Posted on 06/24/2006 9:21:36 PM PDT by SmithL
NASHVILLE - The level of discourse between the three Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate is embarrassing and offensive to Tennessee voters, Democratic candidate Harold Ford Jr. said at a Democratic rally Saturday. Speaking to supporters at a block party before the state Democrats' annual Jackson Day event, the congressman from Memphis called his three GOP opponents "the three stooges."
The candidates in the Republican primary are former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker and former U.S. Reps. Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary.
"They really need to grow up," Ford later told reporters. "They should be running a race that is worthy of the intellect, needs and aspirations of the people of this state.
"I watch them at times and I'm a little embarrassed to hear them raise their voices, yelling, sounding like children at times," he said.
This year's Jackson Day event, which is the state Democratic Party's largest annual meeting and fund-raiser, was moved from The Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson, to the Ryman Auditorium, former home of the Grand Ole Opry.
Ford was the featured speaker at the event, which cost $50 a ticket, and Gov. Phil Bredesen delivered the keynote address. Party faithful filled more than half of the 2,362-seat auditorium and were entertained by singers Claude McKnight, of the a cappella group Take 6, and Michael McDonald, formerly of the Doobie Brothers.
Bredesen, who is running for re-election, said he has been impressed by Ford's energetic campaigning, as well as his appeal to a broad base of voters.
"For any Democratic candidate to win today, you need to appeal to the Independents and bring a few over from the other party as well," Bredesen said. "I think Harold is a good, centrist candidate with the ability to do that."
The Tennessee Republican Party sent a man dressed in the likeness of the "Phantom of the Opera" to greet Jackson Day attendees and give them irises, the state flower.
The GOP said it objects to what it calls "political theatrics to entice voters to vote for liberal Democrats by posing as conservatives who share our Tennessee values."
"Once the mask is peeled off, the ugly truth about their record and who they really are will surface," state Republicans said in a release.
Bredesen re-election campaign spokesman Will Pinkston dismissed the Republicans' criticisms.
"It's funny watching them sink to new lows by sending costumed characters to party rallies," he said. "It shows they're clearly panicked."
Last year's Jackson Day was held just days after the arrest of five current or former state legislators - four of whom are Democrats - in an FBI bribery sting operation code-named "Tennessee Waltz." One of the indicted legislators was Ford's uncle, Memphis Democratic state Sen. John Ford, who resigned his position two days after his arrest.
Bredesen said that ethics legislation passed earlier this year addressed the atmosphere that led to the indictments but acknowledged that upcoming trial dates for John Ford and others will be "putting these things back in the forefront of people's minds."
"Frankly it's one of the hurdles that Harold Ford Jr. is going to have to overcome in this race," Bredesen said. "But I think he very much has the ability to do that.
"Voters are smart and they can separate between Harold Ford Jr. and another member of the Ford family," he said.
Harold Ford dismissed attempts to link him to his family's problems.
He wishes.
b
It's always a good idea to ridicule people as 'stooges' just as you are calling for the elevation of the quality of discourse - it proves your sincerity and sound judgment.
the congressman from Memphis called his three GOP opponents "the three stooges."
[SNIP SNIP]
"They really need to grow up," Ford later told reporters.
o rly?
Harold Ford is a viable candidate. He may even win as much as 47% in the general election.
Before getting to the general election, it's important for Tennessee conservatives to make sure that RINO Bob Corker doesn't win the GOP primary. The wisest decision is to rally around Ed Bryant.
Oh, the hypocrisy. This is from a guy who can't even control himself on the House floor and has to be warned he'll be thrown off of the floor by the presiding officer when he goes on mindless, screaming tirades when he is not even the person who has the floor.
"I watch them at times and I'm a little embarrassed to hear them raise their voices, yelling, sounding like children at times," he said.
*** Is this the same guy that gave this performance in the United States House of Representatives on November 18, 2005? ***
Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio.....told of a phone call she received from a Marine colonel.
"He asked me to send Congress a message - stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message - that cowards cut and run, Marines never do," Schmidt said.
Democrats booed and shouted her down - causing the House to come to a standstill.
Rep. Harold Ford, D-Tenn., charged across the chamber's center aisle screaming that it was an uncalled for personal attack.
Maybe Ford should attempt to dismiss links to his own problems. The fact that he is a liberal pro-abortion Democrat running in a conservative Bible Belt state is his #1 problem, and his attempts to distract attention from his liberal voting record in Congress won't fly in conservative TN IMHO.
From Project Vote Smart:
RIGHT TO LIFE ISSUES
005 Representative Ford supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 60 percent in 2005.
2004 Representative Ford supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2004.
2003-2004 Representative Ford supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 25 percent in 2003-2004.
2003-2004 Representative Ford supported the interests of the Democrats for Life of America 33 percent in 2003-2004.
2003 Representative Ford supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 30 percent in 2003.
2001-2002 Representative Ford supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 19 percent in 2001-2002.
2001 Representative Ford supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 75 percent in 2001.
2001 Representative Ford supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2001.
2000 Representative Ford supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 75 percent in 2000.
1999-2000 Representative Ford supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 6 percent in 1999-2000.
1999 Representative Ford supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 88 percent in 1999.
1995-2004 On the votes that the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Assocation considered to be the most important in 1995-2004, Representative Ford voted their preferred position 82 percent of the time.
1995-2003 Representative Ford supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood (House) 78 percent in 1995-2003.
WOMEN'S ISSUES:
2005 Representative Ford supported the interests of the American Association of University Women 100 percent in 2005.
2005 Representative Ford supported the interests of the National Organization for Women 86 percent in 2005.
2003-2004 Representative Ford supported the interests of the American Association of University Women 83 percent in 2003-2004.
2003-2004 Representative Ford supported the interests of the Business and Professional Women USA 62 percent in 2003-2004.
2003-2004 Representative Ford supported the interests of the Federally Employed Women 80 percent in 2003-2004. 2003 Representative Ford supported the interests of the Business and Professional Women USA 43 percent in 2003.
2003 Representative Ford supported the interests of the American Association of University Women 75 percent in 2003.
2001-2002 Representative Ford supported the interests of the American Association of University Women 82 percent in 2001-2002.
2001-2002 Representative Ford supported the interests of the Business and Professional Women USA 82 percent in 2001-2002.
2001 Representative Ford supported the interests of the American Association of University Women 100 percent in 2001.
1998 On the votes that the National Organization for Women considered to be the most important in 1998, Representative Ford voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
GUN ISSUES:
2005 Representative Ford supported the interests of the Gun Owners of America 50 percent in 2005.
2004 Representative Ford supported the interests of the National Rifle Association 42 percent during their legislative career up until 2004.
2003-2004 Representative Ford supported the interests of the Gun Owners of America 0 percent in 2003-2004.
2003 Representative Ford supported the interests of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence 0 percent in 2003.
2003 Representative Ford supported the interests of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence 77 percent from 1988-2003 (Senate) or 1991-2003 (House).
2003 Based on the results of a questionnaire the Gun Owners of America assigned Representative Ford a grade of 0 (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F-).
2002 On the votes that the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence considered to be the most important as of 2002, Representative Ford voted their preferred position 87 percent of the time. These scores are cumulative for each representative's time in their current office. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence considered votes from 1988-2002 in the House and 1991-2002 in the Senate when determining these scores.
2002 Representative Ford supported the interests of the National Rifle Association 0 percent during their legislative career up until 2002.
2001-2002 Based on the results of a questionnaire the Gun Owners of America assigned Representative Ford a grade of F- (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F-).
2000 Based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionnaire sent to all Congressional candidates in 2000, the National Rifle Association assigned Representative Ford a grade of F (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F).
1999-2000 Representative Ford supported the interests of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence 100 percent in 1999-2000.
1999-2000 Based on the results of a questionnaire the Gun Owners of America assigned Representative Ford a grade of F- (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F-).
If Tennessee elects Ford they will actually be electing daddy to the position he couldn't win on his own. Jr doesn't take a leak without asking his old man for permission.
I can't see it happening, but I've been wrong before. Hopefully whoever the Repub nominee turns out to be will make Ford's Congressional voting record well known in middle and east TN where they don't know that much about him. He will no doubt win big time in the Memphis area, but there's lot's more to TN than Memphis. I can't imagine any TN gun owner or pro-life Christian voting for him.
Neither can I.
He's running some very slick ads here in Tennessee that basically make him sound very conservative on illegal immigration. I see the uninformed masses falling for this line of BS and as a result I think he might very well end up in the Senate unless the GOP gets off it's ass and starts to counter him pronto!
Yep, Corker is a real slimeball and he proved that repeatedly as Mayor of Chattanooga. Either Ed Bryant or Van Hillary works for me, although I think Bryant has a better chance against Ford.
Whitey Ford talking through his ash.
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