Once again, Congressman Ford is standing up for America's security:"Tennessee's U.S. Senate candidates are expressing their concerns over the Bush administration's controversial plan to allow a United Arab Emirates (UAE) company to run six seaports in the United States.
On Wednesday, Democratic front-runner Harold Ford Jr. asked GOP opponents Bob Corker, Van Hilleary and Ed Bryant to support legislation to override any possible presidential veto that would allow UAE's Dubai Ports World to manage the seaports.
All are seeking the job held by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, who is not running for re-election and is a possible 2008 presidential hopeful. Winners in the August primary will face off in the November general election.
Frist is supporting a review of the Bush administration's plan before deciding on any legislative steps related to the DP World deal.
"I don't know what could be learned in the next 45 days that would address the primary concern I have, which is I don't believe America should outsource its national security," Ford, a Memphis congressman, said of the review during a conference call. "Many of us are prepared to vote to block the deal. ... Senator Frist should bring the bill (opposing the DP World deal) to the floor for a vote. ... I've not heard one testimonial for a client of theirs.
"What's next? Do we outsource the Marines? Do we outsource the Navy? ... With all due respect to the president, he is wrong on this issue. This is not a Democrat or a Republican issue. This is a security issue. Delaying this deal is not good enough; we should end it now."
A spokesman for Corker, the former Chattanooga mayor, supported the review.
"Bob Corker believes we should always err on the side of making sure we are secure," said Corker Campaign Manager Ben Mitchell. "He's very pleased they have started the 45-day review period so we can learn more behind the rationale of this decision. We would have wished the 45-day review would have been part of this before the controversy."
Bryant, in a news release posted on his campaign Web site, cited his "grave concerns" over the seaports plan and commended Frist for calling for a more through review of the deal.
"I have grave concerns about this deal, and I think that Sen. Frist is right that a more thorough review of this deal is warranted," said Bryant, a former federal prosecutor and four-term congressman from Jackson. "I am confident a reconsideration of this deal will prove that it is not in the best interests of our national security. As senator, the safety and security of Tennesseans will always be my number one priority."
Hilleary, a former congressman and 2002 gubernatorial hopeful who lives in Murfreesboro, called on Congress to block the seaports deal.
"It is outrageous to allow the takeover of six American seaports by a company headquartered in, and controlled by, the UAE," Hilleary said in an e-mailed news release. "Such a takeover represents a real and serious threat to our national security. Several of the September 11th hijackers used the UAE as an operational and financial base. Many believe that the UAE was used to wire money to terrorists and served as an important transfer point of smuggled nuclear components sent to Iran, North Korea and Libya by a Pakistani scientist. It is mind-boggling to think leaders in Washington would even hesitate in blocking the takeover."
For the sake of our security, lets hope Congressman Ford's opponents follow his lead in opposing this outrageous deal.
It truly is a matter on national security.
Source: Times News
Read Congressman Ford's letter on port security here!
57 Days
Days of Congressional Inaction on Ethics
Above is the number of days that have passed since Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to bribing Congressman.
It is also the number of days in which Congress has failed to pass an ethics reform bill that would limit private travel, ski and golf junkets, and would call for a full disclosure of expenses by lobbyists on members of Congress.
It is time for Congress to step up and pass an ethics reform bill that would do all of the above. In addition, it is time to end the pork barrel spending system as we know it and establish an independent ethics commission that would review ethics complaints against members of Congress.
I am proud Congressman Harold Ford Jr. is fighting for that reform!
Read Congressman Ford's call for reform of the House rules here!
