Harold Ford = Republican Lite, DINO, Murtha=Mr Democrat...

[k_jerome]

please explain the difference, other than Ford being to the left of Murtha.

Tell me once again whom I should support and why. Murtha is more restrictive on reproductive rights, NRA A+ rating, etc. Why is he good and Ford bad?

Why is Hoyer bad?

[sandnsea]

1. Anti-war vs DLC

I don't know how to make it any clearer. My god, how easily led astray people can be.

How many times do we have to see these media orchestrated attacks before we recognize them for what they are. The media carries DLC water too folks, has for a long long time.

[dpbrown]

3. Bingo

That's a spot on observation.

[k_jerome]

5. so other issues don't mean anything? its a grudge against..

the DLC? i get it. thanks.

[sandnsea]

18. As the saying goes, It's the war, stupid

And no, nothing else means anything right now.

[k_jerome]

19. so it always goes. nt.

[PassingFair]

36. 600,000 DEAD IRAQIS

can't be wrong!

[Hippo_Tron]

41. Iraq trumps pretty much all other issues because...

We are pissing away the funding for pretty much anything that we want to do domestically by continuing this war in Iraq.

[SoFlaJet]

2. we don't have a vote

in this race-support whoever the 110th congress picks-Hoyer or Murtha-remember this though;the GOP fears Murtha more than they do Hoyer-I'll take Jack

[k_jerome]

6. why wouldn't you support the more progressive candidate? nt.

[Ned_Devine]

4. What about Murtha's ethics violations...according to Melanie Sloan?

[babylonsister]

7. There were none. They're making mountains out of molehills, ESPECIALLY

Melanie Sloan.

[k_jerome]

8. i don't think they are relevant. and he apprears to be...

innocent in what i have seen.

i am just wondering why his conservative stance on issues is different than someone elses. especially if there is a more progressive candidate available.

[Vorta]

9. Hoyer

<I>Why is Hoyer bad?
</I>

My guess is because Maryland is a liberal southern state of 5 million people and Pennsylvania is an iffy northern state of 12 million people who sent one of the nastiest republicans in history to the senate.

Politics over principles.

[k_jerome]

10. thats not what i am reading...

apparently murtha is the man we need in a prominent leadership position in our party. even though he is considered a conservative.

[babylonsister]

14. The fact that he is a conservative and a hawk bodes well imo.

The fact that he's anti-Iraqi war seals the deal for me.

[AlinPA]

11. I know Jack Murtha. He is a tough politician and tough Democrat I know he is

a supporter of the anti-flag burning legislation and a couple of conservative causes, but I still like him because he fights for the little guy. He has guts to stand up against the war the way he did. I have nothing against Ford or Hoyer. I want to keep a majority in Congress so I am OK with these guys not being "purely liberal". Sorry, I am practical about this, lets not fight among ourselves, but instead work things out without ostracizing people. Its beats having that ugly republican slime in charge.

[Daylin Byak]

12. I like Murtha

I couldn't give a good godarn how conservative he is, Jack is a fighter and we need that type of guy as our majority leader. Hoyer on the other have is too DLC for my taste and in my opinion he's a spinless wishy-washy Dem that will make us look bad in the House.

No thank you I will take John Murtha.

[IndianaGreen]

13. Is Harold Ford totally out of office?

Did he run for his House seat at the same time he ran for Senate? What are his plans now?

As to the Ford versus Murtha thingy, I only have one thing to say: BARAK OBAMA!

[Daylin Byak]

15. No Ford is gone

No more Senate, no more House and his seat was taken by Democrat Steve Cohen, a person that is actually more liberal than Ford on many positions, so thats a plus.

[IndianaGreen]

17. Ford's endorsement of Lieberman and his opposition to LGBT rights

left me cold. His only redeeming quality is that Corker was a crypto-Nazi.

[jefferson_dem]

28. Right. Like Ford should've come out and taken a strong stand for gay marriage.

That sure would have won him some votes. :sarcasm:

The fact that a black *DEMOCRAT* won 48% of the vote in Tennessee is actually quite remarkable and a promising indicator for our party's future in the deep south.

[IndianaGreen]

34. Pathetic to see Ford missed the point about equality under the law

He chose to cater to the same people that opposed interracial marriage and desegregation, as sadly too many Black pastors have also done. Ford had no more choice as to his mixed ethnicity than a gay man or a lesbian woman had about their sexual orientation.

Sorry, but when it comes to human rights and dignity, there is no compromise with bigotry!

[Clark2008]

42. And I would blame the black pastors more than Ford.

That is, afterall, where Ford learned it. Ford is a very church-going man...

But, I do know a secret about him... he works out at a club in DC that's a front for an old-fashioned gay bathhouse.

:hi:

[k_jerome]

16. he seems to be unacceptable to many here as well. nt.

[IndianaGreen]

20. I think that latent racism is what defeated Ford

more than his right of center views.

[k_jerome]

22. i think you are right. i also notice the same criticisms...

don't seem to fall on Murtha, even though he is farther to the right. interesting, no?

[Geek_Girl]

21. Ford lost TN because

he was did not have a populist platform that would have resonated with southern voters. He's a DINO because he is pro-Iraq war and a corporatist. His moderate stance on social issues in my opinion does not make him a DINO.

[k_jerome]

23. please refer me to his statements on being pro-Iraq war. nt.

[Geek_Girl]

24. After the 2004 election

I went to hear him speak in Chattanooga at the Reid House, he was very supportive of the war in Iraq. Only recently had he backed peddle somewhat. Look at his voting record and then tell me that he was against this war.

[k_jerome]

25. he voted yes on the war, as Murtha did...

please elaborate on his prowar votes.

[rinsd]

26. So in other words he has changed his mind. Like Murtha if not as forceful

What do you call a guy who earns 0% ratings from NARAL and Planned Parenthood?

[k_jerome]

27. at least half a fascist. nt.

[Geek_Girl]

29. Murtha was strong outspoken voice

against this war. He may have initially supported it but when he "changed his mind" as you put he was and still is a strong voice that played a huge role in helping us win this election and change popular opinion about the Iraq war.

Ford only after the war became very unpopular and the water was safe, jumped on the "we need to change course bandwagon."

As for Murtha on social issues I would say that he is a social conservative and Ford a moderate on social issues.

On economic issues Murtha is more of a populist and Ford a corporatist.

In my view Murtha is a liberal in the nature of FDR or LBJ. Ford is just a centrist at best.

[madville]

30. I would go with Murtha

Him having an A+ rating from the NRA makes me like him even more than I already do. Firearms, hunting and shooting are hobbies of mine so I support the NRA message, just not the way they go about it by supporting Republicans for the most part. My (D) congressman from FL here, Allen Boyd, is a Blue Dog with a NRA A rating, I fully support him as well.

[k_jerome]

31. so you also support his NARAL 0% rating? nt.

[madville]

32. not at all

Not at all, I am pro-choice. The anti-war message trumps that at this point in time, plus I like their pro-gun stance. The abortion debate is a secondary issue anyway, it isn't going to be illegal on a federal level anytime soon. There are more important things right now.

[k_jerome]

33. more important than civil rights? interesting stance. you are entitled. nt

[madville]

35. Yes they are

Please tell me how abortion is more important at this point in time than getting out of this useless war. The republicans with strong majorities never had the strength to pass blanket anti-abortion legislation, how is it a more important threat with Democrats in control now ?

We need a voice to get us out of this war first and foremost. The pro-gun stance is a personal preference of mine. There is no reason to bring everyone's favorite pet wedge issue (abortion) into the fold right now, it is safe to say it isn't going to get much floor time over the next few years.

[k_jerome]

37. There are several progressive Democrats...

that could do as well of a job or better than right winger Murtha. I see no reason to compromise basic party beliefs to get the MSM idea of an anti war Democrat in the #2 spot in the House. There are over a hundred Dems that voted against the war. They have credibility in my eyes. Not right winger Murtha.

[sandnsea]

38. You said DUers questioning Ford were racist

when the truth was, people were concerned that he was too conservative. Ford was the DLC choice.

Now you come along and concoct a progressive argument to, once again, support the DLC candidate.

Hmmm.

[k_jerome]

39. hmmm....

Ford is to the left of Murtha. Murtha is worshipped as a hero. Ford is villified. Hmmm.

[sandnsea]

40. Ford & Hoyer both supported by the DLC

They didn't speak out against the war, Murtha did. Simple enough.

[k_jerome]

43. Yeah, simple. nt.

[sandnsea]

44. oh, and that Hillary avatar n/t

[k_jerome]

45. yeah, great ain't it. nt.

[beaconess]

46. Murtha is also anti-affirmative action

Seems that his Johnny-come-lately anti-war stance has blinded many Dems to the rest of his record.

[k_jerome]

47. yes. he is a social conservative. nt.