Posted on 10/20/2006 8:03:33 PM PDT by zarf
Ford partisans are suggesting that this stunt takes the focus away from the Ford Family and mutes the potential headlines Corker might have captured. Nothing could be further from the truth.
A Ford partisan sees this video and sees a fightin' Democrat taking the fight to enemy. They would see that if Ford went up and punched Corker in the face, too.
Everyone else, however, sees a foolish young man, an arrogant young man, a man not quite ready for the upper chamber. This is what Ford needs to understand. He is young. He is a bachelor. In terms of coming off "Senatorial", he is already behind in the count.
This press conference by Corker was never going to be a big story. An article in the paper and a mention on the evening news. That's all it was gonna be. Very routine.
This confrontation does take away from whatever it was that Corker actually said at the conference. No doubt. But who comes off better in the confrontation?
If you are watching the same video I am, you have to admit that Corker comes off very well. Even standing several inches above him, Harold Ford comes across the smaller man.
Senator's don't confront -- not like this. They reason and they deliberate. They do not let their blood get up and pull stunts like this.
It may have worked had Ford stayed off to the side and answered questions from the press. However, once Corker came over to Ford to confront him, Ford lost the day.
Corker had previously been seen as running a bit scared -- afraid to stand toe-to-toe with Ford. But today he walked right up to Ford looked him in the eye and said his peace about the inappropriateness of his being there.
Ford got sloppy. No other way to put it. He showed up hoping to take the headlines away from Corker and he instead gave the public an opportunity to see something from Corker that they had never seen before. Toughness. A quiet reserved toughness, but toughness all the same.
Those who think Corker did not win this day, watch the video again. See how Ford reacts once Corker walked away. He clearly didn't see this going down this way.
Ford miscalculated badly here. Again, he got a bit too brash. He got caught being childish and Corker, surprisingly, walked right up and pulled his punk card and put it right in his face.
I like the part where Corker said (paraphrased) "This is my press conference, not yours"
http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/politics/article/0,1426,MCA_1496_5081744,00.html
Ford Jr. confronts Corker on Memphis parking lot about Iraq
By Bartholomew Sullivan>br> sullivanb@shns.com
October 20, 2006
WASHINGTON - In an unscripted, unscheduled moment in an intense campaign for the U.S. Senate Friday, Democrat Harold Ford Jr. confronted Republican Bob Corker on a Memphis parking lot outside where Corker had scheduled a press conference on lobbying reform and ethics. "It's good to see you," Ford shouted as Corker approached him outside the Wilson Air offices, a tape of the encounter provided by WREG-TV shows. "I'd love to debate you on this Iraq thing."
Ford, continuing to walk toward Corker with camera crews in tow, then tells Corker that, although Corker dismissed plans to partition Iraq into three semi-autonomous enclaves as "playing God" in a recent debate, Republican Sens. John Warner of Virginia and Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas now endorse it.
The two shake hands, but a clearly annoyed Corker isn't falling for a parking lot debate on Iraq. Corker has agreed to only three face-to-face debates, and two have already occurred in Memphis and Chattanooga. A third is scheduled for Nashville on Oct. 28.
"I came to talk about ethics and I have a press conference," Corker says. "And I think it's a true sign of desperation that you would pull your bus up when I'm having a press conference." Says Ford: "I can never find you?"
Corker notes that he was in Jackson Thursday night, and then Ford returns to his Iraq debate points.
"What do you think about this Iraq thing," says Ford. "I know you're here to talk about my family?
Says Corker: "No, no. I'm here to talk about you."
Then turning, Corker says, "As a matter of fact, this is my press conference," and walks away.
In the press conference inside, Corker called for a ban on family members of elected Congressional officials lobbying any member of Congress, pointing out that Ford's father, Harold Ford Sr., is a registered lobbyist in Washington. Corker also called for more transparency in the way third parties pay for Congressional travel, pointing to 69 trips Ford has made. He also recommended earmark reform for appropriations spending bills.
After the confrontation, Corker's spokesman Todd Womack called Ford's tactic "juvenile." Ford spokesman Bobby Sepucha characterized Corker's unwillingness to debate across the state with the same term.
"peace"
Damn, I hate to keep doing this. It is piece.
No way Ford would pull this stunt if he was comfortably ahead in the polls. Corker must have opened up a lead, and the internals Ford's people are working with must have convinced them that this one is slipping away.
Tennessee is not changing hands. Corker will win and the GOP will keep the Senate (and probably the house).
Ford looked immature IMO.
I'm pretty fairminded, and on viewing the video I thought Ford out of line. He won't turn off DU types, but I bet it tells against him.
Just the fact he felt it necessary to confront bespeaks weakness. My first thought was he must have gotten some bad polls.
Apparently Ford "confronted" Corker in an unsucessful manner.
This sounds like the rant Jr. made on Jean Schmidt on the house floor. It must have been on CSPAN, but, I have not seen it. I have wondered why this would not have made a good commercial.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2006/senate/tn/tennessee_senate_race-20.html#polls
October 19) Today’s Zogby/WSJ online poll gives Corker a sizable 7-point lead. The current InTrade market (Thursday morning) gives a slight edge to Corker with his 51.1 bid compared to Ford’s 45.3 bid. We continue to feel Corker maintains the edge in this state.
I believe it. Actually, Ford's stunt tells me a lot more about the race than that info did. Bit it complements it nicely. This one is slipping away from Fordie.
Maybe it is just the college town I live in - but Gore never had this many signs / bumper stickers when he was running for President
Ford is accusing Corker of being desperate...as sweat is running down is back because he has realized how bad he has mess UP!!!
LOL>...I am SO glad you posted this.
That video BETTER be played over and over this weekend! What a HOOT!
Good for Corker...handled it perfectly!
oh...don-o...you have got to find a way to watch the video...
Those signs for JR. may be coming down...
Like someone else posted...for the SOROS gang...he probably was cheered...but, for "real Americans" this was just plain dirty politics.
The reporters did their part also. Asking Ford the same question Corker did about being desperate. Mentioning how this was a stunt that his uncle would have pulled. They had Ford sweating too.
The talk on Mike Fleming's radio show here in Memphis is how he showed his family's DNA after claiming that he was nothing like the rest of his family. I hope the next poll shows him an additional seven points down.
You guys have GOT to see this, PING!
That line says it all. LOL!
There are those of us in Memphis that are sick and tired of ALL the Fords. If Corker wants to bring the Ford machine, er, family up, he could talk about Ford, Sr. He was a BIG part of the House banking scandal. He was, I believe, number 5 in total number of bad checks written, but NUMERO UNO in total dollar amount kited. And then there is Jr's uncle, former state sinatore, er, senator John. Most here are familiar with his history. His aunt Ophelia is one for the books, too.
Suffice it to say that I am no Ford fan. I saw him today in downtown Memphis today. Whoop-di-freaking-do. Didn't stick around to watch that circus. Had too much to do and little time to do it at lunch.
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