Harold Ford Jr. Tells Priorities

[Jackson4Gore]

Harold Ford Jr. Tells priorities

07/13/05
Shirley Nanney

U.S. Representative Harold Ford Jr. (D-Memphis) made a stop in Huntingdon Thursday to gather support in his bid for the U.S. Senate.

Ford, 35, currently represents the Ninth Congressional District after being elected in 1996 to the seat.

He is a candidate for the 2006 U.S. Senate seat that is being vacated by U.S. Sen. Bill Frist, a Republican, who plans on running for the presidency in 2008.

He’s been billed as an up and coming star of the Democrat party.

Ford made an afternoon stop at the Behlen plant during his trip to town and toured the facility that manufactures farm items such as gates, corrals, bale feeders and stock tanks. He also met with Democrats during a reception at the Carroll Bank & Trust Co. Community Room the same evening.

In the Behlen office he was introduced by Chamber President Brad Hurley to plant manager Stuart Daffron, who advised there were 140 employees that work in the plant and that 800 are employed at the home-based company in Columbus, Nebraska.

Ford, clad in dark suit pants, a white long-sleeved shirt, and western-style black boots, learned first-hand how many of the products are manufactured as he stopped at the various operations so employees could explain the operation.

He said he found the tour very interesting as he had never been in a livestock manufacturing facility before.

"It was wonderful to see something produced in America," he said. "I was particularly pleased when they told me that all the materials they purchase are U.S. materials."

He said he was informed by the management that although steel cost has doubled that they have not passed the increase onto their customers.

In relation to the matter, he said that he had always voted for every free-trade agreement since being elected because he feels that the open market is better for consumers.

Yet, he said the government can’t keep passing more and more trade agreements such as the upcoming Central American Free Trade Agreement and losing American jobs. He said the Chinese don’t play because of the value of their currency.

"Their dollars are worth more than ours, however, they peg the value of their currency to our currency which is unfair," he said. "Their government owns everything over there and it puts our business people at a total disadvantage. It’s reached a point where it’s no longer fair. If we can’t play by the same rules you have to say enough is enough."

Later, in an interview at the Carroll County News-Leader, he explained his priorities and the reason he is running.

Ford, who must give up his seat to run for the Senate, says that within the next 10 years a lot of situations will develop that will have to be resolved by the government. As far as priorities, he says the U.S. must find a way to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil, and especially Middle East oil.

"It will reduce the likelihood of U.S. soldiers having to serve as oil cops in the Middle East and will increase productivity and wealth in this country if we develop new energy products and new technology to fuel our cars," said Ford. "We could even export those products to China, Indonesia, India and Mexico where there is a great need for these things."

Another lead item of importance that needs attention is education, says Ford.

"We’re falling behind the rest of the world in producing smart workers and entrepreneurs," he pointed out. "China and India are surpassing us because their workforce is smarter than ours."

Over the years, he pointed out that West Tennessee has prided itself in having a good quality of life, a good work force and has been able to attract employers because of these factors.

"In this world we’re living in, China is undercutting us," he said. "There’re undercutting us so badly that they’re dominating the U.S. in the middle and low wage jobs. But at the same time they’re becoming stronger for the high wage jobs — the real creative jobs where advance degrees are needed."

Ford says his fears over the next ten years if the U.S. does not figure out a way to get smarter, West Tennessee and other rural areas across the country will lose jobs.

Health care is another top issue that must be addressed in a different way as a nation.

"The drug companies enjoy enormous profit margins," he said. "They’re able to take advantage of sick and elderly in this country."

He says that the federal government must reform prescription drug patent laws so that when a drug company gets a patent that does the same thing as a similar company’s they should have to change the way the drug is made.

If elected to the Senate, he says he would like to serve on the Finance and Armed Services Committees. He presently serves on the Budget and Financial Services Committees in the House.

In his foreign travels, he’s visited Iraq twice and Afghanistan once and plans on returning in September.

As far as his uncle, former State Senator John Ford, who has been accused of bribery as a part of the FBI sting operation, "Tennessee Waltz," the U.S. senator says he hopes the voters hold him accountable only for himself.

"My uncle is who he is, and I’m who I am, and I hope the voters hold me accountable for me," he said. "I can’t control anybody but myself, I wish I could."

According to the Federal Election Commission, Ford had nearly $1.6 million to fund his campaign, but he has said that he needs at least $12 million.

[SteppingRazor]

1. So does this mean he won't support CAFTA?

He seems awfully ambivalent on the point.

[BayCityProgressive]

2. He isnt going to support it.

[Jackson4Gore]

3. Wrong

The Congressman is undecided up to this point.

Please read my previous post on his position on CAFTA:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=179x1645#1672

[FreedomAngel82]

4. Do you know

where he stands on Bolton?

[Jackson4Gore]

5. Ford has nothing to do with Bolton

The US Senate is voting on Bolton, Ford is in the House.