Thompson Supports Flag Compromise, Acknowledges Supreme Court Campaign Finance Ruling

COLUMBIA -- Sen. Fred Thompson avoided wading into the state's perennial debate over the a Confederate flag that used to fly over the capitol building here by agreeing with how South Carolinians settled the issue: they took the flag off the flagpole at the state capitol building and moved it down the steps to a memorial.

And, addressing Monday's Supreme Court ruling on the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform act, Thompson said that while he remained a supporter of the bill and its intentions, he thought the court's decision was sensible because, he implied, the sham issue ad provision "hasn't worked" as intended.

"I think Congress ought to amend the campaign finance legislation, keep the good parts, and get rid of this part."

Also, Thompson, a former lobbyist, Senate and Washington lawyer, admitted that he's no outsider. "I've never used the word 'outsider," he said.