising my hand."

4 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment


by GMEllis625 December 19, 2007 1:27 PM EST: Fred is the man!

Can you imagine a lawsuit following WWII about whether the Nazis were entitled to Habeas protections? Are we really expected to put them on trial and treat them as we would any other run-of-the-mill criminal?

I pray Fred wins this nomination, and heads toward a Reagan landslide in November!; Reply to this comment


by watcher269-2009 December 19, 2007 5:23 AM EST: Democrats may be inept, and often spineless, but there is something ethically rotten deep in the core of the Republican party. It is not PC to say this, but it is true, and it dates back at least to Nixon. Watergate, Iran-Contra, the Iraq War, just to cite a few major trophes from a much longer piece of work. All are Republican scandals. Against this we have what on the Democratic side, cash in a freezer, and Bill Clinton lying about a *******. One is an assault on the fundamental structure of our government, the other is just pathetic human frailty.; Reply to this comment


by kansas1946 December 19, 2007 3:42 AM EST: Terrific, another fascist running for president. Fortunately, he doesn''t have a prayer, so after next November he will have plenty of time to hang out with the other out of work Republicans and watch those "missing" torture videos and get their kicks.; Reply to this comment