Senate Republicans are worried about Democratic efforts to thwart Fred Thompson’s investigation of Clinton campaign fund-raising shenanigans. But they’re also anxious about Thompson himself, fearing the Tennessee Republican may bend over backward to accommodate Democrats, spend too much time probing Republican fund-raising, and pave the way for sweeping campaign finance reform. One conservative GOP senator was recently approached by senior colleagues, including members of the leadership, and asked to join Thompson’s committee. The mission: Keep an eye on Thompson so he doesn’t get too squishy in dealing with Democrats. The senator declined. You might think Senate majority leader Trent Lott would intervene with Thompson; but word is that he’s lost control of both the senator and the progress of Thompson’s investigation.
Already, Thompson has agreed to look into soft money, independent expenditures, and “the misuse of charitable and tax-exempt organizations,” such as those connected to House speaker Newt Gingrich. Republicans fret he’ll let the spotlight drift from Democratic wrong-doing, especially illegal foreign contributions, to focus on fund-raising at the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee when headed by Sen. Al D’Amato from 1994 to 1996.
Worse, the Thompson hearings may increase pressure for passage of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill, supported by Clinton and most Democrats. Only one Republican senator besides John McCain backs it — Fred Thompson. To forestall hearings that may wind up helping Democrats more than the GOP, some Republican senators hope a Democratic filibuster against Thompson’s $ 6.5 million budget for his investigation will succeed, killing the hearings and damaging Thompson’s presidential plans in 2000.
