Fred says no to the ice cream in IA

Posted: Friday, September 07, 2007 4:56 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy
On the road between Sioux City and Mason City, IA, Thompson made an unexpected stopover at Bob's Drive In in Le Mars, the self-billed "ice cream capital of the world." Le Mars, in fact, is the headquarters of Wells Blue Bunny Ice Cream, and nearly all of the diners at Bob's were Blue Bunny employees. Yet despite spending nearly 30 minutes there, walking through Bob's and shaking hands with numerous diners, Thompson re-boarded the bus -- without trying any of the town's specialties. He didn't even sit and eat one of the "Bob Dogs" with any of the diners. Afterwards a campaign spokesman jokingly justified Thompson's decision not to eat by pointing to Thompson's well-publicized diet and workout regimen.

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Comments

YES..YES...YES..REPUBLICANS SUCK !

JASON MICHAEL, MINNEAPOLIS MINNESOTA (Sent Friday, September 07, 2007 5:09 PM)

BERRY STEIN, SAYS REPUBLICANS SUCK !

MR. CRAIG, SOMEWHERE IN IOWA (Sent Friday, September 07, 2007 5:10 PM)

Actually, the real reason Fred declined is that Blue Bunny Ice Cream really sucks. Like Fred, mostly air and of very little worth. Sorry to hear it comes from Iowa. lol

Pete Caloger Bushkill, PA 18324 (Sent Friday, September 07, 2007 5:14 PM)

Could be a metaphor for his candidacy.

Van

vanreuter, NY NY (Sent Friday, September 07, 2007 5:23 PM)

Calm down everyone, just because he was surrounded by fat Iowains, doesnt mean he had to eat something unhealthy. Being anti obese should be a good candidate quality.

ray - Anaheim Ca (Sent Friday, September 07, 2007 5:44 PM)

How does this pass for news? Fred Thompson didn't eat ice cream? Hey, by the way, what did he talk about during his 30 minute stop? That would be helpful to know as I'm making my voting decision, rather than who ate the local fare or not.

annoyed in California (Sent Friday, September 07, 2007 5:49 PM)

not all Iowans are fat. It is probably the same ratio as california.

nick, storm lake iowa (Sent Friday, September 07, 2007 6:02 PM)

It will dawn on the press who is trying to breathe life into moribund contest for the GOP nomination that Fred Thompson is just a boring old slug without much to offer.

Star Station, Burbank, CA (Sent Friday, September 07, 2007 6:05 PM)

Being healthy in today's world is an asset. Fred Thompson set a worthy example to others by bypassing the ice cream in Iowa. Iowans should take note and follow his example.

Elaine Sievers Chanhassen, MN (Sent Friday, September 07, 2007 6:22 PM)

Blue Bunny ice cream is full of preservatives. Lots of people wouldn't eat it either.

Mrs. P, Minot ND (Sent Friday, September 07, 2007 6:27 PM)

@Annoyed in California
This is the media. You don't actually expect them to report news, do you?

Adam, Portland, Oregon (Sent Friday, September 07, 2007 7:54 PM)

To quote Jessica Alba-Do you liberal guys have real jobs?

Seymour Butz (Sent Friday, September 07, 2007 8:07 PM)

I bet he'll eat hog cracklins in Louisiana. Where's jerry? We need a corn dog comment.

nuanced (Sent Friday, September 07, 2007 8:22 PM)

Ray- You are a peach sir, how dare you insult iowans by calling them fat, do you have no compassion or feeling for others in this world, or only for your morally bankrupt and corrupt republican party, you are the typical republican, and you suck too. I think the reason he didn't partake is they dumped out all the red koolaid. Thank god they did, its about time.

beaverdambob (Sent Friday, September 07, 2007 9:12 PM)

I'll bet if Hillary or another Dem were to not eat ice cream or a hot dog in the same circumstances, those of you who are dissing Mr. Thompson wouldn't have a problem! Talk about double standard!

Ron/somewhere, Montana (Sent Friday, September 07, 2007 11:55 PM)

THIS STORY IS WHAT IS WRONG HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WE WORRY ABOUT THE WRONG STUFF AND IGNORE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE PAYING MORE ATTENTION TOO
LET'S READ THE STORIES ON REAL LIFE - GO OUT AND TALK TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO REALLY WORK FOR A LIVING
SEE HOW MANY WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO BY THE ICE CREAM.

GA PEACH- GA (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 12:14 AM)

Fred doesn't seem to have a problem eating bona-fide Republican Rubber Chicken at fundraisers. Maybe he was waiting for Bob to give him a freebie or donate to his campaign. Cheep Cheep Cheep. I doubt if Fred will make weight, anyway.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 12:35 AM)

I love Blue Bunny ice cream especially the Spumoni. I think Fred used bad judgement in not trying some. But then Fred Thompson is not known for good judgement.

Dan in Indy (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 8:33 AM)

Even though I think this Thompson for prezzie thing is a sick joke, this has to be one of the most non-important stories you could come up with.

WDRussell, East Liverpool, Ohio (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 8:43 AM)

This is exactly why we should hold absolutely NOTHING related to presidential politics in Iowa; "He didn't eat my crappy ice cream, i ain't votin' for him!!!" Enough with the hillbillys already!! This is why we end up with dolts like Bush!!!

Gary Griffin Alexandria, Virginia (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 10:11 AM)

Is this important?

Opto, somewhere in Colorado (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 10:14 AM)

Is this important?

Opto, somewhere in Colorado (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 10:15 AM)

Thank you annoyed... I'm getting pretty annoyed by MSNBC and their pathetic news coverage. I want to hear more about what he said, and I'm not even a Republican!

annoyed 2, Saint Paul, Minnesota (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 10:24 AM)

Republicans - still trying to resurrect Raygun.
Perhaps they should change their party's name to the
Regressive Party.

Richard, FL (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 11:07 AM)

Where's the beef? Everyone knows Republicans don't eat "people food".They have a hard time with regular people issues in general, unless it is passing billions to big business in hopes that it will trickle down to us. I have been waiting on the trickle down effect since Reagan. I guess it takes a while to get way down here from the ivory towers.

Bubba Myers (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 11:13 AM)

Fred was so busy refusing ice cream that he didn't get a chance to finish discussing the main topics for his stop there, mainly that A) He never ate ice cream because someone in a Minniapolis men's room once informed him that Jesus didn't fancy ice cream, and B) He actually considered it unhealthy for men to trim their nose hairs because God put nose hairs there for a reason: to catch little critters that you inhale from going into your system.

JIrby, Colorado (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 11:37 AM)

I think the message here is not so much what he thinks of the local food but that the media was having a slow news day. The media thinks that this is news and pushes this crap off on the public because they think it is what we want. Oh yes we do.... Please sir, can I have some more ice cream?

M Ford (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 12:01 PM)

Part of the "campaign art" is the act of being in the same state of mind as the people you are trying to get to vote for you. Eating the local fare, kissing babies, shaking hands, AND talking about positions are all pieces of the same puzzle. Since he has declined to enjoy local foods, he has shown elitism and that he believes he does not share their values.
This type of disconnect from the voters will not endear him to anyone and hurt his chances to be seen as a "brother, friend, ally and cohort."

If Mr Thompson wants to perform the same trick in California, he should simply snub all wines and foods made in that state also.

Rob Ross, Charlotte, NC (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 1:01 PM)

SUCK, SUCK, SUCK..YES THE REPUBLICANS SUCK, SUCK, SUCK.

BERRY AND BENJIMAN WHITE, MINNEAPOLIS "HOME OF THE TWINS" (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 1:39 PM)

You have got to be kidding me...now we are concerned over whether they eat ice cream or not. If he had'v ate ice cream he would have been critiqued over what flavor he chose. Sheez..get a life, is there nothing more important to talk about?

Ali Jo, SC, WV (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 1:58 PM)

Being against obesity is one thing. But to say a candidate should be anti obese is going a little far wouldnt you say Ray from Anaheim. You would be calling out a "fat chunk" of the electorate if you were against the obese. Maybe thats not what you ment by it. Thompson is useless. He looks like he could have early alzhiemers or narcolepsy. The jay leno stunt was boring and his statements were full of half truths and lies. We need to get beyond these folksy guys that you would like to have a beer with (been there done that the last seven years) no we need to elect the smartest guy in the room. even if that guy is a woman.

Jason, New Hampshire (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 2:17 PM)

Maybe he has lactose intolerance. and yeah his workout must be really helping, seeing that he couldnt even walk around at the Iowa state fair and had to take a golf cart around. At least get the man a segway.

Jason, New Hampsha' (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 2:24 PM)

Wow that was so cool. Fat Freddy ate no fat his wife is nice and lean and betwixt them both they make me want to SCREAM.
So Blue Bunny now has a new flavor ice cream
"Freddy n' Another worthless airhead Chocolate Covered Wing-nut."

Law is out of order (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 3:05 PM)

Fred is my man. Made up my mind long ago. I was only afraid he wouldn't run.

Lorraine Taube Yale, Michigan (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 3:39 PM)

Pete. You're right about Fred and Blue Bunny. The best Ice Cream in Iowa is the Fareway Grocers "Fastco" store brand. Fareway is in Boone and they have the best Vanilla I've ever had. Like Uma Thurman's $5.00 Vanilla Shake in "Pulp Fiction" that John Travolta said, "That's just Milk and Ice Cream, right? I don't know if it's worth $5.00 but it's pretty F****n' Good.". Plus, it's the cheapest ice cream in the freezer (Don't tell anybody or they might raise the price!). Rumor's got it, Blue Bunny get's its' Milk from Missouri, which may be their excuse.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 4:08 PM)

Are voters going to confuse the on screen persona with the real person? Fred Thompson did little while serving Tennessee in the Senate, has avoided any substantial discussion so far, and jumped into the race the day after the last organized republican contender debates. Where does that place him? If you're a thinking individual, and fewer voters do that than I prefer, nowhere near deserving election.

Joe, Midland, MI (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 4:48 PM)

First of all, the southern states lead the nation in obesity. Second of all, Wells Blue Bunny is some of the best ice cream around. Very creamy and flavorful. Maybe he wasn't hungry---and really who cares! ? But, being an Iowan who loves her state, I had to jump in and correct the typical opinion of the California guy, Ray. Oh, I'd rather be known as being from Iowa ( and I'm not fat), than being from CA and a nut, who is arrogant, yet not too bright. :) In my career I deal with a lot of people from CA and generally most are arrogant, and on top of it, have no clue on most topics.

Karen Doe (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 5:09 PM)

No similar news from Hillary's camp.

brooklynite (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 5:14 PM)

Did he buy a round for the house, at least? His TV appearances - if I remember correctly - depicted him as a single-malt Scotch kind of guy. Probably thinks ice cream might give him brain freeze. Not a likely problem, methinks.

nina rothman, Lyndhurst, Ohio (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 5:19 PM)

So,Dems,how's it feel to know Osama Bin Laden considers you his allies.

JohnBoy (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 5:22 PM)

Fred is on a workout regimen? It doesn't show.

Dave, Minneapolis, MN (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 5:29 PM)

saying all Iowans are fat is like saying all Ca are stupid! But I agree with annoyed, the media sure gets hard up for stuff to talk about!

Suzie (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 6:05 PM)

did anyone think he just might not of wanted any or just ate?????

david republic mo (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 6:07 PM)

realy i like Fred and blue bunny ice cream but have to take the blue bunny slowly. the more of the formed senetot the better

sylvester missoula mt (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 7:09 PM)

give Fred a break, after he looses his try for the big office he'll need to look good for the big screen!

Ron, El Cajon, CA (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 7:38 PM)

Fred T is conservative and what we all need to keep our country going. We need responsible money managers to keep the country growing.

Richard Roe Atlanta, GA (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 8:03 PM)

God bless Fred
God bless America
God bless our Troops
God bless George W. Bush
God bless the death of all liberal assholes like you...

Giovanni Seattle, Wa (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 8:05 PM)

We are going too too far. However President Bush did have a milk shake in Portsmouth, Ohio on a very hot day prior to speaking in that town.

Merchanna, South Point, Ohio (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 8:31 PM)

Looks like a lot of folks are scraping the bottom of the barrel for negative comments to make about Fred Thompson. Headline news that he didn't eat his ice cream .... what a bunch of whiners. I'm proud of him for sticking to his diet. Iowa has delicious ice cream .... takes a strong person to say know to the good food in that area of the country. Good for you Fred ... I know I would have pigged out.

AprilClover (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 9:03 PM)

Has anyone ever considered that he doesn't like ice cream? Whether or not he eats ice cream doesn't make him a better candidate.

Iowan, Cincinnati, Ia. (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 9:16 PM)

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