On guns, gays and God, Corker and Ford agree (NRA gives Ford a big fat F)

NASHVILLE -- It was a brief moment of levity in the Memphis debate between U.S. Senate candidates Bob Corker and Harold Ford Jr.

After Ford charged that his Republican rival would be a "rubber stamp" for President Bush, WREG-TV news analyst Norm Brewer reeled off a list of issues on which the Democratic congressman has also sided with the president, including several social issues. Brewer asked, if Corker's a rubber stamp, then what did that make Ford?

"I know one thing: It doesn't describe a liberal," Ford replied, rejecting the political label Republicans try to attach to him.

In Tennessee's neck-and-neck Senate race, both candidates are wooing the independents and moderates who determine the outcome of statewide elections.

Corker and Ford disagree over many major economic issues, the direction of the country, the conduct of the Iraq war and whose background makes him better prepared to represent Tennessee.

They have agreed on several hot-button social-policy issues: Both say they oppose further gun controls and favor constitutional amendments to ban -burning the flag and same-gender marriage. Both said that their religious beliefs influence their political decisions.

Both proclaim themselves "pro-life" but sometimes avoid the details that arouse hard-liners on both sides of the issue.

Although it has declined to endorse him, the anti-abortion group Tennessee Right to Life says on its Web site that Corker "has publicly committed to support the reversal of Roe v. Wade, the passage of pro-life legislation in the U.S. Senate and confirmation of judges who 'will interpret laws, not create them.'"

Corker wrote, in response to a Commercial Appeal questionnaire, that he believes the Supreme Court's 1973 decision that declared a right to abortion "was an example of judicial over-reaching."

He favors exemptions to an abortion ban in cases of rape, incest and when the mother's life is endangered.

Corker has the endorsement of National Right to Life. And its Tennessee affiliate says both groups "strongly oppose" Ford's election to the Senate.

While Ford also describes himself as pro-life, his voting record in the House has been mixed and he speaks of upholding the "law of the land," which his campaign spokeswoman Carol Andrew said means Roe v. Wade.

"I believe life is the best choice and that it should be the goal of policy-makers to reduce abortions," he wrote in response to The Commercial Appeal questionnaire. "We need to expand and improve opportunities for adoption, to encourage child care, improve access to preschool and give kids a strong start in life. We also need to encourage adoption and abstinence programs.

"At the end of the day, I agree with Chief Justice John Roberts: America is a nation of laws that should be upheld," Ford wrote.

He is co-sponsoring a bill called the Pregnant Women Support Act aimed at reducing abortion by preventing unintended pregnancies and supporting pregnant women through education, pregnancy counseling, adoption incentives, shelters for women and children in crisis, and improved medical care.

Both candidates' positions on abortion have evolved over the years. As a Senate candidate in 1994, Corker said he opposed abortion but that it was a personal decision and there should be no "government interference" -- which pro-life forces said was a "pro-choice" position.

He has said in this campaign that he was "wrong" 12 years ago and changed his mind.

Ford voted in his early House years against bills to ban the late-term abortion procedure called "partial-birth" abortion, but voted in 2000, 2002 and 2003 to ban it. He said he has "grown and matured" and changed his mind on the procedure after talking with a doctor.

National Right to Life says that in 10 votes during the 2005 and 2006 sessions, Ford voted for the group's position twice -- including for the bill that allowed federal courts to review the Terri Schiavo case in Florida and for the bill to prohibit adults from transporting minors across state lines for abortions to evade parental-notification laws.

Two of the votes NRL cited were on another issue on which Corker and Ford differ: embryonic stem-cell research, which scientists hope will lead to development of new treatments for cancer, Alzheimer's, spinal cord injuries and other maladies.

Corker opposes federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research. Ford supports it and has consistently voted to allow it.

When asked if they believe the right to bear arms includes assault rifles, both said they oppose any new restrictions on gun owners.

Ford supports public financing of political campaigns through tax dollars. Corker opposes it.

THE TRUTH ABOUT CONGRESSMAN FORD AND CONSERVATIVE VALUES

(Nashville) - In recent weeks, Congressman Harold Ford Jr. has released ads personally attacking Bob Corker, but the truth is the congressman should take a closer look at his own values and see how well they match up to those of Tennesseans.

"Hanging out at a Playboy party with Playmates one day and sitting in a church pew another…this guy isn't fooling anyone. I suppose he'll say or do anything to avoid his deplorable record on values," said Bob Davis, chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party.

THE TRUTH ABOUT CONGRESSMAN FORD AND CONSERVATIVE VALUES

Congressman Ford Parties At The Playboy Mansion

Ford Was Spotted At The Playboy Super Bowl Party In Florida Last Year. "Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.) was spotted at the Playboy Super Bowl party in Jacksonville, Fla., after the New England Patriots' big win Sunday night. . . . One Web site selling tickets to the event claimed: 'The Playboy Superbowl Party has become famous for being packed with celebrities and Playmates alike...Oh, and it is also packed with Playmates in lingerie and body paint.'" (Mary Ann Akers, "Heard On The Hill," Roll Call, February 8, 2005)

The Commercial Appeal Notes, "Ford Has Never Disputed Attending" The Playboy Party. "Ford has never disputed attending the party. As he campaigned in southeast Tennessee Tuesday, campaign aides criticized the ad but would not say whether he attended." (Richard Locker, "GOP Ad: Ford At Playboy Party," The Commercial Appeal, October 4, 2006)

Congressman Ford Accepts Money From the Porn Industry

Congressman Ford Was Forced To Return Thousands Of Dollars In Contributions From Adult Entertainment Industry Executives From Companies Like Hustler And Playboy. "On Wednesday, Ford returned $3,600 of campaign funds that he had received from executives of five adult entertainment broadcast companies after the donations were brought to his attention by Gannett News Service. ‘It doesn't meet our standards and is not in tune with Tennessee values,' Ford spokeswoman Carol Andrews said. Among the donors was William M. Asher, co-chairman of Vivid Entertainment Group, described by Forbes magazine last year as the largest producer of adult videos in the country, with annual revenue of $100 million. Asher gave $1,000 to the Ford campaign in April, according to a quarterly campaign report filed last month. Other donors from the adult entertainment industry were Camila Ipinza, a vice president with the parent company of Hustler TV; Christie Hefner, chairman and CEO of Playboy Entertainment; Marc Greenberg and Richard Goldberg, founders of MRG Entertainment; and David Bur-steen of New City Releasing." (Bonna de la Cruz and Bill Theobald, "2 Races With Independents Test Ford's Democratic Allegiance," Tennessean, August 10, 2006)

Congressman Ford Votes In Favor Of Partial-Birth Abortion

In 1997, Ford Voted Against Banning Partial-Birth Abortion. (H.R. 1122, CQ Vote #65: Passed 295-136: R 218-8; D 77-127; I 0-1, March 20, 1997, Ford Voted Nay)

And Against House Floor Consideration In 2000. (H.R. 3660, CQ Vote #102: Adopted 244-179: R 202-14; D 41-164; I 1-1, April 5, 2000, Ford Voted Nay) 2000 CQ HOUSE VOTE 102

Ford Was The Only Member Of The Tennessee Delegation Not To Vote "Against Partial-Birth Atrocities." "There are few worse kinds of atrocity that may be committed against innocent human babies than what is involved in purposeful ‘partial-birth abortion.'. . . When the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives earlier passed a law to prohibit such barbarism, President Bill Clinton imposed his veto. The Senate was unable to muster a two-thirds vote to override. Now the Senate has again passed a bill to ban killing babies by partial-birth abortion and the House joined it with a vote of 296 to 132 yesterday. All Tennessee Republican and Democratic congressmen except Democratic Rep. Harold Ford Jr. of Memphis voted with the majority against partial-birth atrocities." (Lee Anderson, Op-Ed, "Stop Atrocious Baby-Killing," Chattanooga Free Press, October 9, 1997)

Ford Has Voted At Least Five Times For Amendments That Gutted A Ban On Partial-Birth Abortion. (H.R. 760, CQ Vote #241: Motion Rejected 165-256: R 9-216; D 155-40; I 1-0, June 4, 2003, Ford Voted Yea; H.R. 760, CQ Vote #240: Rejected 133-287: R 18-206; D 115-80; I 0-1, June 4, 2003, Ford Voted Yea; H.R. 4965, CQ Vote #342: Motion Rejected 187-241: R 19-199; D 167-41; I 1-1, July 24, 2002, Ford Voted Yea; H.R. 1122, CQ Vote #64: Motion Rejected 149-282: R 16-210; D 132-72; I 1-0, March 20, 1997, Ford Voted Yea; H.R. 1122, CQ Vote #63: Motion Agreed To 265-165: R 220-5; D 45-159; I 0-1, March 20, 1997, Ford Voted Nay)

Congressman Ford Is Endorsed By Liberal Organizations

NARAL Pro-Choice America Gave Ford 100% For His Votes In 2004 And 2001 And 60% For His Votes In 2005. (NARAL Pro-Choice America Website, www.prochoiceamerica.org, Accessed May 27, 2006)
Planned Parenthood Of America Gave Ford 78% For His Votes From 1997-2003. (Project Vote Smart Website, www.vote-smart.org, Accessed August 23, 2006, Votes Between 1995-2003)
Ford Said He Has No Problem With An Endorsement From Ultra-Liberal MoveOn. "Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.), who's running for the Senate in a conservative state by positioning himself as a centrist, said he has no problem if MoveOn wants to help him raise cash. ‘MoveOn.org hasn't placed one road-side bomb in Iraq,' Ford said. ‘Nor did MoveOn.org fail to plan an exit strategy.'" (Chris Cillizza and Paul Kane, "GOP Sees MoveOn As Wedge," Roll Call, July 11, 2005)

Congressman Ford Is At Odds With Tennesseans On Gun Issues

The National Rifle Association Assigned Harold Ford A Lifetime Grade Of ‘F' In 2000 And 2002.

2004: Ford Received A Lifetime Grade Of "C"
2002: Ford Received A Lifetime Grade Of "F"
2000: Ford Received A Lifetime Grade Of "F"
(Project Vote Smart Website, www.vote-smart.org, Accessed July 9, 2006)

Ford Was The Only Member Of The Tennessee Delegation To Vote Against The 1999 "NRA Bill." "After passing a sham bill pushed by the National Rifle Association and voting down a bill requiring background checks at gun shows, the House abandoned all efforts on gun control. In Tennessee's delegation, only Rep. Harold Ford Jr., of Memphis voted against the NRA bill and for the background checks." (Editorial, "A Non-Violent Society Controls Its Weapons," The Tennessean, August 12, 1999)

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