Posted on 09/06/2006 2:22:06 PM PDT by SmithL
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which says it represents more than 3 million businesses, today endorsed Republican Bob Corker for the U.S. Senate in Tennessee and criticized the 10-year voting record of his challenger, Democratic U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr.
Chamber vice president Bill Miller said the Chamber's board endorsed Corker based on his background of starting his own business, being familiar with regulatory issues as Chattanooga's mayor, and his views on lower taxes, legal and health care reforms.
"Bob Corker really exemplifies a self-made business person," Miller said in a conference call with several Tennessee reporters.
Ford voted only 58 percent of the time in support of Chamber positions in his 10 years in Congress — less often than Tennessee Democratic Reps. Lincoln Davis and John Tanner, Miller said.
Corker, in a telephone interview, called Ford the most liberal member of the Tennessee congressional delegation and alleged that Ford would support higher taxes if elected to the Senate.
Ford did not have immediate comment on the endorsement, but in the past has proposed ideas to reduce health care and energy costs for businesses and others.
Miller would not say how much the Chamber might spend on TV commercials or other means to educate business and voters on why Corker should be elected.
Hopefully, that will leave a mark.
I gotta be honest with you.
58% from a Democrat isn't that bad. The majority of Dems in Congress probably score a lot lower.
Tennessee US Senate PING!
You must have been on vacation? Missed ya!
Reluctantly holding my nose and voting for him. Having a Senator JUNIOR is simply NOT acceptable.
Ford's American Conservative Union vote rating is abysmal. But, Harold Jr. scores well in the Americans For Democratic Action ratings. His voting record is far, far more liberal than anyone else in the entire Tennessee congressional delegation.
I love the way the media tries to portray Ford as a "moderate". I'm sure Harold convinced all of the donors at the DC fundraiser which Hillary threw for him at her residence recently that they could count on him to vote as a "moderate" in the U.S. Senate.
Ford is the northeast liberal intelligentsia's favorite candidate. Don Imus and Chris Matthews almost have to change their underwear after gushing about Harold Jr. It's pretty hilarious.
The headline completely threw me.
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