Tommy Thompson on Civil Rights

Former Secretary of H.H.S.; former Republican Governor (WI)

Ok for private business to fire employees for being gay

Q: If a private employer finds homosexuality immoral, should he be allowed to fire a gay worker?

A: I think that is left up to the individual business. I really sincerely believe that that is an issue that business people have got to make their own determination as to whether or not they should be.

Q: So the answer’s yes.

A: Yes.

Source: 2007 GOP primary debate, at Reagan library, hosted by MSNBC , May 3, 2007

Bringing people together abrogates racism

Q: Is racism still a problem in our society, and can a president do anything about it?

A: A president can do a lot of things. A president can set a vision that’s going to abrogate as much as possible racism in our society. A president has got to be abl to get out and speak and be able to unite. As Wisconsin governor, I tried to bring people together. And if you do that, you can reduce and abrogate racism to a very great degree, and the president has got to be the number one person in doing that.

Source: 2007 GOP primary debate, at Reagan library, hosted by MSNBC , May 3, 2007

Apologizes for ok’ing firing employees for being gay

Tommy Thompson apologized for saying an employer should be allowed to fire a gay worker solely for being gay. Thompson said he had misunderstood the question during a GOP candidates’ debate in California.

The question: “If a private employer finds homosexuality immoral, should he be allowed to fire a gay worker?” His response: “I think that is left up to the individual business. I really sincerely believe that that is an issue that business people have got to make their own determination as to whether or not they should be.“
Asked if his answer was yes, Thompson said, ”Yes.“

The next day, Thompson told CNN he should have asked the moderator to repeat the question. ”I made a mistake. I misinterpreted the question,“ Thompson said. ”I didn’t hear the question properly and I apologize.“ A Thompson spokesman said, ”his long record reflects that belief,“ and that Thompson does not believe any form of discrimination in the workplace is justified. Source: Gay.com report on 2007 GOP primary debate, at Reagan library , May 3, 2007

Supports defining traditional marriage.

Thompson supports the CC Voters Guide question on same-sex marriage

Christian Coalition publishes a number of special voter educational materials including the Christian Coalition Voter Guides, which provide voters with critical information about where candidates stand on important faith and family issues. The Christian Coalition Voters Guide summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: "Maintaining current federal law defining marriage as one man and one woman"

Source: Christian Coalition Voter Guide 12-CC-q3b on Oct 31, 2012

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Page last updated: Apr 29, 2013