What of Harold Ford and illegals? Well, Junior is currently running an ad accusing Bob Corker of hiring illegals on one of his job sites in 1988, yet fails to clearly explain his own position. Corker has made his position clear but it's been defused by the Ford hypocrisy charge.
On the official Ford website there's a section called, "Harold on the issues". We don't find an illegal immigration box, but we do find a position on making America competitive vis a vis foreign workers stealing American jobs, but nothing on illegals stealing American jobs.
On the fan site there's a sidebar section called "Ford on the issues", but you'll not see anything jumping out. Ironically there is a bullet point on 'gas price relief'. Somebody didn't get the memo.
None of this is to say he hasn't taken a stand on the immigration issue, he's just not making a big deal out of it. And why should he, it's the new third rail of politics. The Ford crew prepared a defense--scream hypocrisy then run back to the tall grass. So far it's working.
Yep, it's deluded and wishful thinking to assume either party will do anything on this issue other than window dress it. The relevance here is to illustrate how carefully crafted Ford's image is and how well he's being handled, not only on the immigration issue but on everything. His voting record has completely removed any exploitable distinctions between himself and any republican challenger.
That sets up an almost insane construct for Bob Corker whereby criticizing Ford's positions literally amounts to criticizing himself. The only arrows left in the quiver are to attack Junior for being from a west Tennessee political machine and accuse him of Volunteer heresy by not attending UT.
That defaults the race to a popularity contest between a hick-talker and a slick-talker...a guy from Tennessee, and a guy from DC. If nothing else you've gotta admire the Rovian-like brilliance in that.
THE BUTTINSKY 10/20/06
Looks like we almost had a Jerry Springer moment here in Memphis today. Ford crashed a local Corker press conference challenging him to a parking lot debate about Iraq. Corker refused, of course.
This is still sketchy, but it's possible Ford was trying to deflect media attention away from Corker's agenda, which was to focus on Ford's dad Harold and his lobbyist practices along with Junior's many taxpayer funded trips. Just a hunch.
MOORE 10/21/06
East Tennessee blogger Nathan Moore points out the lack of civility from some fellow Vols regards the election. Not surprising, but keep in mind Harold's not the only 'bitch slapper' in Tennessee--the Guerilla Gals have been known to do a little slappin' of their own:
There is a rising tide of anger among rank and file Dems in this state over the fact that you can't tell a Democrat from a Republican. Many of us are fed up with Democratic candidates and elected officials who could just as easily be Republican.Apparently Harold's no-show was a little incident that Time has forgotten.
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