More Ford Cuts
State Senator Steve Cohen won the Democratic primary for Congress from Tennessee's 9th district (now vacant as Harold Ford, Jr. runs for Senate). As the New Republic points out in a lively article, Cohen - -who is white and Jewish -- not only wants to represent this majority-minority district, but also wants to join the Congressional Black Caucus once elected.
Considering that Cohen won the Democratic primary fair and square and is the party's nominee in this overwhelming Democratic district, he should be making history come January when the new Congress is sworn in. Yet, as TNR points out, Jake Ford -- Harold Jr.'s younger brother who dropped out of St. Alban's and has worked for his father's lobby shop -- is making a bid as an independent (after his cousin, Joe Ford, Jr., lost to Cohen in the primary).
Dare I say it, but is Jake Ford "pulling a Lieberman"? And if so, where is the netroots outrage?
A quick scan of Technorati shows that a few local bloggers have registered their disgust with young Ford and the Ford family's feeling of entitlement to the 9th district seat -- and have made the direct comparison between Ford and Lieberman.
But where are the big guys who led the charge against Joe? Where are the bloggers who were so outraged that Joe Lieberman would decide to run as an independent against the party's nominee? Where are those who railed against the "divisiveness" of such a run?
After all, Young Ford -- whose only apparent qualification is his last name and his appearance in several photos, as a child, with famous Democrats -- already has posted a smear website against Cohen. And, it's not that Cohen is some sort of closet conservative; he actually may be to the left of most of the CBC, the caucus he hopes to join.
I strongly disagree with my friends who opposed Senator Lieberman -- but I do admire their conviction, and skill, in pulling off the primary win. But if Democratic unity is so important during these times, then the netroots should use their newfound power to put an end to the Ford run -- or start explaining why not.
Comments (13)
I'm not surprised. The netroots are pretty damn simplistic, especially the Kossacks.
They know that they like Harold Ford for the Senate seat so they won't get worked up about anything Ford does.
To a large extrent, the netroots are "yellow dog Democrats" who will only criticize fellow Dems if he or she is an extreme case (Lieberman).
TPMers tend to be very different in that regard. But I find many, if not most, Democratic posters to be not much different than Lucianne.com people or dittoheads. Just Democrats.
September 15, 2006 8:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is stupid. I would guess that this is the first time that most people reading this post have even heard about what's happening in TN-9, so the fact that there haven't been thousands of diaries excoriating Jack Ford is pretty meaningless.
You might have also strengthened your point by linking to all those diaires supporting Ford, but I'm guessing they don't exist . . .
But I'll bite. Ford should get out of the race, and if he doesn't there should be consequences re: his future participation in the Democratic Party.
Now, I'm anxiously awaiting your diary on why Lieberman needs to get out of the CT senate race. Since I haven't seen one, by your logic I can only assume you support his independent bid. If so, then why do you have a problem with what's happening in TN-9? If not, then put up. Or shut up.
Thanks for stopping by.
September 15, 2006 8:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
How shocking -- Democrats are -- "just Democrats." Did you stay up all night figuring that out, or was it a epiphany?
If you'd spent any time on dailykos.com, you would know that numerous Democrats have drawn harsh words there, from Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer on down to candidates like Mfume. But, there's nothing in your job description about "knowing what you are talking about," I guess.
This topic looks like more "inside the beltway" trash talking. Like most of your comfreres, I'm afraid you've not learned one of life's more important lessons: "You can't make yourself look good by making others look bad."
But then, a life bounded by 495 is a bit like Hotel California, isn't it: "You can check out, but you can never leave."
Thanks.
mp
If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know.
-- Louis Armstrong
September 15, 2006 8:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a sampling of Daily Kos diaries on this race. The diaries and comments are uniformly pro-Cohen as far as I can tell:
TN-09: "I am a lifelong Democrat running as an Independent"
TN-09 Steve Cohen wins Primary, but there's a Ford in the Henhouse
TN-09: A seat worth fighting for (Finally, 3 of 3)
Maybe you guys ought to go over and check out what people are actually saying before you go shooting off your mouth.
September 15, 2006 8:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Since Jake Ford, whom I've never heard of until reading this diary, is just like Joe Lieberman, can you point me to the news stories of Jake Cohen undercutting Democratic politicians? Maybe you have some video footage of Jake Ford going on FoxNews dates with Sean Hannity?How 'bout endorsements for Jake Ford by Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, Mitch McConnell or his "good friend" Karl Rove? A Wall Street Journal editorial on how Democrats need to stop undercutting Our Fearless Leader? Or by some Jake Ford proxy-stooge (Hi Lanny!) accusing the netroots of being racist for critizing Jake Ford? How about Jake Ford being invited to speak for the Republican Senate caucus against the Kerry Feingold amendment? I guess since he doesn't hold office, he was invited as a 'special guest'. Is Jake Ford old enough to have criticized Democrats for 'politicizing' the Clarence Thomas nomination? I guess not, but since he's just like Joe Lieberman, there must be some FoxNews footage of Jake Ford accusing John Kerry of 'politicizing' the war by calling for Donald Rumsfeld's resignation after--after!--Abu Grahib; when did Jake Ford say that firing Rumsfeld would be a setback in the war?
I assume you just didn't have time to find and post all these links, because otherwise your post would be dishonest and irrelevant. But you can go back and edit your post to include the links now.
Hey Ken! Here's an idea: If your interest is really in supporting Steve Cohen against Jake Ford, why don't you go back and write a post in support of Steve Cohen against Jake Ford, instead of yet one more petulant dishonest whine on behalf of the dishonest, petulant, whiny, self-serving, arrogant, spotlight junkie war-supporter Joe Lieberman.
BTW, Ken, did you see in the news about all the corpses delivered to the already overcrowded Baghdad morgue, most of them showing signs of having been tortured? And two more marines were killed today. And Bush is ready to parliamentarily nuclear in order to have the right to torture prisoners and suspend the separation of powers for as long as he feels like it. Hohum. I wouldn't want to embolden our enemies by criticizing our Commander in Chief. I would be doing so at the Peril of myself and the Entire Nation! I know this because the Great and Glorious Joe Liebmerman told me so. You and Principled Joe just keep stayin' that Bush course. Things are going great!
September 15, 2006 9:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
What a stupid post. Not surprising from a particularly petty and small man desperately trying to attack the non-DLCers. I am not a fan of Harold Ford...everything out of him seems to speak opportunism. But he seems to be running a good race in Tennessee. And while I do not trust him, I do not think he is as vile as Lieberman. I certainly also do not like family ownership of seats in Congress. But that in many ways is besides the point; if Jake Ford lost to Cohen he shouldn't then run as an independent; but checking Baer's link one does not find Jake Ford among Cohen's primary opponents. Joe Ford is there but he came in last (last even with the Ford name). But Baer is able (with his brilliance...how have I managed to navigate political waters without relying on Baer's particular genius) to foresee young Jake winning based on ...his name...this gives new meaning and depth to vapid and pointless political dialogue). This post demeans political discussion at TPM Cafe; Baer brings a new level of intellectual dishonesty to TPM Cafe.
September 15, 2006 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, in point of fact Jake Ford is not pulling a Lieberman. If you want to argue that he is pulling a Nader, be my guest, but ...
Liberman (CFL-CT) ran in the Democratic primary, was beaten by Lamont, then entered to run as the candidate of the "Connecticut for Sore Loser" party.
Jake Ford (I-TN) did not run for the Democratic nomination. He may well be running in a cynical ploy, but he is not running a Sore Loser candidacy.
The most common view on the Daily Kos seems to be that he should pull out anyway, which mirrors a common view on the Nader candidacies.
September 15, 2006 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
"The most common view on the Daily Kos seems to be that he should pull out anyway, which mirrors a common view on the Nader candidacies."
But this is distinctly NOT the viewpoint of smarmy Ken Baer and the rest of the DLC gand (From, Wittman,...) concerning Lieberman. Isn't it interesting that Baer doesn't touch the topic of what HE thinks Saint Joe should do; just as he never objected to Lieberman's kissing up to Bush and the right or Lieberman's attacks on antiwar progressives as disloyal. Baer seems determined to use this forum to attack progressives and defend the discredited politics of the DLC.
September 15, 2006 12:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
One thing that should be made clear here is that Steve Cohen is about the best progressive you're ever going to find from Tennessee and is quite a bit more progressive on many issues that Harold Ford ever dreamed of being. So we should defintely support Cohen in this race based on that alone.
September 15, 2006 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, it did have the sound of "why you picking on my guy, why aint you picking on him".
Its just wrong to put a bet each way, accepting the benefits of being a major party candidate if you win the primary, but working to spoil things for the candidate that beat you for the nomination if you lose the primary. That's "pulling a Lieberman".
Trying to put out false comparisons to defend one person that is catching flack by falsely pretending that someone else who is not catching flack did the exact same thing, Ken Baer seems to be attempting here, that might most memorably be called "Pulling a PT911".
September 15, 2006 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, if Mr Baer were really interested in Steven Cohen's campaign, much less progressive policies or politics, that would have been the thrust of this post. But this is nothin' but a pity party by proxy for poor, poor, pitiful Joe (forgive me, Mr Zevon), for whom Mr Baer was senior advisor to the highly successful 2004 presidential primary campaign (finished fifth in his home state, you'll all recall).
September 15, 2006 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
FOREIGNID: 164586
FOREIGNPARENTID: 164377
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AUTHOR: UnaHomer
DATE: 09/16/2006 04:33:40 AM
September 16, 2006 4:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
You seem to forget one MAJOR fact in your analysis: Jake Ford has no record of supporting the War in Iraq like Joe Lieberman did.
The single most important reason Lieberman was targeted for political assassination by the hard-left in our party is that this year the Democratic extremists have decided that support for the Iraq War will be the "litmus test" for Democratic candidates running for re-election to Congress.
Just like the Republicans have single-mindedly used abortion as a test for candidates for years now, rejecting even those who vote 99% conservative, but refuse to condemn abortion, the extremist left are making the War in Iraq a diehard issue. Even loyal Democrats that have voted 99% along party lines for decades like Lieberman, but support the War in Iraq are OUT. no questions asked.
Since Jake Ford does not fall into that category, or any category for that matter, he has NO record--not even a college diploma! I can't imagine why you would attack him for being like Joe Lieberman.
September 16, 2006 4:35 AM | Reply | Permalink