Ford Jr. shows up at Corker event uninvited (VIDEO)

[jefferson_dem]

Ford Jr. shows up at Corker event uninvited

Oct 20, 2006 07:41 PM EDT

Harold Ford Jr. showed up uninvited at a campaign event for rival Republican Bob Corker at a private charter airstrip in Memphis this morning. Corker had scheduled the media event earlier this week.

News reporters were surprised when Ford's tour bus pulled up at the event and, apparently staff at Wilson Air were surprised as well, as they tried to steer media inside the property for the Corker news conference.

"You need to get this bus off our premises please. Right now," said one Wilson Air staffer.

Corker instead, opted to come out and talk with Ford directly while the cameras were rolling. What followed was a tense confrontation between the two, caught on tape.

The two shook hands, but there was nothing civil about it. "I came to talk about ethics. And I have a press conference," Corker told Ford. "And I think that it's a true sign of desperation and that you would pull your bus up when I'm having a press conference."

"As a matter of fact, this is my press conference not yours, okay?" Corker told Ford.

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http://www.wmctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5568809&nav=menu59_1

[BootinUp]

1. Things are gettin pretty testy up in Tennessee. lol.

GO GET EM HAROLD!

[TheDebbieDee]

10. I agree.....Go, Harold Ford!

The man has a huge pair!

[yourout]

2. Unless this was an accident it reflects badly on Ford.

That is my initial instinct as an outsider.

I want Ford to win but if he was crashing Corkers press conference I consider it a somewhat tastless act.

[yellowcanine]

19. I disagree. Corker crossed a line attacking Ford's family. Ford

retaliated in an appropriate way. Heat, Kitchen, etc.

[truthisfreedom]

3. it's a stunt, but it made me smile. it drew a lot of attention to Ford,

and he managed to get his message out about the unfair ads. i think it worked in his favor, overall. people love to see conflict, and i think he gave everyone some great entertainment. he's cheeky!

[Charlie Brown]

4. Since Corker has gotten so personal with the ads

I applaud Ford for being bold enough to call him on it first-hand. I'm not a Ford-cheerleader by any means, but he certainly had justification to confront his opponent after the intensely personal campaign charges.

How many of us would have loved to have seen Kerry do this to the swift-boaters or Bill Clinton to do this to any of the right-wing radio hosts?

Nasty accusations and campaign ads should be confronted and refuted, and what better way to do it than at the source?

[sampsonblk]

6. Good point

I have no idea about the ethics on this, but if Kerry had pulled this on the Swifties that would have been devastating to their "cause."

I guess this tactic is great if used very very rarely.

[KingFlorez]

5. Like something out of a primetime serial

The adversary shows up and they get into a little verbal sparring match. That was so good.

[ShortnFiery]

24. It showed that Ford has a sense of humor ...

He knew that he was being "a pest" and "a party crasher" by attempting to take the wind out of Corker's sails. But in my book, that's a lot classier than smearing one's opponents family members. :shrug:

I thought it was quite entertaining - and as he expected - Corker demonstrated at the time, that he does NOT have a sense of humor. If he did, Corker could have spun the faux pas in his favor by friendly teasing Ford back. But Corker does not have the capacity for light hearted banter nor any understanding for anyone but himself and the fulfillment of his PERSONAL ambitions. ;)

[Lars39]

7. I think the phrase,"Stole his thunder" applies here.

Ford became the news. :)

[FredScuttle]

8. Did he hold up a "Connecticut for Lieberman" sign?

n/t

[maryallen]

20. Or an"I'm Imus's man" sign?

I hope Ford wins, but you have to be "deaf, dumb, and blind" to not see that he has been co-opted by the DLC and their power brokers.

So far, Ford has "stayed on the reservation," so to speak, but he appears to be toting around a load of whoop-ass. In other words, he's playing the game, but he's mad as hell about it.

But hey, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do .... to win at the game of politics, particularly in the deep South.

[Dammit Ann]

9. i live in tennessee.

this was first run on the local news, and unfortunately, i thinks it reflects bad on ford. it's a shame because i think he had great momentum going. i have friends who voted for bush who were planning to vote for ford, i hope this didn't change their minds, if they have such a thing.

[cry baby]

27. I live in Tn., too, and I like his straight forward way.

Corker is a putz for going after Ford's family...he deserves to be humiliated, and he was.

[GOPBasher]

11. This was not politically smart at all.

I hope Ford wins, but I fear this made it more difficult.

[robcon]

12. Ford was misadvised, or acted impusively, IMO.

This does not reflect well on him. It sounds desperate... like the Repig who ran against Hillary C in NY 6 years ago, who left his podium at the debate to confront her, and showed himself to be an utter ass.

[redstateblues]

13. Bob Corker hates looking up to Ford

Ford towers over Corker. I'm sure that's one of the reasons little Bob has avoided Ford.

[Tippy]

14. You hit the nail on the head......

Corker did blow his cork...on this one. He showed his hair trigger on TV....

[Fluffdaddy]

15. Not Good, Bad Move on Ford Part

[Strathos]

16. I'm voting for FORD

and loved that video. I'm in Hendersonville, TN and trust me, most people are fed up with the rethugs.

[peacebuzzard]

17. I wonder what the newest ad Corkface did re: Ford made Ford so mad.

and I don't blame him for confronting the ass. Ford isn't perfect (who is) but he is for the labor end of business.
He has my vote.

[Lurking Dem]

34. Probably this one -

http://guerillawomentn.blogspot.com/2006/10/gop-aims-sleazy-blonde-bimbo-ad-at.html

[acmavm]

18. People say it's time for the dems to get pissed off and pull out all the

stops. Time to fight back. Time to take a stand, make some noice. Do some damage.

Then when they do they get bad mouthed. This guy went out and faced his opponent. Publically. And called him on his bullshit.

How much more of a stand can one take?

People need to make up their minds.

[IndianaGreen]

21. Ford endorsed Joe Lieberman

and since his endorsement of Bush's favorite Senator, his poll numbers have dropped.

I am glad I don't live in Tennessee, a beautiful state with great gay bars, that deserves a better fate than a Corker/Ford race.

[ShortnFiery]

23. Ford may have endorsed Loserman BUT he's a BLUE DOG democrat

so that is NOT contrary to his political character. I'm hoping with time, the good people of Tennessee will become more moderate.

I was pissed at Ford when he, a nug, challenged Nancy Pelosi for the position of Minority Leader. :(

However, and this takes a lot of humbleness on my part, he didn't feign moderation like Loserman.

I still want Ford to win and believe, albeit he's too conservative for many of us, he's the perfect democratic Senator for the state of Tennessee.

"Baby Steps first" - especially in The South. :shrug:

[cry baby]

28. totally agree - we have got to look at his constituents here in Tn.

conservative. he's moderate...better than conservative or neocon like Frist. I don't give a shite whether or not he endorsed Lieberman. We need a Dem in that seat.

[Lars39]

35. Ford is a New Democrat.

New Democrats are Lieberman's creation.

[BootinUp]

25. I sincerely doubt

that is a factor hurting Ford in a state like TN. There are slimy RW tactics that are more likely to hurt Fords support.

[mcg]

22. Corker repeatedly slandered Ford's family and ducked debate.

He was confronting "cut and run" Corker, challenging
him to have some courage and debate him on the issues
instead of insulting his family.

Good for Ford.

[Ediacara]

30. Have they had a debate?

[judaspriestess]

26. fight fire with fire n/t

[Ediacara]

29. Have Ford and Corker had any debates?

I ask because Ford seems to implying that they haven't...

[CraigHinTenn]

32. they have had 2 and due for one more, Corker refused to debate on

Meet the Press. I have seen Ford speak 3 or 4 times and he always takes the high road and shares a message of hope. Corker only attacks....We can only hope Ford wins and swings the senate back to the Dems.

[proud2BlibKansan]

38. Yes the debate is on YouTube

[rucky]

31. It was a risky tactic, but it backfired.

He seemed tentative when he faced off with Corker. If he was going to crash it, he should've committed to it & took control.

[Doremus]

33. Way to go! It's about time Dems fought back!

We can't have it both ways, folks. Either you want wallflower Milquetoasts who say nothing as the sand's kicked in their faces ... or ... you want someone who doesn't take crap and fights back when they're being swiftboated.

How long now have DUers been lambasting Kerry for his silence? Here's a man who DID fight back and what are you saying now? "Poor taste," "looks desperate," etc. You all sound as spineless as the politicians you claim to disagree with.

[1932]

36. Why does Corker need to hold press conferences in restricted-access

situations?

Warren Beatty followed Arnold around during the recall and got kicked out of Arnold's restricted-access press conferences and asked this same question.

[Strathos]

37. Because he can't debate fairly and without prompting eom

;-)