Fred Thompson Flubs the Facts on Tonight Show

In response to a question from Jay Leno about why America is so disliked worldwide, new presidential candidate Fred Thompson had this to say (transcript here):

Well, part of that comes with being the strongest, most powerful, most prosperous country in the history of the world. I think that goes with the territory. We’re more unpopular than we need to be. That’s for sure, but our people have shed more blood for the liberty and freedom of other peoples in this country than all the other countries put together. (Applause.) And I don’t feel any need to apologize for the United States of America.

First, this is silly. As the “strongest, most powerful, most prosperous country in the history of the world,” we can be the most popular or least popular country around, depending on our actions. There’s nothing inherent about being on top that makes people hate you.

Second, this is false. The Soviet Union lost over 20 million people in World War II, an astonishing 10-13 percent of the country’s total population. The U.S. lost 418,500 in WWII, 117,465 in WWI, and roughly 60,000 in Vietnam. More on those numbers here; point is, it’s not even close.

Look, I don’t mean to denigrate the sacrifice of American servicemen and women through the ages. But let’s not be badly, badly factually incorrect in the name of national pride.

Update: See my thoughts on why Thompson would be the GOP’s worst nominee.