The coming attacks on Fred Thompson

John Kass:

Fred Thompson and Barack Obama have different politics, but have much in common.

Each is married to a smart and attractive lawyer, wives just perfect for those TV puff piece interviews usually done by reporters with big hair and eager, vacant smiles.

Lawyer Michelle Obama has done a few of these, most recently when "NBC Nightly News" visited the city and profiled her, though NBC ignored the Obamas' hinky real estate deal with their Real Estate Fairy, the indicted influence peddler Tony Rezko, for their Hyde Park mansion.

Thompson's wife, lawyer Jeri Kehn -- wife No. 2 and 24 years junior to her husband -- also has been described as accomplished and smart. She hasn't received the fawning princess treatment like Michelle, but Kehn should expect a few media puffs now that Fred all but announced his presidential candidacy on the Jay Leno show the other night.

But it's the way their husbands have been treated by the media that binds them, as darlings, Barack and Fred, the humble outsiders yearning to transform Washington from its evil ways.

Thompson plays a conservative in movies and on television. He has teased the Republican right that he'll run for president, which increases the true-believer lust factor, because they yearn for another Reagan and know the other guys in the race. Fred appears to be different, with his Southern accent, playing stern leaders on screens big and small.

The Republican hunger for Thompson reminds me of how popular Coors beer was in Chicago long ago, when it wasn't sold here, and so it became somewhat precious. Beer drinkers lusted after Coors and lugged cases of it back from Colorado in the trunks of their cars, handing out the cans as if they were special treats, driving up the desire, until Coors appeared in stores and beer drinkers figured out it was just another beer.

Soon, another Thompson will be portrayed, not as the actor/politician with endearing homespun charm, but in a different fashion:

As an insider Teamster lawyer, and as a top Washington lobbyist and trial attorney, as his Republican competitors begin peeling away his media image like layers of sweet onion. I read about this on Real Clear Politics, in a nice piece by Kenneth P. Vogel of The Politico, and after reading Vogel's account, you can see what's coming for Thompson.

It's not quite so homey and folksy. It doesn't go with a red pickup truck and toothpick. With increasing frequency, the negatives will drop on Thompson and spin against him, to try and scrub the Reagan off him.

...

Kass thinks Obama's ties to Chicago's Daily machine will get a pass. He is right as long as Obama does not challenge Hillary too closely. If the race gets tight or it looks like Obama might win, then look for him to get the treatment Howard Dean got in 2004 when it looked like he was going to win. I think Thompson is cool enough to handle the media colon exam.