Harold Ford Jr. is making it very difficult to know where he actually stands on the issues! While running for a U.S. Senate seat in Tennessee (which didn't work out), Ford declared himself "pro-life" — but his advisers claim he was actually for abortion rights, and used the term "pro-life" to reclaim the term used by abortion foes. Huh. Now, as he gears up for a possible Senate race in New York against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, he's saying he's for gay marriage. Does that mean he's actually against it?
Haha. Probably not. But Ford certainly flip-flopped on the issue. Except he doesn't see it that way. He told Matt Lauer that only the words he used changed, not his belief in fairness and equality! "Maybe in the language. But I'm a believer that benefits should flow to same sex partners and if indeed the fiction of the language, the title, should be changed, much like Chuck Schumer who changed his mind on it and Bill Clinton's evolved, I'm of the opinion now that nothing is wrong with that."
What's amusing, then, is that while Gillibrand is seen as a gay rights advocate, let's not forget that she, too, had an "evolution" on where she stood on supporting full marriage equality. (And, as Ford notes himself, so did Sen. Schumer.) And back in January 2009, as she was taking over Hillary Clinton's Senate seat, all of Gay Inc. literally rolled over when she announced her new — sorry, "evolved" — position on the M-word.
Will they a-Ford (hah!) her challenger the same cheek turn?
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Hey I got a great idea!! Lets elect another pol who provides lip service to the Gays (and not the good kind)to get elected
by "supporting" GLB issues, whilst never before doing so
and then after recieving substantial dollars to get elected
do absolutley nothing for the community!! Its pretty much
standard operating procedure…………………..
Maybe it's an indicator that the belief is that in order to successfully run for Senate from NY, you have to support same-gender marriage. That would be a good thing.
Gay votes and gay money for gay candidates ONLY!
No. 2 · ksu499: 'cept that we have been bamboozled by
many other pols who have suddenly "changed" their views
to gain our dollars and votes. Then once elected they
do absolutley nothing to follow thru on the pre-election
promises. This guy should be made a strong example that
the community is not going to fall for this crap again
and again………….
IF one never allows for changing and evolving opinions about social-political issues then, only property-owning white men could vote, slavery would still exist, women would still be the property of their husbands, yada yada yada.
Embrace that gay rights and marriage equality are becoming ever more popular public opinions. Only through the changing of minds of those who directly and indirectly repressed and suppressed the civil rights of gays and lesbians, will true LGBT civil rights be achieved.
BUT, AS THE OLD SAYING GOES, FOOL ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU, FOOL ME TWICE SHAME ON ME. Well the gay community has been fooled and fooled over and over again.
Should Mr. Ford be sincere in his changing and evolving opinion, as he correctly points out that incumbent Gillibrand, Chuck Schumer and Bill Clinton have also changed and evolved their opinions, then Mr. Ford should make the same unequivocal statements supporting LGBT rights and marriage-equality that Gillibrand, Schumer and Clinton have made. Accept no substitutions! When Mr. Ford comes calling on the gay community for support, DEMAND that he put into writing, in simple and clear language, "Yes I Support Same-Sex Marriage and will work with Senator Schumer to enact legislation to repeal DOMA and support marriage equality."
Then, and only then, compare Ford's other political positions with Gillibrand's, and vote for your choice. Ford cannot pull an Obama on LGBT issues if you don't let him. And if he is sincere, well then we have an additional important political friend to our community, one who we can embrace. There are plenty of homophobic bigoted Republicans politicos in New York and Ford would be better than any of them. After the debacle in the New York Senate, maybe the community should push Ford to go to Albany.
The media were so rabid in labelling Gillibrand a flip-flopper that the facts got buried. Since being elected to congress she was always a supporter of civil unions with full rights. Just before the congressional election in 2008, she stated that she was in favor of same-sex marriage. All she did upon being named Senator in Jan 09 was to confirm this position. So Gillibrand "flip-flopped" from full rights civil unions to gay marriage before she could have any idea that the Senate seat would become vacant. Ford was one of just 34 Democrats to vote for the Federal Marriage Amendment and, from 2006, Ford said "the RNC … says I am in support of gay marriage…I mean, just outrageously false and again demeaning and awful ads".
With Gillibrand's lead in the Senate on repealing DODA and her fight to get DOMA repealed you CANNOT compare the two
I live in TN and cannot marry. This man was vocally opposed to marriage equality in 2006, largely because TN is the buckle of the Bible Belt and marriage equality is NOT favored here (the constitutional vote was a blow out: 81% approved the measure). The pain doesn't fade with time and this man is no good. He talks out both sides of his mouth. I welcome his recent enlightenment to support marriage equality but he should NOT be rewarded with a place in the US Senate. Ever.
Tom's statement from above said it best. Ford is talking out of both sides of his mouth, and you can bet, just like Obama, no matter what he says when he wants our votes, Ford's own voting record proves he DOES NOT and NEVER HAS SUPPORTED OUR EQUALITY.
Harold Ford may live in Manhattan now but he's still a religious extremist. He will do and say anything to get elected to office.
I know many people say he's a carpetbagger but I disagree. What troubles me about him is his religious beliefs.
New Yorkers shouldn't buy this Ford.
Why do you think Ford moved from Tennessee to New York? Ford wanted to become senator. He faced considerable anti-black racism even though he is mixed-race and very light-skinned. His opponents tossed a ton of racist crap against him during the campaign, including the fact that he dated a white woman.
To get elected in Tennessee, Ford had to take "conservative" stances, just as Gillibrand had to take in her conservative New York congressional district.
I think it's a wash between the two. Both will say what they need to get elected.
Ford was once seen as likely vice-presidential or presidential candidate. It's hard to say if that could ever happen.
Sorry. Laughing at myself! Of course I meant DADT and not DODA. I don't even know what DODA is!
I believe this Ford will qualify for the "clunker" program, even though the program has expired….. : P
No. 4 · Mike in Asheville, nee "in Brooklyn":
" BUT, AS THE OLD SAYING GOES, FOOL ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU, FOOL ME TWICE SHAME ON ME. Well the gay community has been fooled and fooled over and over again. " = Well said
We are well beyond the being fooled twice number by "supportive" politicians. And most disheartning, you wish to know why these pols continue to spew this poo? Because they can!
BBC NEW GARBAGE RESPONSE(p.s.at the end of the program they give you a text number and telephone number to respond to this garbage)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p005p7sv
I am glad he has a change of heart on the issue, but I still do not appreciate the fact that Ford lost in his home state, moved to NY and thinks he all of a sudden can jump on the band-wagon and get the NY Senate seat. Clinton did it, but she was more aligned with New Yorker's views and would be a strong advocate, partly because of name recognition and her style of politics. Caroline Kennedy tried to do it and New Yorkers passionately told her to go eff off. Ford is just a wishy-washy I wanna be a senator Democrat, who thinks name recognition is all he needs, when most New Yorkers have no clue who Ford is.
Gillibrand at the very least is from New York and regardless of her conservative leanings on some issues–which lets face it some in New York have those leanings–she represents her state.
This guy makes me ill. He should be defeated again and I don't want to see any of our $$ going anywhere near his campaign.
He is a regular on Fox News as a guest or commentator and this attitude changed just as quickly as his residency.
If you are a food service person or otherwise able to have personal access to this jerk please hold his order up, make him think you pissed in it or just call him out in public and tell him that someone else will have to serve him. I hear he's also a notoriously lousy tipper and expects freebies and perks.
Next.
This happens all the time and most people seem to fall for it. Mitt Romney vowed to support the laws of MA to be elected Gov, but had to "clarify" his position as a presidential candidate. It's always just the new and improved candidate and the advertising message sticks no matter how fictitious, as long as they repeat it often enough.
Umm, the biggest difference betweem
Harold Ford Junior is a shill of Bloomberg who can't control Kirsten and I simply don't trust him. Gillibrand will buck the system (the corrupt Democratic Party of New York) and can win with a coalition while we risk losing the Governorship with Paterson who is unelectable, Ford as Senator who is not cut-out for New York's hard-boiled politics like Kennedys, Clintons or Cuomos. She is hardworking and should be given our support for her very well-intentioned views on matters important to gays, healthcare and women, a constituent that Democrats are in serious trouble with lately… While Democrats will race-bait New York City to win, Gillibrand is a reformer. We need more Women like her not creeps like Harold!