After his much delayed entry into the GOP presidential contest, lobbyist turned Senator turned actor Fred Thompson finally made his debate debut tonight and it's unlikely he impressed any of his many critics. While he didn't have to beg for a round of applause this time, he hadn't done his homework, getting his facts wrong on Social Security, manufacturing job loss and even his own positions.

THOMPSON WRONG ON MANUFACTURING JOBS

RHETORIC: More Jobs Now Then Before. Asked about the "Three quarters of manufacturing workers who lose their jobs and get new ones see their income go down," Thompson said that "there are jobs lost and jobs gained. And so far there are jobs gained."

REALITY: Fewest Manufacturing Jobs Now In Almost 60 Years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 13,983,000 manufacturing jobs in September of 2007, down from 17,181,000 in December of 2000. And that's the lowest figure since the 13,923,000 reported in June of 1950, 57 years ago. [Manufacturing Employees, Seasonally Adjusted. US Bureau of Labor Statistics (Table CES3000000001)]

THOMPSON PROPOSES INDEXING SOCIAL SECURITY TO INFLATION -- OOPS, WE DO THAT ALREADY

RHETORIC: Lets Index Benefits to Inflation. Trying to explain his Social Security plans, Thompson said, "One of the other things that could be done would…index benefits to inflation."

REALITY: Oops, We Do That Already. It's right there as the first answer on the FAQ from the Social Security website: "No, there are no plans to cut benefits for current retirees. In fact, benefits will continue to be increased each year with inflation." [http://www.ssa.gov/qa.htm]

THOMPSON: STILL NO ANSWER FOR ENDING IRAQ WAR…AT LEAST HE'S CONSISTENT ON SOMETHING

RHETORIC: "I think the policy we are engaged in now is the right one." [Debate, 10/9/07]

REALITY: Fred's Stayed the Course Since 2004: "I Would Do…What The President Is Doing." Asked in March 2007, "What would you do now in Iraq?," Thompson said "I would do essentially what the president's doing." This is unchanged from his position in 2004, when he said about Iraq"The only real issue is the will of American people." He said that the US has "developed a reputation over a period of years of cutting and running when things got tough. We cannot do that this time." In a later campaign speech, Thompson "fervently backed the Iraq war." [Fox News Sunday, 3/11/07; CNN, 4/90/04; Washington Post, 5/6/07]