How about that Harold Ford, huh?

[Rose Siding]

And Marty Meehan, too.

There are so few opportunities to get a glipse at the heart of public figures, and I think this was one of those times. This real-time peek at the fire within makes it easier to accept those occasional opinions that are at some variance with my own.

"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. Murtha is a 37-year Marine veteran and ranking Democrat on the defense appropriations subcommittee.

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 Republicans were making uncalled-for personal attacks. "You guys are pathetic! Pathetic!" yelled Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Mass.

Democrats gave Murtha a standing ovation as he entered the chamber and took his customary corner seat.

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1105/279288.html

[tsuki]

1. Last night was one of the most exciting House meetings that I have

ever witnessed on CSpan. I hope they rerun it. I'll be there to watch.

[SharonAnn]

19. It was wonderful! I was spellbound for hours!

[tsuki]

20. I fell in love with Lantos. He is one cool customer. The Chair

finally had to sit down and then uphold the second point of order. Great stuff!

[mduffy31]

2. It was like watching the British House of Commons

nt

[ashling]

3. I wonder if HF would have done this for, say,

Dennis Kucinich rather than Murtha (not that I am necessarily a big Kucinich fan) I hope so. I choose to believe that he would . . . , but I wonder.

[grasswire]

4. I could hardly believe the news...

...about Ford. Shortly after, he was on MSNBC and asked by Howard Fineman about the incident. He really downplayed it, just mumbling about how Schmidt was green and didn't know what she was saying.

I wish there was film.

[MidnightWind]

11. Last night on Countdown though

Fineman described how the Dems came running down the aisles to scream at her when she made that statement and how he'd never, ever seen the anger level that high on the House floor before. He seemed still rather in shock about it all when he was interviewed about it last night on Countdown.

[jbnow]

13. I saw him too

I don't know if it was CNN or MSNBC. I don't think it was the same interview though.
He was asked about screaming at her and he said it wasn't at her...and vaguely defended her, at least saying she was new and must not have understood and that several republicans talked to her and made sure he did.
But when asked about that he jumped from his chair and jumped over some barrier, yelling in protest the only part he corrected was that it wasn't much of a barrier. He was still outraged. Even speaking quietly about Schmidt his eyes were filled with fury.

I took it as a very good sign that outrage made that gentle man jump from his chair and go running as he yelled.

very good.

[Neil Lisst]

5. I can't remember the last time elected Dems shows such FIRE!

We're BACK, Yall!!

[Call me Deacon Blues]

6. Keep it up, Harold

you just might win my vote yet!

[wiley]

7. He's a great example of a good old gentlemanly Southern Democrat

who gets real fired up when the integrity or honor of a friend is questioned. There used to be lots of them until the Republican Party debased the nature of political discourse in this country to personal attacks and evil, fabricated rumors. The fact that a honored military man would be attacked on the floor of the House was just too much for him to take. Attacking Murtha is going to backfire big time for the low-life Republicans. When Ford says in the name of everything that's good and decent and honorable, the sickness that is called Republicanism will be viewed as the nazsty disease that it is. We could do real worse if we had a lot of Fords speaking up as patriotic Democrats.

[Arugula Latte]

8. I always thought Harold was a big appeaser.

Glad to see some fire!!

[JNelson6563]

12. Because until now he usually is

I hope he keeps it up.

Julie

[quinnox]

9. pathetic to describe the current crop

of republicans is being kind.

[snowbear]

10. Rock on HF, jr. !!

~~ :headbang: ~~

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[snowbear]

15. What the...

Care to explain? Or are you going to "post and run"?

[wiley]

17. That's just nasty

get a grip!

[VolcanoJen]

16. Some more detail from the Washington Post's version...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/18/AR2005111802896.html

Excellent, juicy stuff here:

Dozens of Democrats erupted at once, pointing angrily at Schmidt and shouting repeatedly, "Take her words down" -- the House term for retracting a statement. For a moment Schmidt tried to keep speaking, but the uproar continued and several GOP colleagues surrounded her as she sat down, looking slightly dazed. Presiding officer Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) gaveled in vain for order as Democrats continued shouting for Schmidt to take back her words. Rep. Martin T. Meehan (D-Mass.) yelled "You guys are pathetic!" from the far end of the Democratic section to the GOP side.

Just as matters seemed to calm a bit, Rep. Harold E. Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.) suddenly charged across the aisle to the GOP seats, jabbing his finger furiously at a small group of GOP members and shouting, "Say Murtha's name!" Rep. David R. Obey (D-Wis.), who had led the chants for striking Schmidt's comments, gently guided Ford by the arm back to the minority party's side.

At 5:31, when order was finally restored, Schmidt rose again and said softly, "My words were not directed at any member of the House." She asked that they "be withdrawn" from the record.

As the House temporarily moved to other matters, a calm Ford said in an interview that he confronted the Republicans because he was angry that they were using a ploy to avoid "a real debate" about the war. "I said, 'If you believe it's about Murtha, then talk about Murtha, don't hide behind a resolution,' " Ford said.j

[The Magistrate]

18. Representative Ford, Ma'am, May Well Be President Someday

He has that "X-factor" about him; something in the eyes and carriage....

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[Jai4WKC08]

21. Clark/Ford '08

Let's get that Arkansas/Tennessee thang going again! :)

[Freddie Stubbs]

22. Typical DLCer

;)

[Doctor_J]

23. He seems like more of a follower than a leader

I like the guy, he's photogenic and would put a great face on the party, but it seems like he's just jumping on the bandwagon that others got going. Piling on instead of making the tackle.