Harold Ford, Junior - Not Ready For Prime Time - As evidenced by his actions on the House floor less than two years ago on November 18, 2005. We do not need our Senators engaging in street fights like this on the Senate floor? Check out the video, here.

Harold Ford, Senior calls white people "Crackers"

Harold Ford, Junior. I am a lawyer and I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Oct 11, 4:47 PM EDT

A Ford 'political machine'? Repubs say yes, but academics say no

By WOODY BAIRD
Associated Press Writer

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Looking for an edge in the tight U.S. Senate race,
Republican Bob Corker points to what he calls the "machine-type politics" of
Democrat Harold Ford Jr.'s family in Memphis.

"A Ford machine? There isn't one," said political scientist Marcus Pohlmann.
"I think it's partly a code word to tie Junior to his less popular father
and uncle, to talk about them as a single entity."

Ford has represented Memphis in the U.S. House for 10 years and comes from
one of the most politically active families in the city's history.

His father, Harold Ford Sr., was in Washington for 22 years before him and
was Tennessee's first black member of Congress. An uncle, John Ford, was for
more than 30 years one of the best-known, and most infamous, members of the
state Senate.

John Ford resigned last year after he was indicted on federal corruption
charges and is awaiting trial. After two trials, Harold Ford Sr. was
acquitted of federal bank fraud charges in 1993.

A political organization built by Ford Sr., one of 12 siblings, was a
driving force in the growth of black political power in Memphis in the
1970s.

Fords have been elected to numerous local offices and state legislative
seats, among them Ophelia Ford whose 2005 election to replace John in the
state Senate was voided because of voting irregularities. She's back on the
ballot this year.

But to say the Ford family dominates politics in Memphis, a predominantly
black city, is inaccurate, said Pohlmann of Rhodes College.

Willie Herenton, the city's first elected black mayor now in his fourth
term, is an outspoken critic of the Fords, and a prominent Ford family
member, County Commissioner Joe Ford, lost badly when he tried to unseat
Herenton in 1999.

"You've got a much more diverse black electorate these days, and it's not
under the thumb of any political machine by any stretch of the imagination,"
Pohlmann said.

Todd Womack, a spokesman for Corker, disagreed.

"I think people know a machine when they see it," Womack said. "The Ford
political machine has been written about in newspapers all over the state
for many years."

Harold Ford Jr. should tell the voters, Womack said, "if he plans to
activate the Ford political machine in this race."

Independent polls show a tight race between Ford and Corker, a former
Chattanooga mayor, as they seek to replace Senate Majority Leader Bill
Frist.

If elected, Ford would be the first black senator from the South since
Reconstruction and the first Democratic senator from Tennessee since 1990.

After his victory in the Republican primary in August, Corker said he had no
plans to talk about Ford's family while campaigning for the Nov. 7 election.

But at their first debate Oct. 7 in Memphis, Corker said politics is a
"family business" for the Fords and it's a "machine-type politics."

At a second debate Tuesday in Chattanooga, he questioned Ford Jr.'s dealings
in Congress with Harold Ford Sr., who is now a lobbyist.

"Attacking my father has no place in this campaign, Mr. Corker," Ford
responded.

"I didn't think he could stoop any lower into the gutter than he already has
in this campaign," Ford continued. "But it looks as if rock bottom hasn't
hit there yet."

Corker also has pointed out that Ford Jr.'s younger brother, Jake Ford, is
running as an independent candidate for the soon-to-be-vacant 9th District
seat after a cousin, Joe Ford Jr., was eliminated in the Democratic primary.

Having two family members in the race is an attempt "to ensure that a Ford
is in this seat," Corker said during the Memphis debate.

But Bruce Oppenheimer, a Vanderbilt political scientist, said Jake Ford's
candidacy as an independent is no indicator of political strength.

"If there was a machine, then he would have gotten the nomination, the
Democratic nomination," Oppenheimer said.

Memphis was run by a political boss, E.H. Crump, in the early 1900s, but by
the 1970s, government reforms had wiped out most political machines in U.S.
cities.

"But we do create what appears to be family dynasties in politics,"
Oppenheimer said. "(Political machine) may be a convenient term, but it's
not an accurate description ... If one wanted to talk in those terms, then I
guess one would say, 'Oh, there's a Bush political machine nationally.'"

Charles Crawford, a University of Memphis history professor, said Ford
family members elected to local offices generally have influence in small
pockets of the city, mostly in predominantly black neighborhoods.

"It's not highly organized," Crawford said. "I think of it more as a network
or an extended family."

But come election time, family members can be seemingly everywhere, and John
Ryder, a longtime Republican activist, disagreed with the academic
assessment of Ford organization.

"From the lofty realms of the ivory towers it may not look like a machine,
but down at the ground level it looks like a machine," Ryder said.

At a recent event in Jackson, Ford said, “I ain’t gonna be as nice on Tuesday in Chattanooga … You know, my family’s been involved in politics a long, long time and sometimes my dad, and my uncle, and all of them would take the gloves off but I may just have to take the gloves off.” (Video Recording from event in Jackson, TN on October 8, 2006 at the Carl Perkins Civic Center—audio available from the campaign upon request).

The fact that Congressman Ford intends to emulate the campaign style of his father and uncle, as he said on Sunday, is a new development in this contest.

If Ford is already planning to follow in the Ford family footsteps during the campaign, we wonder … will he do the same if elected to the U.S. Senate?

Corker Shares Vision; Exhibits Senatorial Temperament
Ford Continues Pattern of Stretching Truth

Memphis, TN – In the first debate of the general election campaign, U. S. Senate candidate Bob Corker easily prevailed over Washington Congressman Ford, who did not live up to his over-hyped reputation as an expert orator, but continued his pattern of stretching the truth on his record.

Corker illustrated that the clear choice in this election is between himself, a real Tennessean who has proven his ability to help people solve complicated problems with bold solutions in the private and public sectors, or Congressman Ford, a young man whose total life experience is about Washington, politics and perpetuating the Ford political machine.

Corker Communications Director, Todd Womack said, “While Bob Corker shared his vision of creating bold solutions to lead America’s toward a bright future, Congressman Ford continued a pattern that has dominated the campaign of stretching his record and his resume. Bob Corker demonstrated that he has the background and experience to represent Tennessee in the United States Senate, while Congressman Ford showed that while he talks a good game, he lacks the maturity, temperament or experience to serve in the U. S. Senate."

Congressman Ford Stretches the Truth

FORD STRETCHES THE TRUTH ON TORT REFORM

Ford Has Voted At Least Five Times Against Caps In Medical Malpractice Lawsuits, Consistently Voting To Block Reform Since 2001. (HR 5, CQ Vote #449: Passed 230-194: R 216-9; D 14-184; I 0-1, July 28, 2005, Ford Voted Nay; HR 4280, CQ Vote #166: Passed 229-197: R 214-10; D 15-186; I 0-1, May 12, 2004, Ford Voted Nay; HR 5, CQ Vote #64: Passed 229-196: R 213-9; D 16-186; I 0-1, March 13, 2003, Ford Voted Nay; HR 4600, CQ Vote #421: Passed 217-203: R 203-15; D 14-187; I 0-1, September 26, 2002, Ford Voted Nay; HR 2563, CQ Vote #330: Rejected 207-221: R 201-18; D 5-202; I 1-1, August 2, 2001, Ford Voted Nay)


Former President Of The Trial Lawyer Association Fred Baron Gave Congressman Ford $1,000 In 2006. (The Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed October 7, 2006)

Baron Once Quipped That Trial Lawyers Ran The Democrat Senate. “Lastly, there is another reason [a legislative solution to the asbestos litigation crisis] won’t happen. I picked up my Wall Street Journal last night . . . and what did I learn? ‘The plaintiffs’ bar is all but running the Senate.’ Now, I really, strongly disagree with that, particularly the words ‘all but.’” (Fred Baron, Mealey’s Asbestos Bankruptcy Conference, June 3, 2002)

Baron Even Vowed “Jihad” Against Tort Reform Advocates. “Fred Baron has 10,000 asbestos clients – probably more than any other lawyer in the US – and he has a simple message for those lobbying Washington’s lawmakers to make it harder to bring his cases to court. ‘There will be a jihad,’ he says. ‘We will fight them with everything we’ve got.’” (“Growing Chorus Demands Change In Law,” Financial Times, September 9, 2002)

FORD STRETCHES THE TRUTH ON HIS OPPOSITION TO IRAN

Ford Missed A Chance To Condemn The Iranian President And His Call To Destroy Israel:

Condemnation Against Iran President – Adoption. “Adoption of the resolution that would condemn Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s threats against Israel and nations that support Israel.” (H Res 523, CQ Vote #556: Adopted 383-0: R 204-0; D 178-0 (ND 135-0, SD 43-0); I 1-0. October 28, 2005, Ford Did Not Vote)

FORD STRETCHES THE TRUTH ON OPPOSITION TO AMNESTY

Ford Called A Senate Judiciary Bill That Included Amnesty “More Balanced” And “More American.” FORD: “We passed a strong enforcement-only bill in the Congress. And I think what came out of the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday was a more balanced forward-looking approach and, frankly, a more American approach. It’s probably not altogether right but it’s a lot better than what we had.” . . . CNBC’S LARRY KUDLOW: “If the Senate bill, this Specter bill comes to the House floor, can you vote for it?” FORD: “If they add--make it a little stronger border protection component, I can vote for it, but we’ve got to address the border protection thing.” (Harold Ford, Jr. CNBC’s “Kudlow & Company,” March 30, 2006)

The Senate Judiciary Committee Bill Ford Said He Would Vote For Includes Amnesty And Guest Worker Provisions. “The draft bill approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee . . . includes provisions on border security, internal enforcement, guest workers and legalization of those now in the country illegally.” (Elizabeth B. Crowley, “Judiciary Measure Would Significantly Alter Frist’s Bill,” Congressional Quarterly, March 30, 2006)

“The Bill (S 2611) … Would Offer A Path To Citizenship To Most Of The Estimated 11 Million To 12 Million Illegal Immigrants In The Country.” (Michael Sandler, “Senate Limits Debate, Moves Toward Final Immigration Vote,” Congressional Quarterly, May 25, 2006)

FORD STRETCHES THE TRUTH ON HIS SUPPORT FOR VETERANS

Vietnam Veterans Of America Gives Ford An Average 35.5% Rating For His Votes Since 2003. (Vietnam Veterans Of America Website, capwiz.com/vva/keyvotes.xc/?lvl=C, Accessed September 8, 2006; Project Vote Smart, www.vote-smart.org, Accessed August 29, 2006

Disabled American Veterans Gives Ford An Average 40% Rating For His Votes Since 2001. (Project Vote Smart, www.vote-smart.org, Accessed August 29, 2006)

The Retired Enlisted Association Disabled American Veterans Gives Ford A 17% Rating For His Votes In 2004. (Project Vote Smart, www.vote-smart.org, Accessed August 29, 2006)

FORD STRETCHES THE TRUTH ON HIS SUPPORT OF A TWO-YEAR BUDGET

In An Interview With The Chattanooga Times Free Press Editorial Board Ford Said He Favored A Two-Year Budget Cycle. “Ed Bryant and I share something in common when it comes to balancing the budget. I think that we ought to adopt a two-year budget cycle.” (Harold Ford, Jr., Chattanooga Times Free Press Editorial Board Interview, October 3, 2006)But In 2000, Congressman Ford Voted Against An Amendment To Replace Annual Budgeting With A Biennial System. “Dreier, R-Calif., amendment that would replace the annual budgeting and appropriation system with a biennial one. Under the amendment, the budget resolution would cover two years, as would appropriations bills.” (HR 853, CQ Vote #186: Rejected 201-217: R 176-42; D 24-174; I 1-1, May 16, 2000, Ford Voted Nay)

FORD STRETCHES THE TRUTH ON HIS SUPPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

According To Congressional Quarterly, Liberal Icons Ted Kennedy And Hillary Clinton Supported President Bush More Often Than Harold Ford In Four Of The Past Five Years. (Member Profile, “Harold Ford,” Congressional Quarterly Website, www.cq.com, Accessed February 1, 2006)

Ford Has A Lifetime Democrat Party Unity Average Score Of 88% - The Highest Of The Tennessee Delegation. (All Information From www.CQ.com, updated through January 2006 and Accessed August 24, 2006)

According To Congressional Quarterly, In Three Of The Last Five Years Ford Has Opposed President Bush More Often Than Any Member Of The Tennessee Congressional Delegation. (Congressional Quarterly Website, www.cq.com, Accessed June 29, 2006

FORD STRETCHES THE TRUTH ON HIS LIBERALISM

According To National Journal, Ford Has A 67.3% Average Liberal Score Over The Course Of His Career, The Highest Of The Tennessee Delegation. (National Journal, House Vote Ratings 1997-2005, http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings, Accessed August 26, 2006)

FORD STRETCHES THE TRUTH ON HIS COMMITMENT
TO “THE LITTLE GUY”

Harold Ford’s Leading Donors Are Not Comprised Of “The Little Guy.” Ford has received almost $660,000 from lawyers and law firms and well-over $500,000 from the largest securities & investment firms. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 10/7/06)

Ford’s Top Contributors Are All Investment Firms

Rank Company/Firm Amount

1 Credit Suisse Group $37,720
2 Ariel Capital Management $31,550
3 Goldman Sachs $30,797
4 Morgan Stanley $28,850
5 Merrill Lynch $27,850
6 McVean Trading & Investments $26,700
7 UBS AG $25,250
(The Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 10/7/06)