Harold Ford, Jr. For New York Blog

Former U.S. Rep., Law School alum Ford talks policy at campus event

2010-04-09T16:58:00.000-05:00

University Law School alum and former United States Rep. Harold E. Ford, Jr. returned to campus yesterday to speak before a crowd of approximately 150 people about a variety of issues, including the economy, the primary voting system and the recently passed health care reform bill.

During his talk in the Ford School of Public Policy’s Annenberg Auditorium, Ford commended President Obama’s resiliency in passing health care reform, but was quick to point out that it should merely be viewed as a first step to a more comprehensive effort to expand health insurance in the country.

“My hope is that over the next few months that we view this moment as really just another starting point around health care, that the fixes that have to come, that some of the test runs in this health care bill will seek to determine the next steps,” Ford said.

Ford, who is also the chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council, also praised the president for his recent decision to allow offshore drilling along the Atlantic coastline, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and the north coast of Alaska.

“I think it shows maturity in politics when you can assess a situation one day and assess it another day, and understand that things have changed and require a different set of answers,” Ford said. “I applaud the president for recognizing that the moment today and the set of facts and circumstances require a different set of answers.”

Before he was elected, Obama vehemently opposed offshore drilling, saying it should not be depended on to solve the energy problems in the United States.

Once considered a viable candidate to run for a U.S. Senate seat in New York this fall, Ford dropped out of the race last month, citing pressure from the Democratic Party not to contest the spot currently held by Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

Ford, who served as congressman for Tennessee’s ninth congressional district from 1997 to 2007, cited potentially detrimental effects for the Democrats as a main reason for deciding not to pursue a bid for the Senate.

“If I run, the likely result would be a brutal and highly negative Democratic primary – a primary where the winner emerges weakened and the Republican strengthened,” Ford wrote in a March 1 op-ed piece in The New York Times. “I refuse to do anything that would help Republicans win a Senate seat in New York, and give the Senate majority to the Republicans.”

But this wasn’t the first time Ford made a play for a Senate seat. Ford ran for Senate in 2006 losing the election to Republican Bob Corker after Corker ran ads against Ford that many criticized as racially charged.

In his speech yesterday, Ford also promoted his desire for an open primary system, in which candidates would be allowed to run for office without having to declare themselves as Democrats or Republicans. He said that oftentimes those who do not affiliate with a party are unable to have their views heard because the majority of audiences tend towards columnists and talk show hosts who express opinions that are either extremely liberal or extremely conservative.

“There is no doubt that those people deserve a voice, but they shouldn’t drown out the rest of the country which I believe find themselves situated somewhere in the middle,” he said.

Ford also spoke directly to current Public Policy students, encouraging them not to be dissuaded by political agendas that have hampered government’s ability to provide meaningful change to its citizens.

“One of the challenges for this generation of public policy school graduates is to not be confined by, or not allow the current dogma or current conversation to limit your thinking about answers to big public policy problems confronting the nation,” Ford said.

Source: The Michigan Daily

Ford to Appear on This Sunday's Meet the Press

2010-04-09T15:05:00.000-05:00

Congressman Ford will appear on this Sunday's Meet the Press with David Gregory to discuss the important issues of the week.

Check your local listings for program show times.

Ford: Why I’m Not Running for the Senate

2010-03-01T21:31:00.000-06:00

By HAROLD FORD Jr.

WHEN it was reported two months ago that I was thinking seriously about running for the United States Senate from New York, Democratic Party insiders started their own campaign to bully me out of the race — just as they had done with Representatives Carolyn Maloney, Steve Israel and others.

But as I traveled around New York, I began to understand why the party bosses felt the need to use such heavy-handed tactics: They’re nervous. New Yorkers are clamoring for change. Our political system — so bogged down in partisan fighting — is sapping the morale of New Yorkers and preventing government at every level from fulfilling its duty.

The cruel twist, of course, is that the party bosses who tried to intimidate me so that I wouldn’t even think about running against Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who had been appointed to the seat by Gov. David A. Paterson, are the same people responsible for putting Democratic control of the Senate at risk.

These are tough times, and the New Yorkers I have met are facing economic adversity with grace and dignity. They worry about their future, care about their neighbors and hope this storm will pass so they can focus on better days ahead. And yet too few in the Democratic Party are really willing to break with orthodoxy to meet these challenges. We need leaders as good as the people they represent — leaders focused on creating jobs, keeping taxes low, helping small businesses and restoring faith in government.

Voting for health care legislation that imposes billions in new taxes on New Yorkers and restricts federal financing for abortions is not good for the people of this state. Voting against critical funds necessary to ensure the survival of the financial services industry — the economic backbone of this state — is not good for the people of New York.

I was considered out of touch with mainstream Democrats when I argued against spending more than $200 million a year to hold the Khalid Shaikh Mohammed trial in New York. I was also labeled out of touch for advocating a payroll tax cut for small businesses and for putting a jobs bill before a scaled-down health reform bill. Though much more needs to be done to create jobs, I am pleased that these ideas have now become part of the Democratic mainstream.

Yet the party has been too slow to change. The effects of its lack of flexibility have been clear in a series of worrisome political events: Ted Kennedy’s “safe” Senate seat was lost to a Republican; Evan Bayh of Indiana and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota announced they weren’t running for re-election; Senate seats held by Democrats in Wisconsin and Delaware now seem to be in jeopardy; New York’s state government faces even more controversy and challenge.

There are compelling reasons for me to run. I believe New Yorkers are hungry for a new direction in government. Our elected officials have spent too much time this past year supporting a national partisan political agenda — and not enough time looking out for their own constituents.

New Yorkers aren’t asking for much. A jobs bill that cuts taxes for the middle class and invests in the future; a health care system that doesn’t bankrupt people when they get sick; and public schools that lay the groundwork for children to take advantage of all the future holds.

I believe raising these issues over the last two months has forced Democrats and Republicans alike to do better. And I will continue holding their feet to the fire. But I will not do so as a candidate for Senator from New York.

I’ve examined this race in every possible way, and I keep returning to the same fundamental conclusion: If I run, the likely result would be a brutal and highly negative Democratic primary — a primary where the winner emerges weakened and the Republican strengthened.

I refuse to do anything that would help Republicans win a Senate seat in New York, and give the Senate majority to the Republicans.

I realize this announcement will surprise many people who assumed I was running. I reached this decision only in the last few days — as I considered what a primary campaign, even with the victory I saw as fully achievable, would have done to the Democratic Party.

I am a Democrat. But I am an independent Democrat. I am not going to stop speaking out on behalf of policies that I think are right — regardless of ideology, party or political expediency. I plan to continue taking this message across our state and across our nation.

Harold Ford Jr. was a United States representative from Tennessee from 1997 to 2007.

Source: New York Times

Ford: Patterson Shouldn't Run

2010-02-26T13:43:00.002-06:00

Last night, I released a statement asking Governor Paterson not to seek election. In addition, I've called on the Governor to consider stepping down. Here's the statement,

Given the seriousness of the allegations and the urgent need to focus on the state budget and creating jobs, Governor Paterson should not distract the Democratic Party or the State any longer by seeking election.

Finally, the Governor should be honest with the voters about his effectiveness going forward in dealing with the budget and other pressing matters. And if this very serious investigation further erodes his ability to govern out his term, he should immediately step down for the good of the state.

Harold

Ex-Stonewall President Praises Ford

2010-02-26T07:20:00.003-06:00

From the New York Daily News:

"Apparently not everyone in the room at the Stonewall Democratic Club last night was anti-Harold Ford Jr.

Christopher Lynn, a past Stonewall president and founding member who invited Ford to address the club after a chance encounter with the former Tennessee congressman on the Amtrak to Albany, told me this afternoon that he thought Ford "had nothing to lose" by facing a hostile crowd head-on, and ultimately acquitted himself well.

"He held his own; he was polite and informed and charming," Lynn said. "I told him, 'Other than me, I can't think of anyone else who's going to give you a fair reception. That's the nature of politics - especially in Manhattan. But I was happy for the experience. I thought it was good."

Lynn said he's not formally working for Ford, who has pledged to make a decision about whether to primary Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand by the end of the weekend. Lynn sounded very much like a longtime Ford supporter, but he insisted he hadn't met the man before the two of them sat together on the train.

"I said, 'Wow. I'm a little bit disappointed. When you came and sat down, for a second I thought you were Derek Jeter's older brother,'" Lynn recalled of that meeting. "He laughed."

"...What I like about him is that he doesn't fudge it. He doesn't bullshit when you talk about certain issues. He doesn't try to hide or dress it up."

Lynn expressed surprise about the strength of support Gillibrand is enjoying among the Stonewall crowd.

"She's kind of new to this," he said. "...She sort of came from one perspective and changed to the other. That's fine. That's fine. But I didn't expect she would have that kind of support...It's not her, I believe, it's something else. And I think anything she can do, he can do better."

Lynn said he felt much the same way about Ford as he did upon first meeting former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, (Lynn served as Taxi and Limousine commissioner in the Giuliani administration). This comparison has nothing to do with ideology, Lynn stressed, and everything to do with the way these two "look you in the eye and answer stuff directly."'

Ford: It's About Small Business!

2010-02-25T16:20:00.001-06:00

Today's health summit will hopefully produce a breakthrough on a health bill that contains costs and expands coverage for the millions of Americans who are either uninsured or underinsured. Republicans should lay out honest and substantive ideas to cut the nation's health costs and grow insurance coverage for the millions without it, and the President should consider seriously incorporating some of their best ideas - like lawsuit reform and interstate insurance competition - into a final bill.

But I repeat, before passing a large health care bill, I would recommend the President and Congress do two things.

First, pass a real jobs bill that cuts business and personal taxes, that invests in growing the nation's domestic clean energy industry, that incentivizes Americans to buy more U.S. made products and that gives local governments more flexibility in spending stimulus funds on initiatives that will create jobs. The $15 billion jobs package that passed the Senate and is winding its way through the legislative process is a small start. Small business leaders, the real U.S. job creation engine, need much more to stimulate job creation.

Second, any health care bill that the President signs should not punish New York by raising our taxes. The current Senate health bill - the one the President is starting from - would specifically impose almost $5 billion of new health care taxes on New York small businesses and middle class families. Neither of these communities in New York can afford this right now. I would urge our congressional and Senate delegation to work to prevent these new taxes. Any chance we have of creating more and better jobs upstate and downstate in New York depend on a vibrant small business community.

Finally, the new health bill should not impose abortion restrictions on uninsured poor and middle class women in New York. The current Senate bill fundamentally imposes restrictions on a woman's right to choose. Unlike when the original Senate health bill passed, NARAL and Planned Parenthood should advocate constructively against any and all restrictions guaranteed by Roe v. Wade for all women, not just the privileged, and should hold House and Senate leaders accountable for any votes that restrict a woman's right to choose. If a solidly Democratic Congress and Senate can't be trusted to protect a woman's right to choose, who can?

In closing, I hope the summit goes well. But more than that, I hope that New York's small business community isn't taxed out of business.

Harold

Ford: Protect New York

2010-02-20T16:09:00.001-06:00

Apparently, there's a push underway in the Senate to pass health care reform with a public option through reconciliation, which is a unique Senate procedure created largely to ensure passage of necessary budget legislation.

I want the President to sign a good health care bill - and preferably one with a public option - as soon as possible. However, I would urge the Senate to be careful substantively and politically with the reconciliation approach, which would allow for Democrats to pass a reform bill with only 51 votes.

A few suggestions:

First, get the legislation right. Expediency and speed should not drive such an important and massive overhaul. Work with, not capitulate to, Republicans and make the final package bipartisan. The townhall session with Republicans on health care a few weeks ago - and the upcoming one this week - suggest there's a genuine willingness to get a bill done with constructive Republican input that would translate into Republican support. LBJ's landmark legislative successes were all passed with broad support from both political parties. President Obama and Congress may not win health care passage with an LBJ-like majority, but some Republican support is crucial.

Second, the country is rightly focused on and anxious about job creation and economic growth. Consistent with this, before moving to passage of health care, I would recommend Congress do two things.

First, please draft and pass an aggressive jobs bill that cuts personal and business taxes, invests in the growth of domestic clean energy industries and gives local governments more autonomy to invest federal stimulus money. The country won't understand how increasing their taxes by insuring 30 million Americans without health insurance is sound and smart public policy during a recession. Furthermore, ailing New York small business owners need relief now from the high business taxes crippling them right now.

Second, whatever health reform legislation that passes, please ensure that you remove any and all language that restricts a woman's right to choose, which the original Senate bill unfortunately does. NARAL gave Senate Democrats a "pass" on the original health bill that passed the Senate. They should not have done that, and I hope they will correct themselves and apply appropriate pressure to Democrats to remove the anti-choice language from the next health bill.

Finally, the original Senate bill added more than $1 billion in new taxes and fees to New York state's challenged fiscal situation. In fact, the fiscal effect caused by that Senate bill across New York - from New York city to Rochester to Syracuse to Buffalo to Albany - would constrain even more the choices facing the respective local governments across the state.

Please, I ask our Senate and congressional delegation, protect New York!

Harold

Ford: Tobbaco and Taxes

2010-02-19T10:23:00.003-06:00

Where are the tax returns from New York's unelected Senator from when she worked as a tobacco lawyer?

Did she file and pay her taxes while making big bucks as the cigarette industry's lawyer?

No one knows. The unelected Senator, who shows great hypocrisy on taxes, wants me to release my tax returns, but she won't release hers. I will gladly release my returns when I run for or serve in office again. That's what honest politicians do.

Now, I would respect the unelected Senator's consistency in not releasing her tax returns from her tobacco apologizing days if she didn't ask others - including unannounced candidates for public office - for their tax returns. But the unelected Senator can't help herself. She wants it both ways. However, as I have said, I will release my tax returns if I run, as I have done every time I've run for office, regardless of whether the unelected Senator releases her tax returns from her years as a high-paid tobacco lawyer.

It is important to note, I'm not taking issue with the unelected Senator's work as a lawyer. I hold the profession in high regard, and she evidently was a very good lawyer. That's not the issue. The issue is whether she filed and paid taxes on her work as a lawyer. Unlike the unelected Senator, I'm not demonizing the law profession as she has the financial services sector, which is the largest tax generating industry for New York City and State.

To clear this up, the unelected Senator should immediately release her tax returns from those mystery years and rid the confusion around whether she filed and paid taxes on her tobacco bonuses. Stop attacking the financial services sector and stop lying on me. We aren't your problem.

Instead, the unelected Senator persists in blaming others for her shortcomings - mainly the financial services sector and me. Problem is, I - and I'm pretty certain the financial services sector isn't at fault for the unelected Senator's failure to disclose her tax returns - have nothing to do with whether or not she filed and paid taxes on her tobacco income and bonuses. Still, the unelected Senator believes others are the problem.

Whether I run for Senate or not, New Yorkers deserve to know whether she follows the same rules we all do and files and pays her taxes.

What are you hiding?

Finally, I had a great day in Rochester yesterday. See the news coverage from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, the local newspaper.

Harold

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010100218009

Harold Ford, potential Senate candidate, visits
Rochester today

Jill Terreri• Staff writer • February 18, 2010

Harold Ford Jr. today said he supported Mayor Robert Duffy's plans for mayoral control of the City School District.

"I like the ideas behind what he's seeking to do," Ford said after a meeting with Duffy in City Hall.

Ford spoke to reporters after the meeting, Duffy did not.

Ford looked very much like a candidate, eating at Nick Tahou Hots with Democratic leaders and rubbing elbows with the locals.

A Tennessee native, Ford is considering a run for U.S. Senate against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Columbia County, and is making his first visit to Rochester.

In a visit to Rochester on Tuesday, Gillibrand did not take a position on mayoral control when asked about it by reporters.

Also on Ford's agenda today was a meeting with Mayor Robert Duffy, a meet and greet at Democratic headquarters on University Avenue, a meeting at the Rochester Area Community Foundation and a speech at 7 p.m. at the University of Rochester on civil rights.

"The jobs and tax challenges across the state are two familiar concerns that have been expressed over and over again," said Ford, who has made visits to Albany, Syracuse and Buffalo. "It's not uncommon, what I'm hearing here."

Unlike Gillibrand, Ford said he would not have voted for the Senate health reform bill because it would have created more costs for New York.

Ford lives in New York City, was a congressman and ran for U.S. Senate in 2006.
He is on leave from his job as a vice chairman at Merrill Lynch. He said he would disclose any bonus pay and salary information if he becomes a candidate.

Ford ate with Monroe County Democratic Chairman Joseph Morelle, Morelle's staff members and other party activists, and said he expects to make a decision around the end of the month.

Republican Bruce Blakeman of New York City is also running for U.S. Senate.

BREAKING: The Unelected Hypocrite May Not Have Filed or Paid All Her New York Taxes

2010-02-17T13:53:00.004-06:00

In a stunning admission today, New York's unelected hypocrite admitted to not releasing her own tax information in 2006 when she ran for Congress from Albany. According to New York press reports today, she NEVER released her tax information regarding income she earned as a high-paid tobacco apologist at a big law firm in New York City.

What a hypocrite!

She will ask of others (who aren't even candidates) and then falsely accuse others of things she is guilty of herself. She should release all of her tax returns from when she was a lawyer in New York City immediately and prove that she paid and filed New York taxes on all her bonuses as a tobacco apologist.

Harold Ford Jr. always released his tax returns for whatever years he was asked to when he was in public office and when he was a candidate. And Harold has paid and filed all taxes on all New York income. The unelected hypocrite owes New York a full explanation. No amount of accusing Harold can obscure the fact that she's a hypocrite. Release your taxes before 2006 so we can all see if you filed and paid.

"You Tell Me" In Rochester Yesterday, Gillibrand Couldn't Name City's Largest Employer

2010-02-17T06:56:00.005-06:00

Below is an article from 13WHAM that shows just how little the Un-elected Senator knows about Rochester or New York for that matter:

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand explained her views and listed her accomplishments to the Rochester Rotary Club Tuesday afternoon. The speech had very few specific references to Rochester.

This was the Democrat’s fifth visit here since she was appointed by the governor to fill the seat vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton 13 months ago. Gillibrand said she’s been busy in Washington, D.C. and visiting all of the state’s 62 counties.

“I’ve really been spending my time getting to know all of the towns, all of the counties, all of the cities all across New York,” Gillibrand said. “I’ve been here a lot. I’ve been here 25 times.” When told that her staff said she’d only been to Rochester five times, she said, “I’ve done 25 events and we've had really good events…in Rochester and the Finger Lakes region.”

The senator’s staff said she held events in Monroe County on January 31, May 16, August 27, and September 18. She also visited Livingston, Seneca, Wyoming, Schuyler, Yates, Genesee, and Wayne counties in August.

13WHAM News asked Gillibrand what she knows about the state’s third-largest city.

“I know a lot about Rochester,” she said. “I think you have enormous economic development opportunities because of your great universities and great community colleges. You're at the forefront of a number of industries, high tech industries, to biotechnology industries,” she said. “I grew up in Upstate New York. You have to remember I grew up in Albany, and so I understand some of the blessings of Rochester, and some of the challenges of Rochester.”

When asked, Gillibrand could not identify the area’s largest employer.

“I know many of your employers. Who's the largest? You tell me.” (It’s the University of Rochester.)

Polls show Gillibrand is still unknown to a lot of voters and she could face a tough fight to keep her seat. A potential primary challenger, Harold Ford, will speak at the University of Rochester on Thursday.

Gillibrand said she’s spent a lot of time talking to voters, frequently mentioning that she likes to talk to people at supermarkets.

“People are worried. The bottom line is the economy is as bad as it's ever been. Having national 10 percent unemployment doesn't tell the story. It's far higher, closer to 15-20 percent real unemployment, and so I don't really focus on the polls or the pundits who make judgments,” she said.

Source: 13 WHAM

Ford: Leadership Is Wanted

2010-02-16T13:14:00.002-06:00

Every incumbent Democrat should be on notice after Senator Bayh's announcement. Voters are distressed by the paralysis and dysfunction of Congress and the Senate. And, are in no mood for the normal score keeping ways of Washington; they want answers and jobs - maybe in reverse order.

But in a shocking response to Bayh's announcement, some senior Washington Democrats are blaming Bayh instead of the sorry governing process they preside over in Washington right now. That is a big mistake.

In a little over a year, my party has lost its way. And unless we get it back, we will forfeit our majorities. The White House bears responsibility for the situation we are in today as well.

My message to all of my Washington friends - simplify the agenda. It is about the economy and jobs. Work with Democrats and Republicans to get a jobs bill done that includes middle class tax cuts and significant help for homeowners on their second mortgages. In short, help the main street consumer. Stop playing class warfare by pitting wall street versus main street - this solves nothing, it only exacerbates our collective problems.

And last, stop playing small-minded politics. Be bigger than Republicans on all the issues, and get things done for the American people. By that I mean, work with them, cooperate with them and find common ground on the economy and national security, where you can . The American people believed President Obama's election would lead to a different atmosphere and political climate in Washington. So far, he and the Democrats haven't proved the voters right. We have several months to get it right. Get on it.

Finally, some in my party - the extreme left - believe that any outreach to Republicans represents betrayal of some sort. Washington Democrats should ignore the extremists and represent the rest of us and get things done. Our country is waiting on us to lead. As a matter of fact, the country needs us to lead.

If we do these things, the politics at the ballot box in November will take care of itself.

Harold

Ford: Wake Up Call

2010-02-15T16:27:00.001-06:00

With my friend Evan Bayh declaring today he will not seek re-election to the US Senate from Indiana, we Dems now have another challenge to overcome - holding his seat. Indiana Dems will figure it out I hope.

We have 2 additional problems I believe.

First, our Democratic priorities - as noble and visionary as we believe them to be - are out of sync with America's priorities. Americans want job creation, economic growth and a concrete plan to reduce federal spending over the long run. Clearly, we are not doing enough on either. Legislatively, it is time to subordinate health care reform to job creation and long term spending cuts.

Second, we Dems are being blamed for the dysfunction of Washington and the Federal government. With large majorities for Democrats in the House and Senate, it makes sense that we are being blamed. To fix it, we need to focus on getting things done - a jobs bill, a long-term spending cut plan and a pared down health bill are my suggestions.

Third, we better encourage the best candidates to run for office everywhere. Voters are in no mood for mediocre and uninspiring candidates. We must remember: titles don't entitle politicians to elected office. Moreover, Massachusetts reminded us that political seats belong to voters.

We have time to recover. These wake up calls are early enough, fortunately, for us to recover for the fall. We should heed the advice of voters.

Harold

Video, Transcript of Ford on Meet the Press

2010-02-14T21:50:00.007-06:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

For more video of Ford's appearance on Meet the Press, click here!

MR. GREGORY: And we're back. Joining us now, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, New York Times columnist David Brooks, former Democratic Congressman Harold Ford Jr., and Republican Congressman Aaron Schock. He is the youngest member of Congress, the first to be born in the '80s, we should point out. He represents the 18th District of Illinois, which includes Peoria, the seventh largest city in that state, and he's been chosen by his party's leadership to serve as a deputy Republican whip, and even received a waiver to serve on three committees in the House instead of the usual two.

So welcome to the program for the first time.

A lot to get to, all of you. David Brooks, the national security fight. You heard Vice President Biden taking on his predecessor. This is now a fully engaged argument about whether the Obama administration is sufficiently serious when it's taking on the war on terror. He said of Cheney, he's either "misinformation or misinforming."

MR. DAVID BROOKS: On the big picture he's right. I mean, if you cover the Obama administration, they take it seriously. The idea that they don't know we're at war, they don't pay attention, they have the daily intelligence briefs. They take this utterly seriously. So Cheney's large charge is completely bogus. As for the specifics, I think there are a couple of things he's right about. The KSM trial has become a total mess. What Joe Biden said today on the program doesn't pass the laugh test. The idea that we're going to try a guy, not acquit him, apparently, if, beforehand, are we going to make Dick Cheney the foreman of the jury? I mean, how do we know that? And then let him walk three. The second, free. And then the second thing I think Cheney's actually right about is Mirandizing. We, if we--say we'd captured the 9/11 guys on September 10th, or one of them, should we have read that guy his rights and given him a lawyer? No. We should have tried to get some intelligence out of the guy.

MR. GREGORY: Rachel?

MS. RACHEL MADDOW: There--there's--there isn't, in this case, and there hasn't been in any known modern terrorism case, any correlation between the usefulness of an interrogation and whether or not somebody gets read their Miranda rights. It just isn't the case. And in every single instance, every single terrorism case where there's been an arrest in this country in a terrorism case since 9/11, every single one has been handled--the person has been handled as a civilian criminal. There was a moment when Jose Padilla and, and Ali Amari were handed--handled in military custody. There's nothing magic about the time that they were in military custody. They didn't do any more magical forms of talking that they wouldn't do when they were civilians. So, even on those grounds, I think that, I, I think what you see as being correct in the, in the vice president's charges, I just, I just don't think it's there.

FMR. REP. HAROLD FORD JR. (D-TN): Furthermore...

MR. GREGORY: Yeah.

REP. FORD: ...I think it's only fair, this president has been as tough as anyone's been on terrorists. Throughout the--throughout his campaign, he promised he was willing to go into Pakistan if need be. He was criticized by Republicans and Democrats. As you heard Vice President Biden, they've taken down several of the top 20 that we wanted to find in Afghanistan and Iraq. Our efforts in Afghanistan, 35,000 additional troops, some in the Democratic Party were opposed to it. This president charged ahead. The efforts in the last few days. I think it's--we can point around the edges a bit, but I think it's unfair to say this administration has not been tough, has not been focused and determined in going after terrorists.

MR. GREGORY: Congressman Schock, did--the accusation that is still leveled and that former Vice President Cheney in an interview this morning is saying, is that the administration does not consider these acts acts of war. They are still considering them criminal acts, which he says is the wrong way to keep America safe.

REP. AARON SCHOCK (R-IL): Well, look, all I can tell you is what my constituents are telling me and where I think most of Americans are, which is they see an American citizen who attacks their soldiers at a, at a base in Fort Hood, Texas, tried in a military tribunal. And they see a foreigner who comes to our soil for the sole purpose of attacking our country and our American citizens and he's read his Miranda rights. The majority of Americans, the polls indicate, do not support the president and this administration's plan to try these people in civilian court. And I think it's rightfully so why the administration is now backpedaling on their decision to hold these trials in downtown New York.

MS. MADDOW: I...

MR. GREGORY: Let me just take on one issue and then you can make your point.

MS. MADDOW: OK.

MR. GREGORY: I want to go back to the, the Khalid Sheikh Mohammed trial, because I think this is the point that I was trying to ask the vice president about. Here was the headline in The Washington Post this week about how this is unfolding politically, which is not well for the administration. Obama to help pick the location of the terror trial, which can only be seen as a shot against his attorney general and his decision originally to put it in New York, which they reversed from. The tension here, Rachel, the whole reason why there are enemy combatants is to say these are warriors, they're not criminals. They--the president says that al-Qaeda is trying to destroy America, that we are at war. So these are warriors. And by virtue of the fact that the administration is saying, "We're never going to release this guy even if he were to be acquitted," does that not make the point that they should not even enter our justice system where there is due process, where there is a presumption of innocence, where any prosecutor knows the consequences that the defendant walks if they--they're not convicted?

MS. MADDOW: I, I think that in--even in the case of heinous crimes that have nothing to do with terrorism, that have nothing to do with foreign nationals, there is a, there is a frustration that there's a case that people who we believe are guilty might somehow get away. There's this frustration. That's what drives lynch mob mentality. I mean, we've always had that sort of tension. But the fact remains, there have been three convictions under military tribunals, three, and two of the people convicted are now free. It's no great guarantee that anything awesome is going to happen in terms of guaranteeing guilt and guaranteeing a long sentence to do the, to do the tribunal route. When the--when, when Richard Reid came up in civilian court and he tried to make the case that he wanted to be called a soldier, he wanted to be called--he wanted to be treated in the terms of war, the judge in the case, William Young, said, "You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not, you are not a soldier in any war. To call you a soldier gives you far too much stature. War talk is way out of line in this court. You're a big fellow, but you're not that big. You're no warrior. I know warriors. You are a terrorist, a species of criminal guilty of multiple attempted murders." I think Americans cheer that sentiment, and the idea that we're going to elevate Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and call him some sort of warrior when he's comparing himself to George Washington at Guantanamo, it's disgusting.

MR. GREGORY: But, David Brooks, the president is spending a great deal of political capital on a decision that was being made to put him in the civilian system so that the rest of the world thinks we're fair. And yet, the vice president this morning is saying, "He's going to be convicted. He's going to die." Other administration officials, including the president, has said that, that he'll most likely face the, the death penalty. How is this holding up American jurisprudence?

MR. BROOKS: Yeah, well, this is a policy in transition. Eric Holder, the attorney general, took this decision without consulting the president, without consulting the national security apparatus, did it on his own. And slowly, and now quickly, the White House is pulling that back. And so they are going to try to, I think, take--well, take it out of New York. But they're not there yet. The idea that we can try someone and, and guarantee a conviction and guarantee they won't walk free, I mean, this, this is a betrayal of our values. I mean, what--the, the correct charges against Gitmo were that it's a betrayal of our values. We're fighting our values in a way that--we're fighting this war in a way that betrays who we really are. And this is the essence of that. What Joe Biden said on the program today will be laughed at around the Arab world.

MR. GREGORY: Congressman Schock, the larger question of Republican dissent, if you look at it that way, or attacks on this administration, the top terrorism adviser to the president said this on this program this last week.

(Videotape, February 7, 2010)

MR. JOHN BRENNAN: I'm tiring of politicians using national security issues such as terrorism as a political football.

(End videotape)

MR. GREGORY: Are Republicans and Republican attacks against this administration helping al-Qaeda?

REP. SCHOCK: Absolutely not. And I think it's insult to most Americans to suggest that their elected representatives who are carrying their views and the message of, of the majority of Americans to Washington and to this debate are somehow helping al-Qaeda. Mind you, these are the--many of these Democrats, including Mr. Brennan who served in the last administration, faced many of these same attacks under then-President Bush from, from the left. So the idea that we can't challenge the administration and their view on the fight on terrorism is completely bogus.

MR. GREGORY: What happened to Democrats when they challenged President Bush in the same way?

REP. SCHOCK: Well, some of the same, some of the same claims were made against them.

MR. GREGORY: Right.

REP. SCHOCK: But at the end of the day, we're representing mainstream America and the majority of views. And, and whether it's closing Guantanamo Bay and moving it to the heartland of America, whether it's the, the--trying these folks in downtown New York, whether it's Mirandizing terrorists who come to this country to attack us, the majority of Americans have not bought, do not believe that Obama and his administration is right on these policies.

MR. GREGORY: So you don't support the way the president is prosecuting the war on terror?

REP. SCHOCK: No.

REP. FORD: I, I, I, I can appreciate the, the politics that are at play here, and we're heading into a cycle, and we just met. I think he's a nice guy and a good guy, but to suggest that this administration is not focused in a right way and determined to keep America safe I, I think is just, is, is just not right and foolish. I think there's a legitimate conversation about whether Khalid Sheikh Mohammed should be tried in my home city. I disagree with the administration, I'm glad now we are revisiting and looking at a different location. I was against it because I think the costs are too high. We're in the middle of a recession. It would cost some $225 million a year to try him there. We could spend that money in a jobs program, an education program or even to pay down the debt. But to suggest--to play politics at this moment--Democrats raised the same concerns when Bush was in office and the same answers were given and--some similar answers were given by Republicans. The truth of the matter is Congress and the Senate ought to be focused on our efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and ensuring that our AfPak policy works. The conversation around Pakistan and Kashmir and whether or not a resolution there will help us resolve our issues in Afghanistan are far more important than a volleyball going back and forth about who's at fault. Barack Obama and his administration deserve tremendous credit for what they've done up to this moment.

MR. GREGORY: All right. Quick, quick comment, then I want to move it to domestic matters.

REP. SCHOCK: First of all, I want to make it clear: Nobody's suggesting that President Obama and his administration don't want us to be safe. What we're suggesting is he's taking unnecessary risks.

MS. MADDOW: Well, well, can I just...

MR. GREGORY: All right. Yeah.

MS. MADDOW: I'm sorry, though. What's the basis of the assertion that reading somebody their Miranda rights is unsafe? We did that with every...

REP. SCHOCK: Well, Rachel, you said yourself...

MS. MADDOW: Wait, hold on. We did that with every single person who has been arrested on terrorism charges since 9/11. Nobody's ever made an issue of it until the Obama administration and this case with Abdulmutallab. Literally, what's, what's the problem with being read your rights that wasn't the problem before?

REP. SCHOCK: Well, first of all, you suggested earlier that reading someone's Miranda rights does not--has never indicated that they talk less to our intelligence folks.

MS. MADDOW: We've never heard that from the FBI.

REP. SCHOCK: The fact of the matter is we do know that after the Christmas Day bomber was read his Miranda rights that he did, in fact, stop cooperating with our intelligence.

MS. MADDOW: That's not true, actually. I mean, it's not what we know from the people who've been involved in that. It's just...

MR. GREGORY: But there is--but, but the...

MS. MADDOW: The, the factual basis of these assertions is so thin.

MR. GREGORY: But the...

REP. FORD: Rachel's right about that. In fact, I think when he was read the rights, a report suggested that he shared more information after that. And that could be wrong, but the question...

MR. GREGORY: But there, but there is a debate, there is a debate about whether he should have been treated throughout as an "intelligence asset" without being Mirandized in order to bring people in who had more expertise specific to Yemen. Now I don't think any of us can know at this stage how much could be gleaned from FBI interrogators, who are very good...

MS. MADDOW: Yeah.

MR. GREGORY: ...vs. other intelligence assets. So I think that debate will continue.

Let me take a break here. We're going to come back and talk about domestic matters in the Obama agenda. We'll be back with our roundtable right after this brief station break.

(Announcements)

MR. GREGORY: We are back now with our political roundtable. Let's talk about the Obama agenda. And you may not have known this or heard about it, but we had a fair amount of snow here in Washington over the past couple of weeks. Here is a cartoon that really captures the nexus between government and weather. Huge snowstorm, one guy says, "Washington is completely paralyzed." The other one says, "And then came this snow storm." And here, here we are, David Brooks, with a domestic agenda right now. And what's leading this off? It's not health care at the moment, it is a jobs bill. And there seemed to be bipartisan consensus on this and now Majority Leader Harry Reid pulled it back, made it a much narrower bill by $15 billion, mostly of tax breaks, to get people back to work. Is this going to go anywhere?

MR. BROOKS: It'll go somewhere. But if, if this was your week to hate Washington, this was a good week for you, because we got this bipartisan bill that emerged in the Senate filled with pork and all sorts of things that people hate. Fine. But at least the White House signs off on it. But Harry Reid decides after the White House has signed off on it that it's--the liberals in his party have objected. So we got the pork, and he decides, "I'm getting rid of the whole thing," or at least scaling it back to something about $15 billion a year. So then we get partisanship. And then on top of that, it's basically pointless. Fifteen billion dollars a year in a multitrillion-dollar economy is nothing, will create no jobs. So we had partisanship, pork, and pointlessness all in one bill. And so this was a bad week for Washington.

MR. GREGORY: Congressman Schock, where are the Republicans going to be on this?

REP. SCHOCK: Well, look, I think, unfortunately, it's more of the same. I mean, all of this talk about bipartisanship, and yet the rhetoric doesn't match the reality. As David Brooks mentioned, there was some, some Republicans who worked with Democrats in the Senate to come up with a jobs bill only to have their leadership put the kibosh on it. We, we are for creating long-term economic growth. You do that by incentivizing entrepreneurialism, risk taking, and investment. You do that through creating certainty in the markets through certain tax incentives. And that's where we'll be on a jobs bill.

MR. GREGORY: So it sounds like you're--you like what the Democrats are doing here?

REP. SCHOCK: Well, I don't like all the pork that was in the bill. Seven hundred eighty-seven billion dollar stimulus bill, the largest spending bill in, in history, one of the reasons why it didn't create long-term growth is it didn't have stimulative tax cuts in it, but rather a lot of pork and spending.

MS. MADDOW: Which are the least stimulative things in the stimulus. I mean, when you assess what creates jobs, in the stimulus band it's the tax cuts that were put in in order to try to win Republican votes that didn't come anyway that are the least effective thing in the stimulus bill. So the theory doesn't match the practice here.

But, I mean, you, in your district...

REP. SCHOCK: Well, I, I can assure you...

MS. MADDOW: ...just this week you were at a community college touting a $350,000 green technology education program, talking about how great that was going to be for your district. You voted against the bill that created that grant. And so that's happening a lot with Republicans sort of taking credit for things that Democratic bills do, and then Republicans simultaneously touting their votes against them and trashing them. That's, I think, a, a, a problem that needs to be resolved within, within your caucus, because, I mean, you seem like a very nice person, but that's very hypocritical stance to take.

REP. SCHOCK: Well, Rachel, with all due respect, I can assure you Republicans were not consulted on the stimulus bill. That bill was filed at 11 PM the night before the 10:30 AM we began debating it. None of our amendments were considered. There was no debate and no bipartisanship on that bill.

MS. MADDOW: How about the...(unintelligible)?

MR. GREGORY: But, but answer--all right, let me, let me...(unintelligible)...Rachel, which is that the, the question about you--you've called for spending caps out of Washington.

REP. SCHOCK: Sure.

MR. GREGORY: But to Rachel's point, does that mean that you will not accept any federal money that comes the way of your district?

REP. SCHOCK: No. I think that argument that liberals are making is absolutely ridiculous. With all due respect, Rachel, does that mean you're going to give back your Bush tax cuts that you continue to rail against? The fact of the matter is our country operates and govern by a majority. And I, along with almost all of my Republican colleagues and a good number of Democrats, have voted against the stimulus, the omnibus, all of this runaway spending. But we've lost those battles in the House. And at the end of the day, my constituents...

MR. GREGORY: But you'll take the money for, you'll take the money for your district.

MS. MADDOW: Take the money and tout it...(unintelligible).

REP. FORD: Here's, here's, here's a...

REP. SCHOCK: Well, let me finish. At the end of the day, my constituents and their children and grandchildren will be on the hook for the debt that's being created by this majority...

MR. GREGORY: OK.

REP. SCHOCK: ...and they deserve to have their fair share of federal spending.

MR. GREGORY: Harold's turn.

REP. FORD: I was in Congress for 10 years. I can tell you, your party ran up a lot of debt. Matter of fact, we, we grew--from the eight years that President Bush was there, the rate of growth exceeded any other presidents in the history of the nation. So we found ourselves in a moment...

REP. SCHOCK: Until this one.

REP. FORD: Well, no, this, this president, he's only been in a year. I know you want to blame him for everything, but you can't blame him for quite everything yet. And I don't want to blame President Bush, but we got to put it in context.

Two, I, I love it when Republicans talk about the desire to come around the table and work together. It was a Republican-Democrat thing that happened in the Senate. It was Grassley and Baucus, and it was Hatch and Schumer. They're--that was the centerpiece of the, of the stimulus bill and the jobs bill that's working its way through the Senate. But it was McConnell who told Reid the other day, "I will not work to, to, to collect any votes for this bill if you bring it to the floor." There has to be a genuineness and a sincerity here. Republicans say they want deficit reduction and deficit control, they vote against a deficit commission. I do hope President Obama will use an executive order to create a deficit commission in spite of what Republicans may say. You can't have it one day Monday in the morning and have a different message in the afternoon on, on, on Tuesday.

MR. BROOKS: But can I say this?

MR. GREGORY: Yeah.

REP. FORD: I think it just has to be fair. Now, Democrats deserve some blame here.

MR. GREGORY: Right.

MR. BROOKS: Yeah.

REP. FORD: But Republicans have to be, have to be honest, too.

MR. BROOKS: This conversation exemplifies what's wrong with Washington. It's like two guys fighting in the ocean to see who drowns first. I mean, the--it's--both parties are responsible for the, the deficits, and both parties are responsible for the fiscal suicide. And if you look at the polls that came out--a whole bunch of polls came out this week and they show both parties very negative. Unprecedented levels of distrust in Washington. Unprecedented, historically high levels of people want to get rid of their member of Congress from both parties. A level of distrust of Washington that is absolutely unprecedented in American history. And it's because the two sides are trying to fight each other than actually do something bipartisan or actually do anything.

MS. MADDOW: No, but...

MR. BROOKS: And so bipartisanship has become a wedge issue, a way to make the other party look bad. So bipartisanship has been twisted into just another partisan rant.

MS. MADDOW: But the issue is not bipartisanship qua bipartisanship. It's hypocrisy. I mean, if you are for PAYGO, if you're for a deficit commission until the president of the other party comes around for it, and then you're against it? We're not talking policy anymore, we're not talking about bipartisanship. You shouldn't be blamed for not getting Republican votes on that. That's hypocrisy. If you vote against the omnibus bill, if you complain about the omnibus bill, if you tout your vote against the omnibus bill, it is hypocrisy to then go to your district and go to a ribbon cutting ceremony for something that's funded by the omnibus bill that you voted against. It's not just bipartisanship as a sort of platonic virtue.

REP. FORD: But, but...(unintelligible).

MR. BROOKS: Listen...(unintelligible)...Republicans say--I can pick up the Democratic points. If, if Obama wants to say, "I'm going to balance the budget," and then say, "but I won't cut taxes on the bottom 98 percent," well, that's also somewhat hypocritical or inconsistent. If he says...

MS. MADDOW: Or that's focused policy.

MR. BROOKS: ..."I want bipartisan health care," but then invites the, the cameras into a bipartisan discussion and already has the plan he's going to come with--out with after the healthcare summit, that's also slightly political.

REP. FORD: David, David's right about one thing, and it's the bigger point for my party. I was astonished by what happened with the jobs bill also. We are in the majority, we have an obligation to govern. And the American people react in revolt when politicians feel like they know what voters want. Health care is important. But if we don't focus on jobs and jobs and jobs again, I think Vice President Biden was right, Democrats will suffer in the fall. The reality is families are having problems at home, businesses are having problems running themselves--or I should say, people running them are having problems. And the reality is people are worried about their future. And, ultimately, your point is the right one. I only make the point about the back and forth of it. There has to be some honesty about bipartisanship. You can't in the morning say you want it, and in the afternoon everything is undermined.

MR. GREGORY: Well, let's, let's talk about the prospect of bipartisanship when it comes to health care. The president will have a summit on February 25th. The cameras will be on. There'll be Republicans and Democrats there to talk about the issues. The truth is, Congressman, that healthcare reform is in trouble. But are the Republicans, on health care, prepared to say yes to anything?

REP. SCHOCK: Absolutely. From day one back in April, I joined with over a hundred Republican colleagues of mine on a letter with John Boehner and Eric Cantor to the president, who said, "Mr. President, we want to work with you on healthcare reform. We have ideas. We want to meet with you." And for the good part of that year, the president spent his, his, his time only working with Democratic members. And it wasn't until the losses in New Jersey and Virginia and, subsequently, the Scott Brown election in Massachusetts that have forced them to the table to talk about truly wanting to work with us. Unfortunately, yesterday we learned that, that Speaker Pelosi and Harry Reid are now trying to develop a new bill before the February 25th summit. If that's the case, I think it's unfortunate. We need to start from scratch, which is where the American people are on this issue. They have overwhelmingly rejected both the House and the Senate versions. And if the president was--is willing to start from scratch, is truly willing to be a negotiator, meet us halfway, where the American people are, we will support it.

MR. GREGORY: Rachel, how difficult is it that the White House clings to the belief that the best way to win the argument on health care is to pass it first? It's a very difficult way to apply leverage on Republicans to cooperate.

MS. MADDOW: Well, I mean, the last time that we had, we had, we had Republicans in to do a bipartisan summit--or the first time we had Republicans in for a bipartisan summit at the White House, right, was March of last year? We spent the entire summer while this Senate Finance Committee didn't meet--Senate Finance Committee, with three more Democrats on it than Republicans. So instead, this bipartisan group of six could meet to try to work it out. The Republicans in the House proposed four planks that they wanted in health reform. They wanted buy insurance across state lines, allowing individuals to pool together, state innovation, and tort reform. Versions of all of those things are in the bill. Famously, in April, President Obama said, "If I'm willing to go a lot further than I have on tort reform, what are you willing to give?" Republicans said nothing. "We're not really--we're literally not willing to give anything in exchange for that." So the idea that it's just now that Democrats want to sit down with Republicans is, again, just--it's factually wrong, even though it's Beltway common wisdom.

MR. GREGORY: David Brooks, will there be reform this year?

MR. BROOKS: I would say the chances are 70 percent no. I mean, I mean, I don't think there's going to be much of a deal. I think the, the big picture is few--average, like, the last 10, 15 polls on the Democratic healthcare reforms, it's against probably 55 no, 38 percent yes, something like that. It's just hard to do a big national transformation when the public's leaning against.

MR. GREGORY: Right. But that's something you wrote this week, that "voters are in no mood for a wave of domestic transformation."

MR. BROOKS: Right.

MR. GREGORY: Were they initially?

MR. BROOKS: I don't think so. I think, you know, we had a period between 1932 and '64 where people basically trusted their government. And that ended because of Vietnam and Watergate and a lot of other reasons. When the president came in, it was not like '32 and '64. People had this incredibly high level of distrust. And if they had this economic security and you come at them with an institution they distrust with a whole bunch of change, they're going to have even more insecurity. They're going to recoil. I think that's what's happened. I think the president would have been wiser to go step by step to rebuild that trust in government. I still think that's what you should do today.

MR. GREGORY: Let me--I want to talk about 2010 politics, and I want to turn to you, former Congressman Ford. The question of whether you're going to run to challenge New York Senator Gillibrand in New York. You're being coy about this, and yet everything you're doing has the hallmark of you being a candidate. Are you going to run?

REP. FORD: I haven't decided yet. I'll make a decision in the next few weeks. I'll have to tell you, the travels around the state have been great, encouraged, humbled by what people are saying. The press and the pundits are focused on carpetbagging and some of the politics around it, but people in New York are expressing the same concerns that have been--that we've been expressing around the table. There's a big concern about health care but a bigger concern about the economy and jobs.

MR. GREGORY: Well, let's talk about some of the carpetbagging issues. One of the questions that's come up is, are you a really a New Yorker? Do you pay taxes in New York? Have you filed at least a partial return for the time you've spent there?

REP. FORD: Absolutely. Paid taxes on all New York income the last two years. And, for the first time, in '09 my wife and I will file as residents of New York. But this is politics. They've tried to distort my record on choice, my record on other social issues. But, at the end of the day, voters in New York are as unsettled and as worried about their futures as any other set of voters across the country. At the end of the day, many people in the state don't know Senator Gillibrand, don't know a whole lot about her. But there'll will be time, if I run, to litigate that line by line.

The bigger issue, I think, is what, is what David has raised and partially what, what the congressman has raised here. Democrats, we are in a position to make things happen. People are no longer interested in keeping score in Washington. They want outcomes. And, at the end of the day, if we're not seeing or not able to show how we're producing jobs and at least mindful of reining in the size and the growth of government because every business, every household is reining it in, I hate to use the example of being in the airport and listening to someone share with me how they're sitting around their table, cutting back. And they said, "You better, if you get there, make government cut back."

MR. GREGORY: But...

REP. FORD: We've got to be mindful of that as Republicans and Democrats.

MR. GREGORY: Bigger picture's important, but so is accountability on some issues, including a couple of others that have come up for you. There's so much talk and anger about bonuses on Wall Street. You have worked for Merrill Lynch. Are you going to release how big your bonus was with Merrill Lynch and other tax return information to voters now?

REP. FORD: David, if I become a candidate, I was in Congress for 10 years so I understand disclosure.

MR. GREGORY: Mm-hmm.

REP. FORD: The simple answer is yes. But I'm not a candidate yet. I've answered questions throughout.

MR. GREGORY: Right.

REP. FORD: And, again, I understand. What...

MR. GREGORY: But you won't say how big your bonus was with Merrill?

REP. FORD: I had a contract with Merrill Lynch. They--I had a certain things I--number of things I had to do. I satisfied that, and I was paid. I make no bones about it. New York City, New York state depend heavily on Wall Street. I'm a believer it ought--the system ought to be reformed, but putting a tax on banks at a time at which the recovery is as timid and as fragile as it is--680,000 New Yorkers work in this industry. The importance of the revenue to the city and to the state of New York, I'm, I'm not afraid...

MR. GREGORY: So what...

REP. FORD: ...nor am I ashamed to say, if I run for the Senate and I win, I will defend the biggest industry in my state.

MR. GREGORY: So how big was the bonus?

REP. FORD: David, if I run for office, I'll, I'll talk about all of those things. And I'll...

MR. GREGORY: What about--the question of whether you're pro choice or pro life has come up. Final question on this, which is would you support parental notification in New York, something it now does not have?

REP. FORD: I have--in the Congress, I've voted against late-term abortion--voted for--against late-term abortions. I am pro choice. The record has been distorted. The president of a--the Tennessee Planned Parenthood has said that Harold is pro choice. He's a friend. My wife is pro choice. I can assure you--who I wish happy Valentine's Day to this morning--if I were not pro choice, my wife nor my mother--Mom, happy Valentine's Day, too...

MR. GREGORY: Right.

REP. FORD: ...they neither would allow me in their homes if I were not.

MR. GREGORY: Parental notification in New York, do you support it?

REP. FORD: I'm for--I'm for parental notification other than extreme cases, where a judge may have to be involved if there's, if there's a dispute between a child and a family. If you--if your daughter can't go to an NR-17 movie, David, without some notification, it would seem to me that a family ought to be made aware of some of these.

MR. GREGORY: Rachel Maddow, bigger picture on 2010 politics. What do you think the president can be saying now to Democrats who fear that this is a repeat of 1994 in this regard, the prospect of losing on healthcare reform, being stymied on healthcare reform just as they were stymied on the crime bill as well, that chaos theory that Democrats can't achieve.

MS. MADDOW: Yeah. I think that, that, that, when Nancy Pelosi noted this week that 200 bills have passed the House that have been sitting in the Senate, not--going nowhere, and 70 percent of those, more than 70 percent of those, had more than 50 Republican votes when they passed the House, is a key of what's going wrong. There's a real problem in the Senate, and the Democrats need to be able to show that they're doing the things the country needs to be done in this difficult economy and with a broken Senate that can't do it. And I think that what they're going to need to do, both practically to get stuff done and to show voters that they're serious about it, and that they're not wusses and they can't get rolled the way Republicans love to roll them is by actually taking on what's broken in the Senate.

MR. GREGORY: And, Congressman Schock, what is the reason that Americans should restore Republicans to power in Congress?

REP. SCHOCK: Because there needs to be some balance in Washington. You mentioned '94. I think...

MR. GREGORY: Where's, where's the imbalance now? The president hasn't achieved the big things he's trying to get.

REP. SCHOCK: Well, I think his, his agenda is clearly out of touch with mainstream America. It's why we had a rock star president a year ago with over 80 percent favorabilities and now he's below 50 percent. It's because cap and trade, the stimulus, healthcare bills are out of touch with where America wants us to be. And the Republican Party has been where we--the American people have been, which is talking about jobs, talking about the economy, talking about tax cuts to get our economy going again. That's what America wants us focused on. And despite the president continuing to talk about jobs, their stimulus packages and bills continue to just spend.

MR. GREGORY: Thirty, 30--David Brooks, 30 seconds, the outlook.

MR. BROOKS: Well, it's going to be a good year for Republicans. I'm actually beginning to think, for the first time in my life, there's a prospect for a third party at some point in the future. I just don't see how we get out of the fiscal hole if Republicans are not willing to raise taxes, Democrats not willing to cut spending. I just don't see how we get out of that, and that is the predicate. For the first time in my life I've thought maybe somebody could run a their party for president, not for Congress this year.

MR. GREGORY: Modern day Ross Perot.

MR. BROOKS: Hopefully a little saner, but, yeah.

MR. GREGORY: OK. We're going to leave it there. The debate will certainly continue. Thank you all very much.

I should point out, we're going to continue our discussion with Congressman Schock and talk to him about life as the youngest member of Congress. It's in our MEET THE PRESS Take 2 Web extra. It's up this afternoon. Plus, look for updates from me throughout the week. It's on our Web site mtp.msnbc.com.

And we'll be right back.

(Announcements)

MR. GREGORY: That is all for today. We'll be back next week. If it's Sunday, it's MEET THE PRESS.

Source: NBC's Meet the Press

Gillibrand's Baseless Attacks and Pitiful Attempts to Distract From Her Pathetic Record of Killing Jobs in New York

2010-02-13T16:39:00.000-06:00

Below is a statement released by Ford spokesperson Tammy Sun:

"Harold is considering whether to run for senate and if he becomes a candidate, he will disclose specific details of his taxes, as he did while serving in public office for 10 years as a Congressman. Harold is right now focused on listening to and learning from New Yorkers as they talk about the need for a senator who creates jobs and cuts taxes -- rather than indulging in political games about his private life.

So to be clear: Harold has always paid New York taxes and filed the appropriate New York tax returns for all income earned in New York. And as a New York resident as of 2009, he is filing a resident tax return this year.

Suggestions to the contrary by the unelected Senator are sad and pathetic attempts to distract New Yorkers from her low approval numbers and even worse record of raising taxes and killing jobs in New York."

Ford to Appear on Meet the Press This Sunday

2010-02-12T13:58:00.002-06:00

Just a quick heads up, Congressman Ford will appear on NBC's Meet the Press this Sunday to discuss the news of the day.

Check your local listings for show times.

Gillibrand, Ford Fight for Exposure

2010-02-12T10:03:00.002-06:00

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/buffaloerie/story/954045.html

By Robert J. McCarthy

NEWS POLITICAL REPORTER

Updated: February 12, 2010, 7:18 am /
Published: February 12, 2010, 12:30 am

The expected Democratic primary for U. S. Senate has suddenly morphed into a contest over who has visited cities like Buffalo and Syracuse the most — former Tennessee Rep. Harold Ford Jr. or incumbent Kirsten E. Gillibrand.

And though it may seem trivial, familiarity with upstate and its economic woes is looming as a central theme between an appointed senator still unfamiliar to many voters and a Tennessean striving to negate the "carpetbagger" label.

As a result, Ford's swing through Buffalo on Thursday and Gillibrand's arrival today for Flight 3407 memorial services take on added significance as both work to establish themselves with an electorate not yet engaged in an already sizzling contest.

"We need to be candid about the strength of candidates," Ford said during an interview in Gigi's Restaurant on East Ferry Street. "This is about someone who's been in office only a year and visited Syracuse twice, or who has not visited with officials in the big cities across the state. That's what I hear over and over again."

He said he has learned much about the state since beginning his exploratory campaign, stressing that creating jobs and lowering taxes offer the best economic development plan for a region he recognizes as foundering. While he made no promises of creating 250,000 jobs as did Senate candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2000, Ford still presented a plan he said will lead to at least some degree of economic revitalization.

The plan includes ensuring that "no harm is done" by any federal legislation that affects New Yorkers; redirecting federal stimulus money into programs that local entities such as the New York Conference of Mayors have identified as job creators; a program similar to Cash for Clunkers that would send each American a $500 "credit card" to be invested in green technology for jobs or business; and cutting payroll taxes to stimulate spending.

"I think [Gillibrand] stands a great chance of losing in November," he said, "which is why I'm giving a great deal of thought about this race."

But Gillibrand, a Columbia County resident who political observers say has been forced to focus on New York City and its tremendous concentration of Democratic voters, is back in Buffalo today. After participating in the Flight 3407 services, she is slated to meet with Mayor Byron W. Brown in City Hall, addressing at least one mayoral complaint that she has paid scant attention to Buffalo.

Gillibrand spokesman Glen Caplin, meanwhile, said the senator has worked hard to become a presence everywhere in New York since her appointment in early 2009. He issued a statement calling attention to Ford's Wall Street background.

"Merrill Lynch Vice Chairman Harold Ford Jr. has gotten his facts wrong again," Caplin said.

"Not only has Sen. Gillibrand visited all 62 counties in the state, she has held over 20 events in Western New York and over a dozen in Central New York alone."

rmccarthy@buffnews.com

Ford: Real Leadership Now!

2010-02-10T11:40:00.005-06:00

I visited Port Chester yesterday in the Lower Hudson Valley of New York State as part of my continued travels around the state. Thanks to my new friends Wayne Benach and his incredible team at the Port Chester Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center for the high level of care they provide their constituents and customers - who are some of the sweetest people I've met since starting this effort.

Two things are clear from my visit - New York's appointed Senator should visit this center before voting again to cut funding for the home and raise taxes on the senior citizens who live there and are rehabilitated there. According to management at the home, the Senator has yet to even respond to their request for a visit to the Port Chester facility.

Second, cut taxes. I stopped at Mcdonald's for a breakfast sandwich and coffee before getting to the nursing home. I was recognized by a small business owner who had stopped for a cup of coffee too. "Please cut taxes for us small businesses being hammered by Washington and Albany," he said. Not wanting to be named, he runs a small business consulting firm, he said, and employs 3 people. He wasn't alone. The small IT firm execs I saw at the deli we stopped by for lunch in Port Chester before heading back to New York City said the same things. "It's too much," one of them said as it relates to State and Federal taxes.

Finally, I met an adorable 3 year old at the deli, who was there for lunch with her grand parents. Her message was direct and simple - and quickly solvable if I run and win. "I want more playgrounds," she yelled while jumping up and down.

Harold

Below you will find the article written in the Lower Hudson newspaper about yesterday's visit.

http://www.lohud.com/article/20100210/NEWS05/2100331/-1/newsfront/Likely-Senate-challenger-Ford-visits-Port-Chester-nursing-home

Likely Senate challenger Ford visits Port Chester nursing home

Jorge Fitz-Gibbon
jfitzgib@lohud.com

PORT CHESTER — Former Tennessee Rep. Harold Ford Jr. stumped in the Lower Hudson Valley on Tuesday, acting very much like the Senate hopeful he may soon become.

Ford, who has all but announced a run for the seat held by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, toured Port Chester Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre to meet staff and residents — and to talk health-care reform and politics.

"One of the things that I would hope and I know that the Centre would hope — and for that matter the residents, most importantly, in this community would hope — is that Congress and the Senate not take steps and impose drastic cuts and impose greater burdens on Medicaid and Medicare for the state of New York," Ford said.

"But the specific purpose of the day is to gain a firsthand perspective and a firsthand understanding of how these cuts and how this health-care reform package will impact everyday middle-class New Yorkers," he said.

Ford's visit to the Port Chester facility, recently awarded a five-star rating by the Department of Health and Human Services, delved deeper into politics as well.

For instance, the 39-year-old investment banker said he favored tax cuts for new businesses, including short-term exemptions from payroll taxes. And though he suggested his decision on seeking the seat may still be several weeks away, he sounded like a man already running.

"If I decide to run, I'd like to be on the ballot," Ford said. "I've heard and believe that there's some pressure being imposed, some external pressures to encourage the committees, the party committees, to move now to endorse. And with there only being one candidate in the race, there's only one person to endorse."

Gillibrand was appointed last year by Gov. David Paterson to the Senate seat vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was named secretary of state. Gillibrand's only announced Democratic challenger is union leader and organizer Jonathan Tasini.

Gillibrand spokesman Glen Caplin shot back that Ford "is a lifelong Tennessee politician who grew up in Washington, inherited his father's congressional seat, and then took a job as a Wall Street executive at Merrill Lynch."

Caplin said Ford "would be the only Democrat in the Senate to side with Republicans to oppose President Obama's health-care plan that would provide quality care to 2.7 million New Yorkers."

Whatever develops in the Senate race, Wayne Benach, president and owner of the Port Chester nursing home, said Ford's visit was welcome.

With the uncertainty facing the long-term health-care industry, any attention was good, he said.

"In the scope of health care, the voice of the long-term care community is negligible," Benach said. "So anybody who could help bring attention to our cause and what we need, it's invaluable.

"I don't know what's in it for this industry anymore," he said. "We're 70 percent labor. Our costs are 70 percent labor, and we can't cut labor. We can't cut without affecting the care we give. So we're in a real quandary, and I don't know where relief is going to come for our industry. It can only help, because we have nowhere to go but up."

Ford: New York This Week!

2010-02-07T18:30:00.000-06:00

The message remains clear from New York voters - more jobs and fewer taxes are wanted. As Washington and Albany political bosses continue to work to keep an unelected Senator unopposed in the Democratic primary, I will continue to travel across the state, listening to voters and trying to develop answers to the 2 biggest concerns on voters minds - jobs and taxes. The Washington and Albany political bosses want New York voters to have no choice - just the appointed Senator. Voters are saying and thinking differently - and I intend to keep listening to and learning from them as I try and decide whether to run for the US Senate.

This week will be a busy one. Will keep you posted on our travels upstate, which begin in the middle of the week and will conclude in Albany with a keynote speech to New York state elected officials.

Harold

Ford: Boldness=Jobs and Growth

2010-02-05T12:33:00.005-06:00

In short, residents across New York City and State are encouraged at one level and perplexed on another by the new jobs numbers announced this morning. The new US Department of Labor data showed the US economy shedding 20,000 jobs - bringing the number of US jobs lost since December 2007 to 8.4 million - in January but the overall unemployment number dropping to 9.7% from 10%. However the national numbers are reconciled, New York City still suffers from a 10.6% unemployment rate. And, with continued Washington talk about a new bank tax, concern abounds in New York City and State that the largest revenue generator of taxes for the city and state - tax receipts from the financial services industry - will be crippled even more.

Our simple message to Washington about Wall Street - regulate banks and financial institutions but don't tax them so much during this recession that unemployment increases and pressure on New York City and State budgets intensifies.

We need smarter and tougher financial regulations that, among other things, require greater capital reserves at the banks, restore common sense to mortgage lending, compel greater transparency for derivatives and don't allow Wall Street financial institutions to choose their regulator. But don't tax the banks right now because it will impair the flow of credit at a time the nation needs it. Further, it could have the unintended impact of chilling risk-taking in business when what we really want to do is curb recklessness, which was the primary force behind the catastrophic challenges we are living through.

Second, cut main street's taxes now. Washington can start by exempting all US business and their employees from the payroll tax for 6 months, and for all firms and/or businesses 5 years old or less, exempt them for 12 months. The payroll tax's highly regressive nature hurts small business owners and middle income Americans disproportionately. Cutting the tax would allow small businesses to invest more, hire more and spend more in their respective communities. The payroll tax cut might be the fastest way to get money into economically hard hit cities and communities across New York, especially upstate. I would agree that a long term growth plan is needed for upstate New Cork economies as well, but the payroll tax cut would provide some much needed and immediate relief.

In addition, Congress should cut the corporate tax rate from 35% to 25% to help with job creation, make permanent research and development tax credits to spur more innovation - the key to long-term job creation - and then extend the current tax rates for capital gains and dividend through 2012 to give investors more certainty during this period of turbulence.

We will pay for this with the growth it produces through increased employment and business investment. For those who doubt this strategy, I remind you of the powerful lessons of Bill Clinton's presidency. He inherited a record debt from George H.W. Bush, but went onto grow the economy by creating more than 22 million new jobs, reform welfare, make college more affordable and usher in record college matriculation rates, raise taxes for the highest income earners while eventually lowering them for the middle class. After 8 years in office, Clinton then handed his successor, George W. Bush, a balanced budget and a surplus. Anyone who questions America's - and New York's - resiliency and our capacity to renew and reinvent ourselves should get out of the way and let others lead.

The keys to President Clinton's strategy to balance the budget was job creation and shrinking government where it was too big - that was one of Vice President Al Gore's chief responsibilities, and he did it very well.

President Obama and the Democrats can and will do it again.

Our message from New York - be bold and please start soon.

Harold

Setting the Record Straight

2010-02-04T22:25:00.003-06:00

The New York Magazine recently erroneously reported that Congressman Ford didn't know where he lived in New York. That assertion is far from the truth as Ford knows exactly where he lives and how far it is from where the 9/11 trial was supposed to occur. The fact is the magazine misquoted Ford in a speech. Thankfully, they corrected the mistake as did Politico.

Liz Benjamin of the New York Daily News blog also mistakenly reported that Harold has never met with or spoke to the New York Democratic Party Chairman, Jay Jacobs, before, and that's wrong too. The fact is they spoke last week for 15 minutes and agreed to meet face to face when the Chairman returns from an overseas business trip.

On to Substance

Ford continues to listen to voter anxiety about jobs and taxes - too few jobs and too high taxes. Today's stock market decline is another reminder how rising unemployment and sovereign debt concerns continue to stifle growth. Harold remains committed to a jobs bill that cuts payroll and business taxes and redirects a big part of unspent stimulus money designated for states to cities so that money can be spent sooner on work and infrastructure projects, first responders and teachers. In addition, Ford supports the 'Cash for Caulkers' program espoused by President Obama, and urges a cash for energy efficient appliances program to encourage the purchase of new kitchen and household appliances.

Unfortunately, Senator Gillibrand continues to attack Harold for travelling the state and listening to voters and then trying to offer answers. It is, however, heartening and encouraging that Washington Democrats, including Senator Schumer, are listening to Harold's advice on payroll tax cuts, reining in government spending and moving the 9/11 trial out of New York.

Ford: Syracuse!

2010-01-31T19:33:00.003-06:00

Another good day interacting with and listening to voters.

We continue to hear the same thing from voters - jobs, taxes and the economy are the chief concerns. More and more, voters want a senator who will put them first. From Syracuse's most senior elected officeholders to business leaders to leading community activists to Syracuse's dynamic church community, I heard the same message. They want better government involvement in neighborhoods to help with jobs, business opportunities, housing and education.

In addition, I learned that Senator Gillibrand hasn't spent much time in Syracuse since being appointed Senator last year. It was reported this morning in the local newspaper that Senator Gillibrand has been to central New York only twice since she's been Senator. I've been once in the past 2 weeks since starting my tour across New York.

When Senator Gillibrand travels to Syracuse again, here's what she will learn. First, the city has a young and dynamic mayor focused on expanding education opportunities and creating jobs. Mayor Stephanie Miner won running as an outsider, enjoying the support of Senator Schumer. We met and she educated me about the Syracuse's Say Yes! education program, a comprehensive approach that guarantees college tuition for Syracuse high school graduates to Syracuse and Carnegie Mellon Universities as well as all SUNY and CUNY institutions provided the student is admitted. Syracuse voters made the right choice in mayor. I look forward to working with her and her team for years to come.

Moreover, Syracuse has some of the best community organizers and activists in the state around issues of housing, jobs and immigration. And, a business community hungry for opportunity and growth.

My big thanks goes to Pastor Tannyhill and the Bellegrove Missionary Baptist Church family and Pastor Carter and the Living Water Church of God in Christ family for allowing me to visit this morning as well. Made me feel like I was in church in Memphis.

Last, I want to thank Walt Dixie and the Alliance Network, and the organizers of the community forum and all who attended, especially the elected officials who attended. It was very informative.

See you again in 2 weeks.

Harold

Gillibrand Faces Identity Crisis

2010-01-30T15:12:00.001-06:00

Narrow vision, low visibility put 2nd term in peril

By Jerry Zremski

WASHINGTON — Rushing through the halls of Congress, Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand last week explained how she would like to be remembered decades from now — if she lasts that long in the seat once occupied by Robert F. Kennedy, Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

“I want New Yorkers to know that I always put their priorities first,” said Gillibrand, a Democrat who recently completed her first year in the Senate. “The kind of senator I want to be is a voice for the voiceless . . . The No. 1 goal of my office is constituent services.”

Now that’s a rather narrow approach compared with that of Moynihan, who had a hand in everything from foreign policy to the preservation of Buffalo’s Guaranty Building, or that of Kennedy and Clinton, who used the Senate as a springboard for presidential campaigns.

And the very narrowness of the sights Gillibrand has set could end up being the reason why her Senate career might not survive 2010, political pros from across the state say.

“She hasn’t developed a political identity or connected with New York voters,” said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, which published a poll earlier this month showing that nearly a third of the state’s Democrats either have no opinion of Gillibrand or have never heard of her.

And now Gillibrand faces the fight of her political life: a potential primary challenge from former Tennessee Rep. Harold Ford Jr., a charismatic newcomer who’s doing things Gillibrand hasn’t done — like having lunch with Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown.

Polls show her with a big lead over Ford, but with so many voters lacking an opinion about Gillibrand, Miringoff said that lead could quickly evaporate.

And if she survives the primary, more trouble could be waiting. A Siena College poll found Gillibrand trailing former Gov. George E. Pataki, a Republican who’s been talked about as a potential candidate, by 13 points.

Political pros say Gillibrand’s troubles are partly inevitable but partly her own doing.

When President Obama appointed Clinton to be secretary of state, Gillibrand, then a second-term congresswoman from the Hudson Valley, became the surprise choice of an unpopular governor. “She went into the job largely unknown,” and it should be no shock that she had trouble defining herself in just a year, said Siena pollster Steven Greenberg.

Since taking office, though, Gillibrand simply hasn’t earned the kind of loyalty that could help her defend against a strong challenge.

For example, Buffalo’s mayor is in good touch with Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., and he used to meet or talk frequently with Clinton when she represented the state.

But a year after Gov. David A. Paterson appointed Gillibrand, she still has not paid a visit to the mayor in his office. And Brown doesn’t seem happy about it.

“We need elected representatives who are going to give us their focus and their attention,” said Brown, who met with Gillibrand and her staff before two events last year but who was disappointed that she later canceled a scheduled meeting in Washington. “I think it is important for the people of Buffalo to feel they are not taken for granted,” he said.

Erie County Executive Chris Collins, a Republican, has never had a meeting with Gillibrand, either, said Collins’ spokesman, Grant Loomis.

And other Democrats from elsewhere in the state said Gillibrand hasn’t taken the time to stroke the political potentates who like to be stroked.

“She seems to have spent more time fundraising and getting acclimated to the Senate” than in building deep roots across the state, said New York political consultant Hank Sheinkopf. “As a result, she didn’t connect, she didn’t make an impression . . . There’s nothing she’s identified with as being her issue.”

Asked about such complaints, Gillibrand said in an interview: “It just takes time. Most people who are well known around the state have been in public service for a very long time. A year is a relatively short time, even though I have traveled to every one of the 62 counties, even though I’ve been in the western counties several times.”

On her trips — including a summer vacation with her family in Western New York — Gillibrand has put a priority on meeting average voters, she said.

“I have not had the chance to meet with everybody, but I will,” she said.

Erie County Democratic Chairman Len Lenihan, a Gillibrand supporter, cited another reason why she has not created the strongest of impressions: a frantic Senate schedule filled with issues like the economy, health care and Afghanistan that has kept lawmakers in Washington more than usual.

“She’s largely been in Washington, given the enormity of what’s been going on there,” Lenihan said. “She has had limited time to develop those relationships. But I do think, as time goes on, she’ll have more time and develop those connections.”

No doubt about it: Gillibrand has been busy in Washington — and not just on the other issues that dominated the debate in the past year.

She’s been active on the Agriculture Committee and played a key role in winning $350 million in aid to the state’s dairy farmers.

From her seat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, she got amendments passed cracking down on coal emissions and allowing cities to set pollution emissions limits for taxis.

And she’s introduced legislation aimed at curbing childhood obesity and updating food safety laws.

Asked about what she’s done for Western New York, Gillibrand grabbed a 30-page year-in-review authored by her staff, and started picking items off that list, which includes fighting tire-dumping from Chinese companies and pressuring the Environmental Protection Agency to crack down on Tonawanda Coke’s benzene emissions.

“We got a lot of money, which is very important, because obviously property taxes are a huge problem throughout Western New York,” she added, reading through a list of grants she won, often with the aid of other lawmakers.

Ford, for one, doesn’t seem all that impressed. During a trip to Albany last week, he compared Gillibrand to “a parakeet” who always repeats the party line, and added: “Obviously I think a more independent and stronger and steadier voice is something that could be more effective.”

In response, Gillibrand lashed out at Ford, saying: “I wouldn’t allow my six-year-old son to do the kind of name-calling he did yesterday.” She also said it was a “fraud” for Ford to bill himself as an outsider when he grew up in Washington as the son of a congressman.

In other words, it looks like Gillibrand is priming for a fight.

And by the time it’s over, she’s promising one thing.

“By Election Day, everyone who wants to know me will know me,” she said.

Tom Precious of the Buffalo News Albany Bureau contributed to this report.

jzremski@buffnews.com

Source: The Buffalo News

Ford: New York!

2010-01-29T21:50:00.002-06:00

As I travel New York, I'm hearing over and over again the same top 2 concerns from voters - jobs and taxes - regardless of where they live. "We have too few jobs and too many taxes," is said again and again.

I especially hear this message from small business owners and employees - whether the small PR firm owner in Rockland county, the small restaurant owner in Buffalo, the fast food chain clerk in Brooklyn or the owner of a small cleaners in the Bronx - who complain that business is slow but the tax burden remains high.

My suggestion is simple to President Obama and Congress. Be bold and cut taxes for main street by eliminating the payroll tax - for employer and employee - for at least 6 months for all businesses and for 12 months for firms or businesses 5 years old or less. Last week, I wrote in the New York Times that the payroll tax should be lowered for 6 months for firms 5 years old or less. I've since changed my mind and think we should expand on that idea as I listen to more and more small business owners worried that they may not survive this downturn. One business owner in the Bronx yesterday told me that he thought the actual unemployment rate in his community was above 50%. I asked what basis did he have for that guess. He answered, "I know my community and I know when sales are off, what that means."

Lowering the payroll tax immediately puts money in people's purses and wallets so they can spend in the communities they live, shop, worship and dine. Further, it is the fastest and maybe the most efficient way to get money to people who need it most.

Second, make permanent research and development tax credits and cuts that were passed last year. Lowering this tax permanently would help unleash the massive innovation in university labs and small start-ups across Silicon Valley, Upstate New York and other parts of the country in a way that would spur huge and long-term job creation in clean energy and information technology sectors. There are 15 million jobs to be created in the clean energy space over the next ten years. We should get our share of those jobs in New York and the rest of the nation. Making these tax credits permanent is an important step.

Second, the President and Congress should redirect some of the remaining stimulus money from states to cities to help jump start infrastructure, housing and jobs programs. This redirecting isn't designed to disadvantage or slight state governments but instead to accelerate the arrival of taxpayer money to needed city projects and programs to keep people working, avoid raising municipal taxes and not undermine the delivery of vital city services. We could certainly use it in New York City and State.

Finally, no bank tax is needed right now in New York. What's needed more is broad and smart financial reform, especially to grant shareholders more say on bank activities, limit taxpayer protection to non-risky banking activities, force 20% down payments for residential mortgages and regulate derivatives. But with almost 700,000 New Yorkers working in the financial services industry, an ill-conceived bank tax would drive up the city's 10.6% unemployment rate, undermine the tepid recovery underway in parts of New York and seriously compromise local and state funding of education, law enforcement and health services even more.

In closing, if I could give Washington one overriding message from New York voters about what they want right now - it's better, not more, government. Very simple.

These thoughts simply represent my reactions to what I'm hearing all across New York as I travel, listen and try to develop answers based on the specific challenges facing New Yorkers.

Will be in touch soon again about what I'm hearing and thinking. Thanks.

Harold

Ford Statement on Proposed New York City Terror Trial

2010-01-29T13:12:00.002-06:00

The scheduled trial for the 9/11 conspirators in New York City should be moved. I have held this opinion since the White House and Justice Department announced its decision to hold the trial in New York City almost two months ago. For two reasons, I oppose a trial in New York.

Before stating those reasons, I want to applaud and align myself with both Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Kelly for their courage and honesty on this issue. Their question and point - New York City can handle this trial but why impose this cost and disruptiveness on the city - has yet to generate a convincing answer.

First, why make us more of a target in New York than we already are. We face enough security challenges in New York as is, and to place this additional bullseye on us is unnecessary and dangerous.

Second, Bloomberg and Kelly are right, it costs too much. The estimated $215 million annually it would cost to hold the trial in New York City smacks of wasteful spending during a time of painful city and state budget cutbacks, a record federal deficit and a continued bearish economy for big parts of New York. The $200 million being set aside federally to pay for the trial could surely be used for noble purposes, like cutting business taxes for New York small businesses, paying for health care for sick 9/11 first responders, enabling homeowners to renegotiate mortgages or putting people back to work. Further, the disruptive impact a trial would have on Lower Manhattan would certainly curtail business activity and potentially lower real estate prices in the area. This can and should be avoided.

I'm pleased that the White House is reconsidering this decision, and would hope serious consideration is given to holding the trial in a military tribunal or on a military base where the trial would be far less costly and disruptive.

Ford: Democrats, Get Down to Business

2010-01-25T06:58:00.001-06:00

SCOTT BROWN’S victory last week in the Massachusetts Senate race, following the Republican gubernatorial triumphs in New Jersey and Virginia, marked the third time in three months that the Democratic Party has lost the support and trust of independent voters.

The message these voters sent was clear. With one out of five Americans unemployed or underemployed, President Obama and the Democratic Party need to shift attention away from health care and toward a bold effort to create jobs, improve the economy and rein in the size of government.

Here are four simple steps we must take immediately to put us, and the nation, on a better course:

First, cut taxes for businesses — big and small — and find innovative ways to get Americans back to work. We can start by giving any companies that are less than five years old an exemption from payroll taxes for six months; extending the current capital gains and dividend tax rates through 2012; giving permanent tax credits for businesses that invest in research and development; and reducing the top corporate tax rate to 25 percent from 35 percent.

America’s primary job-creating machine — the private sector — needs to be rejuvenated. Democrats must lead now on job creation or risk forfeiting Congressional majorities in November.

Second, we should pass a more focused health reform bill that restructures current health care costs before spending more, prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, enacts responsible reform on malpractice suits and extends health coverage to all children. And we must allow states to have input into the expansion of health coverage, as they will have to pay for much of the reform themselves.

This program isn’t all that Democrats wanted from health care reform right now, but it’s what the country wants. And it’s what the country can afford.

Third, we should reform our immigration policy to ensure that those who contribute to our economy, especially foreign math and science graduates of American universities, have a clear path to citizenship.

Finally, we need to address budget deficits now rather than waiting for some ideal future economic situation. It’s a good sign that the Obama administration is following the advice of Senators Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Evan Bayh of Indiana and other Democratic fiscal pragmatists who embrace the idea of a bipartisan commission to recommend spending cuts to rein in deficit growth. But we must be sure that the administration and Congress heed the commission’s advice.

By focusing on job creation and deficit reduction, we can expand our economy and balance the budget. We’ve done it before: When President Bill Clinton took office in 1993, he inherited a record fiscal deficit after years of Republicans in the White House. After eight years in office (and 22 million jobs created), President Clinton had balanced the budget and left his successor with a surplus. This can be done again.

To be sure, President Obama has achieved some important successes. His policies prevented the financial system from collapsing, saved America’s auto industry from extinction and avoided a depression. But that extreme crisis is over — what our country needs now is better, not more, government.

A Democratic Party refocused on revitalizing our economy, protecting the United States from terrorism and re-establishing itself as the party for the middle class is what Americans are demanding. If we do this, victory at the polling booths will take care of itself.

Harold Ford Jr. was a United States representative from Tennessee from 1997 to 2007.

Source: The New York Times

Ford Tests the Waters in Buffalo Swing

2010-01-25T06:52:00.002-06:00

Harold E. Ford Jr.’s tour of Buffalo began in a Jefferson Avenue church, proceeded to an East Ferry Street restaurant and concluded at the downtown office of Erie County Democratic Chairman Leonard R. Lenihan.

Along the way, the former Tennessee congressman also enjoyed lunch with Mayor Byron W. Brown in an upscale Franklin Street restaurant.

But Ford, 39, maintained the entire time that he wasn’t a candidate for U. S. senator — at least not yet — and was merely in town to listen and learn about the problems facing Western New York.

“We’re not at the stage where I’m asking anybody for support because I’m not a candidate,” said Ford, who took a 30-day leave of absence from a lucrative Wall Street job to explore a possible run for the state’s junior seat in the Senate. “This is an opportunity for me to learn.”

If he does run for the seat, he would be bucking Democratic leaders who back Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand, appointed last year by Gov. David A. Paterson to seat held by Hillary Rodham Clinton until she became secretary of state.

Ford served 10 years in the House before losing a 2006 bid for a Senate seat in Tennessee. He then moved to Manhattan, where he works for Merrill Lynch.

He began his leave four days ago, venturing into Rockland County on Thursday. He planned to spend this morning in Albany and travel to Long Island and Westchester County later in the week.

Sunday morning in Buffalo, Ford attended a service at Greater Refuge Temple of Christ on Jefferson Avenue, then mingled with diners at Gigi’s on East Ferry Street. Customers said the visit piqued their interest.

“I’m going to go online, look him up and see what he’s about,” said Brian Keith.

Ford’s status as a relative newcomer didn’t faze Keith and other potential voters.

“Not at all,” said Leslie Smith. “We’ve had politicians who have been here for years and haven’t done anything.”

In an interview with The Buffalo News, Ford said voters he has spoken with haven’t focused on his short time in New York. “I’ve really not faced that. Members of the press have raised it. I’m not trying to hide it,” he said. “I love New York. My wife loves New York. . . . I want to raise my kids here.”

Ford and Brown had lunch at the Buffalo Chophouse. He called Brown’s office Friday to request the meeting, and the mayor said he saw the get-together as another opportunity to talk about Buffalo. Brown, who has not endorsed anyone for the Senate seat, said he was impressed by Ford’s desire to learn more about Buffalo. “He’s a great listener,” the mayor said.

Ford spent about 20 minutes with Lenihan at the chairman’s office in Ellicott Square before taking a flight back to New York City.

Lenihan said he told Ford that he was backing Gillibrand, who also has support from Sen. Charles

E. Schumer and other top Democrats. He acknowledged that Ford could be a formidable candidate.

“He’s a pro; there’s no doubt about it. He’s very personable. He’s certainly self-confident. He’s articulate. . . . He doesn’t seem to be intimidated by the size of the challenge,” Lenihan said, “. . . but I think he’s got an uphill battle.”

Source: The Buffalo News

Ford's Focus: Don't Allow a Bay State Repeat

2010-01-23T12:26:00.003-06:00

The centrist Democrat thinks that his party needs to take a page from Bill Clinton's playbook.

By JASON L. RILEY

It's the day after the political earthquake in Massachusetts, and former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford Jr. has stopped by the Journal's Manhattan offices to discuss his possible interest in New York's Democratic Senate primary. But first things first: About last night . . .

"The lesson from last night is to reset the priorities in Washington," said Mr. Ford, alluding to Republican Scott Brown's upset Tuesday in the Bay State special election for the U.S. Senate seat held by Ted Kennedy for nearly a half-century. "The next elections are in November, so the president and the Democrats have a few months to get this right. But we will forfeit our majorities in Congress in November if the American people don't feel more economically secure six months from now than they do today. And Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts is just the latest indicator."

The former congressman moved to New York after narrowly losing a bid for a U.S. senate seat in Tennessee four years ago. Since leaving the House, he's served as head of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council, been a commentator on Fox News Channel and MSNBC, and taken a job with Merrill Lynch.

Of late, he's been considering a Democratic primary challenge against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Ms. Gillibrand was tapped by Gov. David Paterson last year to fill a vacancy left by Hillary Clinton after Mrs. Clinton became President Obama's secretary of state.

Mr. Ford believes health-care reform—a key factor in Mr. Brown's upset in the Bay State—is important. But he is quick to add that it has distracted Democrats from more urgent priorities. "I think the attention and energy that health care has consumed has been so exhausting that it's caused the administration and, Democrats in Washington in particular, to lose sight of the need for a bold economic-growth and job-creation plan."

Still, he hopes that the Democrats find a way to pass the bill with bipartisan support. "My recommendation would be to take into account what happened last night." Besides listening to congressmen and senators who "continue to face pressure at home about a health bill," he believes those crafting the plan should focus on three things: preventing denials of coverage for pre-existing conditions, implementing tort reform, and expanding coverage for all children.

Mr. Ford applauds much of what President Obama has accomplished in his first year. "I think it's safe to say we avoided a depression because of many of the policies that the administration put forward," he says. But that has "not been enough in the eyes of middle-class voters across the country," he says, citing the latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll. "A majority [54%] of the country now believes that the country is on the wrong track, and those numbers generally correlate with economic security."

To address the anxiety Americans are feeling, Mr. Ford thinks that the White House needs to focus squarely on the economy. "First we need to cut taxes for businesses in the country, small and large," he says. "We ought to provide a six-month exemption from the payroll tax for all firms less than five years old. We ought to extend the current capital gains and dividend tax rates through 2012. We ought to make permanent all the research and development tax credits for businesses making those investments. And we ought to lower the corporate tax rate from 35% to 25%."

It's no wonder many consider Mr. Ford too conservative to win a U.S. Senate seat in New York. The scion of a prominent Memphis political family, he was first elected to Congress in 1996 at 26-years-old—just months after graduating from law school at the University of Michigan. He entered politics as a New Democrat, in the mold of Bill Clinton circa 1992. Mr. Ford's part of a younger generation of black political leaders—Newark, N.J, Mayor Cory Booker is another—who has shown a willingness to break racial ranks on certain issues. Mr. Ford's been a strong proponent of school choice, even supporting the successful Washington, D.C., voucher program for low-income families that President Obama is shuttering in deference to teachers unions.

His voting record as a five-term congressman was more moderate—he prefers the term "independent"—than those of his fellow members of the Congressional Black Caucus. While in office, Mr. Ford supported normal trade relations with China, prayer in schools, a repeal of the death tax, and a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning. In 2002 he even challenged Nancy Pelosi for minority leader because he believed his party was moving too far to the left.

Asked what prompted his interest in the Senate contest, Mr. Ford says that since moving here he's noticed "a concern on the part of New Yorkers that Washington has lost its way and that Senator Gillibrand has not been an effective voice, an independent voice, a reliable voice on behalf of New Yorkers." So far, Ms. Gillibrand is facing an uncontested primary, and a Marist poll released last week showed her beating Mr. Ford by 19 points. But the same poll also showed that the senator has a troubling 24% approval rating among voters; another 25% of voters have no opinion of her at all.

Anticipating criticism that a primary would be divisive and cost money better spent on the general election, Mr. Ford argues that it's more important for voters to have the opportunity to choose the Democratic nominee. "In this race, the reality is that Senator Gillibrand was appointed by a governor who was not elected," he said, referring to the fact that Mr. Paterson became governor when his predecessor, Eliot Spitzer, resigned in the wake of a prostitution scandal. "She is not the incumbent. New Yorkers have never had a chance to vote for her."

Mr. Ford has modified some of his past positions on social issues, such as abortion and gay marriage, to accommodate the more liberal sensibilities of New York voters. If Ms. Gillibrand wants to dwell on this, however, she'll have to explain her own sudden shift to the left on gun control and immigration after she joined the upper chamber. Mr. Ford also knows that he will take some lumps for being a carpetbagger, but he isn't any less knowledgeable about the state than Bobby Kennedy or Mrs. Clinton were when they moved to New York to run for senate.

Mr. Ford's main criticism of Ms. Gillibrand—echoed by others—is that she's little more than an acolyte of Democrat Chuck Schumer, the state's senior senator. He says New Yorkers deserve someone who will think for himself: "I've been an independent voice for my entire time in politics. For 10 years in Congress, I represented largely the city of Memphis. I wasn't elected to go to Washington to vote 100% with Democrats. I was elected to represent my constituents and put them first."

This state, says Mr. Ford, has a history of choosing free-thinking representatives. "This seat has had the likes of Robert Kennedy and Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Hillary Clinton. When Bobby Kennedy came to New York—and I don't compare myself to Kennedy, but there are some parallels—he was criticized by liberals in New York who thought he wasn't liberal enough, who didn't think his carpetbagging would be embraced by New York City and by the state.

"Yet he went on to be one of the great independent voices in the U.S. Senate, legislating in a way that not only benefited New York but distinguished him around the country. So while I have great respect for Senator Schumer, New Yorkers have come to expect their senators to be independent, strong elected officials who will put New York first. And I think I would do a better job of that than Senator Gillibrand."

As an example of Ms. Gillibrand putting party fealty ahead of her constituents, Mr. Ford cites her support for the current Senate health-care bill that would cost the state some $1 billion in federal reimbursements. "The reason I'm against the Senate bill is that I'm opposed to the extra fees and burdens it places on New York state and New York City at a time when the state is running a $7.5 billion-plus deficit."

The White House has already indicated that it is supporting Ms. Gillibrand, and Mr. Schumer is doing all he can to ensure that she doesn't face a primary opponent. But given that New York Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by more than three million, a Democratic primary is probably the best place to have a debate about job growth and the state's business climate. New Yorkers deserve a real choice, even if Mr. Schumer wants the only Democratic option to be a distaff version of himself.

Mr. Ford says that as senator he would act to protect New York's crucial financial industry, which means opposing bills like the one passed by the House of Representatives last month that would treat the "carried interest" income of private-equity and hedge-fund managers as regular salary rather than capital gains that are taxed a lower rate. "I think we should have a compromise in the tax rate, somewhere in between. I think we can find a middle ground."

He's also skeptical of the president's recently proposed "financial crisis responsibility fee," to be levied on large banks to cover expected losses in the Troubled Asset Relief Program. "Conceptually, the president is right," says Mr. Ford. "He's trying to curb the excessive risk taking that occurred without discouraging all risk taking and entrepreneurship. And yes, taxpayers deserve to recoup some of these losses. But it's hard to support what he's laid out. The details are scant and it doesn't add up. I would support no bill that does harm to New York's financial industry."

Asked if pending legislation that imposes compulsory union arbitration on employers would help lower the unemployment rate, Mr. Ford says it won't. "And card check"—as the bill is known—"should not be the focus right now. If that's at the top of the agenda, we're not going to move forward on a job-creation agenda. I do support the unions in this country. And I support the right to organize. But I don't believe that this is the right time to advance card-check legislation."

He does think we are overdue for comprehensive energy reform, however, and he wants a bill to pass soon. "I'm not sure that a carbon tax is the right answer at this moment. But we kid ourselves if we think America can be the dominant economic player on the global stage if we don't find ways to produce new forms of energy, not only for our consumption but to be exported around the world.

"When the energy debate took place in Congress, there were some Republicans who argued that if a bill passed, you would pass on a $300 tax bill to every American family. But I think that most people in the country would be willing to pay $300 more per year if it meant fewer wars related to our appetite for oil, more jobs and a cleaner environment. So a carbon tax right now on top of all the economic stress that we're facing is not the right thing to do. But I think the energy agenda of the president and Democrats is much broader than that."

Going forward, Mr. Ford wants the president and his party to recall the lessons of the past—specifically those of the Clinton years. "Clinton was my kind of Democrat, and is what I came to know a Democrat should stand for," he says. "When Bill Clinton took office, he inherited a record-size debt, yet balanced the budget in 1998 . . . We created 22 million new jobs. The country handed a surplus to his successor. This is the lesson for our current president. You can find a way to grow the economy and be fiscally disciplined. It can be done."

Mr. Riley is a member of The Wall Street Journal's editorial board.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

N.Y. Needs Independence in Washington: Harold Ford Weighs in on Martha Coakley's Defeat

2010-01-21T04:29:00.002-06:00

By Harold Ford, Jr.

The defeat of Martha Coakley in Massachusetts represents the latest rejection of a governing style that takes the taxpayers for granted and puts partisan, insider politics ahead of everything else.

Put simply, the defining moment in the Massachusetts Senate campaign was during the final debate when David Gergen asked Scott Brown whether he would be willing to "sit in Teddy Kennedy's seat" and block the passage of health care reform for another 15 years.

Brown responded, rightly, that "it's not the Kennedys' seat . . . it's the people's seat."

And while I disagree with Brown about most issues of public policy, I absolutely agree that a United States senator has to put the people first when making decisions.

I have made it very clear that if I run for the U.S. Senate, and if I am fortunate enough to be elected, I will be an independent Democrat who puts the people of New York before the politicians in Albany and Washington.

All the time. Every time.

To be sure, there are many issues where the interests of the people collide with what the professional politicians want. And frequently, our politicians end up sticking together - forming a narrow, insulated, self-reinforcing elite.

That's not me. And that makes them worried.

New Yorkers know that if I run, I will be on their side.

Always.

Let me be specific:

On health care, I have made it very clear that I will stand with New Yorkers against any efforts that would cost us an additional billion dollars in Medicaid payments and impose unfair financial burdens on our state in the form of extra fees or taxes. New York already sends far too much money to Washington, getting back far too little in return.

Health reform remains important. But in the wake of this week's election, the legislation should be narrowed to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage for preexisting conditions, enact responsible tort reform and provide health coverage to all children. And states must have more input into how health coverage is expanded.

Make no mistake, I will take a backseat to no one in supporting health care reform. But not at the expense of New York State. Not now. Not ever.

And while I understand why the President is putting the onus on banks and other financial institutions to pay back the money they borrowed, let's not forget that the financial services industry is critical to New York State's economic well-being - to creating jobs, to stimulating the economy and to providing needed tax revenue.

Congress should pass financial regulatory reform that compels greater transparency in how risk is managed, protects consumers from excessive banking and mortgage fees and expands shareholder say about compensation, among other priorities. But it must also take great care not to harm the great engine of New York's economy.

With renewed concerns about terrorism and national security emerging, New York needs a senator who will put our state first.

That's why I'm thinking, very seriously, about running for United States Senate.

Ford represented Tennessee in Congress from 1997 to 2007. He lives in Manhattan and is a vice chairman of Bank of America-Merrill Lynch.

Source: New York Daily News

TNDP Chairman Chip Forrester Praises Ford's Commitment to the Democratic Party

2010-01-20T10:47:00.001-06:00

Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester said he disagrees with some of the New York political pundits who are trying to paint former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford Jr. as an extremist.

"Harold Ford Jr. is a bold, independent and progressive leader who has championed Democratic causes his entire political life," Forrester said. "If you examine his record in Congress, it was pro labor, pro choice, pro environment and pro civil rights.

"I have known him and his family for a long time. He has campaigned tirelessly for Democrats here in Tennessee and all across the country. Anyone who claims Harold Ford Jr. is an extremist doesn't understand the man or what he has done to promote the Democratic Party. When he was a congressman here in Tennessee, he worked as hard as anyone I know to support local and state-wide Democratic candidates for office, as well as those on the national ticket.

"He campaigned for Al Gore's 2000 presidential bid, as well as John Kerry's in 2004 and Barack Obama's in 2008. And he helped us defeat a right-wing 'English-Only' referendum in Nashville last year. Anyone who questions his commitment to the Democratic Party just doesn't know him," he added.

Source: TNDP.org

Ford Pens Letter to Senators Gillibrand and Schumer on Health Care

2010-01-18T22:44:00.002-06:00

Congressman Harold Ford Jr. penned the following letter to Senators Gillibrand and Schumer regarding health care reform:

Dear Senator Gillibrand,

We share the goal of enacting comprehensive national health care reform. President Obama's sincere efforts to reach bipartisan accord unfortunately met a hollow response from your Republican colleagues -- and I applaud the president, you and Senator Schumer for the progress you continue to achieve on this important issue.

Today, I write you and Senator Schumer asking both of you to put the people of New York first and to ensure, before casting another yes vote, that any new health care policies meet the needs of New York as outlined by both Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Paterson. The need for health care reform is crucial -- and so is the need to be fair to New Yorkers.

The health reform bill that you voted to pass would add at least $1 billion a year in new costs to New Yorkers. In light of the state's $14 billion budget deficit and the city's projected $5.5 billion budget deficit, I ask you to protect hard-working New Yorkers from paying the additional fees and taxes that the health bill as currently proposed would surely impose on us.

Moreover, the reported negotiations by other senators to protect their home states from increased Medicaid costs is proof that more can be done on behalf of the 19 million New Yorkers you represent. New York already sends roughly $50 billion more in tax revenue to Washington than we get back each year. It is unfair to working families in our state already struggling to make ends meet to ask them to subsidize health care in other parts of the country.

So I'm asking both of you to make a public commitment to vote against any health care legislation that imposes increased financial burdens on New Yorkers.

I served in Congress and am aware how political pressure can mount to vote for legislation. I call on both of you to show courage and independence and withhold a yes vote on health care until the interests of New York families are satisfied.

Sincerely,

Harold Ford

Ford Statement on Haiti

2010-01-18T22:41:00.001-06:00

Congressman Harold Ford Jr. released the following statement on the situation in Haiti:

"Our prayers are extended this morning to our neighbors in Haiti and to the Haitians in New York with family and friends suffering after last night's devastating 7.0 earthquake that rocked Port-au-Prince, the nation's capital. I applaud President Obama and Secretary Clinton for their appropriate and immediate response to the devastation. Our state should respond as well. The generosity of New York to give generously during moments of great human need in and outside of New York is well-known. With that spirit in mind, we New Yorkers should not hesitate to give to those established charities, faith-based and relief organizations working to assist in rescue efforts, deliver food and provide health services and temporary shelter to our stricken neighbors in Haiti. Those in New York City can call 311 for information on how to help, and statewide can call 800 REDCROSS or another of the dozens of relief groups providing critical assistance."

Ford Calls On Corker To Disclose Private Travel

2006-10-06T14:53:00.000-05:00

Bob Corker has an obsession with secrecy. He won't disclose his tax returns, saying they'll confuse Tennesseans. The records of his time in Chattanooga's mayor's office and as Don Sundquist's finance commissioner have gone missing. He tried to keep the public from learning the details of his shady land deal. He won't disclose how many people he imported from out of town to pretend they were from Chattanooga in his ads.

Now, he's wrongly attacking Harold Ford Jr. for doing what a member of Congress should do: encouraging college students to get involved in their communities, speaking to church and non-profit groups on linking faith and public life, and growing Tennessee jobs. Congressman Ford has made information about these matters public for years.

But Bob Corker, obsessed with secrecy, won't disclose the details of privately funded trips he took as mayor of Chattanooga, including trips to Japan, California, and elsewhere.

And Bob Corker's attendance record as mayor? In 2005 alone, he was gone from the office 35 days campaigning for the U.S. Senate, instead of tending to public business.

What's more, barely halfway through his mayoral term, city records confirm he'd already asked the citizens of Chattanooga to fund 18 trips costing nearly $10,000 to such places as Tokyo, New York, Boston, Washington, Chicago, and San Francisco.

STATEMENT FROM MICHAEL POWELL, SENIOR ADVISOR TO FORD FOR TENNESSEE

"It's the same deceitful double standard voters have witnessed for months: Bob Corker lies about Harold Ford, Jr., and then he won't account for his own conduct. Until Bob Corker begins trusting Tennesseans with the truth, they will never trust him.

The Facts About Harold Ford Jr.'s Publicly Disclosed Travel

Fact: 21 of Rep. Ford's 69 privately funded trips were from to Tennessee.

Fact: 20 of Rep. Ford's trips were to churches, faith-based organizations and non-profit associations, including Warren Memorial United Methodist Church, Atlanta; Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church, Atlanta; First Baptist Church of Indianapolis; and the Peoples Baptist Church of Boston.

Fact: 17 of Rep. Ford's trips were to colleges and universities, including Austin-East Magnet High School, Knoxville; the University of Tennessee-Knoxville; the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL; the University of Georgia, Athens, GA; Meharry Medical College, Nashville; Harvard University, Boston; the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN; and his alma maters, the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania, Ann Arbor, MI, and Philadelphia, PA;

Fact: 13 of Rep. Ford's trips were speaking engagements before Memphis and Tennessee businesses and associations, including Fed Ex, whose chief executive officer hosted a recent fundraiser for Mayor Corker; Dell Computer Corp.; Sparks Company.

The Bob Corker Double Standard

Bob Corker racked up ‘thousands of miles and thousands of dollars in travel expenses’ as Mayor of Chattanooga: “racking up thousands of miles and thousands of dollars in travel expenses, a review of travel and credit card records shows.” Chattanooga Times Free Press, 10/13/03

As Mayor, Corker traveled a lot more than reported or disclosed: “Mr. Corker has traveled far more than city records indicate. Some of his trips are paid for personally, while others, such as a recent trip to Japan, are paid for by other organizations.? "I make a number of day trips, where I am gone five or six hours to meet with the governor or other commissioners," he said. "Because I don't turn in mileage, they are not listed." Chattanooga Times Free Press, 10/13/03

Some of Corker’s Privately Funded, Non-Disclosed Destinations

Japan

Washington, D.C.,

California, Silicon Valley (twice).

California.

NASA's Ames Research Center

Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press, 10/13/03

Bob Corker had a dismal 55% job attendance while simultaneously running for office and holding public office. Mayor Ron Littlefield was sworn into office on April 18, 2005. According to the Corker campaign between the dates of 02/01/2005 and 04/18/2005, while still Mayor, Bob Corker had 35 campaign events in cities outside of Hamilton County.? So that equates not performing his full-time duties as Mayor for 35 out of 77 days. That's just a 55% attendance rating. [Chattanooga.gov and Corker Website]

Chattanooga City Councilman Leamon Pierce said Corker Communications Director Todd Womack "basically was the mayor at the end of the term.?” Councilman Pierce said Bob Corker 'basically used the mayor's office as a stepping stone to run for the U.S. Senate.' He said in his last year 'he neglected the city because he was out campaigning for the Senate.' Councilman Pierce said Mr. Womack 'basically was the mayor at the end of the term. The other mayors we have had have served until the end of their terms.'” [Chattanoogan, 3/31/06]

Click for larger view

Trend Clearly Shows Advantage For Ford

2006-10-06T12:30:00.000-05:00

I often talk about polling trends on this blog. In order to better visualize the current trend in the U.S. Senate race, I have posted below a list of every poll taken that compares Harold Ford Jr. and Bob Corker.

As you can see by looking the chart, Congressman Ford started out way behind. However, with each passing month, he has picked up more and more steam and now has built a durable lead over Corker.

See the trend for yourself: (Chart from wiki)

General election

Source	Date	Ford Jr. (D)	Corker (R)
USA Today/Gallup (Registered Voters)	October 5, 2006	46%	36%
USA Today/Gallup (Likely Voters)	October 5, 2006	50%	45%
Reuters/Zogby	October 5, 2006	40%	40%
Rasmussen	October 1, 2006	48%	43%
Middle Tennessee State University (RV)	September 30, 2006	45%	40%
Mason-Dixon	September 27, 2006	43%	42%
Zogby/WSJ	September 25, 2006	42.4%	47.6%
Benenson Strategy Group	September 23, 2006	45%	39%
SurveyUSA	September 11, 2006	48%	45%
Zogby/WSJ	September 11, 2006	42.6%	45.3%
Rasmussen	September 5, 2006	44%	45%
Zogby/WSJ	August 28, 2006	44.2%	47.5%
Benenson Strategy Group	August 21, 2006	44%	42%
Rasmussen	August 10, 2006	42%	48%
Rasmussen	July 26, 2006	37%	49%
Mason-Dixon	July 24, 2006	36%	49%
Zogby/WSJ	July 24, 2006	43.6%	42.5%
University of Tennessee	July 20, 2006	35%	42%
Zogby/WSJ	June 21, 2006	41.4%	42.4%
Zogby	June 13, 2006	42%	46%
Rasmussen	May 7, 2006	39%	43%
Rasmussen	March 6, 2006	35%	39%
Rasmussen	January 30, 2006	40%	42%
Rasmussen	December 20, 2005	42%	36%
Global Strategy Group	October 31, 2005	39%	36%
Global Strategy Group	March 2005	39%	34%

A new generation of leadership is on the way!

New Gallup Polls Shows Ford With Sizable Lead

2006-10-06T11:06:00.000-05:00

Good news once again for Ford supporters! The newly released USA Today/Gallup poll shows Congressman Ford with a sizable lead over Bob Corker.

Among likely voters, Ford beats Corker by 5 points. When it comes to registered voters, Ford wins by 10. Clearly, like all the other recents polls, this poll shows Ford surging in support while Corker cotinues to sink further and further down.

The findings of the new poll are as follows:

	Ford (Dem.)	Corker (Rep)	Other (vol.)	Not voting	No opinion

Likely Voters

2006 Sep 27-Oct 1	50	45	1	--	4

Registered Voters

2006 Sep 27-Oct 1	46	36	1	10	7

2. Why would you say you are voting for this candidate?

2006 Sep 27-Oct 1	All voters		Ford voters	Corker voters

	LV	RV	RV	RV

Like his platform/views/stand on issues	20	19	19	19

Usually support that party/Voting along party lines	19	25	30	18

Better qualified/past experience/good track record	12	12	13	10

Like him	9	7	9	5

Honest/Moral/Has Integrity	8	7	8	6

Don’t like opponent	7	6	4	8

Prefer the more conservative candidate	7	7	1	14

Moral values issues	6	4	2	6

Opponent dishonest/Immoral/Lacks integrity	6	5	4	5

Voting for change	5	3	3	3

Better for/Sympathetic to the common man/average American	4	5	7	3

Immigration issue	4	3	3	3

Opponent running a bad campaign	3	3	4	2

Vote to oppose President Bush	2	2	3	*

Abortion issue	2	2	*	5

Lesser of two evils	2	2	2	2

Dislike opponent’s platform/views/stand on issues	2	1	1	1

His Family/background	2	2	1	4

Vote to support President Bush	1	1	*	1

Education issue	1	1	1	--

Running a good campaign	1	2	2	1

Prefer the more liberal candidate	1	*	*	*

Iraq war issue	1	1	1	*

Intelligent	1	1	1	*

The economy	*	*	*	--

Good leader/leadership qualities	*	*	1	--

Government corruption issue	*	*	*	--

Tax issue	*	*	--	*

Other	2	2	2	2

No reason in particular	2	2	2	3

No opinion	1	2	1	3

3. Next, we’d like to find out how your opinion of George W. Bush will affect your vote for senator. Are you more likely to vote for a candidate who supports Bush, more likely to vote for a candidate who opposes Bush, or will it not make much difference to your vote?

2006 Sep 27-Oct 1	Likely voters	Registered voters

More likely to vote for a candidate who supports Bush	27	21

(Much more likely)	(22)	(17)

(Somewhat more likely)	(5)	(4)

Does not make much difference	33	34

More likely to vote for a candidate who opposes Bush	37	30

(Much more likely)	(31)	(25)

(Somewhat more likely)	(6)	(5)

Not voting	--	10

No opinion	3	5

4. Next, if the elections for Governor were being held today, which candidate would you vote for?

	Bredesen (Dem.)	Bryson (Rep)	Other (vol.)	Not voting	No opinion

Likely Voters

2006 Sep 27-Oct 1	66	26	1	--	7

Registered Voters

2006 Sep 27-Oct 1	56	25	1	10	8

Bob has no record to defend and no vision to fight for in this race and his desperation is starting to set in. However, the more he attacks Congressman Ford, the more support Ford gains and he loses.

People want real change this fall, that is why Congressman Ford is winning this election.

And that is why he will be our next U.S. Senator!

Ford To GOP: Don't Lecture Me On Morality

2006-10-06T10:35:00.000-05:00

I absolutley love the folowing quote from Congressman Ford regarding the new attack ads Corker and the Republicans have out against him:

"I'm not going to take a lecture on morality from a party that took hush money from a child predator."

Right on, Congressman!

They are in no position to lecture anyone on morality as we have saw.

I am glad Congressman Ford put them in their place!

Is Corker's False Advertising Illegal?

2006-10-06T00:51:00.000-05:00

Yesterday someone on the blogosphere asked a very good question: is Bob Corker's false advertising illegal?

The blogger writes:

This is the second time Bob has gathered them together to give a testimonial on his behalf, saying… “I live in Chattanooga.” “I live in Chattanooga.” “We’re from Chattanooga.” No, you’re not.You’re a bunch of liars. The Corker campaign has just been forced to admit that these people aren’t really from Chattanooga.This isn’t a real testimonial.It’s a lie. When Toyota or McDonald’s or Weight Watchers does something like this, they have to put a little disclaimer on the bottom of the screen that says “dramatization” or “not an actual customer”… OTHERWISE THEY ARE BREAKING THE LAW. Is Corker breaking the law?*Are there any experts in campaign law that can answer that question?* The Corker campaign refuses to say how many, if any, of these people have ever lived in Chattanooga or if they happened to be there during Bob’s tenure as mayor.So when these people tell you how great Bob was, they’re not speaking from experience—although they claim to be, over and over and over.HOW IS THIS NOT FALSE ADVERTISING? Corporations get in huge trouble for this!Politicians should too!*You can’t have a product or person claim to be something they’re not in a commercial.*It’s a crime. The entire purpose and power of a testimonial ad is that it’s real.You use real people telling real stories about real life in order to build a bond of trust and goodwill with the audience.But there’s nothing real about this ad.This ad is all about duplicity and manipulation. We live in Chattanooga.We know.”That’s what they say, and that’s why were suppose to believe them.But we’re being lied to, over and over again. It’s just more lies from Bob Corker.

To be honest, I don't know if it is a crime to willfully lie in a campaign ad like Corker had these people to do. However, it wouldn't be the first time Bob has broke the law. (hired illegal workers and the land deal)

But I do know one thing: Bob Corker will stop at nothing in this race.

He has no integrity and no cooth about him. That is clear.

Tennessee can't afford Bob the Fraud!

Governor Mark Warner Gets It Right On Ford

2006-10-06T00:18:00.000-05:00

Former Governor of Virginia Mark Warner was in town recently in support of Congressman Ford and his campaign. During his visit, Warner said the following of Ford:

"What I see in Harold Ford is a leader who will bring an independent voice to the Senate." "If the president's right, he'll stand with him, but if the president's wrong, he'll be willing to do his constitutional duty."

I agree with the Governor 100%. That is what a U.S. Senator is supposed to do--agree with the President when he is right and call him out when he is wrong.

People are tired of party line politics and the strangle hold it has on our government. They want a change in the form of good results.

And that is just what we will get when we elect Harold Ford Jr. as our next U.S. Senator!

Good Radio Material

2006-10-06T00:10:00.000-05:00

Hey guys, one of my friends from Chattanooga has informed me of some good radio materials on the web from the Moutain Music Morning Show that I should pass along to everyone.

First, there is Congressman Ford's great interview with the show!

And then there are some hilarious Bob Corker voicemail message to listen to! I promise, they will have you rolling in the floor laughing.

Enjoy!

Corker Campaign Will Stop At Nothing; Supporters In New Ad Not From Chattanooga

2006-10-05T00:59:00.000-05:00

It is becoming more clear with each passing day that Bob Corker will stop at nothing in this race. His continuous lies and attacks on Congressman Ford tell us that.

However, I think Bob's latest dirty trick takes the cake.

According to reports, the folks in Corker's new ad who praise him for being a great Mayor aren't even from Chattanooga.

The Associated Press reports:

"Some of the people praising Republican Senate candidate Bob Corker for the job he did as mayor of Chattanooga in TV ads don't live in that city.

"We're from Chattanooga," one woman says in the commercial, as the camera pans across a group of about 60 people.

The Corker campaign confirmed Wednesday that not all those people live in Chattanooga or voted for Corker when he was elected mayor in 2001.

The most recent ad, which began airing Friday, praises Corker for lowering the city's property taxes and crime rate.

A similar ad, featuring the same people, ran before the Republican primary in August."

Corker is once again living up to his nickname Bob The Fraud.

The people in Chattanooga know the real Bob Corker. That is why the Corker camp had to hire folks from outside the city to come in and shoot the ad.

Even though Bob isn't going to win this Senate race, he can take consolation on one thing: he ran the most negative and deceitful campaign in Tennessee history.

No more frauds. It is time for a new generation of leadership.

Corker's Problem? Everyone Knows What Kind Of Man He Is

2006-10-05T00:56:00.000-05:00

Bob Corker is running new television ads personally attacking Congressman Ford. In the new ad, they resort to character assassination by asking, "what type of man is Harold Ford Jr."?

First, let me address their question: Harold Ford Jr. is a damn good man. He is someone who cares about people, will stand up for what is right, and someone who has and who will make the people he represents proud.

The real question in this campaign is what type of man is Bob Corker.

Here are just a few hints at what type of person Bob Corker is:

Frist's Campaign Calls Corker's Attack Ad Unethical: “Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bill Frist is crying foul over a rival's television ad that Frist says implies he was an anti-war demonstrator. "'In the ad there is footage of a Vietnam War protest and that is absolutely crossing the line,'' charged Frist campaign manager Tom Perdue of an ad paid for by Republican Bob Corker. '' To state the facts, that is fair, but to try to leave the impression in anyone's mind that they are trying to leave is far more than just unfair . . . it's unethical.'' (Commercial Appeal, 07/27/94)

Frist Advisor Called Bob Corker "Rotten On The Inside," "A Coward" and "Pond Scum.": “Striking back at campaign ads he says were unfair, Perdue has blasted Frist's chief opponent, Chattanooga builder Bob Corker, as "rotten on the inside," "a coward" and "pond scum." (Atlanta Journal and Constitution, 08/02/94)

At a press conference, Hilleary tells the media Corker “cannot buy integrity and honor with a $2 million check”: "You cannot buy integrity and honor with a $2 million check. You can buy a bunch of ads, but you can simply not buy integrity and honor," Hilleary said. "He needs to show us that he has integrity and honor. And unfortunately, he has not done that with the ad mix he has had up." (Nashville City Paper, 08/01/06)

Hilleary called Corker’s ads “devoid of honor and integrity”: “Candidate Van Hilleary charged that rival Bob Corker of Chattanooga is running ads that are “devoid of honor and integrity” (Chattanooga Times Free Press, 08/01/06)

“Bob Corker Fails To Demonstrate Character and Integrity: Again” (Ed Bryant Release, 07/29/06)

Tennessee Right to Life will not support Bob Corker in the general election: “Should Corker win the Republican primary, Harris said Right to Life will not support any Senate candidate in the November election.” (Knoxville News Sentinel, 06/24/2006)

“Mr. Harris said ‘we’re very strongly opposed (to Mr. Corker), and if he wins the primary, I’m sure we’ll be very busy on other races. We will not support him. We will not support his bid for election.’" (Chattanooga Times Free Press, 6/23/2006)

Bryant labels Corker "the king of liars": “Quarrelling among the Republican Senate candidates seemed something of a liar's contest on Thursday. The Corker campaign sent media a statement trying to debunk Bryant's latest television ad, which had accused Corker of lying in his earlier ads. Shulman fired back by calling Corker "the king of liars." (Knoxville News Sentinel, 7/28/2006)

“[Corker’s] negative ads against Bryant and Hilleary are stupid, wrong, and more importantly in politics, they do not pass the smell test.” – Knoxville Metro Pulse columnist Frank Cagle on Corker’s misleading ad [Knoxville Metro Pulse, 8/3/06]

State Representative Chris Clem, R-Lookout Mountain, claims that many elected Republicans and conservative leaders are telling him they will not support Bob Corker in the general election: “Rep. Chris Clem, R-Lookout Mountain, said, “Bob Corker needs to promise to stop systematically and consistently opposing conservatives at every turn.” In his e-mail, Rep. Clem, who is backing Ed Bryant in the GOP primary, listed “12 reasons why conservatives do not trust Bob Corker.” He said in an interview that he sent the e-mail to about 15 friends, including some Republican state legislators. He said he has heard back from some recipients and now has roughly 20 reasons against voting for Mr. Corker, a former Chattanooga mayor. “I’m getting so many e-mails back from legislators saying, ‘I’m never going to support this guy,’” Rep. Clem said.” (Chattanooga Times Free Press, 07/06/06)

The Republican activist group Team GOP called on U.S. Senate candidate Bob Corker a political phony, who is undermining the GOP from within: “Mr. Ward said of TeamGOP, "We rarely discuss issues; however we always seek party loyalty. Our belief is simple. We are not opposed to Mayor Corker because is too moderate or too conservative. We oppose his candidacy because Bob Corker is a political phony. That may be good enough for Jimmy Naifeh; I don't believe it is good enough for the average Tennessee Republican. "If Bob Corker cares so much about the Republican Party that he seeks to represent, he should do the right thing and end his course of undermining the GOP from within and withdraw from the Senate race." (Chattanoogan, 04/13/2006)

Team GOP chair says Corker has lost trust of Republicans: “Jeff Ward, TeamGOP.org's general chairman, said, ‘After another revelation this past weekend that again undermined Bob Corker's credibility as a Republican when he chose to vote in Democrat primaries, it is now clear that Bob Corker has lost the trust and faith of rank and file Republicans across this state’… He stated, ‘This was just another revelation about Bob Corker in a long line of events that has raised serious questions about Bob Corker and the integrity of his race in the Republican primary. This is the same Bob Corker who supported abortion rights and attacked Bill Frist's GOP credentials in 1994, but all the while was donating to Democrats the same year. This is the same Bob Corker that discussed with Democrat House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh 'about his running in the future as a Democrat,' and that Corker was a Democrat 'deep down inside.' This is the same Bob Corker who held a meet and greet at his home in 2002 for Phil Bredesen during the gubernatorial campaign." (Chattanoogan.com, 4/3/2006)

Christian radio powerhouse with stations in Memphis and Nashville ran editorials questioning Corker’s credentials: “A Christian radio network, with stations in Memphis and Nashville, challenged Corker's ad that highlighted his pro-life stance after getting dozens of complaints from listeners. ‘We aired our editorial giving the rest of the story,’ said Rich Bott, executive vice president of the Kansas-based Bott Radio Network… The campaign declined to renew its contract with the station, Bott said. ‘We're not sorry we lost his business,’ Bott said. ‘It's more important for us that our listeners trust us to tell them the truth.’" (7/9/2006 Tennessean)

Columnist and 2002 Hilleary for Governor Communications Director Frank Cagle, says it is ‘ridiculous’ to suggest Corker shares a conservative viewpoint with Bryant or Hilleary: “It is unfortunate he has been running a dishonest campaign. It does not serve him well, nor does it serve the voters… Corker, throughout this campaign, has tried to paint himself as a “conservative” with no difference on the issues between him and his opponents, Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary. To suggest they share a conservative viewpoint is ridiculous.” (Frank Cagle, Knoxville Metropulse, 7/20/2006)

Donna Locke of Tennesseans for Immigration Control and Reform said, "Apparently no lie is too big and wild for Bob Corker as he tries to buy this Senate seat," said Donna Locke, with Tennesseans for Immigration Control and Reform. (Chattanooga Times Free Press, 7/20/2006)

Conservative radio host Steve Gill posts on his website that there is reason to not support Corker: “Do we really need a Republican nominee that the Tennessean prefers over those with real conservative credentials?) If the Don "Tax and Spend-quist" is for Corker, isn't that reason enough to voter for one of the other two candidates? (GillReport.com Daily Notes, 7/23/2006)

Jonathan Lindberg, publisher of the conservative Main Street Journal, organizer of a January debate wonders if Corker is trying to raise the most money for ads rather than debate the issues: "I think voters get the wrong message when a candidate refuses to debate in a valid, approved forum. When I read in the Commercial Appeal that the Corker campaign has confidence in their touted war chest, saying they will turn the election around overnight, I wonder, is this campaign really about debating the issues, or is this campaign about raising the most money and running the most 30-second ads?" (Main street Journal Press Release, 12/29/2005)

Conservative blogger Bill Hobbs urges voters to support Bryant to prevent a Corker nomination: “Now, with Corker dumping $1.7 million of his own money into the race to try to buy the nomination that appears to be in danger of slipping through his fingers, Hilleary supporters have a stark choice to make: Vote for a guy who will finish third, or vote for Bryant, someone with whom Hilleary agrees on virtually all of the issues - Ed Bryant - in order to prevent Corker from winning the nomination…By dropping out now, Hilleary could ensure that Tennessee conservatives who back either him or Bryant won't have to go to the polls in November holding their noses to vote for Corker in order to prevent the election of "Sen. Harold Ford Jr." (Bill Hobbs, BillHobbs.com, 7/20/2006)

Republican State Representative Stacey Campfield cannot get past Corker’s ‘questionable history’: “Bob and Bob’s wife have a bad history of helping out the wrong side in many races. They don't help the party or its candidates much and have supported many democrats. They have low name recognition and Bob is weak on the issues that are important to republican primary voters (Right to life and taxes). (Stacey Campfield, lastcar.blogspot.com, 9/12/2005)

Former Anderson County Republican Chair Terry Frank says Corker is the wrong candidate: “See, Corker gives Democrats the warm and fuzzy feeling of having two good liberal choices. If a Democrat Party Chairman has nice things to say about our candidate, then that candidate just can’t be the right candidate.” (TerryFrank.net, 7/6/2006)

Shelby County School Board Chairman David Pickler, ‘Bob Corker's decision to boycott this important debate deprives the people of West Tennessee. If Bob Corker is afraid to address the critical issues in an honest forum of debate, how can we seriously appraise his integrity as a candidate and evaluate his true beliefs and governing philosophies?’ (Main Street Journal Press, 12/19/05)

Van Hilleary campaign refers to Corker as a liar whose deceit is breathtaking: “Bob Corker can rephrase the line as many times as he wants, but it's still a lie. His deceit is breathtaking," Coxe said.” (Tennessean, 7/26/2006)

“Hilleary's ad calls Corker's campaign cowardly” Memphis Commercial Appeal headline, 07/25/06

Hilleary charged Bob Corker was attempting to hijack the Republican party and it’s philosophy: “People listening need to take note please, cause this is a sort of a hijacking of our party and our philosophy if Bob wins this seat. And he obviously is not who he says he is. We’ve seen this over and over again. If you went to a dictionary and looked up the classic definition of someone changing everything about themselves to try and win a race and then buy it with massive amounts of money, that’s what this is all about. It’s not much more complicated than that.” (Hilleary, Kevin Wall Show Forum, 07/24/06)

Bryant said there was ‘apparent hypocrisy’ in a Corker ad: “Mr. Bryant said there was ‘apparent hypocrisy’ with Mr. Corker’s ad. He cited a 1988 federal raid of a Memphis construction site where Bencor, a company Mr. Corker co-founded, used subcontractors found to have hired illegal immigrant labor.” (Chattanooga Times Free Press, 07/20/06)

Van Hilleary campaign manager declared Corker had “no regard for the truth and no respect for Tennessee voters”: “Bob Corker has no regard for the truth and no respect for Tennessee voters,” said Jennifer Coxe, Hilleary campaign manager. (Nashville City Paper, 7/20/06)

Bryant called a Corker accusation a bald-faced lie and hypocritical to boot: "Bob Corker's accusation that Ed Bryant voted to raise his own pay is a bald-faced lie," stated Bryant spokesman Andrew Shulman. "Bob Corker's lie is hypocritical to boot this is a man whose own pay increased at least 9% while he was raising taxes on Chattanoogans by 24%, creating a brand-spanking-new hotel/motel tax, and fighting against giving police officers their step pay raise increase, all while he jacked up the cost of health insurance for all city employees.” (Bryant Press Release, 7/19/2006)

Republicans say once voters learn about Corker, then his “house of cards” will fall: “Both the Hilleary and Bryant campaigns have been bashing Corker for months on his changed stance on abortion – was pro-choice but now pro-life – his choice to raise property taxes by 48 cents as Mayor as well as a subcontractor for his construction company that employed four illegal immigrants. “Once voters learn about those things, then I think Corker’s house of cards will begin to fall,” Jennifer Coxe [Hilleary’s Campaign Manager] said.” (Nashville City Paper, 07/05/06)

"Bob Corker has a well-documented history of not telling the whole truth about his record, on taxes, abortion, government spending and now illegal immigration. And now, Mr. Corker won't come clean with Tennesseans and release his full tax records - what is he hiding from the voters?" (6/27/2006 Bryant Press Release, Bryant Calls On Corker To Release Full Tax Records)

Bryant campaign says Corker owes voters an explanation about Haiti ad, or they’ll assume he will say anything to get elected: "If Mr. Corker learned 'every life is sacred' on his mission trip to Haiti in the 80's as he says he did, he owes Tennesseans an explanation for supporting abortion rights when he ran to the left of Bill Frist in 1994, refusing to say that life begins at conception, and for opposing pro-life legislation in 1995 as Don Sundquist's Finance Commissioner - both just a few years after he returned from Haiti," stated Bryant spokesman Andrew Shulman. "Otherwise, we'll have to conclude Mr. Corker will say anything to get elected, even on a fundamental issue like abortion, and we'll be left wondering who distrusts Bob Corker more: the pro-choice Tennesseans he courted in 1994 or the pro-life Tennesseans he opposed in 1995." (6/26/2006 Bryant Press Release, Bob Corker's Pro-Life Conversion Raises Questions)

“Mr. Hilleary accused Mr. Corker of ‘playing’ a ‘pretend conservative on TV’" (Chattanooga Times Free Press, 06/25/06)

Van Hilleary campaign charged Bob Corker has a character problem: ‘Bob Corker has a character problem. He can't tell the truth about his own record. ... It's leading people to believe he's 100 percent pro-life and has always been pro-life.’" (Chattanooga Times Free Press, 6/23/06)

Van Hilleary campaign manager Jennifer Coxe says Corker has credibility gap and voters can’t trust him: "…And on the all-important issue of life, Corker says he was against protecting life before he was for it." "Bob Corker has a credibility gap. He can't tell the truth about his record and he misleads people about his opponents' records," said Coxe. "Why should voters trust Bob Corker to vote for pro-life legislation on the federal level when he killed similar state legislation when he was Don Sundquist's Commissioner of Finance and Administration?" (6/22/2006 Hilleary release, Corker Runs Another False Ad)

“’Corker says he will be tough on illegal immigration - but in fact he is attempting to buy this election with false ads paid for in part from the money he made off the backs of illegal aliens working on his construction sites,” (Hilleary release, Corker Runs Another False Ad, 6/22/06)

“Bryant spokesperson Andrew Shulman: ‘It doesn't matter because Tennessee voters will be able to see through his hypocritical and deceitful ad campaign and they will know his true record’" (Knoxville News-Sentinel, 6/15/2006)

“Bryant spokesman Andrew Shulman said the immigration ad and issue are part of what he called a ‘hypocritical and deceitful’ pattern in advertising by Mr. Corker, a former Chattanooga mayor. He questioned other ads about Mr. Corker's position on abortion and raising taxes while mayor.” (Chattanooga Times Free Press, 06/06/2006)

“Once again, Bob Corker's ads say one thing, Bob Corker's records say just the opposite," said Hilleary campaign manager Jennifer Coxe. (Chattanooga Times Free Press, 06/05/2006)

"This is just another example of Bob Corker's deliberately deceitful efforts to hide the truth about his record. He claims to be tough on hiring illegal immigrants but the record proves not only did he have illegal immigrants on the job site, but he ignored repeated warnings from public officials not to do so, just like he ignored warnings he received about the crisis facing Chattanooga's emergency response system and allowed the city's 911 system to deteriorate into 911 'Dial-a-Prayer'” (Jun-05-2006 Bryant Release, Corker Busted For Illegal Immigrants On His Construction Site, While Hypocritically Claiming To Be Tough On Illegal Immigrants In TV Ad)

Mayor Corker is thumbing his nose at Tennesseans and seems content to run out the clock before answering the questions of what he knew, when he knew it and what he did about fraud, waste and abuse in Chattanooga city government. (May-26-2006 Bryant Release, Corker Celebrates 100th Day of Ducking Chattanooga Fraud-Related Questions)

You won't find any comments like the above about Congressman Ford. Democrats and Republicans alike know Congressman Ford is a man of intergrity.

Bob Corker should be ashamed for running such ads. This once again shows he has no record to defend and no vision to fight for.

The choice could not be more clear: it is time for a change.

Chris Matthews Hopes Ford Wins

2006-10-05T00:33:00.000-05:00

Monday nigth Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's Hardball, was on NBC's Late Night Show With Jay Leno.

Matthews and Leno discussed a wide variety of political topics including the 2006 election. It was during that time which Matthews expressed his support for Congressman Ford and his bid for the U.S. Senate.

Matthews said:

“I'm rooting for Harold Ford in Tennessee for a reason. I think we need a little diversity up there on Capitol Hill. That would be nice.”

Once again we have a well respected and well seasoned political expert pulling for Congressman Ford and his new generation of leadership.

It's time for a change.

Bob Corker Supports Bush's Failed Stay The Course Strategy

2006-10-04T00:59:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I made a post on the Ford Report detailing some of the revelations made in Bob Woodward's new book State of Denial.

Those revelations basically said that despite warnings and concerns from well respected experts, the Bush Administration has continued to go down a failed path in post war Iraq.

Bob Corker supports Bush's failed path. And if elected, he will be a rubber stamp for Bush and his stay the course strategy in Iraq:

“And I think we should stay the course.” (Bob Corker on Iraq, 7/16/2006, WREG Memphis debate)

Corker defends, supports Bush on Iraq: “Corker defended Bush’s resolve and strategy in Iraq. “I support the vision of the Iraqi government that has been on the ground. And I think we need to continue to do that,” Corker said.” (8/31/2006 Nashville City Paper)

Corker refused to identify whether he differs with Bush on the conduct of Iraq War: “Asked Friday whether he differs with President Bush over the conduct of the Iraq War, Corker declined to identify specific differences yet and said he will lay out issue positions in the next two or three weeks. But he added, "I agree with President Bush on a number of issues and I disagree with him on a number of issues." (8/5/2006 Commercial Appeal)

Corker says voters aren’t really interested in Iraq: "You really don't hear so much about the war in Iraq — it's actually surprising," said Corker. "You all (in the media) are asking about that issue. It's just not an issue that comes up a great deal on the campaign trail." (7/10/2006 AP/ Tennessean)

Corker says that the US should not rush to bring troops back from Iraq: “The Valley Beautiful Beacon (2/1, Scalf) recounted Corker's visit last Tuesday to Rogersville, Greeneville and Erwin. In Rogersville, Corker "said of the Iraq War, 'We need to stay there for as long as it takes to get the job done. We are there in an effort to turn over control of the country to the Iraqi people but we [first] need to make sure their country is safe and secure." (2/2/2006 The Frontrunner)

We don't need another rubber stamp for George W. Bush and his failed Iraq policy. It is time for a change.

It is time for a U.S. Senator who has some new ideas and strategies that can help us succeed in Iraq.

Vote for change this fall. Vote for Ford.

Congressman Ford's Plan For Iraq

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld should be removed. His mismanagement of the Iraq War has set back our chances of winning the conflict, undermined our national security interests in the region and dampened the morale of our troops.

To stop the escalating sectarian violence in Iraq, we must do what we did successfully in Bosnia through the Dayton Accords: keep the country whole by dividing it into ethnic federations. We should give Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis their own regions, with a central government left in charge of border security and the fair distribution of oil revenue. By guaranteeing each region a fair share of oil revenue and creating a massive jobs program with the help of the oil-rich Gulf states, we can bind each ethnic group and the entire region to the deal and give everyone an incentive to make the country work. This model brought an end to sectarian violence in Bosnia and got Muslims, Croats and Serbs to live together in peace for a decade.

Undertake a large-scale effort with our allies and moderate Arab regimes to rebuild Lebanon. This will require our resources and active involvement. The best way to undermine Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon and Iraq is to facilitate the restoration of a stable government.

We need to re-start the “Alec Station,” the special unit in the C.I.A. dedicated to hunting down and capturing Osama bin Laden and his henchmen. President Bush knows how important bin Laden is, mentioning him 17 times in a speech yesterday. The C.I.A. needs available resource to catch him. Let’s give it to them.

We must develop a long-term energy plan that reduces our dependence on foreign oil by investing in renewable and alternative energies, like wind, solar, nuclear and by using Tennessee’s and the nation’s agricultural products. We must also improve fuel efficiency by investing in cutting edge technologies like hybrids and advanced diesel engines and increasing mileage standards.

MTSU Poll Shows Ford Leading By 5 Among Registered Voters

2006-10-04T00:56:00.000-05:00

The support for Congressman Ford and his campaign of change continues to grow with each passing day. That notion is confirmed by recent polls showing Ford surging.

On Sunday we learned that Congressman Ford was leading Bob Corker in the new Mason Dixon poll. On Monday we learned that Congressman Ford was leading Bob Corker by five points in the new Rasmussen poll . And on Tuesday we learned that Congressman Ford was leading Bob Corker by five points among registered voters according to a new MTSU poll.

MTSU reports:

"Among all Tennessee adults - both those likely to vote and those less so - 40% favor Ford, 35% favor Corker, nearly a quarter (24%) don't know and the rest declined to answer."

34 days and counting. Let's keep it up Ford supporters!

Republicans Can't Be Trusted To Lead

2006-10-04T00:50:00.000-05:00

If there is one overall thing we can take away from the past five years it is that Republicans can't be trusted to lead.

First they mislead us into war with Iraq. Then they failed the people of the Gulf Coast during Hurricane Katrina.

And now it has come to light that top Republican leadership covered up the fact that Congressman Mark Foley sexually preyed on young male congressional pages. How in the world can they let that slide? We are talking about young children who are entrusted to members of Congress to learn about our nation's government. They put their political interests over that of the well being of the children they had been entrusted. It is disgusting pure and simple.

When the Republican were elected to power, they said they were going to usher in a new age of responsibility. What a joke.

Clearly is time for a change.

It is time for a new generation of leadership.

No More Free Passes For Bush and Company on Iraq

2006-10-03T16:25:00.000-05:00

As everyone may know by now, Bob Woodward has out a new book in which he takes the Bush Administration to task for their mismanagement of Iraq after the 2003 invasion.

In the book, there are several explosive revelations about the Bush team and post war Iraq. They include: (from Wiki)

Andrew Card resigned because of concerns about how the public would perceive the administration's handling of Iraq in the future and that he had twice tried to persuade President Bush to replace Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld^[2].

Henry Kissinger met regularly with President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney to offer advice on the War in Iraq ^[3].

The book alleges Tony Blair repeatedly complained the U.S. government denied U.K. security services access to intelligence, and even after George W. Bush promised to address the problem, officials within the The Pentagon side-stepped the issue by creating a parallel secure network.^[4].

Although members of the Bush administration publicly said the situation in Iraq was improving, internal reports and memos distributed between various government agencies, including the White House and the The Pentagon, acknowledged the situation was worsening.^[1]

Condoleeza Rice, hired old friend Philip D. Zelikow to go to Iraq and give her a detailed report (and gave him authority to go anywhere and ask anything). On February 10, 2005, two weeks after Rice became Secretary of State, Zelikow gave her a 15-page, single-spaced memo. According to Woodward, Zelikow wrote: "At this point Iraq remains a failed state shadowed by constant violence and undergoing revolutionary political change."^[6]

Robert D. Blackwill, the National Security Council's top official for Iraq, was deeply disturbed by what he considered the inadequate number of troops on the ground there. He told Rice and Stephen J. Hadley, her deputy, that the NSC needed to do a military review. Rice had made it clear that her authority did not extend to Rumsfeld or the military, and the matter was dropped.^[6]

When Stephen J. Hadley replaced Rice as National Security Advisor, he assessed the problems from the first tearm. Woodward quotes him telling a "colleague" on February 5, 2005, "I give us a B-minus for policy development and a D-minus for policy execution."^[6]

General John P. Abizaid, head of U.S. forces in Iraq, visited U.S. Representative John P. Murtha in Murtha's office and held up his index finger about an inch from his thumb, telling Murtha "We're that far apart" on Iraq policy.^[6]

"One of Kissinger's private criticisms of Bush was that he had no mechanism in place, or even an inclination, to consider the downsides of impending decisions. Alternative courses of action were rarely considered."^[6]

As you can see by the points above, Woodward pretty much confirms what everyone already suspected: Bush and company are in denial about how bad things are in Iraq and continue to insist we stay the course despite widespread opposition from numerous well respected experts.

This has to change. Clearly, it is time for a new vision in Iraq. It is time to implement new ideas and new strategies so we will actually have a chance of victory there.

We cannot have any more rubber stamp Republicans in the Senate like Bob Corker who will continue to go along with the President and his failed policy.

We need to send someone to the Senate who actually has some new and innovative ideas of how we can succeed in Iraq and someone who will stand up to the President when he is wrong as he is on Iraq.

Harold Ford Jr. is just the man for the job. He was one of the first members of Congress to call for Donald Rumsfeld to go and has offered the President a real plan for Iraq that contains bold solutions.

It is time we hold the President and this administration accountable for their actions and help out our brave men and women in Iraq.

Send a message this fall by voting for Congressman Ford.

Tell them no more stay the course and no more rubber stamps!

Breakdown Of New Rasmussen Poll

2006-10-03T00:59:00.000-05:00

As reported first on the Ford Report yesterday, Congressman Ford now enjoys a five points lead over Bob Corker according to the new Rasmussen poll.

These results match the latest results from Mason Dixon, the Benenson Group, and Survey USA which all have Congressman Ford leading Bob Corker.

Below I have posted the break down of the findings of the new poll. Once again, they show a trend: Ford gaining, Corker slipping.

Tennessee Senate
Harold Ford, Jr. (D)	48%
Bob Corker (R)	43%

Three-Poll Rolling Average
Surveys	Ford	Corker
Aug-Sep-Oct	45%	45%
Jul-Aug-Sep	41%	47%
May-Jul-Aug	39%	47%
Feb-May-Jul	37%	44%
Jan-Feb-May	38%	41%


Date	Ford	Corker
Oct 1	48%	43%
Sep 5	44%	45%
Aug 10	42%	48%
Jul 16	37%	49%
May 1	39%	43%
Feb 27	35%	39%
Jan 17	40%	42%

There has been no mention of this poll or the new Mason Dixon poll by the Corker camp.

I guess they are still trying to think of how they can spin these numbers.

Something tells me they are going to be thinking a while because you can spin the truth: Harold Ford Jr. is winning this race.

Keep it up Ford supporters! Don't stop now!

Big Endorsement: Firefighters, Officers Back Ford

2006-10-03T00:53:00.000-05:00

Once again, there is more good news for Congressman Ford and more bad news for Bob Corker.

On Monday, Tennessee firefighters and law enforcement officers officially endorsed Congressman Ford and his bid for the U.S. Senate:

U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Harold Ford Jr. received the endorsement Monday of firefighters and law enforcement officers, who also backed Ford's claim in a controversial TV ad about their pay.

"It was a no-brainer for us," said Gary Moore, who is with the Professional Firefighters Association of Tennessee.

Moore cited Ford's support of federal legislation to give firefighters and law enforcement officers the right to collectively bargain with their employers.

During interviews with all the candidates during the primary, Republican nominee and former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker told first responders he did not believe they should have the right to negotiate with their employers for benefits.

And Moore backed Ford's ad that says Corker froze firefighters' pay while giving himself a raise when he was mayor.

Moore referred to the pay step program put in place to ensure Chattanooga police and firefighters get increases over time of 3 percent to 5 percent each year. Corker suspended the pay step program and substituted it with a 2 percent increase and $500 to offset a $600 health insurance premium increase, Ford officials said.

"He took away their step raises and in the process, gave himself a raise," Moore said.

Brian Moran, president of the Tennessee State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, suggests a "high level of confidence" that Ford would put first responders first in the Senate.

"This endorsement wasn't made by a few committee members," Moran said. "We had the input of all 9,006 law enforcement members in this state. Every lodge cast a ballot."

Ford said the endorsement shows the "confidence of people on the front lines in me, if God forbid, we face a disaster.

"This is further re-enforcement they believe I am best-suited to go to the U.S. Senate," Ford said. "I believe we start by taking care of those on the front lines."

Todd Womack, communications director for Corker, countered the comments by Ford supporters that Corker froze first responders' pay during his time as mayor.

"Bob Corker gave raises to firemen and policemen every single year and one year gave them a higher raise than other city employees, a more than 7 percent increase," Womack said. "There is an ad up on the air right now which Congressman Ford is running which says their pay was frozen, which is absolutely false. It's unfortunate he's willing to let attack ads that the public record clearly shows are verifiably 100 percent inaccurate stay on the air."

Explaining why Corker opposes collective bargaining for first responders, Womack said the former mayor does not support "constraining the ability of fire chiefs and chiefs of police to make important management decisions crucial to keep communities across Tennessee safe."

Ford and Corker are vying for the Senate seat of retiring Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. The election is Nov. 7.

The Sound of Silence

2006-10-03T00:39:00.000-05:00

You could have heard a pin drop yesterday from the Corker camp when the news broke about new Rasmussen poll out showing Ford up by 5 over Bob Corker.

While the Corker bloggers are usually filled with energy and are making a handful of posts a day, they had nothing. They were no where to be found Monday.

It was just at the end of last week when they tried to pass the Zogby Interactive poll as proof that Corker was in the lead. However, two independent polls later showing Ford leading, they are saying nothing.

The writing is on the wall and they know it.

Folks are ready for a change. Not more of the same.

BREAKING: Ford Up 5 In New Rasmussen Poll

2006-10-02T12:10:00.000-05:00

Wow, the great news just keeps on rolling in! Just one day after a new independent Mason Dixon poll showed Congressman Ford leading, a newly released Rasmussen poll today shows Ford up by 5 points over Bob Corker!

They report:

Representative Harold Ford (D) has taken a 48% to 43% lead over Mayor Bob Corker (R) in Tennessee's increasingly competitive race for U.S. Senate (see crosstabs).

Ford has an edge with unaffiliated voters and leads by a whopping 70% to 23% among moderates.

Ford has gained ground fast in recent weeks. A Rasmussen Reports poll conducted September 5 showed him trailing by a single point, 44% to 45%, after lagging by six points in August, twelve in July.

We are now shifting this race from the "Toss Up" to "Leans Democrat" column in the Senate Balance of Power summary. Just a few weeks ago, we had pulled it from the "Leans Republican" column.

Corker had a tougher time securing the nomination than his Democratic opponent. And he's had to contend with charges about his financial dealings and his performance as Mayor of Chattanooga. Nor is he invariably a deft campaigner. In one recent campaign ad Mayor Corker assured his mother that he had reduced crime in the Chattanooga by 50%, an easily disputed statistic. Democrats rushed to assail him for "lying to his mother."

Nine-out-of-ten voters report having seen TV ads from each campaign.

Corker is now viewed favorably by 48%. His "very unfavorable" rating of 23% outweighs his 18% "very favorable" number.

Ford, widely thought to have run a more effective campaign, is now viewed favorably by 58%, "very favorably" by 31%. He also enjoys more solid support from his base.

On issues ranging from national security to Iraq to illegal immigration and the economy, likely voters tend to divide their trust equally between the two candidates. Unaffiliated voters and especially moderates tend to trust Ford more.

When asked which major party they'd support if their vote determines which party wins control of the U.S. Senate, 47% say Democrats and 46% say the GOP. Unaffiliated voters and moderates are more likely to say Democrats.

Full Details Of New Mason Dixon Poll Showing Ford Leading

2006-10-02T00:59:00.000-05:00

This should silence the Corker folks who last week were saying that Corker was making traction and had the lead in this race.

A new Mason Dixon poll, one of the most highly respected and most accurate polling institute, shows Congressman Ford in the lead over Bob Corker with only five weeks remaining in the Senate race.

SAMPLE FIGURES:

Men 306 (49%) Women 319 (51%)

Whites 527 (84%) Blacks 88 (14%) Other/Refused 10 (2%)

REGION

East Tennessee 230 interviews

Middle Tennessee 225 interviews

West Tennessee 170 interviews

PARTY

DEMOCRAT 34%

REPUBLICAN 38%

INDEPENDENT OR OTHER 28%

Overall

Ford 43%
Corker 42%
Other 1%
Undecided 14%

The Break Down

Ford Leads:

The Democratic Vote With 88%

The Black Vote By 88%

The Female Vote By 9%

The West Tennessee Vote By 18%

The Middle Tennessee Vote By 2%

Corker Leads:

The Republican Vote With 77%

The Independent Vote 43% to Ford's 33%

The White Vote By 14%

The Male Vote By 7%

The East Tennessee Vote By 12%

QUESTION: Of the following issues, which one do you feel will be most influential in your voting decision in the November election for national offices, such as the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House:

21%	The war in Iraq
16%	The economy
12%	Homeland Security and the War on Terror
9%	Immigration
8%	Moral issues & family values
7%	Health care
7%	Taxes and government spending
5%	Gas prices & energy issues
6%	Social Security
2%	Education
7%	Other/Not Sure

QUESTION: Who do you feel would do a better job at handling the issues related to the war in Iraq – Bob Corker or Harold Ford?

FORD	44%
CORKER	41%
NEITHER/ DON'T KNOW	15%

QUESTION: Who do you feel would do a better job at handling the issues related to energy and gas prices - Bob Corker or Harold Ford?

FORD	42%
CORKER	38%
NEITHER/ DON'T KNOW	20%

QUESTION: Who do you feel would do a better job at handling the issues related to the economy - Bob Corker or Harold Ford?

FORD	43%
CORKER	43%
NEITHER/ DON'T KNOW	14%

QUESTION: In terms of your political party identification, do you generally consider yourself a:

DEMOCRAT	34%
REPUBLICAN	38%
INDEPENDENT OR OTHER	28%

I wonder how the Corker campaign will try and spin this? My guess: they can't. The facts speak for themselves.

Report: Wheels Falling Off Corker Campaign

2006-10-02T00:48:00.000-05:00

The more the Corker campaign tries to deny that they are losing support with each passing day, the more out of touch they appear.

As the Tennesseean's Larry Daughtery reports, the Corker campaign is in serious disarray:

There's a new political parlor game in town, rivaling the popularity of Mr. Mustard did it with a wrench. It's called: How Bob Corker got in the ditch.

The former Chattanooga mayor's bid for the U.S. Senate, which would appear to be a mortal lock on paper, has gone dramatically off track in the view of almost everyone except hard-core Republican partisans.

As a respectable GOP candidate with a mostly good record in public office, Corker should be breezing toward the finish in a recently red state against a Democrat from a hotly controversial family, Rep. Harold Ford Jr.

But this is a horse race; make no mistake about it. The trends have all been toward Ford, a five-term congressman from Memphis who seems defiant in the face of expectations.

The Ford camp claimed last week that internal polling shows the Democrat has opened a 45 percent to 37 percent lead after moving steadily upward since the August primaries. Internal polls should be taken with a grain of salt, but the Corker camp, tellingly, responded only that its polls show that Corker "is in a strong position to win this race." Later, Corker cited a Zogby poll giving him a 47 percent to 42 percent edge.

In the most recent independent poll, by SurveyUSA three weeks ago, Ford held a 48 percent to 45 percent lead.

So what's gone wrong? Here are a few random guesses:

• President Bush's coattails, which Corker thought he could ride to Washington, have evaporated.

Sure, Bush can shake the money tree among well-heeled Republicans, as he did for Corker in a no-press-allowed soir�e in Memphis last week. But they aren't exposing the guy in public, and that's for a reason.

Bush's popularity has ticked up a little in the last few months, but the same SurveyUSA poll showed that 55 percent of Tennesseans disapprove of the president, while only 43 percent approve. That's a far cry from his landslide win in Tennessee just two years ago.

Ford has tentatively begun to poke at Corker for his allegiance to Bush, suggesting that Corker would be little more than a parakeet for the president in a state that values independence in its senators. Ouch.

• Corker has not recovered from a primary that was more bitter than even a close observer would suspect — a primary in which more than half of GOP voters wanted someone else.

The primary opponents, Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary, have made token gestures of support, but their followers are lukewarm, at best. There are elements in the party who would secretly like to see Corker get his comeuppance.

It's all tied up in the early maneuvering for the 2010 governor's race. Corker is closely tied to the Haslam family in Knoxville, the Pilot Oil folks, as is Sen. Lamar Alexander. If Corker wins, that would give the Haslams a dominant position in the party and perhaps launch Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam toward the governor's office. There are other wannabes out there.

• Corker's credibility has become a subterranean issue, and it's gutted the effectiveness of his negative advertising. His incorrect assertions about the voting records of Bryant and Hilleary in the primary, called lies by some independent observers, have made voters distrustful of all his claims.

Are people finally ignoring the untrustworthy babble of 30-second spots?

Corker may have undermined his best commercial last week, the one where he assures his mom that he reduced crime in Chattanooga by 50 percent. There are plenty of statistics out there to suggest this simply isn't so. The Democrats were quick to pounce with a claim that Corker was caught on film lying to his mother. Ouch again.

• Ford has proved to be tougher and smarter than expected. Tossing a football outside a sorta joint appearance last week, Ford called Corker "a wimp" for dodging more debates. It's only a matter of time until he puts the two words together: wimpy parakeet. Triple ouch. •

A Telling Stat

2006-10-02T00:29:00.000-05:00

This is another telling stat from the newly released Mason Dixon poll:

Ford is viewed favorably by more Tennessee voters, 44 percent, than is Corker, 38 percent, and less unfavorably, 30 percent to Corker’s 35 percent.

STATEWIDE NAME RECOGNITION

Do you have a favorable, unfavorable or neutral opinion of ________?

U.S. SENATE	RECOGNIZE FAVORABLE	RECOGNIZE UNFAVORABLE	RECOGNIZE NEUTRAL	DON'T RECOGNIZE
Harold Ford, Jr.	44%	30%	22%	4%
Bob Corker	38%	35%	24%	3%

Is this any surprise? I don't think so. People are ready for a change and they know Harold Ford Jr. represents that change.

He has ran a positive campaign on the issues and folks respect that. And they despise the way Bob Corker has ran his campaign, both in the primary and in the general election.

People know Bob Corker has no record to defend and no vision to fight for.

The more folks hear of Congressman Ford, the more they like him. They more they hear of Bob Corker, the less they like him.

That is clear in these numbers.

Breaking: Ford Leads In New Mason Dixon Poll

2006-10-01T17:31:00.000-05:00

This is breaking today...Congressman Harold Ford Jr. is now leading in a new Mason Dixon poll. The last poll that Mason Dixon did on the race showed Ford down by double digits.

Is there any wonder who has the momentum in this race?

Republican Bob Corker and Democrat Harold Ford Jr. are running neck-to-neck in their race for the U.S. Senate as they enter the campaign's home stretch, according to a new Mason-Dixon Tennessee Poll released today.

The survey of 625 registered, likely voters last week showed only one percentage point difference between support for Ford and support for Corker. Undecided voters accounted for 14 percent of poll respondents.

That makes the race a statistical dead heat, given the poll's margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research of Washington conducted the statewide survey Monday through Wednesday for The Commercial Appeal, the Chattanooga Times Free Press and MSNBC.

Both campaigns found something to like in the new poll.

"It's clear that Harold Ford Jr. has the forward momentum in the Senate race," said Ford senior adviser Michael Powell.

Corker political director Todd Womack said, "Certainly it's going to be a competitive race, but we're encouraged about where we are," citing a Wall Street Journal poll indicating Corker ahead by 5 points.

In the last Mason-Dixon Tennessee Poll, conducted in mid-July before the primary elections, respondents favored Corker over Ford 49 to 36 percent when asked how they would vote in November if Corker and Ford won their respective party primaries. The most dramatic reversal since then has been among women, who favored Corker 47 to 38 percent.

The results of the latest poll indicate that Corker, the former mayor of Chattanooga, is ahead of Ford in East Tennessee 48 to 36 percent, but Ford, the Memphis congressman, has a bigger lead in West Tennessee, 53 to 35 percent. The poll did not differentiate between Memphis and rural West Tennessee.

Middle Tennessee is a toss-up at 43 percent for Ford and 41 percent for Corker.

"It's a close race, and Ford has obviously gained some ground since the primary, when our last poll had Corker up by double digits in late July," said J. Brad Coker, managing director of the Mason-Dixon Poll. "Middle Tennessee is the battleground. Ford's doing well in West Tennessee and Corker is holding his own in East Tennessee," Coker said.

Both candidates are expected to spend significant time in Middle Tennessee. Ford headed to a county fair in Lawrenceburg Saturday after three rallies in Memphis, and plans to campaign at the Tennessee Titans game here today. Corker was in Nashville Friday.

Significantly, Corker is leading among the vital segment of voters who identify themselves as independents, 43 to 33 percent, with 23 percent undecided. Both candidates appear to be holding their party bases: Ford has the support of 88 percent of Democrats while Corker is backed by 76 percent of Republicans.

Coker, the poll director, said independents' votes "could be the key. The independents and Middle Tennessee voters will decide the race."

The poll indicates Corker is doing better among men while Ford leads among women. Among men, Corker leads 46 to 39 percent. Women favor Ford 47 to 38 percent.

Ford has a huge 91 to 3 percent lead among black voters. Corker leads 49 to 35 percent among whites. Because the sample size for any subgroup, such as a gender or regional grouping, is smaller than the overall poll, the margin of error for them is higher, the pollsters said.

Respondents told pollsters that the Iraq War is the issue that will most influence their votes for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives -- followed by the economy, homeland security and the war against terrorism.

When asked to pick from a list of 10 issues they feel will be most influential in their voting decision for national office, 21 percent of those surveyed said the war in Iraq, 16 percent said the economy, 12 percent said homeland security/war on terrorism, 9 percent said immigration, 8 percent said moral issues and family values, 7 percent said health care and 7 percent said taxes/government spending.

When asked which candidate they think will do a better job handling key issues, the results were a toss-up for Corker and Ford, all within the poll's margin of error. For example, 44 percent said Ford would do a better job handling issues related to the Iraq War, and 41 percent said Corker would do better.

Respondents were split, with 43 percent for each candidate, over which candidate would do a better job handling economic issues. And Ford led 42 to 38 percent when respondents were asked who would do a better job handling gas prices and energy.

Dr. John Vile, chairman of Middle Tennessee State University's political science department, said both campaigns "clearly need to focus on (voter) turnout. Ford has to get the Democrats out, especially those who are African-American. Corker clearly has to get out Republicans, some of whom are still smarting over primary defeats."

On the influence of the Iraq War, Vile said, "Personally, I don't see a lot of difference between the candidates on this issue, which could serve to mute its impact. By contrast, both candidates seem to be devoting far more attention to the immigration issue."

The poll is the latest to indicate the Tennessee Senate race is tight. A Zogby International poll for The Wall Street Journal Sept. 19-25 showed Corker ahead by 47.6 to 42.4 percent.

Corker Declares State Of Emergency; Shakes Up Campaign Only Five Weeks Out

2006-09-29T23:20:00.000-05:00

The Corker campaign is in serious trouble. And they know because as News Channel 5 reports, they are hiring and firing only five weeks from the election:

There's a reported shakeup underway at the Bob Corker for Senate Campaign.

The Corker campaign has hired a new media consultant, Fred Davis, the Hollywood media guru that has handled Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger campaign and who is already assisting GOP gubernatorial candidate Jim Bryson.

Corker said Davis will now concept and produce his ads.

In fact, the new ad with Corker's mother is Davis' first new ad for the campaign.

Corker said his previous media folks will now handle buying media time and he tries to downplay any major significance to this change.

NewsChannel 5 political analyst Pat Nolan said change like this is huge, especially coming less than six weeks before Election Day.

What about the reports that Bob Corker fired his campaign manager?

Campaign manager Ben Mitchell is still with the Bob Corker camp, but there is a major new face coming in to run the campaign. It is Tom Ingram, former Nashville PR guru and Deputy Governor. Right now, he's serving as Senator Lamar Alexander's Chief of Staff.

Alexander, who previously rescued Fred Thompson's U.S. Senate campaign and led it to victory after a lackluster primary in 1994, is being tasked with turning around the Corker effort, which national Republicans and GOP leaders in the state have been concerned about since he won the primary in August.

Harold Ford, Jr.'s campaign has shown increased momentum and sources said this change is to re-energize the campaign before it is too late.

The two candidates are in a virtual dead heat. Some of the latest polls have Corker leading Ford by a few points, but others show Ford with a slight lead.

In response to these events, the national Democratic Senatorial Campaign said these changes are a sign of trouble in the Corker campaign.

Anyone who doesn't think the Corker campaign is in serious trouble is just ignoring reality.

The spin stop here.

Corker is going down.

Tennesseans Get Déjà Vu As Corker Again Defends Dishonest Ad

2006-09-29T13:00:00.000-05:00

Defending Bob Corker against new revelations that he’s fudged the facts on his record as mayor in his latest campaign ad, Corker’s campaign manager claimed “we obviously take very seriously getting our facts correct.” Really? That’s news to the people and media of Tennessee, who have consistently criticized Corker for running a series of false and misleading ads, both in the primary and the general election.

Corker Roundly Criticized For False Ads

False Ads Leave Corker’s Credibility “Shredded.” Following Corker’s primary win, the state’s press took him to task for a series of dishonest ads he ran against Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary. Calling his ads “bogus” and “misleading,” a Nashville Tennessean columnist said Corker was left with a “shredded reputation,” while the Tennessean editorial board said Corker had a “character issue” and a local columnist called Corker “dishonest.”

FactCheck Smacks Corker Down Three Times. The independent FactCheck.org of the Annenberg Public Policy Center has already smacked down three Corker ads, calling them “nonsense,” “grossly misleading,” and saying they “omit relevant facts.”

Republican Allies, Including Frist, Questioned Corker’s Honesty. Though they are now backing Corker, both Hilleary and Bryant agree that Corker can’t be trusted. Bryant called Corker “the King of Lies” while Hilleary said Corker “has no regard for the truth.” Even the man Corker seeks to replace in the Senate once hammered Corker’s dishonesty. During his 1994 race against Corker, Frist’s campaign manager said Corker “is rotten on the inside. He’s traded his honor and his integrity, and it’s exactly what’s wrong with politics today.”

A History Of Corker’s Dishonest Ads

Ad: “50 Percent” – “Not True.” Corker’s latest ad touts a supposed 50% drop in crime. WPTY in Memphis, however, reports that, “Data from the FBI says that is not true.”

Ad: “Allies”– “Clever Distortion” “Omits Facts.” Earlier this month Corker teamed with the NRSC to attack Ford’s record on national security. Factcheck.Org found that the ad “omits relevant facts,” while local columnist concluded the ad was a “clever distortion” and WBIR found it was “far from complete.”

Ad: “Don’t Be Fooled” – “Not Entirely True.” WBIR in Knoxville found that Corker’s ad “Don’t Be Fooled,” which attacked Ford as a liberal, was “not entirely true” and concluded, “the record shows Ford is no true-blue liberal; in 2005, he voted more conservatively than 92 percent of his fellow Democrats in the House.”

Ad: “Choice” - “Misleading.” During the primary, Corker ran at least two ads claiming to have lowered property taxes to the “lowest level since the 1950’s” Factcheck.org found that claim “misleading” and noted, “That does not mean that taxes went down. They did not. They rose at more than triple the rate of inflation, pushed up by rising property values and a big tax-rate increase in Corker’s first year. Far from being the ‘lowest since the 1950’s,’ as one might easily assume from Corker’s ad, Chattanooga’s property tax bills rose nearly 32.5% during Corker’s tenure.”

Ad: “Twins” – “Grossly Misleading.” Corker’s most notorious primary ad falsely accused Bryant and Hilleary of voting to raise their own pay. FactCheck.org called the claim “nonsense” and “grossly misleading,” a Knoxville News Sentinel columnist called it a “lie.”

Ad: “Mission Trip” – “Political Winds Are Blowing.” In this ad, Corker spoke of how his 1982 mission to Haiti caused Corker to become pro-life. But if he became pro-life in 1982, why did he campaign as a pro-choice candidate in 1994? This caused Brian Harris, president of Tennessee Right to Life, to note that Corker “sees the way political winds are blowing.” Tennessee Right to Life has refused to endorse Corker in the general election.

[SHREDDED: WPTY, 9/29/06; Nashville Tennessean, Daughtrey Column, 7/30/06; Nashville Tennessean, Editorial, 7/27/06; Knoxville Metro Pulse, Cagle Column, 8/3/06; FACTCHECK: Annenberg Fact Check, 7/28/06; Annenberg Fact Check, 8/01/06; Annenberg Fact Check, 9/14/06; REPUBLICANS: Bryant Release, “Kin of Lies Bob Corker Strikes Again,” 7/27/06; Nashville City Paper, 7/20/06; Chattanooga Free Press, 7/24/94; 50 Percent: Knoxville News Sentinel, 9/29/06; Allies: FactCheck.org, 9/14/06; Murfreesboro Daily News Journal, Kimbrell Column, 9/13/06; WBIR, 9/20/06; Don’t Be Fooled: WBIR, 9/06/06; Choice: Annenberg Fact Check, 8/1/06; Twins: Annenberg Fact Check, 7/28/06; Knoxville News Sentinel, McElroy Column, 7/23/06; Mission Trip: Knoxville News Sentinel, 11/16/05; WREG Debate, 7/16/06; Chattanooga Times, 5/27/94; Knoxville News Sentinel, 7/28/94]

Corker Should Release His Own Internal Poll Results?

2006-09-29T00:59:00.000-05:00

Why won't Bob Corker release the results of his own internal poll that was taken?

Easy! Because it showed Congressman Ford beating him! Bob didn't want you to know that, but oh well!

Bob should be honest with Tennesseans and release this poll and show Tennesseans who the real frontrunner in this race is.

When you run an internal poll and your opponent wins, you know something is wrong.

This news coupled with the fact that Corker just fired his head media consultant spells out trouble for the Corker campaign.

However, I am not surprised. That is why happens when you don't have a record to defend and a vision to fight for.

Bob Corker Didn't Show Up For Work 45% Of The Time

2006-09-29T00:54:00.000-05:00

The Corker camp continues to be hypocritical in their attacks on Congressman Ford for missing votes in order to campaign here in Tennessee.

They have no problem with launching attacks left and right when the Congressman misses a vote, but what they fail to mention is that at the end of Bob Corker's tenure as Mayor, Bob himself didn't even show up for work 45% of the time.

As one blogger noted:

"Bob Corker has a dismal 55% job attendance rating his last 2 and Â½ months as Mayor: Mayor Ron Littlefield was sworn into office on April 18, 2005. According to the Corker campaign between the dates of 02/01/2005 and 04/18/2005, while still Mayor, Bob Corker had 35 campaign events in cities outside of Hamilton County. So that equates not performing his full-time duties as Mayor for 35 out of 77 days. ThatÂs just a 55% attendance rating."

So lets get this straight. Congressman Ford has shown up for 85% of votes this year. But during Bob Corker's final months in office, he only showed up 55% of the time.

Yet, he continued to give himself pay raise after pay raise.

Bob Corker cheated Chattanooga out of money by not coming to work. Don't let him do the same to Tennessee.

Ford A Strong Proponent Of The Death Penalty

2006-09-29T00:47:00.000-05:00

In response to the Corker campaign trying to lie about Congressman Ford's record on the death penalty (using his father's votes and trying to pass them off as his), I am going to set the record straight once and for all.

Congressman Ford is and always has been a supporter of the death penalty and his record reflects that:

Voted YES on motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill that would implement the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings and the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism by making it a federal crime to attempt or carry out terrorist bombings of public, government and infrastructure facilities or to engage in financial transactions related to those acts. Violators would be subject to up to 20 years in prison and bombers whose actions result in fatalities could receive the death penalty. HR 3275, 12/19/2001, Passed 381-36
Voted YES on amendment that would change the federal criminal code to apply the death penalty or life imprisonment for a terrorist offense that results in a person's death.

Amdt to HR 10, 10/8/2004, Passed 344-72

Voted YES on amendment that would authorize up to 20 years in prison for individuals who commit terrorist or other violent attacks on land, water, or air against railroad and mass transportation systems. It would also provide a minimum sentence of 30 years if the vehicle attacked is carrying spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste, and a mandatory life sentence, with the possibility of the death penalty, if the attack results in the death of a person. Amdt to HR 3199, 7/21/2005, Passed 362-66

Voted NO on amendment that would eliminate the death penalty authorized in the bill for individuals convicted of killing federal public safety officers, and replace it with language that would allow a sentence of up to life in prison for the same crime. HR 1751, 11/09/05

Don't be fooled by the Corker campaign's tactics. The facts speak for themselves.

Why I Support Harold Ford Jr. By The Reverend Dr. H. Hunter Huckabay, Jr.

2006-09-29T00:23:00.000-05:00

Last week I posted a letter to the editor that appeared in the Chattanoogan that was written by The Reverend Dr. H. Hunter Huckabay, Jr., Bob Corker's former rector.

I loved the Reverend's letter so much, that I decided to contact him and asked him if he would write a story on why he supports Congressman Ford over his former pupil, Bob Corker.

He kindly obliged and wrote the following:

My first personal encounter with Harold Ford, Jr. took place on July 4, 2006. Prior to that, I had read about him and seen him on television and was much impressed by that. Various members of my family and I usually spend each Fourth of July at Sewanee, where we enjoy the flag raising ceremony, the food and festivities, and the grand parade down University Avenue.

We were told that Congressman Ford would be riding in this year's parade and we were all looking forward to seeing him. It is not unusual for an elected official to take part in the Sewanee parade, but they always ride in a car--usually a convertible. Our group was located near the end of the parade route, and when the parade ended without our seeing the Congressman, we were confused and disappointed. It was at this point that we learned what had happened. Instead of riding in the parade, Harold Ford, Jr. got out of his car and walked the entire way down University Avenue greeting and talking to everyone who wanted to meet him. He finally arrived at Shennanigan's, a college hangout at the end of the parade route about an hour after the parade ended. He looked fresh and energetic, and continued to mix and mingle with the people gathered there, taking as much time as every individual wanted. He then gave a brief but articulate address to the cheering enthusiastic crowd of supporters. It was a very impressive appearance, and it confirmed every good thing I already knew about him.

I support Harold Ford, Jr. because he is intelligent, articulate, energetic, and because in my opinion, he brings a fresh courageous approach to the issues which concern all Americans today. For the past several years, our national Congress, both House and Senate have struggled and seem to be unable to work together to deal with our country's problems. On of the main reasons for this ineffectiveness in my view, is the extreme and bitter partisanship which seems to prevail in both houses. Congressman Ford is not caught up in the partisanship--is not caught up in being a knee jerk Democrat or a knee jerk anti-Republican. He studies and votes on each issue on its own merits. This leaves the way open for some cooperation across the legislative aisles and results in dealing realistically with the issues at hand. We need such a person representing Tennessee .

Let's work hard to elect Harold Ford, Jr. to the U.S. Senate. We need his fresh, energetic, caring approach.

The Reverend Dr. H. Hunter Huckabay, Jr.

Corker Campaign Shows Inconsistency On Polls

2006-09-28T15:34:00.000-05:00

Today the Corker campaign is touting a new Zogby Interactive poll which shows Bob Corker up a meager 2 points since their last polling.

However, I find it odd that the Corker campaign is now touting the Zogby Interactive poll, as just a few months back they tried to discredit it:

"Another poll released Monday by Wall Street Journal/Zogby reported that Ford would actually beat Corker while Bryant and Hilleary would beat Ford. The Corker campaign's Mitchell questioned the Zogby poll's Internet methodology compared to Mason Dixon's traditional telephone polling." Nashville City 07-25-06

You can't have it both way guys. You either don't trust the polling or you do. You can't love it when it works your way and hate it when it doesn't.

Clearly, Mitchell and the Corkerites are quick to tout the very poll they tried to discredit as they are desperate for good news because all recent polls have shown Corker losing.

Just like their candidate, Ben Mitchell and the Corker campaign figure out where they stand on anything.

It's time for a change.

Below are reliable polls that show the true nature of this race:

Rasmussen

September 5th, 2006: Corker 45% Ford 44% Corker +1

Benenson Strategy Group

August 21st, 2006: Corker 42% Ford 44% Ford +2

September 25th 2006: Corker 39% Ford 46% Ford +7

Survey USA

September 11th, 2006: Corker 45% Ford 48% Ford +3

A Republican Uptick? I Think Not

2006-09-28T15:15:00.000-05:00

Over the past couple of weeks, the Corker bloggers have been touting national polls which they say show an uptick in support for Republicans this fall at the ballot box.

However, I am not sure what they are looking at as the past several polls that have been released showed Democrats winning big this fall:

FOX/Opinion Dynamics 9/26-27/06

Democratic 49% Republican 38% Democrats +11

Diageo/Hotline 9/24-26/06

Democratic 43% Republican 33% Democrats +10

CNN 9/22-24/06

Democratic 55% Republican 42% Democrats +13

CBS/New York Times 9/15-19/06

Democratic 50% Republican 35% Democrats +15

Further, on the state level here in Tennessee, the most recent reliable polls have shown Congressman Ford either within the margin of error of Bob Corker or beating him by several points.

Rasmussen

September 5th, 2006: Corker 45% Ford 44% Corker +1

Benenson Strategy Group

August 21st, 2006: Corker 42% Ford 44% Ford +2

September 25th 2006: Corker 39% Ford 46% Ford +7

Survey USA

September 11th, 2006: Corker 45% Ford 48% Ford +3

Let the Corker folks and the Republican continue to talk about how good things are and how their stock is rising.

The truth is, things are not that great and folks are struggling. And they can blame no one but the Republicans as they are the ones who have controlled every branch of government over the past few years.

People are ready for a change, not more of the same.

That will be shown on November 7th.

Ford Campaign Launches New Campaign Ad Focusing On Bob Corker's Lavish Lifestyle and Record On Crime

2006-09-28T00:59:00.000-05:00

The Ford for Tennessee campaign today launched a new 30-second television ad focusing on Bob Corker’s taking three pay raises as mayor while freezing the pay of firefighters and police. Spoofing Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous, the ad is entitled “That’s Cold.”

The spot is airing in all Tennessee media markets on broadcast and cable. It is a response to Corker’s false attacks calling Congressman Ford soft on crime.

An announcer says, “Bob Corker lives in a 30-room mansion, is worth over $200 million and owns six SUVs.

“As mayor he took three pay increases . . . while freezing the pay of Chattanooga’s police and firefighters.

“He’s got a 30-room mansion. He’s worth over $200 million. Took three pay raises for himself.

“And yet nothing for police and firefighters.

“As Senator, who do you think he’ll look out for?”

Watch the new ad here!

Does Mama Corker Approve Of Bob Lying?

2006-09-28T00:55:00.000-05:00

I wonder what Jean Corker has to say about her son lying to her in his new television ad in which he tells her he cut violent crime in Chattanooga by 50% as Mayor?

As I showed yesterday on the blog, newly released reports show that Corker is indeed lying through his teeth about his record on crime.

I wonder what Ms. Corker has to say about her son now?

Bob's words are as good as dirt.

The Report

In his new television ad, Bob Corker says: “When I was mayor of Chattanooga, we cut violent crime by 50 percent. We figured out who the bad guys were, and we sent them away.” On the screen it says, “Bob Cut Violent Crime 50%.”

The records of the FBI, the TBI, and even the Chattanooga Police Department make one thing clear: Bob Corker is not telling the truth.

These are the facts regarding crime, Chattanooga, and Bob Corker:

Violent crime did not decline in Chattanooga during Bob Corker’s term as mayor by 50 percent, according to the FBI, the TBI, and the records of the Chattanooga Police Department.

The FBI and the TBI report that violent crime, drug crimes, and sex crimes increased in Chattanooga during Mayor Corker’s last full year in office.

Crime in Chattanooga rose in 2004 after Bob Corker fired police Chief Jimmie Dotson, failed to get his choice as police chief confirmed by City Council, and eventually installed Chief Steve Parks.

Violent crime in Chattanooga is 2.11 times the national average. Chattanooga under Bob Corker was twice as violent as the average American community.¹

Mayor Corker held a news conference on January 5, 2005, in which he announced violent crime had fallen by 51 percent in 2004, as compared to 2001. Public records indicate senior Corker administration officials knew the claim was based on inaccurate data so incomplete that one police analyst called it “garbage.”
The Corker administration sought to control and manipulate crime data disseminated by the Police Department, at one point criticizing the Chief of Police in writing for telling the truth about rising crime in 2001.

In 2004, the U.S. Justice Department called Chattanooga “one of the hottest zones of criminal activity” in the country and dispatched ATF agents to reduce the crime rate. The ATF agents sent to Chattanooga compiled a list of the “worst of the worst” violent offenders. But the Inspector General for the Department of Justice found that Chattanooga failed to arrest even half of them.

Crime was so high in Chattanooga in 2004, that 107 American cities were safer. And it got worse in 2005, Corker's last year, when 170—out of 200—cities were safer.

Rapes, sex crimes, and drug crimes all rose more than 20 percent during Mayor Corker's tenure, according to the TBI

Bob Corker froze the pay of Chattanooga police and firefighters, even while he took three pay raises himself.²

FBI: Violent crime did not fall 50 percent under Bob Corker. In fact, it increased his last full year in office. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, comprised of reports received from cities and counties across the nation and considered the gold standard of crime reports, defines four crimes as violent crimes: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.³

Simply put, Bob Corker’s claim to his mother does not match up with the final statistics compiled and submitted to the FBI by the Chattanooga Police Department.

FBI: Violent crime in Chattanooga under Bob Corker⁴

According to the FBI, there were 2,734 acts of violent crime reported in Chattanooga in 2000, the last full year before Mayor Corker took office in April 2001. In Corker’s first year as mayor, violent crime increased 2.7%, as 2,809 acts of violent crime were reported to police.

In 2004, Corker’s last full year (he served until April 2005), there were 2,015 acts of violent crime. This figure represents a drop of only 28% from his first year as mayor, and a drop of only 26% for his entire term, barely half the claim Corker makes to his mother.⁵

After two years of falling violent crime rates in 2002 and 2003, the FBI reports show violent crime actually increased in 2004 by 1.4 percent. Leading the increase was a 44 percent surge in forcible rapes. As detailed below, TBI statistics confirm drug crimes and sex crimes also increased in 2004.

CPD Internal Documents: Violent crime did not fall 50 percent under Bob Corker. Even the internal documents of the Chattanooga Police Department do not support the Corker claim of cutting violent crime by 50%. A “Crime Trend Comparison” in 2005 showed the following:

CPD: Violent crime in Chattanooga under Bob Corker⁶

These numbers, which are not final to the extent of the Uniform Crime Report data, reflect violent crime decreases of only 39% since 2001 and, more accurately, 33 percent down since 2000.

Sex crimes rose 34.2 percent during Corker’s mayoral term. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation tracks reported sex crimes in Tennessee, including forcible rape, forcible sodomy, sexual assault, forcible fondling, incest, and statutory rape. These crimes increased from 210 reported cases during Corker's first year in office to 282 during his last full year as Mayor, an overall increase of 34.2%, and a 33% increase in 2004 alone.

Sex crimes in Chattanooga under Bob Corker⁷

Drug crimes rose 21 percent during Corker’s mayoral term. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation tracks reported drug-related crimes in Tennessee, including narcotics violations and narcotics equipment violations. These drug offenses in Chattanooga jumped from 1,205 cases during his first year in office to 1,458 in his last full year as Mayor. That is an overall increase of 21%, and an increase of 5% in 2004 alone.

Drug crimes in Chattanooga under Bob Corker

Public records indicate the Corker administration sought to manipulate crime data for political gain, despite knowing that CPD data was unreliable and incomplete.

In a January 2002 e-mail, Corker’s chief of staff, Michael Compton, complained to Police Chief Jimmie Dotson about a story reporting the city’s rising crime rate in 2001. “To re-state the obvious—articles like the one that appeared this morning are terribly damaging to our city, especially as our economic development efforts relate to attracting new employers to the area. When you read the article it becomes obvious that there are many explanations for the ranking, but the fact that this type of information makes the paper at all is something we both should want to control as much as much as possible.”

In a September 27, 2002, e-mail following a meeting with Chief Dotson and senior members of the Corker administration, including Compton, communications director Todd Womack, and finance chief David Eichenthal, CPD spokesman Ed Buice cautioned the Corker administration against relying on the CPD’s preliminary crime statistics. “My concern—based on almost 5 years of wrangling with these computers out here—is that resting the base of the ladder on statistics will put us on some very shifty sand.”¹

A September 30, 2002, memorandum from Womack to the persons who attended the “crime stats” meeting set forth the Corker administration’s philosophy of spinning data regarding public safety to suit Bob Corker’s political interests: “Certainly we try to avoid media attention when our crime numbers are not showing a positive trend.” In that same memo, Womack acknowledged that the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, shortly to come out, would show that crime increased in Chattanooga in 2001.¹¹

Two August 2004 e-mails from police data analyst Ponda Foster said CPD “crime numbers cannot and will not validate or be accurate until the garbage within the system is cleaned.” Foster said problems plaguing CPD’s record-keeping meant preliminary crime data for May and June 2004 had been understated. Foster wrote on August 18 of the 2004 data gathered to date: “Most of it will be full of garbage creating inaccurate reports and missing incidents from the crime map.”¹²

On January 5, 2005, using reports “full of garbage,” in the words of his own police department, Mayor Corker declared violent crime had declined 51 percent from 2001 to 2004, a claim he would repeat twice in his Senate campaign 18 months later.

The difference in Chattanooga between falling crime rates in 2002-03 and 2004? Bob Corker changed police chiefs. And crime began rising again.

Despite declining crime rates in 2002 and 2003, Mayor Corker inexplicably forced police chief Jimmie Dotson to retire in December 2003. Said Corker political director (and former mayoral communications director) Todd Womack: “To be honest, Chief Dotson never had a complete grasp of what was going on in this department.”¹³

Mayor Corker then embarked on a bizarre course to hire a new chief. He announced his first choice, former Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director Larry Wallace, on January 14, 2004, calling him “the best candidate at this point in time.” According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, “the announcement stunned many Tuesday. Mr. Wallace, 59, a 40-year law enforcement veteran, was not among the four candidates Mr. Corker and a five-member panel interviewed to succeed the retiring Chief Jimmie Dotson.”¹⁴

Six days later, Wallace dropped out of the running because of the "type and tone of questions" from City Council members, who challenged Wallace’s hiring practices at the TBI.¹⁵

Having botched his first choice, Corker pledged to make his next selection in exactly the same way—by foregoing a national search and keeping the process from public eyes. “Mr. Corker said the public doesn't need to know the process for selecting a new chief,” reported the Times Free Press.¹⁶ The newspaper editorialized that Corker’s failure marked “a sizable setback for Mr. Corker” and that it illuminated “the impact of Mayor Corker's brash management style on members of the City Council.”¹⁷

After the Wallace debacle, Mayor Corker selected Steve Parks to be chief. Crime rose in Chattanooga in 2004.¹⁸ Parks announced his retirement earlier this year.¹⁹

After Corker changed police chiefs, the Attorney General called Chattanooga “one of the hottest zones of criminal activity” in the nation in 2004, “struggling with violent crime problems.” In the summer of 2004, with crime declining nationwide for the 13^th consecutive year, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft identified Chattanooga as one of 15 cities “struggling with violent crime problems,” and intervened by inserting a team of federal ATF agents into the city.

According to a 2004 news story from FOXNews: “The Justice Department is dispatching teams of federal agents to 15 cities struggling with violent crime problems despite a dropping U.S. crime rate, Attorney General John Ashcroft said Thursday. Ashcroft told reporters that the effort would be targeted at 'the hottest zones of criminal activity' in cities where high murder and violence rates persist despite a violent crime rate that is at a 30-year low nationwide, based on federal victimization statistics." ²⁰ According to a 2004 Department of Justice press release, Chattanooga was “selected after examining a number of factors, including recent homicide and violent crime numbers, and the opportunity for law enforcement to make a significant difference in the community.”²¹

The program did not, however, work. The Inspector General for the Department of Justice found that ATF agents compiled a list of more than 50 of the “worst of the worst” criminal offenders in Chattanooga under Mayor Bob Corker. Chattanooga police were unable to arrest even half of the most serious offenders.²²

Chattanooga ranked only the 108^th safest city in 2004 in the nation during Corker's last full year in office. Forbes magazine rated Chattanooga only the 108th for its 2004 crime rate, more dangerous than Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York.²³

Chattanooga ranked only the 171^st safest city in 2005. Bob Corker left Chattanooga more dangerous than he found it, as the city finished 2005 as the 171st worst city for crime, out of 200 cities rated.²⁴

Clear Differences Between Ford and Corker On Iraq

2006-09-28T00:54:00.000-05:00

For months now, I have been writing about how there are major differences between Bob Corker and Congressman Ford.

One of the biggest differences between the two candidates is on the issue of Iraq. While Bob Corker favors staying the same failed course we have been on, Congressman Ford supports staying in Iraq but with new strategies and tactics on the ground.

Those differences were highlighted during a forum the two had earlier this week in Nashville:

Tennessee’s two U.S. Senate candidates offer opposing views on how they would prosecute the Iraq War if they were elected.

In separate speeches and remarks to the Nashville City Club Tuesday, Republican nominee Bob Corker said he would rely “most heavily” on what the troop commanders in Iraq recommend regarding issues like troop levels and is against dividing the country into three ethnic regions.

That came after Democratic nominee Harold Ford Jr. recommended that Iraq be divided into three “ethnic federations” – Shiite, Sunni and Kurd - under one central government. The oil revenues would be split between them, and the U.S. would work as a partner in helping reach an agreement.

Ford also continued his call for Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to resign.

“If you are looking for a senator who will go and parakeet whatever the president says, I’m not your guy,” Ford told the crowd. “I think we have to pursue another course and the course is pretty simple – you’ve got to decentralize Iraq to unite it.”

In a response to Ford’s “ethnic federation” plan, Corker said the United States “went through a lot of effort” for Iraq to have elections, and he thinks the country should support the Iraqi government while it evolves into “how their vision of the country ought to be.”

“I’m a lot more interested in what they have to say versus candidates who are trying to make news during a political campaign,” Corker said.

On Rumsfeld, Corker has not called for his resignation, instead deferring to President Bush’s wishes.

While Corker would rely on the commanders on the ground to dictate war policy, Ford said that six retired generals returning from Iraq have said Rumsfeld should “be removed.”

“We should move along that path to achieve victory,” Ford said.

The remarks came after the release of parts of the National Intelligence Estimate, a report that notes America is less safe today than it was prior to the Iraq War, according to news stories.

Having not read the report, Ford would not say whether the country is less safe than prior to the invasion of Iraq.

Ford did allow that the intelligence report “cries out for change in tactics on the ground in Iraq right away” and “cries out for a new energy policy” as a result of the United States’ “enormously dangerous addiction” to foreign oil.

Similarly, Corker, waiting to read the report, declined to answer the question regarding U.S. safety.

“I think that most Americans want to make sure that those who go to the Senate and those who are in the House do those things to take on these particular issues … to make sure that we are safe,” Corker said.

The first debate between Corker and Ford is Oct. 7, with the general election set for Nov. 7.

Once again, Corker shows his lack of depth of foreign policy with such bland platitudes when he says 'those decisions rest with the Bush admininstration or the generals.' No specifics. None whatsoever. Just stay the course and let what is currently happening, keep on happening.

Bob is just repeating the talking points that Karl Rove has passed out to all the Republican candidates around the nation.

However, we all know how Bob really feels about the Iraq war:

"You really don't hear so much about the war in Iraq — it's actually surprising," said Corker. "You all (in the media) are asking about that issue. It's just not an issue that comes up a great deal on the campaign trail."

Bob said Iraq really isn't a major issue. Excuse me? But over 2500 of our best and bravest have been killed and many more have been seriously injured. We have lost millions in treasury. Don't tell me it is not an issue Bob.

This race will come down to who has the better ideas to confront the problems that we currently face here at home and abroad. And that is why Bob Corker is going to lose.

He has no record to defend and no vision to fight for.

Bob Corker Lies To His Mother; Records Show He Did Not Cut Crime

2006-09-27T12:50:00.000-05:00

Looks like we have caught Bob in yet another lie.

In his new television ad, Bob Corker says: “When I was mayor of Chattanooga, we cut violent crime by 50 percent. We figured out who the bad guys were, and we sent them away.” On the screen it says, “Bob Cut Violent Crime 50%.”

The records of the FBI, the TBI, and even the Chattanooga Police Department make one thing clear: Bob Corker is not telling the truth.

These are the facts regarding crime, Chattanooga, and Bob Corker:

Violent crime did not decline in Chattanooga during Bob Corker’s term as mayor by 50 percent, according to the FBI, the TBI, and the records of the Chattanooga Police Department.

The FBI and the TBI report that violent crime, drug crimes, and sex crimes increased in Chattanooga during Mayor Corker’s last full year in office.

Crime in Chattanooga rose in 2004 after Bob Corker fired police Chief Jimmie Dotson, failed to get his choice as police chief confirmed by City Council, and eventually installed Chief Steve Parks.

Violent crime in Chattanooga is 2.11 times the national average. Chattanooga under Bob Corker was twice as violent as the average American community.¹

Mayor Corker held a news conference on January 5, 2005, in which he announced violent crime had fallen by 51 percent in 2004, as compared to 2001. Public records indicate senior Corker administration officials knew the claim was based on inaccurate data so incomplete that one police analyst called it “garbage.”
The Corker administration sought to control and manipulate crime data disseminated by the Police Department, at one point criticizing the Chief of Police in writing for telling the truth about rising crime in 2001.

In 2004, the U.S. Justice Department called Chattanooga “one of the hottest zones of criminal activity” in the country and dispatched ATF agents to reduce the crime rate. The ATF agents sent to Chattanooga compiled a list of the “worst of the worst” violent offenders. But the Inspector General for the Department of Justice found that Chattanooga failed to arrest even half of them.

Crime was so high in Chattanooga in 2004, that 107 American cities were safer. And it got worse in 2005, Corker's last year, when 170—out of 200—cities were safer.

Rapes, sex crimes, and drug crimes all rose more than 20 percent during Mayor Corker's tenure, according to the TBI

Bob Corker froze the pay of Chattanooga police and firefighters, even while he took three pay raises himself.²

Simply put, Bob Corker’s claim to his mother does not match up with the final statistics compiled and submitted to the FBI by the Chattanooga Police Department.

FBI: Violent crime in Chattanooga under Bob Corker⁴

CPD: Violent crime in Chattanooga under Bob Corker⁶

These numbers, which are not final to the extent of the Uniform Crime Report data, reflect violent crime decreases of only 39% since 2001 and, more accurately, 33 percent down since 2000.

Sex crimes in Chattanooga under Bob Corker⁷

Drug crimes in Chattanooga under Bob Corker

Public records indicate the Corker administration sought to manipulate crime data for political gain, despite knowing that CPD data was unreliable and incomplete.

In a January 2002 e-mail, Corker’s chief of staff, Michael Compton, complained to Police Chief Jimmie Dotson about a story reporting the city’s rising crime rate in 2001. “To re-state the obvious—articles like the one that appeared this morning are terribly damaging to our city, especially as our economic development efforts relate to attracting new employers to the area. When you read the article it becomes obvious that there are many explanations for the ranking, but the fact that this type of information makes the paper at all is something we both should want to control as much as much as possible.”

In a September 27, 2002, e-mail following a meeting with Chief Dotson and senior members of the Corker administration, including Compton, communications director Todd Womack, and finance chief David Eichenthal, CPD spokesman Ed Buice cautioned the Corker administration against relying on the CPD’s preliminary crime statistics. “My concern—based on almost 5 years of wrangling with these computers out here—is that resting the base of the ladder on statistics will put us on some very shifty sand.”¹

A September 30, 2002, memorandum from Womack to the persons who attended the “crime stats” meeting set forth the Corker administration’s philosophy of spinning data regarding public safety to suit Bob Corker’s political interests: “Certainly we try to avoid media attention when our crime numbers are not showing a positive trend.” In that same memo, Womack acknowledged that the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, shortly to come out, would show that crime increased in Chattanooga in 2001.¹¹

Two August 2004 e-mails from police data analyst Ponda Foster said CPD “crime numbers cannot and will not validate or be accurate until the garbage within the system is cleaned.” Foster said problems plaguing CPD’s record-keeping meant preliminary crime data for May and June 2004 had been understated. Foster wrote on August 18 of the 2004 data gathered to date: “Most of it will be full of garbage creating inaccurate reports and missing incidents from the crime map.”¹²

On January 5, 2005, using reports “full of garbage,” in the words of his own police department, Mayor Corker declared violent crime had declined 51 percent from 2001 to 2004, a claim he would repeat twice in his Senate campaign 18 months later.

The difference in Chattanooga between falling crime rates in 2002-03 and 2004? Bob Corker changed police chiefs. And crime began rising again.

Despite declining crime rates in 2002 and 2003, Mayor Corker inexplicably forced police chief Jimmie Dotson to retire in December 2003. Said Corker political director (and former mayoral communications director) Todd Womack: “To be honest, Chief Dotson never had a complete grasp of what was going on in this department.”¹³

Mayor Corker then embarked on a bizarre course to hire a new chief. He announced his first choice, former Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director Larry Wallace, on January 14, 2004, calling him “the best candidate at this point in time.” According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, “the announcement stunned many Tuesday. Mr. Wallace, 59, a 40-year law enforcement veteran, was not among the four candidates Mr. Corker and a five-member panel interviewed to succeed the retiring Chief Jimmie Dotson.”¹⁴

Six days later, Wallace dropped out of the running because of the "type and tone of questions" from City Council members, who challenged Wallace’s hiring practices at the TBI.¹⁵

Having botched his first choice, Corker pledged to make his next selection in exactly the same way—by foregoing a national search and keeping the process from public eyes. “Mr. Corker said the public doesn't need to know the process for selecting a new chief,” reported the Times Free Press.¹⁶ The newspaper editorialized that Corker’s failure marked “a sizable setback for Mr. Corker” and that it illuminated “the impact of Mayor Corker's brash management style on members of the City Council.”¹⁷

After the Wallace debacle, Mayor Corker selected Steve Parks to be chief. Crime rose in Chattanooga in 2004.¹⁸ Parks announced his retirement earlier this year.¹⁹

D-E-N-I-A-L Ain't Just A River In Egypt To The Corker Camp

2006-09-27T00:55:00.000-05:00

The Corker camp is looking more and more foolish with each passing day.

And no wonder. With statements like the following from Jay Bush, one can easily see why no one takes Corker or his henchmen seriously anymore:

Following a rough August, Corker is now clearly the candidate with traction in this race. While Corker is running a sustained statewide ad campaign in tandem with highly effective ads from the NRSC and RNC, the Ford camp is reducing it'’s ad buys in two major Tennessee media markets. The Ford campaign likely timed the release of their highly suspect internal polling to try and undermine Corker's momentum and/or forestall the effect of Ford losing ground in an upcoming independent poll.

Okay Jay, seriously, you need to wake up and smell the coffee.

First of all, Corker doesn't have the traction in this race. As a matter of fact, he has NO traction. He is losing support while Congressman Ford is gaining.

Case in point, look at the following polls:

Rasmussen

July 26th, 2006: Corker 49% Ford 36% Corker +13

August 10th, 2006: Corker 48% Ford 42% Corker +6

September 5th, 2006: Corker 45% Ford 44% Corker +1

Zogby

August 28th, 2006: Corker 47.5% Ford 44.2% Corker +3.3

September 11th, 2006:Corker 45.3% Ford 42.6% Corker +2.7

Benenson Strategy Group

August 21st, 2006: Corker 42% Ford 44% Ford +2

September 25th 2006: Corker 39% Ford 46% Ford +7

Survey USA

September 11th, 2006: Corker 45% Ford 48% Ford +3

Now admittedly, I am not the smartest person when it comes to math. However, I can clearly see a trend in these polls. With each new poll, Ford gains ground while Corker loses ground. That is clear.

Second of all, Jay says that Corker has been running "effective" ads, which have led to Corker's "momentum". Excuse me? But didn't Corker just axe his head media consultant and replaced him with the guy that did the attack ad on Governor Bredesen for Jim Bryson. Apparently Bob didn't think the ads were too effective, as I doubt he would been firing the head of his media operations with only 41 days to go in the election if he thought the ads were cutting it.

Jay Bush has always been known for poor ability to spin. However, this just exemplifies the denial and incompetence in the Corker camp.

This race is far from over. But the writing on the wall right now is clear and it says that Harold Ford Jr. is the one with the momentum in this race. His message of change and his vision of hope is resonating with voters all over Tennessee. The more they hear from him, the more support he gains. While on the other hand, the more folks hear from Corker, the more support he loses.

I don't think any logical observer could disagree with that. (Then again, Jay Bush is not logical)

Corker Campaign Sinks Lower; Uses Ford Sr. Vote Against Jr.

2006-09-27T00:40:00.000-05:00

The Corker campaign is saying and doing everything they can in this race to lie about Congressman Harold Ford Jr. and his voting record.

The latest ploy? Using a vote Congressman Ford's father cast in Congress and saying it was Jr. who cast it.

That is exactly what pro-Corker liar extraordinaire Jay Bush did yesterday on this blog.

Bush wrote the following:

That's sure not how Congressman Ford voted. According to the nonpartisan OntheIssues.org, Ford "strongly opposes" the death penalty. Ford voted YES on replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment. (Bill HR 4092 ; vote number 1994-107 on Apr 14, 1994)

Yep, you read that right. Jay is accusing Congressman Harold Ford JR. or a vote that was cast in 1994.

Jay knows that Congressman Ford wasn't elected to Congress until 1996. He just thought he would use this vote that JR's father cast against him and that no one would notice.

But guess again. Someone noticed.

The level of dishonesty in the Corker campaign is really astounding to say the least.

Corker Flip Flops On The Minimum Wage

2006-09-27T00:11:00.000-05:00

Bob Corker is willing to say or do anything to win this race, that is clear.

The latest example supporting this notion is his new found support for the minimum wage. According to the National Journal's Hotline:

"Ford supports an increase in the federal minimum wage while Corker supports a raise only if small businesses are given tax benefits."

Bob now says he supports raising the minimum wage, but the funny thing is it wasn't but a couple of months ago in which Corker opposed the minimum wage all together:

Corker Opposes Any Minimum Wage. During the July 13 Republican senatorial debate in Knoxville, Bob Corker was asked if he supports raising the minimum wage. Not only did Corker say he opposes and increase, he also proclaimed that it was not the government’s business to be setting a minimum wage in the first place. “I think that’s the responsibility of the people in the private sector to govern that,” Corker said. [GOP Senate Debate, 7/13/06; Memphis Commercial Appeal, 7/14/06]

Corker Opposes Raising The Minimum Wage; Thinks Responsibility Shoudl Fall To Private Sector.“Ed [Bryant] and I agree on the issue, and I do want to say though, as a business person that was worked through out the country, that we consistently, always made sure that the people working with us had a livable wage, and I think that’s the responsibility of the people in the private sector to govern that. I did that in other positions, and yet on this issue, I would say that Ed and I agree.” (7/13/2006 WBIR Knoxville debate)

Further, Corker has a record that suggests that he doesn't care about the minimum wage or the people working on it:

Corker Raised Pay At The Same Time He Cut City Workers’ Pay. In 2001, Mayor Corker’s pay rose from $118,796 to $122,360. He also accepted pay raises in 2002 and 2003, when he was the only mayor of the state’s four largest cities to receive one. Soon after finding out about his own salary increase, Corker proposed his first budget, which eliminated annual, the automatic cost-of-living increase for city employees, including police officers. Instead of the cost-of-living increase, Corker offered a smaller increase and said that employees should be happy with that. As one police employee said, “That is messing with our livelihood.” [Chattanooga Times Free Press, 7/17/01, 7/03/03, 8/22/01, 10/23/01, 10/28/01]

Clearly, Bob now is just saying what he thinks can garner him more votes come November. He has never been a supporter of the minimum wage and if elected, will not support raising it. This is simply an election year change of heart.

Congressman Ford on the other hand has a durable record of fighting for an increase in the minimum wage. In fact, just this past July Ford voted in favor of increasing the minimum wage to $7.25.

As the Congressman said:

"A leader with character doesn't oppose working people in July and claim to be for them in August. I have consistently voted to raise the minimum wage, and I did so last month when Bob Corker opposed me and the 450,000 Tennesseans who deserve a raise.

"Character is standing up for people who have no voice. Character is standing by them all the time--not just to win an election."

Well said Congressman. Bob could learn a lot from Harold Ford Jr.

Report: Corker Fires Media Consultant As Campaign Spirals Downward

2006-09-26T00:59:00.000-05:00

On the same day the Corker campaign received news of the new poll showing Congressman Ford leading Bob Corker by 7 points, they fired their media consultant Paul Curcio.

Oddly enough, Corker has hired Fred Davis, the dude who is behind the new bizarre attack ad on Governor Bredesen.

With only 42 day left in this election, Bob Corker and his campaign are in disarray.

I think the addition of Mr. Davis will only add to that.

Ford Pulls Ahead By Six In New Poll

2006-09-26T00:55:00.000-05:00

As I reported yesterday on the Ford Report, Congressman Ford has established a six point advantage over Bob Corker in the latest Benenson Strategy Group poll.

The findings by Benenson match the finding by Survey USA which earlier this month showed Ford leading and other polls which also showed Ford making serious progress.

It seems the more Tennesseans learn about Congressman Ford, the more support he gains. And it's the opposite for Bob Corker. The more folks learn about him, the more support he loses.

My advice to Bob: keep talking.

Corker and Campaign Manager On Separate Pages; Corker Favors Death Penalty Only For Murder

2006-09-26T00:46:00.000-05:00

The Corker campaign can't seem to get everyone on the same page when it comes to their talking points.

Read below:

Ford and the two major candidates for governor responded in a survey by the state chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police that they support all existing state and federal laws regarding the death penalty.

But Corker's response was more brief. "I support the death penalty for murder," the former Chattanooga mayor wrote.

Tom Lee, Ford's senior adviser for communications and policy, said other death-penalty eligible offenses include treason, espionage and several terror-related crimes.

"It is beyond clear that the most serious penalties - including the death penalty - need to be available against the masterminds of terror, those who finance terror and those who are diabolical enough to engineer terror and never pull a trigger," Lee said.

Corker campaign manager Ben Mitchell said Ford is "trying to make up positions that Bob Corker doesn't have." Corker's more complete answer to the question is that he supports all federal death penalty laws, Mitchell said."

So Mr. Mitchell is saying that Congressman Ford is lying about Corker because he really didn't say that he supported the death penalty only for murders on the FOP survey? Hmmm...lets check the FOP website and see what is says.

For what crimes do you believe that the death penalty is appropriate?

FORD: Congressman Ford supports the death penalty in its current application under both Tennessee and federal law.

CORKER: I support the death penalty for murder.

Can Ben Mitchell not read? I mean seriously. Congressman Ford is making up nothing, that is what Bob said. He supports the death penalty for murder; that's all. That is all he wrote.

So if you or anyone you know commit treason, espionage, or any other related act...Bob Corker is your man because he doesn't favor capitol punishment for you.

Good job, Bob.