I am starting to have my doubts about Harold Ford.Jr

[Daylin Byak]

Usually when there a thread on this board dealing with the TN Senate race about Ford and Rosalind Kurita I have always supported Ford cause he's has the face, the name and he's more electable than Kurita.

But after reading more about him, i'm having doubts about him being an effective Democrat in the Senate(that's if he gets to the Senate). Besides him being part of the god awful DLC here's some stuff about him that angered me about him:

Ford supported a ban on benefits for same-sex couples, as well as a Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage, has told Democrats they should be more supportive of George W. Bush on the war in Iraq, has criticized Senate Democrats who attempted to filibuster Samuel Alito, has voted for the Bankruptcy Bill, and supported abortion restrictions.

Could Ford alienate Tennessee Democrats with these views, or could this be a good thing cause for some reasons Democrats in Tennessee as well as the south tend to be slightly more conservative than liberal

You decide...

[ThomasNewton]

1. He's already lost my vote

I live in Ford's district, I've always voted for him but I can't in good conscious keep supporting him.
Ford has:
Opposed HR 1606: Online Freedom of Speech Act.
Supported Bankruptcy Reform Act.
Supported the Patriot Act.
Supported renewal of the Patriot Act.
Supported the Real ID Act.
Supported the War in Iraq.

[skipos]

21. But you can let republicans win in good conscience?

Not me.

[4_TN_TITANS]

2. It's a rock and a hard place....

I agree - he's more electable, but Kurita came to a fundraiser in our county and that little lady (she's incredibly short and slender) packs a PUNCH.

For now, I'm of the opinion that we should settle for Ford in '06 and bust tail to get Kurita in '08. It didn't take Lamar long in DC to kiss off those plaid shirts. He's all slicked out and rolling in Republican money now - doing nothing but goose-stepping.

[tnlefty]

3. Ford is pissing off and alienating a lot of Dems with his positions/votes!

We must stay the course in Iraq being one of them! I heard it come out of his mouth approx. 2 weeks ago and he was slammed on a radio show this past Sat. prior to our peace rally because of his stance on Iraq (local Talk 102.3). My spouse participated in that show. It seems as though folks are thinking that he can be swayed to take positions once he's in the senate more readily than a Bryant or Hilleary would be, but good grief!

At the meeting that I attended and heard his 'stay the course' shit on Iraq, he stated that we shouldn't let our disdain of George Bush cloud our judgement on what needs to be done in Iraq. It was at this point that I feel quite certain that my whole body language changed, along with some women who were sitting close to me, and I know that I probably had steam coming out of my ears! I noticed my county party chair looking in our direction and he didn't look too happy. The other women will be fine, but I'm on certain committees, councils and I will be expected to walk precincts to help get him elected, and I don't know whether I can do that and I may have to consider resigning. I have too many neighbors (few of whom are dems) who know that I was in DC on 9/24 with my then 10 yr. old son to protest the war. Jeeeze.

[Flirtus]

4. my terrible position

Ford is better than the Republicans running, he has tons of connections and experience but his supporters say he's squeaky clean compared to his family (is that supposed to be comforting?), Kurita has always had my attention but she's not going to get the same kind of support, Corker is an interesting 'Republican', kinda looks like a Dem the same way Ford kinda looks like a 'not-so-much-like-me-Dem", those other two running are Very Scarey Fundies.

If it's one of those other two out of the primary we've got to beat them with whoever our candidate is. I can't bear to become more like S Dakota, we don't have enough strong leaders on Reservations.

[guruoo]

6. Repugs still claim they're holding back the bombshell

At least that's what the ones I know are saying
in private.

[Flirtus]

11. I think Repugs are bullies

but I have to wonder what they're up to. I have several opinions from different people that Harold is squeaky clean as far as mud-slinging goes, but I don't know him myself.

It is interesting to watch them try to kick Corker out of the race with the same kind of tactics they might use on Ford.

[Clark2008]

15. OK - let's get it out.

Ford works out at a gay spa in DC.

Whoopee.

[tnlefty]

17. Did you forget the sarcasm smilie or are you serious?

If serious, I'm gonna laugh and quit worrying about what kind of crap the repugs will try to dig up and sling at him.

Is this all they have?

[Clark2008]

20. I'm serious.

And it's from a reliable DEM source - someone who worked on Clark's campaign and lived in the gay community in DC. Edited to add: the source also pointed out that Ford doesn't go back into the "gay" part of the gym (I'm guessing, what, the bath house part? I honestly don't know what that meant), and merely sticks to the working out in the gym. Big Whoop.

The only other thing is his family, of course, but people in the Middle and East end of the states don't connect him with his uncle too incredibly much. Ford is too common a last name.

[election_2004]

5. I'd never vote for him

...if I was a Tennessee voter. His support of FMA did it for me.

He'd better change his stance on same-sex couple benefits FAST!

[Clark2008]

16. Glad you're not a Tennessee voter.

I'd much rather have him as any Republican.

Besides, no matter how many times I keep repeating this, it never seems to sink in: Ford has great ratings on abortion, civil rights and education. The ONLY thing he's moderately conservative on is the economy/financial issues - and he's slowly moving away from the DLC on some of THOSE issues.

This is Tennessee, not Massachussetts. Our citizens rallied to punish themselves further by forcing our General Assembly NOT to lower sales taxes (and ridding the sales tax on food) by instituting an income tax. How do you reason with people like this? One HAS to be almost Republicanish on finanical issues to get elected in this state.

[DemFromMem]

7. Would you rather have Ed Bryant?

I disagree with Ford on a number of issues as well. But he's closer to my views than any of the Republicans running. And he gets the Dems one step closer to the majority and I'd sure as hell rather hear Majority Leader Reid rather than Majority Leader Frist when the next Senate is sworn in in January 2007. Don't give in ot Naderism. The perfect is the enemy of the good. If you demand ideological purity, you'll get more years of Republican rule.

[cynatnite]

8. I won't vote for him unless he was the only dem on the ticket

he's more repub than dem.

[Hippo_Tron]

9. When is the primary?

I am moving to TN in August. If I'm in time to vote in the primary I will have to seriously consider what you are saying here. That said, I'm punching straight Dem in the GE.

[Flirtus]

10. register to vote

Do you already have an address in Tennessee? you must register 30 days before the election

http://www.state.tn.us/sos/election/outlines.htm

[Hippo_Tron]

12. I'm moving there in August to go to school

So yea I don't have an address right now. Plus I want to keep my voter registration in Louisiana so that I can vote in the upcoming New Orleans mayoral race. If I come in August I will definately be registered 30 days before the GE. Whether I am registered 30 days before the primary is a different story.

[Flirtus]

13. Good plan

N. O. needs your vote. We'll be needing it if Corker is not the Republican nom. The other two in the primary are scarey fundies. Corker is just so-so. The word is the Repubs are holding back some info that would be terribly damaging to Ford. So it should be great fun by the time you get here!

[Clark2008]

14. So - what are you going to do now that Kurita has dropped out?

Are you going to let the Republican win by either voting for him or by voting third party?

Look - another Dem Senator in the Congress means we either get closer to or will have a Democratic majority - and with a majority, we get committee appointments. Can you imagine Conyers as CHAIR of the judicial committee?

[4_TN_TITANS]

18. I agree....

Ford is the most likely candidate to win right now. No, I don't agree with him on everything, but voting for a Repub or not voting at all won't help us.

Democrats in TN who don't immediately veer toward the middle around election time simply don't stand a chance.

[AX10]

19. I'd take Ford over any Repug.

Ford is moderate enough to win. Also, he gives us another seat in the Senate, a vote for Harry Reid as Majority leader.