Harold Ford... anyone else disturbed by his comments?

[Windy]

I just watched him on Wolf Blinker... He said he is for a ban on same sex marriage, anti-abortion, wants an amendment to ban flag burning... etc... He also voted for the torture bill...
I know he is trying to win an election in the south, but come on... he is sounding like a dino in a lot of ways...

WE don't need another Lieberman/Nelson/Landrieu in the Senate...

Of course the alternative is a republican...

I just hope once he gets in, if he does, that there is a difference.

You can flame me now

[elehhhhna]

1. Crickey! You sure that wasn't Henry Ford?

[Bluebear]

6. He consistently votes with the GOP on issues...

...such as gay (non)-rights. I would definitely be holding my nose voting for him.

[KamaAina]

41. Or Gerald?

:eyes:

[elehhhhna]

78. LOL & aloha

[MuseRider]

2. Doesn't sound to me

like the Republican is an alternative, they sound like each other to me.

[flyingfysh]

8. even a nominal Democrat helps

It helps in handing out committee assignments, and also in giving Democrats the right to issue subpoenas.

[MuseRider]

28. Same crap

I have been hearing for years as I have watched the party veer ever rightward.

[TankLV]

52. Yep...

[MuseRider]

56. I have been voting

for the Dems since, oh, forever hoping when we got power we would move to the left. As long as we put people in office who are less than what we want it will never happen. I am sick to death of this situation. We move ever to the right while patting the true lefties on the head and shoving them out of the way. For YEARS. Hell, I have Sam Brownback, Pat Roberts and Jim Ryun representing me and I don't see this guy as much different than they are.

He may well be a nice guy and he may be running a good race but damn. I sure would not count on him listening to anyone on the left liberal side and here we are again, in power and moving right.

[SharonAnn]

44. He's count as a "D" for calculating the majority. Maybe not what you'd

prefer, but think of it this way:

With his election you'd get to see some of these people in power:
Ted Kennedy
Bernie Sanders
Barney Frank
Dick Durbin
Barak Obama
etc.

Not a bad group!

Look, I'd prefer someone more liberal but that person wouldn't get elected in Tennessee.

This is the reality. And Harold is quite good on many issues and he's really smart.

[Greyhound]

83. Too many of these in office already, and don't forget that once we

elect these panderers, they usually fight against the Democrats once they are in. Now Ford will be a freshman and therefore not likely to wield much power, but you never know.

Definitely a stinky candidate, but whatcha gonna do?

[Mass]

3. He still will be better than Corker.

[aquaman]

4. He is quite conservative on a lot of issues.

Known fact. Repug light.

[Clark2008]

20. Nope. Red-state Democrat.

Not a Republican.

He's for workers rights, the continuance of public education, universal health care and he's pro-choice. I don't know many Republicans like that.

Oh - and I voted for him Saturday.

[WCGreen]

43. Good point....

Some people are just against Same Sex marriage...

I will not base my vote on someone because they are against SSM...

It might be the tipping point, but I am not a single issue voter...

[TankLV]

53. Yeah - who gives a fuck about gays - just as long as they vote democratic...

right?

[Clark2008]

60. WCGreen didn't say that. (S)He said (s)he wasn't a one-issue

voter.

If the choice is between someone you'll agree with 90 percent of the time who will put Patrick Leahy as chair of the Judicial Committee and someone you'd never, ever agree with, I think the obvious choice is to vote for a variety of issues.

And Ford isn't anti-gay on a lot of other positions. He's just not for gay marriage. I think its his religious upbringing, to be quite honest.

[tnlefty]

38. Yes this is true. I've been driving people to the polls to vote every day

since early voting started on Oct. 18th and will continue to do so until early voting ends on Nov. 2nd. I've been in my local headquarters working on the drive to the polls list, driving, helping with answering the phones and catching up on paperwork 'cause it's crazy right now.

At some point it would be really nice to have politicians who try to actually educate the mouthbreathers here, but that time may not be now. Now is the time to try to get dems elected to help to stop the trainwreck of bushco**. :hi:

[Greyhound]

84. I'd like to know on what issues he resembles a Democrat? n/t

[alarimer]

5. no flames here

I don't honestly know what I would do if I lived in Tenn. Guess it depends on how bad the other guy is.
Anyone who votes for the torture bill is unAmerican, in my opinion, because it means they are in favor of shredding the Constitution. I am hoping it was just pandering to get elected.

[NNN0LHI]

7. I say lets take control of Congress and then we can get picky

I don't care if he needs to handle rattlesnakes and talk in tongues to win that seat. Whatever it takes is my motto.

Don

[Clark2008]

22. LOL!!!

:applause:

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

25. Yes, save him until we get picky.

Because ousting the first black senator from the south since reconstruction should be really far fucking up on our priority list.

[cali]

33. Well put, Don!

And those are my sentiments exactly.

[BlooInBloo]

35. Why can't DUers wrap their heads around that fact? Sheesh. Geniuses.

[TankLV]

54. Yeah - equality was sooo overrated anyway...

[SammyWinstonJack]

68. You never miss an opportunity do you?

genius indeed! You suck!

[SammyWinstonJack]

55. !

:thumbsup:

[Ken Burch]

9. Unfortunately, it's the nature of the Senate.

Democrats, especially in the South, are made to feel obligated to appeal to really unpleasant forces to get in.

The rest of us are told to settle for control in name. It's always a tough call.

Nonetheless, whatever checks can be put on Bush need to be, and the more elected Dems(at least in theory)the more checks are in place.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

10. The Party Has Veered To The Right...

Sure, there are still true liberals, a la Boxer, Feingold, Kerry, etc., but there are the Nelsons and the Ford's to balance them out.

Unfortunately there is much less balance in the repub party. Save for Chafee, I can't think of a single one who has liberal tendencies, or is willing to listen to the other side.

[dsc]

11. Please don't make stuff up

Here is his abortion position from his website. • I will continue to work to eliminate abortions in our country without criminalizing what is undoubtedly one of the most tormenting and difficult decisions a woman will ever have to make.

I don't know what the words without criminalizing means to you but to me it means abortion stays legal. Again, don't make stuff up about Democrats.

[Clark2008]

24. Safe, rare and LEGAL. n/t

[AlamoDemoc]

12. The DLC rented an ear of him (n/t)

[Arugula Latte]

13. Oh, f@#$

Let's hope he changes his ways.

[ContraCommando]

14. I hope he wins

As long as he votes for the democrats to take control of the senate he’s acceptable.

[Bluebear]

16. Welcome to DU, CC!

[bigwillq]

32. Hi!

Welcome to DU!:hi:

[BootinUp]

15. I don't see anything happening on the 1st 3

issues, on the torture bill I see us overturning it with the next President. FWIW.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

17. He is one of Imus' favorite candidates, along with

John McCain, and Kinky Freeman. What's that tell you?

[napi21]

18. Like it or not, if you want a Dem to win in Tn, you're going to get a Pub

light. The same in Fl. and any other state where the majority of the people there want those things. You do remember, a Senator is SUPPOSED to represent the desires of the people of his State, don't you?

Please,be happy that he'stied and hope he wins! That's the ONLY way the Dems are ever going to get the majority.

[Subdivisions]

30. This post sums it all up with regard to Ford. He is a

Tennessee Democrat. As napi21 says, a Senator is a representative of the people and that is the way the people in Tennessee think. But not just in TN either. It's indicative beliefs in the broader South.

[Hippo_Tron]

59. I think people are annoyed because it used to not be this way

Back in the 60's and 70's conservative states would send people like George McGovern, Birch Bayh, and Frank Church to the US Senate.
Unfortunately that ended for the most part in 1980 and any of that which remained was killed in 1994. Unfortunately people like Ford are the best we can do in red states these days.

[Mojambo]

19. Far from an ideal Democrat

Very far.

But if he can help us take charge of the Senate I'd be happy to wait until next time and try and pick him off in a primary.

[Cha]

21. he sounds like

king tut. Hell, we're all anti-abortion but you'd better stay the fuck outta my decisions, FORD-man.

[thepurpose]

23. I won't flame you others might. Ever heard the term democrat in name only

its the same as republican in name only. I would sure like to see a democrat win in any race in this country. But I'm most certainly not comfortable with winning at any cost. Ford is an example of what turns me off about a number of demos who will not and can not support our values. Some will tell you he will come around just vote for him now, just so we win. But he numbers in a few that will in the end sell out his base to retain his seat when times get tough. He will vote with the republicans even if it screws us.

One of the reasons why those who might support us don't is because we don't seem to stand together. They can't count us when the going gets tough. In the end we sound just like the opposing party. Anyone here want to show me how Harold Ford is standing with us with these latest statements?

[Clark2008]

26. Um... Ford is pro-choice. He just wants people to have less.

SAFE, RARE and LEGAL.

And he's better than Corker by a Tennessee mile. He DOES challenge Bush on Iraq.

[Pirate Smile]

27. The choices are a vote for a Democratic Majority or

a vote for a Republican Majority.

We are not going to get a liberal elected state-wide in Tennessee.

The difference in the Senators you mention is that I cut slack to Landrieu and Nelson because they are from red states. I sure as hell don't for Lieberman and Joe is much, much more critical of fellow Democrats then either Nelson or Landrieu are - I don't see them going out of their way to publicly undercut the party like Joe does all the time.

It will be great if Harold wins. If he does we are in much better shape. If he doesn't, we probably aren't going to win back the Senate.

[Mass]

29. You may want to look at Robert Byrd's positions in this case.

Except that he does not want to modify the constitution for flag burning, just vote a law about it, he has exactly the same positions.

[kstewart33]

31. Give him a break, will ya?

It's TENNESSEE, for geez sakes. Do you think a liberal has a rat's chance of getting elected? As a Southerner, I can say from experience, no way.

We need another Dem senator. I don't care if he wants intelligent design taught in schools. We need a Dem from Tennessee elected.

[goclark]

36. Well said! nt

[demosincebirth]

47. Exactly! A dem is what we need in the South.

[tkmorris]

34. Not 14 days before an election I'm not

Ask me after the election. Right now I don't care one WHIT what he said.

[burythehatchet]

37. glad I don't have to vote for him

[helderheid]

39. no flame but go here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2459919

[Perky]

40. He is a blue dog in a dogfight...CUT HIM SOME SLACK

A liberal can not win in Tennessee. He is within the Margin of error and had a great chance to be the first african-american senator for the deep south since reconstruction.

That alone in the Solid Republican SOuth is huge. DINO or not...I really do not care. I want him to win.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

46. Exactly...

I'd like to see some of these armchair strategists run a race in the south...

[mmonk]

57. My Congressional rep in the 4th district (North Carolina)

votes pretty liberal and is a safe seat. Does that mess up the southern strategy of democratic rightwingers for the south?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

62. His District Includes The Research Triangle...

That's a little different than representing an entire southern state...


These districts are so gerrymandered I could win ninety percent of them with a R or D after my name...

Winning a statewide race is a lot different...

[mmonk]

72. True but Edwards was a senator.

So was Sam Ervin.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

74. Sam Ervin Was Eons Ago And I'd Have To See His Votes On Cultural Issues...

John Edwards chose not to face the voters of North Carolina after he moved left during his presidential run...

[Clark2008]

63. Yes because Congressional districts are smaller and not

statewide.

Tennessee has pockets of liberalism, too. In fact, we have some pretty liberal Congressmen on the west part of the state - but liberalism wouldn't necessarily fly enough over here in the East for Harold to pick up what he needs out of here to win the state.

[mmonk]

42. No flame from me.

Pretty damn obvious.

[ecstatic]

45. Many Dems share his views in the South

I just wish politicians would focus on the economy, border security, and how to get us out of this ridiculous war.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

76. For The Most Part Southern Dems Aren't Anti Gay...

But you have to get Indys to vote for you to win...

[Hippo_Tron]

48. These issues will never come to a vote if Democrats control the Senate

There is a difference between Ford and Corker in that Corker actually camapaigns on being against gay marriage and flag burning. Harold Ford tries to brush the issues under the table as much as possible and focus on economic issues, Iraq, and other things that actually matter. Unfortunately when he is asked a question about them he doesn't have a choice but to say that he is socially conservative on all of those issues if he wants to win in a state like Tennesee.

If Democrats take back the Senate flag burning, gay marriage, and anti-abortion measures will all die before they get to the floor. Ford's positions on these issues will be irrelevent because if we win the Senate, he will never cast a vote on them.

[Connie_Corleone]

49. With the exception of Lieberman...the others are southern Democrats

They're going to be more republike on social issues and national security. Like it or not, those are the type of Democrats (with some exceptions) that can win in the South...right now. It'll change sooner or later.

[Individualist]

50. No flame from me

He also voted for: the Patriot Act
IWR
warrantless wiretapping.

Here's what the Black Commentator had to say about him in January 2005: www.blackcommentator.com/120/120_cover_harold_ford.html

[TankLV]

51. Plenty. Sounds just like Obama's comments...

That's why I don't like EITHER of them...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

58. People Forget Congressman Al Gore Was Hostile To Abortion And Gays...

It's southern politics...

[mmonk]

61. I'm from the south and don't vote that way.

My rep from the 4th congressional district (NC) doesn't run on or vote that way and is a safe seat for the democratic party.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

67. He's In A Gerrymandered District That Includes The Research Triangle...

I could win it just as I could win most of the gerrymandered districts in this country...

[mmonk]

75. Following me around?

;-)

[DemocratSinceBirth]

85. Just Keeping You Honest

:-)

[mmonk]

90. You're on to me.

[Clark2008]

66. Thank you.

I keep trying to remind people of that, but they won't listen.

Al Gore was pro-choice, but absolutely was against any government funding for it. And he was against gay marriage as our Senator, too. Not that it ever came up for a vote because it was a Democratic Senate when he was there.

[NNN0LHI]

73. Pro-war too. He and Lieberman were the only two Dem Senators...

...to vote for giving Bush 1 the OK for the US to remove Iraq from Kuwait. Small world.

Don

[mitchtv]

64. He annoys me almost anytime he opens his mouth

He supports Joementum, also.
The alternative is gruesome.
It looks as if the Southern Stategy is alive in TN and VA

[BlooInBloo]

65. Only people who don't want a Democratic majority.

[mitchtv]

80. Yup we hate 'murka

Nancy Pelosi "San Francisco Liberal", is the meme of the week.
Yay New Jersey, hotbed of civilzation. I realize your type will blame gays for any losses, but, WTF?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

69. Hmmm

Maybe there's a reason that out of twenty six southern senate seats we only have six of them and at least four of them are probably cosidered DINOs here...


I'm surprised Harold Ford is doing as well as he is in Tennessee...

[jesus_of_suburbia]

70. As a gay man, I can't stand him for various reasons... BUT

I will still be voting for him simply because he is better than the alternative, AND more importantly because it will be a vote to give us a majority.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

71. He's Better Than Corker....

With Corker it's personal...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

77. I'm Curious

What prominent Democrats have come out for gay marriage?

[Dob Bole]

79. Would you rather have Frist?

Of course you wouldn't, neither do you want Corker. Ford is the only Democrat who has a chance to win Bill Frist's seat, so he could run on a platform of banning cheese and I would still support him.

[spanone]

81. He's definitely a centrist democrat, but hey, that's better than Bill Fucking Frist.

Frist.

[Tiggeroshii]

82. He won't be making the decisions

remember it's gonna be kennedy,leahy, LEvin, and Dorgan who will be chairing committees. Very liberal folk will be running our senate, not centrists. Rest assured.

[WI_DEM]

86. if he came out and said he is for same sex marriage, against a flag

burning amendment then he wouldn't be able to win in TN--pure and simple. I am surprised at his stand on choice though. I thought that even southern dems were for choice--Landreau is.

[jsamuel]

87. that's what primaries are for

If we don't like them, we go after them in the primaries. Lieberman is no longer a Democrat and in most states would not be able to keep running like he is in Connecticut.

[Geek_Girl]

89. Ford was pretty much our only choice in the Primaries

The republicans had a pretty contested primary. But there just weren't very good options in our Dem primary.

[Geek_Girl]

88. I've been disturbed by Ford

Since I went to here him speak about 2 years ago. I had been toying with the idea of voting 3rd party because he is DLC and a major Dino. But I'm voting for him. This election is just too important. If the dems already had the senate I'd probably would vote 3rd party.

[npincus]

91. maybe he has to say that shit to win down there....

whatever it takes, I don't give a f*ck. I will hold my nose and vote for Menendez (D-NJ)..... I'm not voting for the man/women, I'm voting for my Party.

[DaveinMD]

92. we do need as many dems like him as possible in red states

if we want to control the Senate. Its that simple.

[Oleladylib]

93. There is something about purple kool aid that makes me think

people can have opposing opinions and still call themselves Democrat..It is the only party that can do that . The prostipublicans are the vendors of the kool aid and may there by a hill high enough for them to fall off from in 2 weeks. Harold Ford is well worth the differences he professes..Go Tennessee.