Posted on 06/10/2005 11:17:12 PM PDT by SmithL
Before taking the podium the Marriott in Knoxville on Friday, U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr. made his presence known by making his way to every table at the Freedom Fund dinner.
After smiling for pictures with dozens of people at the event hosted by the Knoxville branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Ford put on a serious face to talk about the war in Iraq.
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Ford, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2006, spent his Memorial Day weekend in Iraq.
After that visit, Ford knows the NAACP theme, "The Struggle for Freedom Continues," is one of truth.
"Iraq could use a NAACP chapter," he said.
Ford said the NAACP's foundation of working together for a common goal is the missing link in putting an end to the war.
"Even with our military sacrificing their lives over there, they cannot solve this problem alone," he said.
He said President George Bush is "a good guy. I like him. He just doesn't always get it right."
In visiting Iraq, Ford said Bush has overstated the progress of the military forces. "Restoration of basic services, such as electricity and water, are slow moving," he said.
He said the influence of Iran and Syria sponsoring terrorism in Iraq is on the rise.
"The tensions between the Sunnis and Shiites have not lessened, which is critical in getting a drafted constitution and the credibility and stature of the U.S. still lag in the Middle East," he said.
All points, he said, must be examined, and then a "different strategy - a good idea" must be brought forth to see a change in Iraq.
He said some question why he is running for the U.S. Senate in such a troublesome time, but Ford said, "I believe the Senate will play a role in solving these problems."
It doesn't matter if you are Democratic or a Republican, we all know that "we are the most misunderstood, disliked and disrespected country now," he said.
"It is going to be hard," he continued. "But that is what Americans do - try to resolve hard things. We have to learn what works and discard what doesn't."
Ford said it is vital to re-establish the foundation "that this country was built on: if you work hard and play by the rules, then you can make it."
"It doesn't matter if you are Democratic or a Republican, we all know that "we are the most misunderstood, disliked and disrespected country now," he said. "
Thanks in no small part to the Democratic party
Thank you, Rep. Ford. Now I understand why thousands and thousands of Criminal Aliens are invading our country. It's obviously because they don't like us.
Anybody who thinks we should quit now in Iraq or Afghanistan, simply doesn't understand what it means to see a fellow Soldier get killed for a cause they truly believe in.
President Bush has made it clear what our mission is, and why it is important to make sure those who have died, didn't do so in vein.
As far as I'm concerned, Operation Iraqi Freedom was simply a resumption of hostilities for Saddam Hussein violating every one of the requirements in the Cease Fire Agreement that he signed in 1991, that ended Desert Storm.
Anyone who believes Saddam Hussein didn't have WMD's and that George W. Bush lied to take us into an illegal war, is simply lacking any evidence of brain activity. What we are seeing here is the MSM doing all they can to discredit George W. Bush and paint him as a war monger and Gulag Warden.
/This is much like the myth that George W. Bush has been a divider, not a Uniter, yet nobody can site a single instance where GWB trashed a democrat or even forcefully defended himself from the numerous baseless accusations and attacks they have launched at him.
The Democrats are void of any kind of vision for the future, their only plan is their "Scorched Earth" Policy that has gotten them nowhere. Unless they change, they will continue to lose elections and their harsh rhetoric will only get worse.Mike
" Thanks in no small part to the Democratic party " and.... the MSM .
I especially would not trust my family with a Ford Democrat politician. The whole family is corrupt, corrupt, corrupt.
The Ford's like to play the race card if the weather turns bad. Jr.'s father Harold Ford, Sr. said that he would refuse to represent the blue eyed devils in his district that voted for his black opponent. Ford Jr. went to elite boys schools paid for by his check kiting father. It goes on and on.
Bet JUNIOR never left a safe area and met mostly with disgruntled folks. He's done nothing but critize since he's been. He did this to pad his senate run resume.
If he believes that "the Senate can play a role in solving these problems", he is too stupid to hold office. The Senate IS the problem, particularly the Democrats in the Senate. He would be just another obstructionist with a big pay check.
His condescending attitude toward the President is sickening, too. I'll stack the President's credentials and pedigree up against Ford's any day. (How many of his relatives are on trial now?)
carolyn
Ford's senate campaign will be another re packaging of the same old rat crap. When he loses, which he will, he'll cry race and the rest of the rats will sing along. Never will they admit the real problem was WHAT they were SELLING and NOT WHO was selling it.
As if there aren't enough problems here...
:eyeroll:
Gee, Mr. Ford, now you actually SEE what the heck we are facing in Iraq and why FUNDING is so important.
I think Mr. Ford has had a stern dose of reality. That's harmful to a liberal mind.
How about kicking some of your other Dem cronies in the butt and tell them to stop their obstructionist politics?
Proudly Fighting,
SGT C.
Baghdad, Iraq
Maybe he needs to spend more time in West Memphis. I'd probably feel safer in downtown Baghdad.
You got the true skinny!!!!!!!!
Are you a doctor in Oklahoma? My Husband is from the city, and his brothers still live there.
Now Texas.
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