Fred, Consistency, and the Lure of Going Native

Reading the excellent post on Redstate about Thompson’s stand on the Second Amendment, I was reminded of something. I’m currently reading the excellent War Without Death, a book about the behind-the-scenes story in the NFC East, when I came across a fascinating section about the Redskins Opening Day.

Dan Snyder, the owner of the Redskins, had invited all sorts of luminaries to the owner’s box to watch the home opener. In attendance were Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Jamie Foxx, and one Fred D. Thompson. It was a throwaway observation, but it reminded me most forcefully of something.

Fred Thompson is a Hollywood actor.

Fred Thompson has spent a decade or more in Washington DC.

Why is this important at all?

One of the peculiarities that conservatives have had to endure is the sight of formerly conservative politicians going to Washington DC and “going native”. They go to the swamp on the Potomac with the best of intentions, and over time, they somehow start to adapt the viewpoint of the reigning liberal orthodoxy.

GW Bush is but one example. Even though “compassionate conservatism” was grating rhetoric, I don’t know that any of us would have foreseen his so-called “growth” in office. McCain, that most excellent of men, has the stains of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, and is talking about man-made global warming after his many years in Washington. Condi Rice is another major disappointment in the way she has “grown” as the Secretary of State.

The GOP — finally handed the reins of power in Congress — went absolutely berserk trying to out-liberal the liberal Congress they replaced in terms of spending, earmarks, and corruption.

Supposedly conservative justices, nominated by supposedly conservative presidents, “grow in office” until they start handing down rulings completely at odds with the principles of conservatism.

We know this happens.

I think it’s something in the water.

Nonetheless, I realized that Fred had spent years in the fairyland that is Hollywood, surrounded by Hollywood people, in informal, off-camera gatherings, parties, and functions being talked to/at/with by the likes of Tom Cruise. It’s a glamorous world, for certain, and I wonder what sort of character a man must have to resist all of the blandishments and temptations of Hollywood to remain as Fred has remained all these years.

Because, friends, let’s not pretend that any of us is totally immune to peer pressure and our social circles. Let’s not pretend that any of us likes to be the odd one out. It is not only easy to learn to conform, learn to get along, learn to adapt the dominant ideology in place in our immediate social circles — it is actually near impossible to resist conforming.

The same goes for Washington DC, the city with more lawyers per capita than any other in the world, the city where the lobbyists never sleep.

McCain is a good man, and if the choice were him or the Socialists, I would hold my nose and vote for him. But he has already proven, to me at least, that he has the capacity to “grow in office” — because he already has.

Romney is a good man, and if the choice were him or the Socialists, I would hold my nose and vote for him. But he hasn’t been surrounded by Hollywood stars with their glamor coupled with liberal views, nor has he spent years in the Swamp being battered from all sides. And his conservatism is — even if genuine — of recent vintage. I worry if he could resist “growing in office” once he reaches Washington DC.

Giuliani is a good man, and if the choice were him or the Socialists, I would hold my nose and vote for him. But has he truly been surrounded by acquaintances, peers, friends for years on end who advocate the socialist path and resisted? Has he spent years in the Swamp? No, and no. Could he resist the temptation to “grow in office” once he reaches the White House? Perhaps — he’s a strong man. But evidence of such, there is none.

Huckabee is a good man, but he is a Socialist in many ways, so a choice between him or one of the actual Socialists, would be no choice at all. And importantly, he has not proven to me the ability to resist the tempation of going native once ensconced in Washington. If Huckabee had spent years of his life in Hollywood, surrounded by Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, I wonder if he might not have developed some different views and ideas on how the country should be run.

In terms of consistency, in holding on to his conservative values, right in the midst of Hollywood and DC — the two most corrupting places in America — Fred Thompson shows me something. He has proven something there. Doesn’t mean he too would not “grow in office” — but at the very least, he has a record of not going native, either in Hollywood or in DC.

Fred Thompson for President.

-TS