Today, several right wing attack blogs such as Blogging For Bryant and Nashville Files are spreading the falsehood that Congressman Ford plans to drop out of the U.S. Senate race and become a talk show host on MSNBC.I must say, this rumor ranks up there with the recent rumor that President Bush was going to nominate Congressman Ford to the Supreme Court!
We all know that Ford's opponents want him out of the Senate race, but the voters of Tennessee want him in and that is where he is going to stay from here on out.
The fact of the matter is, the people making these assertions cannot list one credible source to substantiate their claim that Ford is going to drop out and become a talk show host on MSNBC.
This is yet another case where the right wing is willing to say anything to mislead the public about Congressman Ford and his candidacy.
The right wing knows that their party is in trouble. Tom Delay has been indicted. Scooter Libby has been indicted. Even Tennessee's own, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is under investigation for potential insider trading. Not to mention, the White House just had a failed Supreme Court nominee. And who could forget the failures in the Katrina aftermath?
It is my firm belief that their dysfunction, coupled with the realization they have no vision or new ideas to put forth in this race, is the reason behind why they resort to these kind of baseless attacks.
They know Harold Ford Jr. is the kind of Democrat that can win statewide in Tennessee. They are so afraid of Congressman Ford that they will say anything to make it appear like the Ford campaign is in trouble.
The facts, however, prove otherwise.
- In the most recent quarter, Congressman Ford led all candidates vying for the U.S. Senate in fundraising. "U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., a Democrat from Memphis, led all candidates vying for the U.S. Senate in fundraising for the third quarter, bringing in $523,904.73, according to his campaign papers." --Ashland City Times, 10/15/05
- According to The Hill, Harold Ford's candidacy is giving Republicans heartburn. "Tennessee, which has twice backed President Bush, is giving some Republicans heartburn, with the GOP Senate contenders attacking their opponents' conservative credentials while Rep. Harold Ford (D-Tenn.) out fundraises his Republican rivals and aggressively canvasses the state." --The Hill, 10/05/05
- The Cook Political Report ranks TN US Senate race as only 1 of 4 toss-ups in the entire country: TN US Senate race is ranked a "toss-up" by the widely respected Charlie Cook Political Report. 10/28/05
- Republicans fret over Ford's potential like no other: "Despite it all, Republicans fret over Ford's potential like no other Democrat seeking the seat being vacated by Majority Leader Bill Frist."--AP, 06/12/05
- Top Republican advisor says "it's going to take a significant amount of resources to keep Senator Frist's seat from falling in Democratic hands": Sonny Scott, an adviser to Mr. Bryant, said Rep. Ford has an impressive national spotlight and will be well funded in the race. "It'll be a huge race for Republicans," he said. "It's going to take a significant amount of resources to keep Senator Frist's seat from falling in Democratic hands."--Chattanooga Times Free Press, 07/25/05
- This week top Republican strategist Frank Luntz stated that if Harold Ford Jr. was a leader in the Democratic Party, the party would be heading towards a majority because Ford understands that you have to stand for something. "Truth is, if they had Rahm Emanuel [of Illinois] or Harold Ford [of Tennessee], they would be heading towards, in the direction of, a majority because the two of them understand that you have to stand for something - [that] you cannot win just by being negative." --Christian Science Monitor, 10/26/05
- Conservative-leaning newspaper "The Washington Times" called Harold Ford Jr. "the kind of Democrat that Republicans should fear": "A young, black politician with deep Tennessee roots, Mr. Ford is the kind of Democrat that Republicans should fear. In a caucus that lacks both ideas and energy, he is full of both. --Washington Times, 11/12/02
- Ford's message plays well among a wide range of voters: "Ford's young, handsome, well-spoken and can get a crowd going. He's carefully positioned himself as a moderate Democrat, skilled at pitching a conservative-leaning message many think could play well among a range of voters... He's also spoken out strongly in support of the military's effort in Iraq, and sided with "Blue Dog" Democrats on reducing the federal deficit." --AP, 06/12/05
- Moderate record and demonstrated ability to appeal to votes across racial lines: "Ford, who is black, has compiled a moderate record and demonstrated an ability to appeal to votes across racial lines -- the latter of which will be key in a state whose population is less than 17 percent black." --National Journal's Congress Daily, 08/05/05
- Conservative on-line publication RedState.org says the Tennessee US Senate seat is "very real risk of Republican loss", "And thus, a Senate seat that should be safely red has now become an absolute toss-up, with a very real risk of Republican loss." -- RedState.org, 08/31/05"
- Harold Ford Junior, a congressman from Memphis regarded as one of the Democrats' few bright hopes in the South" --The Economist, 06/04/05
Just as I said in a previous post, "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts."
The fact remains Congressman Ford will be our next U.S. Senator, whether the right wing likes it or not.
