Over the past few weeks, Bob Corker has shown Tennesseans his true colors on securing our nation.Last week's Jackson Sun reported, "Corker said he is concerned about the situation, but he is more concerned about having a thorough review of port security, beyond just the issue of having the facilities managed by Dubai Ports World."
I found this statement pretty lame considering that all the facts that need to be known where already on the table: a foreign government was about to take over our ports.
That should be enough to get anyone up in arms. That is anyone who is truly concerned about our nation's security.
Where was Corker's outrage in the outsourcing of our national security throughout this whole ordeal?
It seemed Corker was in a world all to himself during the port deal. (Maybe he was with the President in some pretend pre-9-11 world)
Just to show how out of touch he was, Congress voted 62-2 to block the port deal last Wednesday, effectively sending the message that the deal would not get through. (The deal was called off Thursday)
Even Corker's biggest Congressional supporter, Zach Wamp, voted against the deal and was outspoken in his opposition.
On the port deal, Wamp said, "We need to go even further," he said. "We need to look at buy-American provisions."
Wamp is the only member of the Tennessee delegation to endorse Corker.
Clearly, Bob was more out of touch than any Senate candidate in America over the past few weeks.
On the flip side, Congressman Harold Ford Jr. stepped up to plate and led the fight to end the port deal.
Whether it was writing an op-ed, running television ads, or going on a fact finding mission , Congressman Ford did it all in the name of securing America.
The differences between Bob Corker and Harold Ford Jr. couldn't be more clear.
While Harold Ford Jr. passed the security test with flying colors, Bob Corker failed miserably.
I am confident that sentiment will be reflected during this year's election.
68 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!
