Congressman Harold Ford Jr.'s success or failure in his bid for the U.S. Senate seat may hinge on records: his family's and his own. Posted on 08/06/2006 8:47:27 AM PDT by SmithL
Congressman Harold Ford Jr.'s success or failure in his bid for the U.S. Senate seat may hinge on records: his family's and his own.
Ford, 36, is an East Coast-educated, African-American Democrat from a prominent and embattled political family trying to become the first black elected senator in a predominantly Republican state. He has been characterized by the Republicans as an out-of-touch, liberal "Washington insider" and by some Democrats, including some members of the Congressional Black Caucus as "too conservative."
Ford and supporters said he's neither, he's just a different type of Democrat -- the type who can admire both President John Kennedy, because he cut taxes and took a hard-line in the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Ronald Reagan.
"I like Ronald Reagan. I get in trouble with members of my party for saying that, but I do," said Ford, who is also a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a congressional group of moderate and conservative Democrats. "He had a lot of intestinal fortitude. He believed America had to maintain moral authority. He fought a war called the Cold War and never fired a gun or a missile."
Maybe so, but Reagan's party wasted no time singling Ford out as a pampered princeling who waffles on issues. As the August primary loomed nigh, national Republican groups launched a flurry of e-mails pointing out Ford's voting record.
Earlier in the campaign season, the National Republican Senatorial Committee launched "Fancy Ford," a Web site chronicling after-hours partying and "couture suit" purchases.
"I'm blessed," Ford told reporters Friday. "But Bob's more blessed."
During Ford's 10-year stint representing the Ninth Congressional District, he voted against reauthorizing the Patriot Act and opposed nominating Justice Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.
(Excerpt) Read more at commercialappeal.com ...
I am beginning to question a system where only self-important @-holes take an interest in public service, particularly in elected office.
Still, I don't what's better. Perhaps draft people onto ballots? Couldn't be worse than the people we have running now.
"...African-American..."
No he's not. He's an American who happens to be black. Is this PC crap ever going to wear-off?
This article is just more bs.
Hell, he's not even very black. Find several pics of him and look. His sking is lighter than most Hispanics.
Abdullah Hmmmmmmmmmmm
Yeah, we know who Abdullah is supporting. I wonder if he's on Ford's payroll?
Must have had some white ancestors along the route, somewhere.
Note the source.
Are you quite certain that photo has not been monkeyed with?
I took one look and couldn't help but think...
DAMIEN!!!
I'm not certain about whether anything from Memphis has been monkeyed with, or not.
"I am beginning to question a system where only self-important @-holes take an interest in public service, particularly in elected office.
Still, I don't what's better. Perhaps draft people onto ballots? Couldn't be worse than the people we have running now"
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Former Reagan speechwriter Peter Robinson ("How Ronald Reagan Changed my Life") made it clear in an earlier work that successful, well-adjusted conservatives tend to be doing far too well in the proffessional world to want to take a pay cut and subject themselves to the indignities of running for office.
Decent people do not want to turn their lives inside out for the sake of gaining power over others. Furthermore, the "proffessionalization" of politics in recent decades tends to involve more and more people who go straight into politics from high school on up and never live in the "real" world. Many of our recent scandals and incompetence tend to involve such creatures: Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Greyout Davis, Gary Condit, etc., who were raised to politics from the womb.
LOL!!!!!!!
I think my Nashville upbringing is starting to show.
heh heh heh
Sorry meant would not!
We have traded places. I was brought up in Calif.
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