Harold Ford gets a tongue lashing over Dean comments

[quaoar]

The Memphis Flyer takes issue with Ford's comments about Dean during the Imus show:

http://www.memphisflyer.com/content.asp?ID=3279&onthefly=1

Imus: "On another note here, speaking of the Democratic Party, which you are a member of, how's Howard Dean working for you?"

Rep. Harold Ford Jr.: "(Laughing) I won't have him down so many times in Tennessee on the campaign trail with me. He has made some comments as of late that really speak to a lack of understanding I think, of the country, a lack of understanding of faith and values. I'm a Democrat and I'm a God fearing one. I grew up in church. Christianity is not reserved for white males. I think perhaps Governor Dean sometimes gets a little excited at the mouth, and says things that are simply not true. It may reach a point where if he can't find a way to kind of control some of his comments, and temper his comments, it may get to the point where the party may need to look elsewhere for leadership, because he does not speak for me, and I know he does not speak for a majority of Democrats and I dare say Republicans in my home state. I know that other, even Senator Biden and others, have made some stronger comments about him. I look forward to having a chance to sit with him here in the next day or so. I think he's going to be here in Capitol Hill a little later today to meet with us. I want to ask him directly. Can he contain himself in a lot of ways, and what is his thought process in a lot of these issues because it is not representative of where the party is."


I had just about decided to chock this all up to political posturing for his forthcoming Senate run, when a second reading of the transcript reminded me that Ford was actually laughing when he made these comments.

Forgive me: there's just something unseemly about a young congressman from Tennessee making a joke about how the Chairman of the Democratic Party – his own party, last time I checked – “sometimes gets a little excited at the mouth." There's something irritating about his speaking in decidedly condescending terms about how Governor Dean displays "a lack of understanding of faith and values." And there's something more than a little unnerving about Harold Ford, Jr. appointing himself the judge of which Democrats understand "faith and values," and which ones don’t.

[Cha]

1. Eat that, ford!

"Ford’s "faith and values" led him to support, along with 85 of his House Democrat colleagues, a War Powers Act in the fall of 2002 that was clearly unconstitutional. He voted for legislation that not only violated his oath of office; it sanctioned an illegal and immoral invasion of Iraq that may yet go down the greatest foreign-policy debacle in our history.

His "faith and values" led him to vote for the Bush Administration's almost equally immoral bankruptcy legislation earlier this spring. He was one of a handful of Democrats who voted in support of this obscene measure – one that made no exceptions for medical hardship, for example – even while his own Congressional district has some of the highest poverty levels in the country."

:toast:

[BrklynLiberal]

2. That boy's ears must be burning right off his head!!

The citizens of Tennessee will be speaking for themselves at the ballot box in 2006, when you may well be the Democratic candidate for Senate. And when they do, let's hope and pray that they will be casting their ballots on the basis of candidates' voting records, not on those candidates' senses of "faith and values." We've already had five long years of that nonsense, and our state, our country, and the world are much the worse off for it.

Time to contribute another $??.01 to Dean!!!
Include the .01 to show where it came from.

We've got Dean's back!

Help stop the fat cats in DC attacking Howard Dean. An attack against Howard Dean is an attack against the American people who work for their paycheck. Please make a small contribution of $10.01 or $20.01 everytime you come across an attack on Dean in the media. If you see the Dean Scream, please contribute $30.01.

(The content above provided by Jill Lehnert.)

The DNC is the only entity that can provide direct support to the presidential campaign. Click here to learn more about your donation.

https://www.democrats.org/epatriots/give.html?sourcecode=E008977

[Catchawave]

4. Is this the DU ePatriot contribution center?

I didn't see DU mentioned ?

[BrklynLiberal]

8. This is the site I was sent to by Carolab. epatriot is part of the site

name, but you are right, DU is not specifically mentioned.
My impression is that the .01 at the end lets them know it is us.

[Catchawave]

22. Don't get me wrong, it's still a DNC site...

...but we can all create an ePatriot account ! Why not under the DU name? Guess I'd just feel better if DU was mentioned in the fundraiser's challenge :shrug:

[iwantmycountryback]

3. You should also contribute to Rosalind Kurita

Apparently the only real Democrat in the Tennessee Senate Primary. I was on the fence about Ford, but this latest comment has made me jump over it. Of course I'm from NY so it's not like this matters, but I'm just throwin that out there.

[FreedomAngel82]

10. Yes Rosalind Kurita!

I'm not from her area but I've grown to really like her and she's a real democrat! Even our governor, Phil Bredesen who is a moderate democrat, is more of a democrat then Harold Ford. Harold Ford is a dino. Hmm, will he be the next one to give Bush a kiss? Check out my signature for Kurita's website. No I'm in no affiliation but I'm a fan and showing my support.

[Cha]

88. And she's a nurse..

put that in your pipe, swartzrenegger!

Hope she beats the socks off ford. Maybe she'll be a Dean Dozen..Jimbo this time!

[FreedomAngel82]

94. Yep!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

100. A honest-to-goodness liberal nurse?

That's refreshing!

[FreedomAngel82]

102. Yep!

Nice isn't it? Check out some of her work listed on her site about what she's done with health care:

Link: http://www.senatorrosalindkurita.com/healthcare.shtml

<TennCare Reform The legislature this year passed major reform of TennCare. The reform is a complete overhaul of the program that is expected to save taxpayers $1 billion by 2008. In addition, a new investigative unit was created to root out fraud and abuse. As a result of the comprehensive reforms, we will move toward a manageable system of health care that works for all Tennesseans.

School Nutrition Tennessee is among the nation's leaders in incidences of childhood obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Because of legislation passed this year which was co-sponsored by Senator Kurita, pre-K-8 students will soon have more nutritious snack options in their schools. The legislation requires new rules that will allow only nutritious snacks (such as 100% juice and whole grain foods) to be sold in vending machines in pre-K-8 schools.

Nursing Home Safety

Legislation was passed this session that requires that all nursing homes add sprinklers and other fire safety equipment. The installation of the fire safety equipment will be phased-in over the next two years and will create a safer environment for nursing home patients. Strict new rules are now in place regarding fire safety warnings that are designed to ensure that consumers are fully aware of the safety features in all nursing homes.>

[jobycom]

5. Problem I had with Ford's comment:

I actually think Dean stepped over the line with his comment (Save it, I've been brow-beaten enough), but this part of Ford's comment bothered me: "Christianity is not reserved for white males."

Dean said nothing implying otherwise. Those who know Ford, was he deliberately misrepresenting Dean to make his voters happy, or does he often just "get a little excited at the mouth" himself? Or two worse possibilities: He's commenting without even knowing what Dean said, or he's too stupid to understand it.

WHo knows this guy? What's the real story?

[FreedomAngel82]

12. Totally manipulating the message

I definitley noticed that. No where did Dean say that. He said the GOP were mainly white Christian's. Duh. Anybody who lives in this country knows that all types of race can be Christian. :eyes: Ford is a pure dino who doesn't deserve to be in the Senate. (Another Liberman)

[Jackson4Gore]

24. I am a Ford supporter

He is a great young guy who cares about the people of his state. I hear all of these other speculative reasons why he called Dean out, but could it really be because he disagrees with Dean doing this? That is not to big of a thing to consider is it? Take him at his word. Alot of folks in the party are concerned about Dean making these outspoken comments, not just Ford. Just the other Dean Senator Biden did the same, so don't just look at Harold.

[NWHarkness]

28. Disagreeing with Dean is fine

But that's not what he did. He deliberately distorted Dean's remarks into something they were not.And besides, what he is doing schmoozing with a racist like Imus anyway?

[Jackson4Gore]

30. I am just going to take Harold at his word.

I don't like speculating into what people "really" mean when they say something so I take them at face value.

About Imus, Harold is one of Imus's favorite Democrats. He has been a guest many times on there.

Also, what makes Imus a racist. I have never heard that before.

[FreedomAngel82]

32. Oh good grief

I think it's pretty clear you're kissing Ford's ass but he did not get what Dean said right. We all know what Dean said. Someone should tell Ford what Dean really said and ask him to apologize. Ford is being a jerk and I think owes Dean an apology.

[Cha]

98. I agree with you!

harold jr owes Dean an apology.

[Justice]

46. Kerry used to be one of Imus' favorite Democrats too, before

he had the "nerve" to run for President.

If Biden were to run again, watch Imus turn on him too. Imus would ahh "support" Biden to defeat. Watching/Listening to what Imus did to Kerry was digusting.

[NWHarkness]

52. There's no speculation involved.

Ford attacked Dean for something Dean didn't say. Now, he should be big enough to apologize.

As for Imus, apparently you missed the 60 Minutes interview in which he came right out and saisd that one of his staffers was assigned to write , in Imus' own words, "nigger jokes" for his program. You also missed his many refences to blacks as "pimps" and "thugs", his frequent description of black neighborhoods as "Moagadishu",etc.

Here, learn some more, if you wish:http://www.tompaine.com/scontent/3083.html

[candy331]

62. Imus looks like warmed over death and for the likes of me I can't

see why in the world he has a show. I guess no talent is easy to come by. Who the hell watches him anyway?

[AX10]

87. I support Dean.

[FreedomAngel82]

31. Dean told the truth

Are you denying that the GOP isn't mostly white Christians? CNN had a poll and 89% of people who polled on that agreed with him. So why are you saying Dean was out of line? Obviously other people agree with him. Give me a break. Don't you have two eyes and a brain? Don't you know the gop is mostly white and "Christian"?

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

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

[FreedomAngel82]

39. You said you trusted Ford with his comments

He totally manipulated what Dean said. NOWHERE did Dean say that the Christian religion is mostly white. It was the G.O.P. Do you even know what Dean said? Oh and please, don't tell me how to talk or act. If you don't like it oh well.

[Jackson4Gore]

42. I trust Ford in his own words

People where guessing at what he meant by those comments--I am not. I will leave him to answer those questions, but I think we should just go with what he says instead of reading into it.

You also have to consider the context in which this was said. I didn't hear the interview, so I don't know. Dean said Republicans were mostly white christians. Ford disagreed with that comment. Again, it all has to do with context. Take as you will.

Also, go ahead, keep cursing and posting false things. It is only your credibility you are hurting.

[CAcyclist]

70. What offensive language?nt

[jobycom]

55. You missed my point. Ford's comments misrepresented what Dean said

I'm all over DU right now criticizing Dean for his comments. That's not my gripe with Ford.

Ford completely misrepresented Dean by implying Dean said only white people could be Christian. I was asking why he misrepresented them? Did he do it deliberately to take a shot at Dean? Did he not hear Dean's comments, and only comment on them because of the stories he's heard? Did he hear them and misunderstand them that bad?

I'm not defending Dean, I seem to be one of the few DUers who does have a problem with his "white, Christian" comment. I'm just trying to understand why Ford misstated him.

[Jim Sagle]

74. My condolences.

[candy331]

61. Implying that he wants support from the white males and he will kiss

whatever behind need be to get it.

[Eloriel]

6. Yeah, there's a LOT of arrogance goin' round on this Dean thing

I thought Barack Obama, a FRESHMEN Senator, was out of line on his criticisms of Dean as well. This was a great letter. Thanks for posting it.

[Thrasybulus]

50. Ford and Obama!

Is it a reverse Sister Souljah moment?

African-Americans in majority white (state-wide) districts feel they have to position themselves in the center, already secure in the liberal vote.

[snowbear]

7. I listened to that show.. and I had to give Imus kudos...

..not for his interview with Harold Ford, jr... but the way he was talking about Brian Williams and Chris Matthews!! :rofl:

I rarely listen to Imus unless for some reason I can't sleep and start channel surfing. (it comes on at 4:00 a.m. here).. but I caught that show!

Imus complained about Brian Williams being such a woosie Bush-cronie.. but he REALLLLY ragged on Chris Matthews! He said he couldn't believe he was dedicating a show to Russell Crowe (later that day) instead of talking about how many of our troops are dying in Iraq.

Imus: "Who gives a hell if the guy threw a friggin' phone, jeezez Matthews, your show is going down hell you worthless piece of...."

Later Andrea Mitchell came on and after a brief lull, he asked her what she'd like to discuss. She said "do you want me to talk about the upcoming Bolton vote?" Imus slammed her with "geezuz keyyrist NO, I don't give a crap about that damn loser"

Mitchell then mumbled something like .. "I don't even know why I come on here.."

Aside from the unfortunate comments during the Harold Ford, jr. interview.. Imus was on fire for the rest of that show! :o

[FreedomAngel82]

9. Oh Harold you didn't get it!!

Dean said the GOP is made up of "white Christians"! He's telling the truth and Ford is trying to manipulate the message. Dean DID NOT say that white male's were all that were Christians. Ford is a dino ass anyways. Rosalind Kurita all the way! I know a Cuban woman who is a Christian.

[autorank]

17. You're right. He's just trying to spin this to get some Xtian votes in TN

He is very annoying and inspires huge amounts of distrust in me whenever I see him in pulblic. On the other hand, he does remind me of Sydney Falco in "Sweet Smell of Success." He'll get too close to the flame but I do want a Democrat from TN. We'll see.

[me b zola]

34. To be more specific...

Ford is angling to get more WHITE Christian voters.

[autorank]

36. Well, there you have it. Not a bad idea actually.

The problem with Ford I think, is that he's so damn smooth. I mean seriously, he's like Clinton on 78 RPM without the charm. Well, you know what I say "God bless him," that's a tough neighborhood for any Democrat. I remember when he waffled on Social Security to start. He came around in fairly short order, I believe (wasn't on the "Atrios Hall of Shame" for long or maybe didn't make it).

As long as someone from the great state of TN is there to help elect Majority Leader Reid, I'll be happy.

[FreedomAngel82]

40. Not Ford

No way in hell. I'd vote for Corker before I ever would Ford. At least I know what I'm getting with Corker since I lived under him as mayor.

[autorank]

89. Chastised by one of my favorite DUers. I RECANT AND REPENT!

CORKER FOR US SENATE, TENNESSEE

:patriot:

[me b zola]

72. Actually I think it is an awful idea

My response was not very clear, sorry for that. I think that this is another example of the DLC taking for granted it's base. It seems as though Ford is going after the religiously inclined white Southerner. But how silly to try to appeal simply on religiosity. If they are evangelicals or fundies, they will vote republican.

Now, there are plenty of Southern whites who regularly attend church services who vote on THE ISSUES: jobs, the economy, health care & prescription drugs & so on; the recent scandal that happened in North Carolina of the Pastor throwing out the Dems is a bit of proof of that. Also, the DNC has hired Cornell Belcher, a hot shot pollster who is doing some interesting work disproving many of the myths that have been circling about who the "faith-based" voters really are.


In continuing this absurd strategy, the DLC, and those who run under their agenda, not only fail to pick up the voters who they are targeting, failing to reach out to the voters who would but for a strong, solid message vote for them, but they are abandoning their base.


DLC= the destruction of the Democratic Party, and Ford is aiding in that destruction.

[autorank]

90. And by another favorite DUer. Et tu me b zola. Further recantation

:spank:

This is the best news I've heard in a long time. I do think Ford is smarmy. Just didn't connect the dots and realize that we're actually doing something that would allow a real Democrat to run, e.g., Blecher (now that's good news, we're finally looking at this).

Zola, pardonez moi!

[me b zola]

93. I think I have failed you again, autorank

My writing skills clearly leave a lot to be desired. Let me clear up another misunderstanding.

Cornelle Belcher is a pollster working for the DNC. His work is outstanding and I am trying to find a link to the video from Saturday's meeting to share with you.

The good news is that there is a Democratic candidate running against Ford in TN. Her name is Rosalind Kurita and she is currently a TN State Senator. Several TN DUers are familiar with her and like her quite a bit:) I would really like it if DUers could really get behind her and get her elected to the U.S. Senate!!

http://www.senatorrosalindkurita.com/


I am sorry for all of the confusion, autorank, you are one of my favorite DUers as well :blush:

[autorank]

95. We can do a routine like the Amer Pres & Soviet Premier in Dr. Strangelove

President: I'm so sorry Dimitri
Dimitri: No I'm sorry.
President: No Dmintri, I'm sorrier that you are.

You were clear, I wasn't. I like a real pollster doing work in the South. Bout damn time. We're working hard here in VA to keep the Warner thing going with Tom Kaine. We've got a real good shot at it.

Now, I like that candidate. Pic with Petraeus, a real hero, but this:



"So what does a Senator do to escape the high stress world of politics and public policy? In the case of Senator Kurita, she shoots. Kurita is an active skeet shooter and has participated in several shooting competitions in Tennessee" Can we borrow her for our senate race if she loses in the primary...and the turkeys.

She looks great and I like her platform. It's nice when you don't have to settle. Adios Ford.

[me b zola]

101. LOL We're really quite a pair!!

It took us a while, but we got there!! :toast:


Hey, I didn't even notice that you shot me a pic of my name-sake, thank you! :P

Here's a shout-out to Senator Kurita! :woohoo:

[FreedomAngel82]

103. Yep

And you know with Kurita her doing the gun thing just isn't a photo-op either. She's an actual member of the club! I think Kerry does hunt though but rightwingers were having a field day with his photo-op claiming he was just doing it for the election. :shrug: I don't think so but it can be seen that way. Oh and get this: Kurita is originally from Midland Texas!! Her dad was a republican who helped on campaigns with both Bush's. Kick ass! Kurita is very cool and seems to be pretty involved with her area here in Tennessee (http://www.senatorrosalindkurita.com/community.shtml ). I hope she and John Wolfe win this next midterms. John Wolfe is a democrat in my area who always challenges Zach Wamp (at least since 1997) who is a real democrat. No dino crap. Oh yeah and thanks to Mrs. Kurita you can now see campaign finance disclousers. Check out the news room. She has a lot of really great and admirable record.

[autorank]

105. You TN boys sold me. If she gets the nod, remind me and I'll send a ...

...little Virginia hospitality.

BTW, we've got a brilliant Lt. Gov. Candidate, Lesley Byrne (former congresswoman from NoVA who lost to the evil Tom Davis). She has a viable plan to take very small businesses in the state 10 employees or less (includes solos like moi) and add them to the VA state employees health plan. This is huge! You pay a small fortune to insure yourself/family if you work for your self or a small biz. She did the $$$'s and it works. This is some serious creative thinking.

To get the vote in Northern Virginia, 30%of the state, her picture will be at a keyboard, blogging (haha) on DU (well, maybe not that cool).

[iwantmycountryback]

80. And there is somebody who can do that

And her name is Rosalind Kurita. I have a hard time supporting a Democrat who doesn't even have the spine to protect Social Security, or at the very least needs some convincing to do so. Maybe if Ford starts sounding more like, idk, a Democrat, than people will support him. You can be a Democrat and win in a red state as long as you stand up for populist principles. Distorting Dean's comments will do nothing to help him get elected.

[autorank]

96. I'm a convert, she looks GREAT. Quite serious.

Where have you guys been hiding her. That gives me hope that the DEMS won't trot out the same old tired losers so the semi-informed like yours truly have to come up with bull shit excuses to suport their victory (my favorite is always, voring for Senate leader Reid...not bad when you're desperate).

:hi:

[FreedomAngel82]

104. Hear hear

Heck we even have a democratic governor who is pretty democratic (he's a moderate I believe like Dean). If Bredesen can win the governership and two-time mayor of a red area then democrats can win anywhere!

[Southsideirish]

11. Ford = loser.

[understandinglife]

16. Ditto. (nt)

Peace.


www.missionnotaccomplished.us - Please, everyone, don't stop at 500,000 signatures; don't stop at 10,000,000 signatures; don't stop until Bush and the neoconsters are indicted and prosecuted for their heinous crimes against humanity and our Constitution.

[snowbear]

13. Ford screwed up... but may HE win and not that loser R-Bryant !!!!

Wow.... I just looked at the Re-THUG opponents website for U.S. Senate for Tennessee and OMG...

He is a FRIST ASS KISSING MANIAC CLASS-A WACK JOB !!!!

You screwed up Harold.. but dammitall, I hope you beat the crap out of that hate-monger you're running against!!!! :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:

[burythehatchet]

14. Harold is running to the middle because of his criminal uncle.

[FreedomAngel82]

15. Yep

I wish Kurita was getting more attention.

[ruggerson]

18. Ford distorted what Dean said

So either Ford deliberately lied or he was willing to disparage Dean without knowing the context of what Dean actually said.

What Dean said simply was the Republican party was a part dominated by white Christians. Dean did NOT say anything about how most Christians are white, or most Christians are male or anything about Christians at all. So Ford got it entirely wrong. Dean was talking about the REPUBLICAN PARTY, not about Christians.

[FreedomAngel82]

25. Exactly

[KittyWampus]

48. And DUers Distorted What Ford Said Making It Appear Ford Said Dean

should stay out of Tennessee.

[FreedomAngel82]

76. So what did he say then?

Ford said that he won't be inviting Dean to come to his campaign and inviting him in Tennessee. I didn't know that Dean needed Ford's permission to come to Tennessee. :eyes: Hell I'd invite Dean to Tn if I had that contact.

[KingFlorez]

19. Stupid

Harold Ford is one of the numerous idiot Democrats who think they must side with Republicans and tow their line to get back to power. Guess what? It don't work, because Republicans will still vote the same and our base will stay home.

[elperromagico]

20. This part of Ford's comments does bother me:

"Christianity is not reserved for white males."

I cannot and will not argue that Dean shouldn't choose his words more carefully. I will argue, however, about that representation of his remarks by Representative Ford.

Nowhere has Howard Dean said that Christianity is exclusively for white males. I seriously doubt he ever would say that. Dean's remarks were not about Christianity. Rather, they were about the Christian Right's domination of the Republican Party.

Were Dean's remarks a poorly chosen way of stating that fact? Certainly. But nowhere - nowhere - did Dean attack Christianity.

I suspect Ford has jumped on a bandwagon when he doesn't even know who the driver is.

[FreedomAngel82]

26. Probably on Ford

I don't know why all these democrats are going against Dean when the republicans have really low numbers and haven't won an opinion poll since the last "election" and aren't getting anything done even though they are the majority in all branches of government. Dean's comments were truthful and he said the right things. The GOP is mostly white Christians. Look at their conventions and meetings. Look at ours. See the difference for yourself. Dean is even a Christian himself, so why would he attack himself?

[Cha]

99. That's a brilliant way to put it.

"I suspect Ford has jumped on a bandwagon when he doesn't even know who the driver is."

Or where the hell it's goin'.

[Boo Boo]

21. You can tell by his remarks that he doesn't even

know what Dean said. And he's putting words in Deans mouth. Glad I don't have to put up with this asshole in my state.

[TheDonkey]

23. Democrats just need to spin this story to make it not about Dean

It's fine to be a propud religious Dem but don't insult Dean just because it seems cool.

[Douglas Carpenter]

27. Here is Rep. Harold Ford Jr's contact info--let's be polite but firm

O8)

E-Mail:

[e-mail]

Website:

http://www.house.gov/ford/



Rep. Harold Ford Jr

Washington, D.C.
[phone]
[phone]
325 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515

Memphis
Downtown Office
[phone]
[phone]
The Federal Building
167 North Main, Suite #369
Memphis, Tennessee 38103

East Memphis
[phone]
[phone]
775 East Ridge Lake Boulevard
Suite 155
Memphis, Tennessee 38120

O8)

[quaoar]

33. My email to Ford

Dear Congressman Ford,

First, I want to wish you the best of luck in your upcoming race for the United States Senate. I think the state of Tennessee would be well served by you in the world's greatest deliberative body. You can count on me for financial support in that endeavor.

Secondly, I would like to point out to you that many of us in the Democratic Party are fervent supporters of the chairman of our party, Howard Dean. When Dean speaks of the differences between Republicans and Democrats he speaks for me. Dean is in touch with the heart and soul of the Democratic Party -- the heart that cannot abide standing idly by while we are savaged by the Republican hate machine and its media mouthpieces in talk radio. And the soul that wants to fight back with every fiber of our being -- to let the country know that we, too, are Christians -- Christians who actually practice the teachings of Jesus to care for the least of our brothers.

We are tired of taking it on the chin. Howard Dean understands this. This is why he has such broad support among the troops, the people who send in $20 donations by the hundreds of thousands, the people who register voters and drive people to the polls.
Howard Dean is our general and we, his troops, will follow him into battle any time and any place.

We are the party -- not the K Street crowd worried about where their next consulting contracts will come from.

Whatever you may think of the words Dean used, his meaning should be crystal clear.

[Douglas Carpenter]

35. Truly an excellent letter

Polite -- but makes it clear where we stand...:dem: :kick:

[FreedomAngel82]

41. Good letter

Oh and before you donate to Ford just check him out. Then check out the other democratic canidate Rosalind Kurita. Her website is in my sig (note: I'm not affiliated with them in anyway, just showing my support).

[quaoar]

49. I was saying that assuming

Ford would be the eventual nominee.

[ngGale]

29. Ford is a fave of Imus...

he has him on a lot. I can cut Ford some slack, Imus can get one in a crinkle at times. IMO, getting to Ford's Uncle was a move from the right - maybe to get him in line. :tinfoilhat:

[cestpaspossible]

38. I got a tongue lashing from my girlfriend

ouch

[hayu_lol]

43. Ford is one of many Blue Dog Dems...a DINO

if you prefer. A very recent study of 'The White Christian' party shows that the GOP is made up from 81% to 99% white christians.

Democrats.com looked very closely at Ford during the 2000 campaign. At first, the guy looked really good. Didnt take long for the actual facts to come out. Ford is the same sort of loser as Biden, Lieberman, Miller, et. al.

When, for example, has Ford come out and criticized Bush & Co? You wont find it. He is so far to the right of the Dem party that he could easily join the GOP.

When Dean said that the GOP was the White Christian Party, he was correct.

Major thumbs down on Blue Dog Ford.

[candy331]

64. The Black commentator has a whole article on Harold Ford and

it ain't pretty. He is a Dino from head to toe. That may be the only way he can win in Tennessee but at least ones ought to know because there is a D there that it stands for DinoDem. Go to blackcommentator.com and look in the archives and read the article on Ford to learn more.

[FreedomAngel82]

77. Oh wow

<Mr. Ford opined that he isn’t “a fan” of Black History Month because he looks forward to the day when it will no longer need to be celebrated. It is unclear what utopian age in the future would make it unnecessary to remember American history. Even if our ancestors’ dreams are realized and we reach the nirvanas of equality and justice we will still need to ponder the past.>

[FreedomAngel82]

75. Hear hear

I've even seen some people try to compare him to Obama. Ha. Obama may not be a hard core leftist but he's wayy better then Ford. Another Obama Ford isn't.

[Old_Fart]

44. Ford is a Zell Miller democrat

n/t

[AntiCoup2K4]

53. Actually, he's a Sun Myung Moon "Democrat"

Zell's Loonie, but he ain't a Moonie.

[Old_Fart]

58. Your right n/t

[DianeK]

45. kick

[zulchzulu]

47. Now the Circular Firing Squad aims at Ford...yawn...what about Feingold?

Feingold (and others) has expressed some disagreement with some of Dean's comments too.

When Dean says STUPID stuff like "...Republicans are "a pretty monolithic party. They all behave the same. They all look the same. It's pretty much a white Christian party.", he opens himself up to ridicule and the subject gets changed from what we need to focus on (raising money/exposing Bush with Brit memo...) to having to step back and "explain" his comments.

Dean can say comments like that in the internal meeting where reporters are not groping for a "story"...and he's doing a good job otherwise. But, as was clearly evident in the primary season last year, he tends to gaffe himself into a corner that others have to explain him out of.

Dean needs to understand he needs people like Harold Ford, Jr. in the South....and should think twice before walking into the shit again.

[Larkspur]

51. Feingold was wrong and so was Ford to disparage Dean over remarks

they blindly accept from the corporate controlled Media. The Repukes and the corporate controlled Media want Dems neutered so that they can exterminate them easily. That is why the RW Media attacks Dean when he tells the Truth about Repukes.

[zulchzulu]

56. I humbly disagree

When Dean says stuff such as "I hate Republicans...." and other comments about Republicans "not working a day in their life", it sure makes some people feel great.

BUT, it is sloppy.

It is careless.

It's immature.

It's not even witty.

AND it gives the MSM and everyone else ammo to use against Dean and water down the message. The lazy press wants EASY stories like Dean's inflammatory comments over the other 98% of his speeches and successes. He has to learn that...and people need to see that.

Sometimes I think Dean wants to self-destruct like he appeared to do in the primaries.

He needs to temper his comments a bit. Yeah, the Dean groupies in the front row will guffaw at his sometimes blatently acid comments, but the media perception will run with it in a direction that only hurts the DNC efforts and message.

Russ is correct. To say he isn't means that you aren't looking at the big picture.

[Larkspur]

57. You are wrong to believe RW Talking points

Dean's comments were intentionally taken out of context of his full speeches. When Dean was critiquing "Republicans" it was obvious by the full paragraph or speech that Dean was referring to Republican lawmakers, not voters. The Media Hyenas will take Dean's comments out of context because they want to neuter Dems like Dean who fight Rethugican politics. They want Dems like Lieberman and Biden, who enjoy being politically raped.

[zulchzulu]

59. Now, that's silly

When Dean uses phrases like "I hate the Republican Party and everything it stands for...", "...never worked a day in their life", "the White Christian Party" and other tidbits, they are words coming out of his mouth. He owns those words. And yes, they will use his statements out of context.

I would hope he has learned that what he says will come under great scrutiny and be parsed on the agenda the MSM and others will continually go after.

He makes the RW talking points happen by using sloppy comments. The rest of his message gets lost and people have to defend or run away from his comments.

I like Dean. I work on various local efforts with DFA. I think Dean is otherwise doing a great job...BUT...I can't stand when he goes off with sloppy comments that only fuel the notion that he can't control himself...

It hurts his message, hurts the DNC message and makes for very easy "stories" for the MSM and the RW.

Why give them free ammo to use against him (and us)?

It kind of reminds me of some guitarist playing his guitar too loud over the rest of the band and pulling off some bum notes....and thinks everyone likes it...

:eyes:

[Larkspur]

60. 82% of Republicans admit they are white and Christian

In a way, you are right. Dean should have said that the Republicans are mostly white and are Pharisees.

And at the Rainbow Coalition, Maxine Waters chided Dean for not critiquing Republicans enough. Waters gave the DLC and the RW Media a diplomatic finger.

[candy331]

66. I wish I could have heard Maxine Waters she tells it like it is. n/t

[Larkspur]

63. Jon Carrol has a good take on this incident -- Why are Dems Weenies

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/06/13/DDGM7C8B5I1.DTL

Why are the Democrats such weenies? Howard Dean makes the unremarkable statement that the GOP is the party of white Christians, and other Democrats run and flee and say, "Oh no, oh no!" And a Republican yahoo accuses Dean of "political hate speech." Neither "white" nor "Christian" is an epithet. A glance at the videotape from last year's Republican convention indicates that both characterizations are entirely fair.

And yet some Democrats think Dean is being too confrontational. We should be nice to the lying liars or people will think we're, gasp, partisan. "Partisan" is a good thing; it's what the Founding Fathers had in mind. The problem comes when one party stays very partisan and the other party starts modifying and mollifying and trying to find some mythical friendly center. I loved Mister Rogers, but I never thought he'd make a good chairman of the Democratic Party.
<SNIP>

[BlackVelvet04]

69. Dean didn't say they never worked

a day in their life. He said "never made an honest living". Big difference. If you are going to quote him please quote him correctly.

[candy331]

65. Need people like Harold Ford in the South did you say? Need them

for whom and for what the White Christians.

[zulchzulu]

67. This cartoon analogy of reality brought to you by...

...so the South is "all white Christians"?

Have you ever been to the South? I have...lived there for some years...it's not a big cartoon of KKK zombies...it's a tad more complicated than that.

[FreedomAngel82]

78. Ha

What Dean needs is REAL democrat. Not Ford who is a republican lite democrat. If you want to turn Tennessee blue then support a real democrat. You don't want another democrat to have Bush kiss on the cheeks do you? How embarrassing and disgusting. Look at this from the black commentator: <But Harold Ford’s political history gives us some indication of his thinking on this topic. He would not be shy about declaring his constituents’ history unimportant. In the same speech he excused himself from his disgraceful vote in favor of the Iraq war and scolded young Black people for not being active enough. Perhaps witnessing the handiwork of cynical politicians has made young people equally cynical. His politics make it easy to dismiss his foolish words but in honor of Black history month an effort should be made to give the good congressman a history lesson. We need go no further than his home state of Tennessee.> And then this:

<Ford came close to making himself a righteous man when he demanded that presidential candidate Al Gore denounce plans to create a memorial to Forrest in Nashville. But when confronted by supporters of the Forrest commemoration Ford backed down and declared, "I don't want to offend the Sons of Confederate Veterans, or anyone else, and the matter is dropped!">

Disgusting how he tried to stop Gore's plans. Hmm is it me or does Ford seemed ashamed?

[grumpy old fart]

54. It's the age old problem, speak the truth, don't get elected, or waffle to

get in, and then go for the truth. But then, of course, you fall into the trick bag of continuing to waffle to continue to get elected, or angle for higher office, etc...and never really get to the truth. Ford doesn't stand a chance here in TN unless he runs to the middle, especially with the notoriety of his loud mouthed crook of an uncle, currently being prosecuted here in Memphis and soon to be indicted in Nashville, so I guess Jr. just says what he feels he must. His heart might ultimately be in the right place, but he's carrying way too much family baggage to win a Senate seat. He should probably just stay in the House, where his seat is secure FOREVER. That way he could speak the TRUTH. How refreshing would that be?!

[FreedomAngel82]

81. *snicker*

Ford junior? Ha. Says what he feels he must? Yeah if he wants to turn off real democrats like myself.

[bling bling]

68. I sent a thank you letter to the memphis flyer.

And thanks for posting this.

[K-W]

71. Plus he misconstrued Dean's words rather dramatically,

is all white christians is not in any way shape or form saying that all christians are white or that all christians or whites are republicans. It is just saying what is exactly true, that the republican party is by and large full of white christians, so perhaps if you arent a white christian you should really question whether or not they are going to look out for you.

[meppie-meppie not]

73. well said and right on, quaoar!

[Politicub]

79. Is Harld Ford an alien?

Like of the space variety? Maybe it's just because he is from Tennessee? :shrug:

[FreedomAngel82]

82. LOL

Don't diss all Tennesseeans here like myself. We do still have some good democrats down here. I'm reminded of John Wolfe, the governor and Rosalind Kurita. I personally think if Ford is running on the democratic ticket he should be ashamed of himself.

[tnlefty]

83. I doubt that some of us Tennesseans would seem like aliens.

If you'd like, c'mon and visit, we'll have the drink of your choice on the porch and discuss it.

And no, not every democrat in TN is supportive of Ford, Jr.

[woodleydem]

84. So when did Howard Dean become the Pope!!

The reverence and deference around here given to a man who has been party chairman for a few months is beyond crazy. So nobody can disagree with Dean? If you disagree with Dean, you are somehow a traitor to the Democratic party? Yes, Ford disagrees with Dean. So what? He is entitled. He is a Southern Democrat who has some more conservative views than other Democrats. He is still a Democrat. I think Howard Dean will do a great job rebuilding state parties and strengthen the grassroots, a vital job of any party chairman. But lets not take everything he says to be Gospel, and more importantly, not impugn everybody who may not see things exactly like Dean. There are many factions in the Democratic Party and they will not always agree on everything. But we are still all Democrats first and foremost, and hopefully Dean can unite these factions. That will be his ultimate test.

[FreedomAngel82]

91. He manipulated what Dean said

If he just disagreed fine, I could give a shit. But he manipulated what he said. And what Dean said is true. 89% of the people polled on CNN agreed and anybody with two eyes and a brain can see he's right.

[Cha]

97. As the author of the link piece

pointed out..

"Ford’s "faith and values" led him to support, along with 85 of his House Democrat colleagues, a War Powers Act in the fall of 2002 that was clearly unconstitutional. He voted for legislation that not only violated his oath of office; it sanctioned an illegal and immoral invasion of Iraq that may yet go down the greatest foreign-policy debacle in our history.

His "faith and values" led him to vote for the Bush Administration's almost equally immoral bankruptcy legislation earlier this spring. He was one of a handful of Democrats who voted in support of this obscene measure – one that made no exceptions for medical hardship, for example – even while his own Congressional district has some of the highest poverty levels in the country."


There's more..http://www.memphisflyer.com/content.asp?ID=3279&onthefly=1

We're getting behind our Party Chairman who is taking these dlc types to task and fighting back unlike harold ford jr.

harold jr has no room to talk about "faith and values" and I'm glad someone from Memphis is pointing this out in the Flyer!

[cquik18]

85. AMEN BROTHER!!!!

Ford is a DINO...I know that Imus is a big fan of his; perhaps Imus should come down to Memphis and do an impromptu show here. No advance notice, so the good congressman won't be able to whitewash this run-down ass town; let Don Imus come and see Ford's Ninth District as it REALLY is. And this clown wants to be Senator!? Yeah right!

[cquik18]

86. I think Ford is still a little bent....

that Barack Obama beat him to the Senate. He's doing all this woofing about Dean to get the support of the wealthy conservative whites in East Tennessee...

[FreedomAngel82]

92. Of course

Of course. But I think it's silly because our governor, moderate Phil Bredesen, didn't have to cater to one group of people to get elected. He just did what he follows and he was mayor of Nashville (a red area) twice and got elected governor.