Posted on 10/06/2006 7:54:48 AM PDT by Gopher Broke
Ford called self a lawyer but did not pass bar exam By Michael Davis Staff Writer
Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Harold Ford Jr. referred to himself as a lawyer earlier this week, but the congressman has not passed the bar exam.
Michael Powell, senior adviser to the Ford campaign, said U.S. Rep. Ford took the Tennessee bar exam in February 1997 and failed. He said that was the only time Rep. Ford has taken the test.
Rep. Ford, of Memphis, got his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1996, according to his congressional Web site.
He said Tuesday during a meeting with Chattanooga Times Free Press editors and reporters that Republican opponent Bob Corker has said the next senator should be a businessman and not a lawyer.
"I told Senator (Lamar) Alexander, I said, ‘I won’t hold it against you if I’m elected, and there’s two lawyers in the delegation who try their hardest to work through the issues," Rep. Ford said.
Corker campaign spokesman Todd Womack said, "If Congressman Ford will stretch the truth about his own resume, what else will he stretch the truth about?" Mr. Powell said it is his understanding that Rep. Ford was joking when he made reference to being a lawyer during Tuesday’s meeting.
"He has never held himself out as a lawyer," Mr. Powell said.
He said President Bush has referred to Rep. Ford as a lawyer.
"I think it makes sense to send somebody up to Washington who’s not a lawyer," President Bush said at a Nashville fundraiser in late August, according to a transcript. "Nothing wrong with lawyers, we got a lot of them up there."
Mr. Powell said the GOP is finding "petty" things to talk about.
"We’re a month out from the election, and the Republicans and Mr. Corker still are not talking about the issues," he said.
E-mail Michael Davis at michaeld@timesfreepress.com
He could be considered a lawyer even if he is not registered before the bar. He could be an attorney-in-fact at any time for anybody for many kinds of cases. This is a quibble.
If he isnt a lawyer what does this guy do for a living?
Pretend to be one?
Was this guy an Affirmative Action beneficiary at Michigan?
If so AA should of assured him passage of his bar exam.
It's not a quibble. You're either a lawyer or you aren't one. The difference is passing the bar and being licensed to hold yourself out to the public as a lawyer, which involves passing a character fitness exam, being legally subject to the discipline a lawyer is, and having to maintain continuing legal education requirements. Unlicensed persons who "practice law," as that is defined in various jurisdictions, are subject to severe penalties up to and including jail time. When Ford referred to himself as a "lawyer," he told a bald faced lie, a lie that characterizes the entire disingenuous campaign he's running. Your remark reminds me of the Bent One saying he "didn't have sex" with Monica.
It's a quibble. He is not attempting to practice before the bar. He says merely that he has a degree in law and is at heart a lawyer and thinks like a lawyer.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe that with a law degree alone, you can work in many legal capacities on a federal level: US courts, HUD, Social Security, and the like.
Ah, missed that!
;)
That't it! The Bar exam is racist! That't the ticket!
Ford REFUSED TO PASS a RACIST BAR EXAM!
There, all better now!
There's no proof that I know of that Foley liked 'little boys.' He's not a pedophile. He likes young, nubile teens, perhaps but not little boys.
My grandfather practiced law, and never went to law school. at age 52 he moved to Arizona, read law, and took and passed (firt time) the bar exam.
Just an exaggeration, nothing to see here. Move along folks.
Young nubile teen MALES. That makes him a pervert.
I think there are still some states that will still license someone who has passed the bar but not gone to law school. I think Virginia is one. I may be wrong.
I know what it means to snigger. It's a very old word. But you were niggardly in your understanding of my intended joke.
;^)
Great point.
If he lies he cheats, if he cheats he steals. ford is a liar, a cheat and a thief!
LLS
"He could be considered a lawyer even if he is not registered before the bar. He could be an attorney-in-fact at any time for anybody for many kinds of cases. This is a quibble."
Wrong! You cannot represent someone on legal matters without a license. You may want to look up what attorney in fact actually means (it is more of an agent capacity).
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