"These are the kinds of things I've been talking about all of my life. Now, if the American people have other priorities, if they want someone who smiles a lot more than I do, or someone who is a better quipster than I am, who has no experience in these areas, that's for the American people to decide."
Then tonight, I asked Thompson whether we should interpret those comments as a claim that Huckabee is not qualified to serve as commander-in-chief. Thompson reiterated his concerns about Huckabee on Iran and took a shot at Huckabee's announcement earlier this week that he favors shutting down the prison at Guantanamo Bay. "All I'm saying is that national security and foreign affairs is the most important thing facing this country," said Thompson. "It affects our security and the security of our children. And who has nuclear capability is the most important part of the most important issue. I think it's best if someone has experience in that regard. I've spent a lot of time--I served on the Intelligence Committee in the United States Senate, I've traveled around and met with foreign leaders. I chaired a committee that involved oversight of nuclear proliferation issues and things of that nature. So I think it's surprising that someone that would aspire to be president takes the position like closing Guantanamo, for example, is a good thing. And does not keep up with what's going on in Iran."
Thompson was also asked about Mitt Romney. "He has been on
both sides of a lot of issues in terms of the campaign."
Stephen F. Hayes, a senior writer at THE WEEKLY STANDARD, is the author, most recently, of Cheney: The Untold Story of America's Most Powerful and Controversial Vice President.
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