Political pundits debate Fred Thompson's younger wife
{{date|July 14, 2007}}
[[Image:Fred_Thompson.jpg|150px|right|thumb|Fred Thompson]]
Political analysts widely regard [[w:Fred Thompson|Fred Thompson]] as a potential, if not likely, candidate in the [[w:United States presidential election, 2008|United States presidential election in 2008]]. Thompson is a lawyer, lobbyist, character actor and former [[w:Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[w:United States Senate|Senator]] for [[Tennessee]] now residing in McLean, [[Virginia]] near [[w:Washington D.C.|Washington D.C.]]

A recent article in ''The New York Times'' (NYT) labelled his wife, [[w:Jeri Kehn Thompson|Jeri Kehn Thompson]] as a "[[w:trophy wife|trophy wife]]" and a potential liability in the 2008 race. The NYT article described her as having "youthfulness, permanent tan and bleached blonde hair" and wonders if "so-called values voters" would "accept this union." 

Thompson and Kehn, married in June 2002, when he was 60 years old and she 35. 

Television commentator and former Republican congressman [[w:Joe Scarborough|Joe Scarborough]] compared Kehn to a stripper and asked if "she works the pole." 

According to the ''Associated Press'', "trophy wife" originally "meant the second (or third) wife of a corporate titan, a woman who was younger, beautiful and — equally important — accomplished in her own right."

''ABC News'' says that the current definition of "trophy wife" suggests [[w:Donald Trump|Donald Trump]]'s ex-wife [[w:Marla Maples|Marla Maples]] and the late [[w:Anna Nicole Smith|Anna Nicole Smith]] as examples.

However, ''ABC News'' also questions whether Kehn fits this definition. "Though she's blond, beautiful and nearly 25 years younger than her husband, Kehn Thompson, a political media consultant who previously worked for the Senate Republican Conference and a prestigious Washington law firm, doesn't appear to fit the typical description," wrote Emily Friedman.

Karen O'Connor, a political scientist and the director of the [[w:American University|Women & Politics Institute at American University]], said Thompson may lose support from Republican women, a group he needs. It may also make it difficult to gain the support of the "value voters", already skeptical after the report that he lobbied for an abortion-rights group.

"You have a situation where a candidate happens to have an attractive wife, therefore it’s open season for smutty thoughts and lowbrow humor, and no concern for the fact that this is a wife and mother, a professional woman?" said Mark Corallo, a former [[w:United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] official who is a consultant and the chief media adviser to the Thompson campaign. "One picture on the Internet and all of a sudden she’s reduced to being a bimbo?"

== Related news ==
*{{wikinews|title=Fred Thompson accused of being a "mole" for Nixon White House|date=July 5, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=Group claims Fred Thompson lobbied for abortion-rights, Thompson denies|date=July 7, 2007}}

==Sources==
{{wikipediapar|Fred Thompson}}
*{{source|url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3372209&page=1
|title=Blond and Beautiful? What Really Makes a 'Trophy Wife'
|author=Emily Friedman
|pub=ABC News
|date=July 13, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/2007/07/09/kehn_thompson/index.html?source=rss
|title=Is Jeri Kehn Thompson too hot for the White House?
|author=Catherine Price
|pub=Salon.com
|date=July 9, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/fashion/08JERI.html
|title=Will Her Face Determine His Fortune?
|author=Susan Saulny
|pub=New York Times
|date=July 8, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-thompson8jul08,1,1816878.story
|title=Thompson star dims on abortion issue
|author=Janet Hook
|pub=Los Angeles Times
|date=July 8, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/319686_means14.html
|title=As a politician, actor is unknown
|author=Marianne Means
|pub=Seattle Times
|date=June 13, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/06012007/news/nationalnews/babe_wife__40__boosts_goper__64_nationalnews_ian_bishop_________post_correspondent.htm
|title=Babe Wife, 40, Boosts GOPer, 64
|author=Ian Bishop
|pub=New York Post
|date=June 1, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/05/02/publiceye/entry2753818.shtml
|title=Fred Thompson, Putting It Out There
|author=Brian Montopoli
|pub=PublicEye
|date=May 2, 2007}}

{{publish}}
{{Archived}}

[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Fred Thompson]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Elections]]
[[Category:2008 United States federal elections]]
[[Category:Donald Trump]]
[[Category:Republican Party (United States)]]
[[Category:New York Times]]
[[Category:Joe Scarborough]]
Fred Thompson
Political analysts widely regard Fred Thompson as a potential, if not likely, candidate in the United States presidential election in 2008. Thompson is a lawyer, lobbyist, character actor and former Republican Senator for Tennessee now residing in McLean, Virginia near Washington D.C.

A recent article in The New York Times (NYT) labelled his wife, Jeri Kehn Thompson as a "trophy wife" and a potential liability in the 2008 race. The NYT article described her as having "youthfulness, permanent tan and bleached blonde hair" and wonders if "so-called values voters" would "accept this union." 

Thompson and Kehn, married in June 2002, when he was 60 years old and she 35. 

Television commentator and former Republican congressman Joe Scarborough compared Kehn to a stripper and asked if "she works the pole." 

According to the Associated Press, "trophy wife" originally "meant the second (or third) wife of a corporate titan, a woman who was younger, beautiful and — equally important — accomplished in her own right."

ABC News says that the current definition of "trophy wife" suggests Donald Trump's ex-wife Marla Maples and the late Anna Nicole Smith as examples.

However, ABC News also questions whether Kehn fits this definition. "Though she's blond, beautiful and nearly 25 years younger than her husband, Kehn Thompson, a political media consultant who previously worked for the Senate Republican Conference and a prestigious Washington law firm, doesn't appear to fit the typical description," wrote Emily Friedman.

Karen O'Connor, a political scientist and the director of the Women & Politics Institute at American University, said Thompson may lose support from Republican women, a group he needs. It may also make it difficult to gain the support of the "value voters", already skeptical after the report that he lobbied for an abortion-rights group.

"You have a situation where a candidate happens to have an attractive wife, therefore it’s open season for smutty thoughts and lowbrow humor, and no concern for the fact that this is a wife and mother, a professional woman?" said Mark Corallo, a former Justice Department official who is a consultant and the chief media adviser to the Thompson campaign. "One picture on the Internet and all of a sudden she’s reduced to being a bimbo?"
North America United States Fred Thompson Politics and conflicts Elections 2008 United States federal elections Donald Trump Republican Party (United States) New York Times Joe Scarborough