Ford frames the debate on local rightish-wing talk show

[Clark2008]

Boy, you guys should have heard Harold Ford Jr. on the radio this morning.
I think he's taking a page from the Wes Clark/Paul Hackett Book on "Telling Truth to Power!"

They were interviewing all the candidates for Senate in Tennessee. For some reason or another, I have some inate ability to radar in on when Ford will actually be on the show (I rarely listen to this particular show anymore, but the past three times I've decided that I would, Ford has been on - weird).

In any case, Ford was talking about why Tennesseans would support his bid, despite this being a "red" state. Man - he was just BOLD. He did not mince words and he answered every single question, point blank, without waivering on any stance.

He said that the people in Tennessee want a just and reasonable exit strategy for getting out of Iraq and that he could work to provide that. He also said he was NOT going to let the Republican smear machine sully his name and that he would respond, immediately, to any lie the Republicans told - and, he plans to raise about $12 million to do it.

He mentioned that he had, in the past, been a fan of free trade, but that the Republicans had taken advantage of the good faith of many Democrats and not worked to help the American people. He said he will no longer vote for any free trade bill that does not include a plan to help workers in the United States, and Tennessee, secure their jobs.

The commentator told him that a Dem politico had said that Ford had West Tennessee wrapped up, but that East Tennessee absolutely would not vote for him (dontcha love Dem politicos who presume to know what everyone is thinking? Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy) and that Middle Tennessee would be the battle ground.

Ford responded that he would make ALL of Tennessee the battleground. He said, paraphrasing, that people in East Tennessee don't wake up hoping they'll go to work and get laid off, people in Middle Tennessee don't wake up hoping they get a phone call from their child's school telling them there has been some act of violence and people in West Tennessee don't wake up hoping to hear about more massive casualities in Iraq.

He only had about five minutes to get in all that and he hit upon, what I think is, all the major points in the Tennessee Senate campaign: keeping jobs in America, getting out of Iraq and working to improve our educational system.

Go Ford, baby!

[TNDemo]

1. What show was that on?

[Clark2008]

2. A local morning drive-time show in Knoxville

The Hallerin Hilton Hill show - probably the most listened to talk show in Knoxville at that time of morning.

Hill's a bit Freepish because of his religion, but he's not overtly so. He at least asks good questions and lets his guests answer.

[FreedomAngel82]

3. Wow

He lets them answer? More then we can say for people like O'Reilly and the like. I think more democrats should approach that way. The Paul Hackett way. Be clear, to the point and don't take back what you say. Maybe Mr. Hackett has woken that up. :) I am seriously thinking of voting for him. I'm still not a MAJOR Ford fan or anything like that but I'm willing to at least give him a chance and if he does make it I'll seriously watch him. I think middle Tennessee will be the big battle too. My area is getting AAR so maybe some people will tune in and change their minds. :shrug: I haven't heard much of Kurita on talk shows lately. :shrug: Ford has been very vocal lately I think which is good. He should keep it up.

[Clark2008]

4. Hal is a conservative black man.

When he's not hosting the show, he writes and performs religious music. When I say he's a bit "Freepish," I meant that SOME of his values are skewed by what I would call the religious wrong's talking points, but, overall, he's a pretty fair character.

I think he labels himself as an Independent, but I'm betting he voted for Bush.