Recently, there has been quiet a bit of talk by Republicans about the level of discourse in this United States Senate race.Judging by what they are saying, one would think they have not been paying attention to their own primary, which has been nasty and frankly, unbecoming of someone running for the U.S. Senate.
Their rhetoric has gotten so nasty and vile that even some Republican leaders have had to step in and demand that the three candidates tone down their harsh rhetoric.
Just a few weeks back, The Nashville Post reported that State Senate Majority Leader Ron Ramsey wanted "his party's candidates to replace outgoing U. S. Sen. Bill Frist to ease their verbal war with one another in their primary campaigns"?
Ramsey added, "I know that each candidate wants to win, but the rhetoric is a bit strong."
Too bad they don't listen to Senator Ramsey.
'Embarrassed For Republicans'
"I'm embarrassed for the Republicans in their U.S. Senate race,” Ford said, adding, "the
kind of campaign they’re running is beneath the people of this state.”
When someone does emerge from their primary, Ford said, he is hopeful the GOP candidate will be willing to engage in "a meaningful, purposeful, realistic, viable and positive conversation about where to take this country, and the steps we would take to lead the country in that direction."
Is that really so much to ask from U.S. Senate candidates? I don't think so.
But don't hold your breath that the eventual Republican nominee will agree.
They Said It
Below is the list of slanderous names that the Republican candidates have slung at each other thus far in the campaign:
- "double talker"
- "clueless"
- "delusional"
- "immature"
- "deceptive"
- "tacky"
- "self-congratulatory"
- "a walking, talking hypocrite"
- "fraud"
- "Tennessee's mini-version of a Bill Clinton -John Kerry clone"
- "Wizard of Oz in this race"
- "wishy-washy"
- "The candidate of choice of K Street lobbyists"
- "unloyal"
- "misleading"
- "not a serious adult"
That is exactly what Harold Ford Jr. is talking with his stooge comment.
And I must say, I agree with Congressman Ford when he says he’s embarrassed for the Republicans in primary, because the kind of campaign they’re running is beneath the people of Tennessee.
Tennesseans deserve a vigorous campaign that is filled with debate over the issues that face our state and nation the most.
There has only been one candidate in this race that has done just that and he is not a Republican.
I am proud that my candidate, Harold Ford Jr., has ran a clean and dignified campaign on the issues during this election.
He is the kind of person that will make all Tennesseans proud to call him their United States Senator.
177 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!
