SURGOINSVILLE—In order to win elections Democrats must offer solutions not just criticism and need to do a better job of telling voters what the party stands for, rather than allowing Republicans to do that job, according to U.S. Congressman Harold Ford, Jr.Ford, who has announced he is seeking the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Bill Frist, brought his campaign to Surgoinsville Saturday morning.
Speaking to a capacity crowd of Democrats from Hawkins and surrounding counties gathered at Bellamy’s Store, the congressman outlined his positions as well as offering his opinions on how the party can reclaim leadership positions.
“We can’t just be seen as a party that criticizes and be seen as a party that is always pointing out what is wrong,” Ford said. “We have to be in the business of offering some answers. One of the things that voters say about the Democrat party is that we are good at criticizing but we have not been good in recent years at offering ideas and solutions.”
The congressman, who is currently serving his fifth term representing the 9th congressional district, said Democrats also need to do a better job of “standing up for and speaking out about” issues and positions.
“We can not just keep sitting back and letting our Republican opponents and their allies tell voters what we represent. If we sit back and take the hits then shame on us. We need to make it clear that just because we are critical of the President’s policies on the war in Iraq, for example, that does not mean we are unpatriotic,” Ford said.
He noted during the 2004 presidential campaign Democrat John Kerry, a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, came under fire from a political action committee that produced an ad campaign attacking Kerry’s record.
“The Kerry campaign really did not respond to those ads. I will tell you right now, if they try to Swift Boat ad me I am fighting back,” Ford said.
The congressman outlined his positions on issues ranging from global trade agreements to the need to improve educational standards so that American workers can compete for high technology jobs with foreign nations.
Ford said he would oppose any attempt to alter the social security program by allowing individuals to divert some funds into the stock market and other private investments.
The congressman did suggest increasing the age younger workers would be eligible for retirement benefits and increasing the level of payroll taxes individuals in the highest income brackets pay would be options he would consider as steps to maintain the program’s solvency.Ford also said he normally supported Governor Phil Bredesen, a fellow Democrat, but that he had concerns about the state’s plans to control TennCare costs by reducing enrollment in the program.
“I love Governor Bredesen but it is hard for me to understand why we have to cut 300,000 people, working people, poor people, off TennCare. It seems to me like there has just got to be some other way,” Ford said.
Ford said he believes the war in Iraq is an issue that is becoming more important to voters.
He said we have made a commitment to help citizens of Iraq rebuild their country and that we must make certain a constitution and functioning government are in place before we withdraw our troops.
“I want our troops to come home as soon as possible but we may actually need to send more troops to stabilize the situation over there,” the congressman warned.
Ford also said he was against setting any timetable for pulling troops out of Iraq because that would let any group working against the effort to rebuild a democratic government know all they have to do is “wait us out to beat us.”
According to Ford Republicans have been successful at convincing voters they are better equipped to address national security and defense issues than Democrats.
“The tradition of this party is one that has never shied away from a tough battle. We need to convince the voters we can be trusted to lead the nation,” Ford told supporters.
From: The Rogersville Review
