Huge Gaffe from Harold Ford Jr.

Posted October 30, 2006 - 4:28pm by Will Hinton

While I am disturbed at the suggestion that some would do away with bringing their faith into political discussions, I am also concerned when people use their faith to demogogue. Harold Ford Jr. stepped way over the line in a remark this weekend and may have put a serious dent in his campaign.

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Comments

Is there a link or anything?

by Expat Teacher - 10/30/2006 - 6:24pm

So, I haven't seen this gaffe. I don't visit the right side of the blogosphere, so I haven't seen anything.

Is there a link? Or a transcript or something?

No link...

by Will Hinton - 10/30/2006 - 6:50pm

...just watch the video. It is self-explanatory.

Btw, you should broaden your horizons with the blogs you read. :)

generally...

by Scott McD (not verified) - 10/30/2006 - 10:02pm

The 'purely' right wing blogs make my blood pressure rise too sharply.
Thank goodness for this place! Woo! :P

so which party loves God more?

by Jim Keffer - 10/31/2006 - 11:21am

The answer is irrelevant. Do we measure the prayer-o-meter. Harold Ford did make a misstep. It seems no worse than the ads that show a Playboy Bunny-esque woman who says Harold should call her up.

Let's take God out of the this, unless it is couched in prayers asks for His guidance for our leaders and that His will would be done.

Let's not say His will = a certain part of the dem/rep platform or that His will = rep/dem win on election day.

The quote that comes to mind is from Tolkien in LOTR from the ets. The hobbits ask Treebeard whose side he's on - Sauron's or their's. He responds that he's not on anyone's side because no one is entirely on his side.

I don't think God would have a political party because no one's taking their marching orders from Him.

It's the mommy and daddy party

by Expat Teacher - 10/31/2006 - 8:37pm

I finally fixed my SAFT Safari plug-in so now I can see YouTube videos and I just watched it. I assume you are objecting to the idea that Republican just fear God while Democrats fear and love God.

Will you said, "Harold Ford Jr. stepped way over the line in a remark this weekend and may have put a serious dent in his campaign."You've got to be kidding me!

Ford's assertions are perfectly in line with American perceptions of Democrats and Republicans. Republicans are seen as the Daddy party because they are the strong on the rules and discipline. It fits perfectly with Ford's characterization that Republicans "fear God" because that is what we expect from people that fear God. Strong on rules and discipline.

Democrats on the other hand are the Mommy party. They are nurture and care for people. Again, Ford's characterization that Democrats fear and love again fits what the American public believe.

I didn't see anyone calling foul when it worked in 2002 and 2004 for the Republicans to foster the view that they are the Daddy party, but now when America is ready for some lovin', you say that is demagoguery.

Is it fair to characterize either party that way? As a whole, I'd say yes. However, there are certainly lots of Mommies in the Republican ranks and Daddies in the Democrats.

I'm sure this remark will have zero impact on his campaign. Depending on who you believe, Ford is up by 5 or down by 8 or dead even. This "gaffe" won't cost Ford any votes. He is only telling people what they already believe.

Nope

by Will Hinton - 11/01/2006 - 6:41am

Expat: sounds like you have been smoking the Lakoff pipe? :)

The average voter does not have this perception of "daddy" and "mommy" parties.

This was a huge blunder by Ford in that he directly impugned the faith of those who vote Republican. He said that Republicans simply fear God but Democrats fear and love God. This is about as dumb of a statement as I have heard a politician make in a long time and it will cost him votes.

Average citizens see the difference

by Expat Teacher - 11/01/2006 - 11:20am

It isn't the Lakoff haze that has me seeing this comment as a "mommy" and "daddy" party thing. It is exactly how the average citizen sees the two parties is what I'm driving at.

If you don't think the perceptions are real, then I challenge you to explain the Republican victories in 2002 and 2004 in any way other than "we are the disciplinarians" and willing to kick a little ass. Democrats on the other hand are soft and whimpy. They wanna hug the terrorists not kill them like we would.

Or, how about the "compassionate Conservative" (an oxymoron if you ask me) that Bush ran as in 2000. Why add the "compassionate" part if people already think you are.

In 2006, Democrats are running as a hawkish party. You'll hear covered words about getting out of Iraq from candidates, but every single candidate in a competitive race is running as ready to kick Al-Qeada butt.

Ford's comment may have cost him Jim Keffer's vote and that is a shame, but in no way will it swing this race. Ford is simply saying what the public already believe.

lost my vote

by Jim Keffer - 11/01/2006 - 11:06am

Was on the line on whether to vote for Ford or Corker. Just not thrilled w/Ford and I thought this was a different Democrat - in that we are more in-line on social issues. This comment didn't help me want to stay w/him, and I vote in TN.

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