Harold Ford’s Values
January 20, 2010
by Nora Bredes
|The opinions expressed herein and those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda. Viewers are welcome to submit blog pieces on women’s issues.
It’s no secret that I support and believe in Senator Kirsten Gilibrand. I believe in her intelligence, perseverance, vision and commitment to women and men, children and families. So I’m not apt to be thrilled by Harold Ford, Jr.’s potential primary challenge to Senator Gillibrand. Mr. Ford is pro-life, pro-gun, against gay marriage, vague about health care, jobs and the economy.
On issues, he’s not for me. But even more than that, I’m concerned about his values and character. The passage below appears in today’s New York Times, At a King Day Celebration, a Preview of a Gillibrand-Ford Primary, Mr. Ford made the following comments yesterday in a speech commemorating Dr. King’s legacy:
Mr. Ford spoke about his childhood in Memphis, describing a grandmother who used the extension cords from living room lamps to discipline him and his brother. ‘I am always amazed when I meet parents who say they can’t get their kids to go to church, ’cause I didn’t know kids had options like that.’
Later, he returned to the subject:
We as a nation need to be disciplined. If there were ever a day in which an electric cord ought to be used on all of us to remind us of what’s good, what’s bad, what’s right and what’s wrong, it’s on the King holiday.’
In an era when torture has been used to undermine America’s foundation; when increasing poverty strains families, often resulting in violence against women and children; when our troops are on the ground in Haiti, hoping to quell violent disturbances that impede recovery; and, finally, on a day when we hope to honor King’s transcendent example — the embrace of non-violence to “help remind us all of what’s good, what’s bad, what’s right and wrong”, Mr. Ford’s comments are profoundly chilling.
Mr. Ford’s campaign website provides this contact information: hford@dlc.org; 202/546-0007; and 600 Pennsylvania Ave, SE, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20003. Please email, call or write Mr. Ford and let him know that New Yorkers don’t need or want this kind of leadership.
Wow, bad choice to use those words on MLK day. I thought Ford was from the south, what is the deal with people from all over the place going in to New York to run for Senator? New York needs to modernize their laws on this. People in my state would never tolerate outsiders taking over our only chance at Federal representation. I don’t see how these super star politicians who have other career ambitions can be serving The Peoples need for an active Senator.
I read “Harold Ford’s values” and almost sprayed coffee on my monitor. I’m pretty sure that “Harold Ford” and “Values” should never appear in the same sentence. Somebody should pass a law.
I am absolutely furious that he (and the Dems) would even consider challenging Gilibrand. That is an abomination. We’re at barely 17% female representation in congress. Dems just torpedoed Martha Coakley with their behavior. If they allow Ford to try and torpedo Gilibrand, I’ll be furious. I won’t just vote for Republicans in protest, I’ll actively campaign for them.
They are Dems and Dems are sexist. They probably figure they did their tokenism time with Gilibrand and now they are ready for a “real” male Senator. Women’s issues always come last if ever with Dems.
People seem to expect female candidates to be above politics as usual and when they conform to the ugliness that is business as usual they can’t win either. I don’t see aping male behaviors as a way for women to win in politics. I feel ready for a third party, one that considers women’s needs and respects them.
Mr Ford has not visited the state, all he knows is Wall street. I remember an article when senator Gillibrand was just appointed and she traveled the state. She wnated to get to know the vast differences in people she was going to represent and was ridiculed for that as the best hand shaker and sausage eater.
Leave your Response Want an avatar? Get a gravatar!
Community Room
February 22, 2012 at 11:22 am
February 17, 2012 at 2:39 pm
February 6, 2012 at 4:25 pm
January 30, 2012 at 2:36 pm
January 26, 2012 at 4:38 pm
January 23, 2012 at 1:04 pm
January 15, 2012 at 11:37 am
January 9, 2012 at 6:36 pm
BUILD your NETWORK
Our Network of College Women
Protecting our Teenage Girls
We’re in the Media »
Click to see our latest stories in the media
More Stories »Recent Comments
The Latest from our Blog
Archives
Pioneer Mentors
Blogroll
Find us Online
Subscribe Entries (RSS) | Comments (RSS)
The New Agenda is a 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls by bringing about systemic change in the media, at the workplace, at school and at home. More...