One of the reasons why the Repugs hate John McCain is the McCain/Feingold campaign finance reform. They think that campaign contributions are a freedom of speech issue while condemning freedom of actual verbal communication. An old college roommate of mine, a libertarian leaning R, said he would vote for Hillary over McCain because of the campaign finance issue.
Fred Thompson was one of the leading proponents of campaign finance reform while in the Senate. He earned praise from reformers for a failed attempt to get a complete ban on PACs. However, my old friend and most Repugs will probably not forgive Fred for
this letter from Russ Feingold. It thanks him for his vote and support for McCain/Feingold and includes a handwritten message from Russ that says:
All kidding aside, you were essential to our success from the outset!
Show that to a Repug today and watch their head explode!