Stars come out for Thompson fundraiser

Fred Thompson dipped into the Tennessee fund-raising well again Wednesday for his almost presidential bid, attending a $1,000 per couple west Nashville event that was also graced by top country music stars.

The event was held at the home of Gary and Lou Ann Brown. Gary Brown, an attorney with Baker Donelson in Nashville, used to work for Thompson, serving as special counsel on the U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs in 2002 when Thompson was the ranking member.

The event was attended by his mother and oldest son, Tony, Republican activists, state legislators and former Gov. Winfield Dunn.

Country music stars John Rich of the duo Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson and Cowboy Troy also attended the event. Rich played for the gathering.

In brief remarks to a pair of reporters waiting near the house, the former Tennessee senator said it was “great to be back home.”

“I’m just delighted to be here and so happy that so many people have turned out to give me a good homecoming,” Thompson said.

On the prospects of an upcoming entry into the presidential race, Thompson said he would tell his supporters that he would have a “statement on that in the not too distant future.”

“So keep your powder dry,” Thompson said, repeating an oft-made statement the 65-year-old says to supporters breathless to call him an official presidential candidate.

Cars clogged Hickory Valley Road in both directions as they waited their turn for the valet service. Meanwhile, the valets were scrambling to find places to park all of the vehicles. After the street-side spots filled, Brown’s front yard was used.

In the home’s backyard area, Rich wore a white cowboy hat and a white blazer and played acoustically for the attendees. The country music star sang “The Battle of New Orleans” about a previous Tennessee president, Andrew Jackson, and his days as a general in the War of 1812 as well as Big & Rich’s hit “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy.”

Rich appeared confident that Thompson would fair well when he enters the race.

“I think he’s the only guy that’s going to be the next president, period,” Rich said to the attendees, garnering applause.

Shortly after Rich sang, Thompson addressed the gathering, thanked them for being there and discussed a few issues that included the war in Iraq and the war on terror, a “blogger” filing a Federal Election Commission complaint against him, the need for fiscal restraint, health care and Congress’ low approval rating.

This week, a liberal blogger filed a complaint with the FEC against Thompson’s use of the “testing the waters” exemption in federal election law. Officially, Thompson is testing the waters, which means he does not have to disclose how much money he raises to the FEC until he becomes an official candidate.

The blogger, Lane Hudson, alleged that Thompson had violated the testing the waters provision by making statements indicating that he was a candidate, among other alleged violations.

Thompson’s camp said they had followed the law, and according to an attendee at the event, Thompson quipped that he was the only person who had ever been sued for not running for president.

One person who definitely wants Thompson to become an official candidate is Franklin’s Marc Sleenhof.

He had an RV adorned with Thompson banners parked at the home next door and has driven that vehicle, along with four kids and his wife Karen, to 14 states promoting Thompson over the past six weeks.

“I think he’s very presidential,” Sleenhof said of Thompson. “He’s somebody that I just feel very comfortable with as president.”