Comments on: The Big Show: Harold Ford Jr. and Bob Corker and the Race for Senate http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477 Politics and Culture Done Just Right Wed, 01 Nov 2006 19:13:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: rightwinginsider2 http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2616 Wed, 25 Oct 2006 23:29:08 +0000 http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2616 To hear the interview on WVLZ that was mentioned on the Drudge Report and Tennessean, go to this link http://www.kelvinmoxley.com/page14.html and click on Harold Ford Playboy interview question To hear the interview on WVLZ that was mentioned on the Drudge Report and Tennessean, go to this link http://www.kelvinmoxley.com/page14.html and click on Harold Ford Playboy interview question

]]> by: David W. Moon http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2246 Tue, 17 Oct 2006 16:29:55 +0000 http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2246 Yes, Harold Ford Jr. is smooth and polished. He’s one heck of a speaker in person too. Unfortunately, Mr. Ford is not in the class of a Barack Obama when it comes to the goods earned versus those given. Mr. Ford is everything liberals claim they detest in George Bush, a son of privilege whose daddy handed him everything. Mr. Ford has one up on Mr. Bush. G.H.W. Bush didn’t have the power to hand his son a seat in Congress. As the Congressman of TN-9, Mr. Ford should have extensive knowledge of his Memphis district. Instead when more than significant numbers of family and political allies alike in Memphis were swept up in the FBI’s Tennessee Waltz investigation focusing on bribery and extortion in state and local government, Tennesseans heard none of the smooth leadership previously lauded on this page. Former TN State Senator Roscoe Dixon was handed five years Federal in a Memphis Courtroom last Thursday. Don’t bother looking for Harold Ford, Jr’s condemnation of this breach of public trust by a political ally and constituent on his web site–there’s no mention at all. We’ve been rocked by allegations of unethical behavior from both Congressional Democrats and Republicans recently. If Harold Ford, Jr. cannot see, perceive and condemn ethical problems that appear to surround him in Memphis, how can we expect him to understand and respond to the scandals we see in Washington today? (Leadership PACs, Family Lobbying, Earmarks all contribute) And the Ford Machine today attempts to place another son, this one with a checkered past, on the TN-9 throne in an insurgent independent bid against the Democratic nominee: Long serving State Senator, Steve Cohen. I believe it takes a Washington outsider like Bob Corker to help clean up the mess on the Hill. Harold Ford, Jr. is an insider all the way. David W. Moon Chattanooga, TN Yes, Harold Ford Jr. is smooth and polished. He’s one heck of a speaker in person too. Unfortunately, Mr. Ford is not in the class of a Barack Obama when it comes to the goods earned versus those given. Mr. Ford is everything liberals claim they detest in George Bush, a son of privilege whose daddy handed him everything. Mr. Ford has one up on Mr. Bush. G.H.W. Bush didn’t have the power to hand his son a seat in Congress.

As the Congressman of TN-9, Mr. Ford should have extensive knowledge of his Memphis district. Instead when more than significant numbers of family and political allies alike in Memphis were swept up in the FBI’s Tennessee Waltz investigation focusing on bribery and extortion in state and local government, Tennesseans heard none of the smooth leadership previously lauded on this page.

Former TN State Senator Roscoe Dixon was handed five years Federal in a Memphis Courtroom last Thursday. Don’t bother looking for Harold Ford, Jr’s condemnation of this breach of public trust by a political ally and constituent on his web site–there’s no mention at all.

We’ve been rocked by allegations of unethical behavior from both Congressional Democrats and Republicans recently. If Harold Ford, Jr. cannot see, perceive and condemn ethical problems that appear to surround him in Memphis, how can we expect him to understand and respond to the scandals we see in Washington today? (Leadership PACs, Family Lobbying, Earmarks all contribute)

And the Ford Machine today attempts to place another son, this one with a checkered past, on the TN-9 throne in an insurgent independent bid against the Democratic nominee: Long serving State Senator, Steve Cohen.

I believe it takes a Washington outsider like Bob Corker to help clean up the mess on the Hill. Harold Ford, Jr. is an insider all the way.

David W. Moon
Chattanooga, TN

]]> by: Jonathan Lindberg http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2180 Mon, 16 Oct 2006 17:31:42 +0000 http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2180 The premise of the article, The Big Show: Harold Ford Jr. and Bob Corker and the Race for the U.S. Senate, is simply this, how Ford was able to build momentum in the months of August and September, to make this race, which seemed a lock, now close. At the time we went to press, Ed had not yet sent out a letter on behalf of Bob. I think this demonstrated by example the tough time conservatives were having in August and September embracing Corker. This is a race for moderates, and Corker all through the campaign seems to be taking conservative vote for granted. That is not to say, that conservatives will not vote for Corker over Ford. Yes, Jeff Vanness did point out that Ed would always support the Republican candidate over Harold Ford Jr. However, I stand by the statement that support has been tepid. To say you will support anyone over the Democratic opponent is not the same as throwing your full support behind a candidate because you believe in him/her. The day the October issue mailed out, the letter from Ed on behalf of Bob was sent out. However, the purpose of the article was to deal specifically with the tightening of the race. I talked with many conservatives leading up to this article, both state leaders and former Ed supporters. What I came away with, was that yes, Ed was willing to campaign for Corker because it was the Republican thing to do. Corker did not reach out to Ed as much as he should have, considering Ed polled very high in the primaries. And yes, this did have some impact in the tightening poll numbers during August and into September. Jonathan Lindberg Publisher Main Street Journal The premise of the article, The Big Show: Harold Ford Jr. and Bob Corker and the Race for the U.S. Senate, is simply this, how Ford was able to build momentum in the months of August and September, to make this race, which seemed a lock, now close.

At the time we went to press, Ed had not yet sent out a letter on behalf of Bob. I think this demonstrated by example the tough time conservatives were having in August and September embracing Corker. This is a race for moderates, and Corker all through the campaign seems to be taking conservative vote for granted.

That is not to say, that conservatives will not vote for Corker over Ford. Yes, Jeff Vanness did point out that Ed would always support the Republican candidate over Harold Ford Jr. However, I stand by the statement that support has been tepid. To say you will support anyone over the Democratic opponent is not the same as throwing your full support behind a candidate because you believe in him/her.

The day the October issue mailed out, the letter from Ed on behalf of Bob was sent out. However, the purpose of the article was to deal specifically with the tightening of the race. I talked with many conservatives leading up to this article, both state leaders and former Ed supporters. What I came away with, was that yes, Ed was willing to campaign for Corker because it was the Republican thing to do. Corker did not reach out to Ed as much as he should have, considering Ed polled very high in the primaries. And yes, this did have some impact in the tightening poll numbers during August and into September.

Jonathan Lindberg
Publisher
Main Street Journal

]]> by: Brian http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2179 Mon, 16 Oct 2006 00:26:56 +0000 http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2179 I am an outsider, but I saw Ford on ABC this morning and thought he made two bad mistakes: (1) he said the question of when life begins was "irrelevant," and (2) when asked if he atteneded a Playboy Party, he pulled a "slick willie" and said "I've never been to the Playboy mansion." He is an impressive guy, and if he is at all sincere about being a moderate, he might be good for the democrat party and the country. But it seems to me his mistakes this morning could provide the basis for effective ads and might result in his defeat in the race for the senate. I am an outsider, but I saw Ford on ABC this morning and thought he made two bad mistakes: (1) he said the question of when life begins was “irrelevant,” and (2) when asked if he atteneded a Playboy Party, he pulled a “slick willie” and said “I’ve never been to the Playboy mansion.” He is an impressive guy, and if he is at all sincere about being a moderate, he might be good for the democrat party and the country. But it seems to me his mistakes this morning could provide the basis for effective ads and might result in his defeat in the race for the senate.

]]> by: Susan http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2178 Sun, 15 Oct 2006 02:36:27 +0000 http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2178 After reading about Ford's national media blitz I would like to insert that the Chattanooga Times Free Press quoted on 10/10/06 that " On Sept. 2, 2001, Rep. Ford was a guest on CNN’s "Late Edition" ". Ford stated twice that he was a lawyer. He has not passed the bar exam. That was stated in the same article and also on 10/06/06 in the Free Press. If Ford is going to be on nationwide media telling these types of statements what credit is that to a fair campaign? And your article tries to be disparaging of Bob Corker who "touts his humble origins." Which origin is correct, Corker or Ford's? Why not present all of the facts and let the voters decide! After reading about Ford’s national media blitz I would like to insert that the Chattanooga Times Free Press quoted on 10/10/06 that ” On Sept. 2, 2001, Rep. Ford was a guest on CNN’s “Late Edition” “. Ford stated twice that he was a lawyer. He has not passed the bar exam. That was stated in the same article and also on 10/06/06 in the Free Press.

If Ford is going to be on nationwide media telling these types of statements what credit is that to a fair campaign? And your article tries to be disparaging of Bob Corker who “touts his humble origins.” Which origin is correct, Corker or Ford’s? Why not present all of the facts and let the voters decide!

]]> by: Teddy http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2177 Sat, 14 Oct 2006 18:03:57 +0000 http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2177 The perceived lack of party unity, even at this late date, is not due to what Ed Bryant has done its due to what Bob Corker has, and hasn't done. I have read, and heard, a lot of people trying to blame Bryant for where Bob Corker is right now. Since the primary ended everything has fallen on the shoulders of Bob Corker, its his show, its his turn to prove himself and were still waiting. The perceived lack of party unity, even at this late date, is not due to what Ed Bryant has done its due to what Bob Corker has, and hasn’t done.

I have read, and heard, a lot of people trying to blame Bryant for where Bob Corker is right now. Since the primary ended everything has fallen on the shoulders of Bob Corker, its his show, its his turn to prove himself and were still waiting.

]]> by: Jeff Vanness http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2176 Fri, 13 Oct 2006 21:58:36 +0000 http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2176 I appreciate being quoted in this article, but I do feel my words have been taken out of context, and appreciate the opportunity to clarify them. Yes, campaign funding made a difference in this race as it factors heavily into every race, but the fact that Corker was able to partially self-fianance out of his self-made fortune, doesn't change the fact that Corker was able to raise millions of dollars from Tennesseans supporting his candidacy. Corker set new records for raising money in Tennessee, and the fact that he brought so many new donors to the Republican table portends well for all future Republican candidates who benefit from an expanded donor base. In comparison, Harold Ford Jr. has made almost no attempt to hide the fact that his campaign funds are coming by-and-large from out of state donors who'll never be able to cast a vote for him but know Ford will still honor their liberal values. More importantly I'm bothered by the serious omission of at least three important facts which I made clear to the author. The reason I was "dismissive" of perceptions of Ed Bryant's alleged "silence" since the primary is because no such thing exists. I informed the author that Ed Bryant had agreed to do a fundraising letter to his list for Corker, just as Ed has lent his good name to the Bryson campaign and the OneMarriage campaign; I was unsure whether it had been mailed at the time of our conversation but I was clear that Ed had readily agreed to do it. (it has been sent now.) Second,Ed, like Van Hilleary, has campaigned in person with Bob Corker on multiple occasions. I can't say how many visits Corker has paid to rural West Tennessee, but I know Ed welcomes him everytime. Third, just days before I spoke with the author, Ed sent out an e-mail missive reiterating his support for Corker and urging all Tennessee's Republicans to work for his election. This was news to the author, and I'm surprised to see this deliberately omitted from the story. The text of Ed's letter is below. I look forward to reading the full article in the Mainstreet Journal, but I fear the author is trying to see something that is not there. <b>text of Ed Bryant's letter to Tennessee's Republicans:</b> <i>Dear Friends, During the months preceding August 3rd, I campaigned across the great state of Tennessee to become the Republican nominee for Senate in the November general election. The primary was a spirited one and I know many of you worked long and hard on my behalf. I can’t begin to tell you how much Cyndi and I appreciate those efforts and your friendship. But, it was not meant to be. Tennesseans selected Bob Corker as our candidate for the United States Senate and we fully accept and support that decision. During the primary, Bob and I agreed that no matter who won the primary, we would not, could not, let Harold Ford, Jr. become our next Senator. The stakes are just too high and the consequences are too great. We both knew he would be well-funded and he and his backers would be willing to say or do anything to conceal his liberal voting record. I served with Harold Ford for six years in Congress. Trust me, I know his friends, I know how he votes, and I know he is not the right man to represent my family or yours. He’s trying to reinvent himself as a moderate Democrat, but don’t be fooled by his slick commercials. He does not represent the values of Tennesseans. We need a man of integrity who will clearly articulate a conservative message. That man is Bob Corker. Since August, Bob and I have spent some time together. Out of the glare of the media we have had the chance to discuss the opportunities and challenges the next U.S. Senator from Tennessee will face. This will be the man representing Tennessee’s values in Washington as our nation deals with issues ranging from tax cuts, immigration reform, and health care to the defense of our nation and our way of life. This is the man who may well vote to confirm another Supreme Court Justice. I know Bob will support a justice who will defend the Constitution, a judge who understands his role in government, rather than a judge who will legislate from the bench. I know Harold Ford would align himself with Bill and Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy and Chuck Schumer and vote to derail a strong conservative appointee. With the Senate majority at risk, our choice in November is crystal clear. I will be casting my vote for Bob Corker knowing he will defend and move forward the conservative cause and represent Tennessee well. I urge you to do the same. Sincerely, Ed Bryant</i> I appreciate being quoted in this article, but I do feel my words have been taken out of context, and appreciate the opportunity to clarify them.

Yes, campaign funding made a difference in this race as it factors heavily into every race, but the fact that Corker was able to partially self-fianance out of his self-made fortune, doesn’t change the fact that Corker was able to raise millions of dollars from Tennesseans supporting his candidacy. Corker set new records for raising money in Tennessee, and the fact that he brought so many new donors to the Republican table portends well for all future Republican candidates who benefit from an expanded donor base. In comparison, Harold Ford Jr. has made almost no attempt to hide the fact that his campaign funds are coming by-and-large from out of state donors who’ll never be able to cast a vote for him but know Ford will still honor their liberal values.

More importantly I’m bothered by the serious omission of at least three important facts which I made clear to the author.

The reason I was “dismissive” of perceptions of Ed Bryant’s alleged “silence” since the primary is because no such thing exists. I informed the author that Ed Bryant had agreed to do a fundraising letter to his list for Corker, just as Ed has lent his good name to the Bryson campaign and the OneMarriage campaign; I was unsure whether it had been mailed at the time of our conversation but I was clear that Ed had readily agreed to do it. (it has been sent now.)

Second,Ed, like Van Hilleary, has campaigned in person with Bob Corker on multiple occasions. I can’t say how many visits Corker has paid to rural West Tennessee, but I know Ed welcomes him everytime.

Third, just days before I spoke with the author, Ed sent out an e-mail missive reiterating his support for Corker and urging all Tennessee’s Republicans to work for his election. This was news to the author, and I’m surprised to see this deliberately omitted from the story. The text of Ed’s letter is below.

I look forward to reading the full article in the Mainstreet Journal, but I fear the author is trying to see something that is not there.

text of Ed Bryant’s letter to Tennessee’s Republicans:

Dear Friends,

During the months preceding August 3rd, I campaigned across the great state of Tennessee to become the Republican nominee for Senate in the November general election. The primary was a spirited one and I know many of you worked long and hard on my behalf. I can’t begin to tell you how much Cyndi and I appreciate those efforts and your friendship. But, it was not meant to be. Tennesseans selected Bob Corker as our candidate for the United States Senate and we fully accept and support that decision.

During the primary, Bob and I agreed that no matter who won the primary, we would not, could not, let Harold Ford, Jr. become our next Senator. The stakes are just too high and the consequences are too great. We both knew he would be well-funded and he and his backers would be willing to say or do anything to conceal his liberal voting record. I served with Harold Ford for six years in Congress. Trust me, I know his friends, I know how he votes, and I know he is not the right man to represent my family or yours. He’s trying to reinvent himself as a moderate Democrat, but don’t be fooled by his slick commercials. He does not represent the values of Tennesseans. We need a man of integrity who will clearly articulate a conservative message. That man is Bob Corker.

Since August, Bob and I have spent some time together. Out of the glare of the media we have had the chance to discuss the opportunities and challenges the next U.S. Senator from Tennessee will face. This will be the man representing Tennessee’s values in Washington as our nation deals with issues ranging from tax cuts, immigration reform, and health care to the defense of our nation and our way of life. This is the man who may well vote to confirm another Supreme Court Justice. I know Bob will support a justice who will defend the Constitution, a judge who understands his role in government, rather than a judge who will legislate from the bench. I know Harold Ford would align himself with Bill and Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy and Chuck Schumer and vote to derail a strong conservative appointee.

With the Senate majority at risk, our choice in November is crystal clear. I will be casting my vote for Bob Corker knowing he will defend and move forward the conservative cause and represent Tennessee well. I urge you to do the same.

Sincerely,

Ed Bryant

]]> by: Donna Locke http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2174 Fri, 13 Oct 2006 21:15:51 +0000 http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2174 Well-done, Jonathan. Well-done, Jonathan.

]]> by: FISHKITE » Blog Archive » Tennessee Senate Race http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2173 Fri, 13 Oct 2006 20:48:19 +0000 http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2173 [...] I sent this around last night yet failed to post it myself: check out Main Street Journal Editor Jonathan Lindberg&#8217;s take on the U.S. Senate race in Tennessee. [...] […] I sent this around last night yet failed to post it myself: check out Main Street Journal Editor Jonathan Lindberg’s take on the U.S. Senate race in Tennessee. […]

]]> by: terryfrank.net » Main Street Journal on U.S. Senate race http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2166 Fri, 13 Oct 2006 08:01:09 +0000 http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/10/06/477#comment-2166 [...] Read more here. [...] […] Read more here. […]

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