Replies

junior must be desparate this was very childish..debates are held on TV not in private parking lots where there are only a handful of people to witness it.

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.