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."

• Social Security Administration (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
• Older Americans Act (Lyndon Johnson)
• Medicare (Lyndon Johnson)
• Medicaid (Lyndon Johnson)
• Consolidation of Older Americans Act (Jimmy Carter)
• Successful Defense of Social Security (Democratic Minority of the 109th Congress)

Citizens discuss Social Security
Guest speaker Kelly Olsen promotes current plan

By Deneesha Edwards
Hendersonville Times-News, 6/17/05

A trend today is to wear colorful rubber band bracelets -- yellow or pink -- that stand for cancer survivor or strength.