Tommy G. Thompson

Former Gov. Tommy G. Thompson officially announced his presidential candidacy in Milwaukee on Wednesday.

Thompson made the announcement before a crowd of students and supporters at the Tommy G. Thompson Athletic Center at Milwaukees Messmer High School.

Throughout the speech, he focused on keeping a common sense approach if he were to be elected as president.

From right here in Wisconsin to Washington, D.C., this is the record of a reliable, common sense conservative; one who puts principles into practice, he said.

Thompson said his three-step vision for Iraq is one that has garnered attention and applause from all sorts of people.

He first called for an Iraqi government vote on whether the U.S. troops should remain or go.

Second, Thompson said Iraq should set up self-governing provinces to operate under the national government.

And finally he said the country should split up oil profits three ways: one-third to the federal government, one-third to regional governments and one-third to the populace.

Taken together, these three common-sense steps will give Iraqis “ both the government and its citizens “ an ownership stake in the newfound freedom, he said.

Thompson also said taxes have been too much for the American public. He said Americans should have an alternative.

I propose we add a flat tax to the equation “ and let our hardworking families pay whichever amount is least, he said.

Thompson also called for common sense in Americas health care system. Currently, he said, 93 percent of money is spent waiting for people to get sick. He said more money should be spent on prevention.

Thompson also focused on his former job as Wisconsin governor. He touted his record of cutting taxes, providing for a prospering economy and starting school choice.

If elected president, Thompson said he would push to reauthorize the school choice program and would seek to extend it nationwide.

He also said he would ask Congress for a line-item veto power so pork (spending committed to additional projects outside of the main scope of the bill, in exchange for support from campaign contributors) could be kept out of bills.

Thompson has previously appeared on TV shows, such as This Week with George Stephanopoulos, and said that Iowa is the key to his campaign.

He has said a good finish in Iowa in the August straw poll, an unofficial preliminary survey, could lead to him becoming a front-runner in the Republican primary. He has said that because there isnt any clear-cut Republican candidate he has a good chance at the party nomination.

Thompson headed to Iowa after the event. The same day he was scheduled to go to New Hampshire. Both the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary are generally thought of as early indicators for which candidate will win the respective nomination of the party.

> Comments