Sunday, October 08, 2006

An E-Mail from Tom Ingram After Debate No. 1

Get Excited, Troops!

Our guy did great in tonight’s debate in Memphis. Expectations were out the roof for the other guy and questionable for ours. Bob greatly exceeded expectations, and Harold’s flat performance sagged terribly from the very first moment.

The distinction, clear – Bob demonstrated a thoughtful, senatorial temperament; Harold was shrill, confused at times particularly when it came to critical foreign relations issues, and did not show the maturity one would expect of a senator.

Media, enamored of teflon Harold, probably will give him a break, but we all should be very proud of Bob and his performance tonight. He clearly has the intellect, character and presentation to carry on the tradition of Howard Baker, Fred Thompson, Bill Frist and Lamar Alexander in the U. S. Senate.

Thanks for all your help and support.

Below is the release we distributed immediately after the debate, including multiple instances of Harold once again saying one thing while his voting record says something quite different:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For Immediate Release
October 7, 2006
Contact: Todd Womack
423-364-2220

Corker Shares Vision; Exhibits Senatorial Temperament
Ford Continues Pattern of Stretching Truth

Memphis, TN – In the first debate of the general election campaign, U. S. Senate candidate Bob Corker easily prevailed over Washington Congressman Ford, who did not live up to his over-hyped reputation as an expert orator, but continued his pattern of stretching the truth on his record.

Corker illustrated that the clear choice in this election is between himself, a real Tennessean who has proven his ability to help people solve complicated problems with bold solutions in the private and public sectors, or Congressman Ford, a young man whose total life experience is about Washington, politics and perpetuating the Ford political machine.

Corker Communications Director, Todd Womack said, “While Bob Corker shared his vision of creating bold solutions to lead America’s toward a bright future, Congressman Ford continued a pattern that has dominated the campaign of stretching his record and his resume. Bob Corker demonstrated that he has the background and experience to represent Tennessee in the United States Senate, while Congressman Ford showed that while he talks a good game, he lacks the maturity, temperament or experience to serve in the U. S. Senate."

FORD STRETCHES THE TRUTH ON TORT REFORM

Ford Has Voted At Least Five Times Against Caps In Medical Malpractice Lawsuits, Consistently Voting To Block Reform Since 2001. (HR 5, CQ Vote #449: Passed 230-194: R 216-9; D 14-184; I 0-1, July 28, 2005, Ford Voted Nay; HR 4280, CQ Vote #166: Passed 229-197: R 214-10; D 15-186; I 0-1, May 12, 2004, Ford Voted Nay; HR 5, CQ Vote #64: Passed 229-196: R 213-9; D 16-186; I 0-1, March 13, 2003, Ford Voted Nay; HR 4600, CQ Vote #421: Passed 217-203: R 203-15; D 14-187; I 0-1, September 26, 2002, Ford Voted Nay; HR 2563, CQ Vote #330: Rejected 207-221: R 201-18; D 5-202; I 1-1, August 2, 2001, Ford Voted Nay)

Former President Of The Trial Lawyer Association Fred Baron Gave Congressman Ford $1,000 In 2006. (The Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed October 7, 2006)

Baron Once Quipped That Trial Lawyers Ran The Democrat Senate. “Lastly, there is another reason [a legislative solution to the asbestos litigation crisis] won’t happen. I picked up my Wall Street Journal last night . . . and what did I learn? ‘The plaintiffs’ bar is all but running the Senate.’ Now, I really, strongly disagree with that, particularly the words ‘all but.’” (Fred Baron, Mealey’s Asbestos Bankruptcy Conference, June 3, 2002)

· Baron Even Vowed “Jihad” Against Tort Reform Advocates. “Fred Baron has 10,000 asbestos clients – probably more than any other lawyer in the US – and he has a simple message for those lobbying Washington’s lawmakers to make it harder to bring his cases to court. ‘There will be a jihad,’ he says. ‘We will fight them with everything we’ve got.’” (“Growing Chorus Demands Change In Law,” Financial Times, September 9, 2002)

FORD STRETCHES THE TRUTH ON HIS OPPOSITION TO IRAN

Ford Missed A Chance To Condemn The Iranian President And His Call To Destroy Israel:

· Condemnation Against Iran President – Adoption. “Adoption of the resolution that would condemn Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s threats against Israel and nations that support Israel.” (H Res 523, CQ Vote #556: Adopted 383-0: R 204-0; D 178-0 (ND 135-0, SD 43-0); I 1-0. October 28, 2005, Ford Did Not Vote)

FORD STRETCHES THE TRUTH ON OPPOSITION TO AMNESTY

Ford Called A Senate Judiciary Bill That Included Amnesty “More Balanced” And “More American.” FORD: “We passed a strong enforcement-only bill in the Congress. And I think what came out of the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday was a more balanced forward-looking approach and, frankly, a more American approach. It’s probably not altogether right but it’s a lot better than what we had.” . . . CNBC’S LARRY KUDLOW: “If the Senate bill, this Specter bill comes to the House floor, can you vote for it?” FORD: “If they add--make it a little stronger border protection component, I can vote for it, but we’ve got to address the border protection thing.” (Harold Ford, Jr. CNBC’s “Kudlow & Company,” March 30, 2006)

The Senate Judiciary Committee Bill Ford Said He Would Vote For Includes Amnesty And Guest Worker Provisions. “The draft bill approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee . . . includes provisions on border security, internal enforcement, guest workers and legalization of those now in the country illegally.” (Elizabeth B. Crowley, “Judiciary Measure Would Significantly Alter Frist’s Bill,” Congressional Quarterly, March 30, 2006)

· “The Bill (S 2611) … Would Offer A Path To Citizenship To Most Of The Estimated 11 Million To 12 Million Illegal Immigrants In The Country.” (Michael Sandler, “Senate Limits Debate, Moves Toward Final Immigration Vote,” Congressional Quarterly, May 25, 2006)

FORD STRETCHES THE TRUTH ON HIS SUPPORT FOR VETERANS

Vietnam Veterans Of America Gives Ford An Average 35.5% Rating For His Votes Since 2003. (Vietnam Veterans Of America Website, capwiz.com/vva/keyvotes.xc/?lvl=C, Accessed September 8, 2006; Project Vote Smart, www.vote-smart.org, Accessed August 29, 2006)

Disabled American Veterans Gives Ford An Average 40% Rating For His Votes Since 2001. (Project Vote Smart, www.vote-smart.org, Accessed August 29, 2006)

The Retired Enlisted Association Disabled American Veterans Gives Ford A 17% Rating For His Votes In 2004. (Project Vote Smart, www.vote-smart.org, Accessed August 29, 2006)

FORD STRETCHES THE TRUTH ON HIS SUPPORT OF A TWO-YEAR BUDGET

In An Interview With The Chattanooga Times Free Press Editorial Board Ford Said He Favored A Two-Year Budget Cycle. “Ed Bryant and I share something in common when it comes to balancing the budget. I think that we ought to adopt a two-year budget cycle.” (Harold Ford, Jr., Chattanooga Times Free Press Editorial Board Interview, October 3, 2006)

But In 2000, Congressman Ford Voted Against An Amendment To Replace Annual Budgeting With A Biennial System. “Dreier, R-Calif., amendment that would replace the annual budgeting and appropriation system with a biennial one. Under the amendment, the budget resolution would cover two years, as would appropriations bills.” (HR 853, CQ Vote #186: Rejected 201-217: R 176-42; D 24-174; I 1-1, May 16, 2000, Ford Voted Nay)

FORD STRETCHES THE TRUTH ON HIS SUPPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

According To Congressional Quarterly, Liberal Icons Ted Kennedy And Hillary Clinton Supported President Bush More Often Than Harold Ford In Four Of The Past Five Years. (Member Profile, “Harold Ford,” Congressional Quarterly Website, www.cq.com, Accessed February 1, 2006)

Ford Has A Lifetime Democrat Party Unity Average Score Of 88% - The Highest Of The Tennessee Delegation. (All Information From www.CQ.com, updated through January 2006 and Accessed August 24, 2006)

According To Congressional Quarterly, In Three Of The Last Five Years Ford Has Opposed President Bush More Often Than Any Member Of The Tennessee Congressional Delegation. (Congressional Quarterly Website, www.cq.com, Accessed June 29, 2006)

FORD STRETCHES THE TRUTH ON HIS LIBERALISM

According To National Journal, Ford Has A 67.3% Average Liberal Score Over The Course Of His Career, The Highest Of The Tennessee Delegation. (National Journal, House Vote Ratings 1997-2005, http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings, Accessed August 26, 2006)

FORD STRETCHES THE TRUTH ON HIS COMMITMENT

TO “THE LITTLE GUY”

Harold Ford’s Leading Donors Are Not Comprised Of “The Little Guy.” Ford has received almost $660,000 from lawyers and law firms and well-over $500,000 from the largest securities & investment firms. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 10/7/06)

Ford’s Top Contributors Are All Investment Firms

Rank Company/Firm Amount

1 Credit Suisse Group $37,720
2 Ariel Capital Management $31,550
3 Goldman Sachs $30,797
4 Morgan Stanley $28,850
5 Merrill Lynch $27,850
6 McVean Trading & Investments $26,700
7 UBS AG $25,250

(The Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 10/7/06)

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