On Monday, Congressman Ford will begin airing a new ad in which Congressman Ford stresses the importance of protecting our security.Get a head start, watch the ad online now here!
The Chattanooga Free Times Press has the scoop:
The U.S. Senate campaign of U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., D-Tenn., will run a television advertisement beginning Monday that states opposition to the proposed takeover of six American ports by a United Arab Emiratesbased company.
"I’m running for the Senate because we shouldn’t outsource our national security to anyone," Rep. Ford says in the ad shot from the Port of Baltimore.
Campaign representatives for two Republicans who are seeking their party’s U.S. Senate nomination took issue with Rep. Ford’s advertisement.
Rep. Ford’s "record on national security issues does not match his rhetoric," said Andrew Shulman, campaign spokesman for former U.S. Rep. Ed Bryant, R-Tenn.
Jennifer Coxe, campaign manager for former U.S. Rep. Van Hilleary, R-Tenn., said in an e-mail that Mr. Hilleary "believes that this deal poses a threat to national security, and he would vote to revoke it."
Dubai Ports World would control port operations in Baltimore, New York, New Jersey, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia in the proposed takeover, The Associated Press reported.
The proposed deal has prompted outcries about national security from both sides of the political aisle.
President Bush has said he continues to support the deal. Administration officials have said the deal underwent an extensive review that revealed no national security concerns, AP reported.
In the ad, Rep. Ford said the United Arab Emirates had "diplomatic ties with the Taliban" and was "the home of two 9/11 hijackers, whose banks wired money to the terrorists."
Ford spokeswoman Carol Andrews said the ad will air in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, Jackson and the Tri-cities area of Tennessee. Ms. Andrews did not say how long it will be on television.
Anastasia Apa, spokeswoman for Rep. Ford’s Democratic primarychallenger, state Sen. Rosalind Kurita, D-Clarksville, said Sen. Kurita has supported a state Senate resolution urging Congress to protect port security.
"Senator Kurita has taken the lead on protecting America’s port security," she said.
Ben Mitchell, campaign manager for former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker, declined to comment on the Ford ad.
Campaign officials with Sen. Kurita, Mr. Bryant, Mr. Hilleary and Mr. Corker declined to say when their candidates will buy television advertising.
Larry Woods, a Tennessee State University political science professor, said Rep. Ford is trying to separate himself from the other Senate hopefuls as the "hard-line candidate on national security."
"They cannot afford for Ford to gain that brand," Dr. Woods said.
The candidates are running for the seat to be vacated by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., who has said he will not seek re-election.
The primary elections are Aug. 3, and the general election is Nov. 7.
Interactive: Get a head start, watch the ad online now here!
Related: Read Congressman Ford's letter on port security here!
More: Read Congressman Ford's strong record on national defense and homeland security here!
61 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!
