Tennessee 2006 Senate Debate: on Principles & Values


Bob Corker: Ford’s family lobbies Ford in Congress

CORKER: Could you explain how you serve on the Committee regulating Fannie Mae, and within 60 days your dad became the registered lobbyist for Fannie Mae, to lobby you in Washington on that Committee?

FORD: Attacking my father has no place in this campaign. You call my family a political machine -- I wonder if you feel the same about the Bush family. My father is too decent of a person to do any of the things that my opponent claims. I didn’t think my opponent could stoop any lower into the gutter -- but it looks as if rock bottom hasn’t been hit yet. My dad nor any member of my family has never lobbied me, nor would I allow them to. I work for the people of my district. Leave my family out of this -- this is between you and I, your ideas and your platform versus mine.

CORKER: I’ve never said a disparaging word; I’ve just pointed out the relationship.

Source: 2006 TN Senate debate, at University of Chattanooga Oct 10, 2006

Bob Corker: I’ve lived a TN life; my opponent has lived a DC life

Only one of us has been in Washington over the last decade, and that’s my opponent. I’ve been right here in Tennessee, trying to bring people together to solve problems. I’ve lived a Tennessee life; my opponent has lived a Washington life. I want to take to Washington that ability that I’ve demonstrated right here in Tennessee to solve problems, to bring people together. I really believe our country faces the most complex issues we’ve faced in decades. We need someone who has the ability to solve those.
Source: 2006 TN Senate debate, at University of Chattanooga Oct 10, 2006

Harold Ford: Campaign should be about ideas, not family political machine

CORKER: Could you explain how you serve on the Committee regulating Fannie Mae, and within 60 days your dad became the registered lobbyist for Fannie Mae, to lobby you in Washington on that Committee?

FORD: Attacking my father has no place in this campaign. You call my family a political machine -- I wonder if you feel the same about the Bush family. My father is too decent of a person to do any of the things that my opponent claims. I didn’t think my opponent could stoop any lower into the gutter -- but it looks as if rock bottom hasn’t been hit yet. My dad nor any member of my family has never lobbied me, nor would I allow them to. I work for the people of my district. Leave my family out of this -- this is between you and I, your ideas and your platform versus mine.

CORKER: I’ve never said a disparaging word; I’ve just pointed out the relationship.

Source: 2006 TN Senate debate, at Univ. of Chattanooga, x-ref Corker Oct 10, 2006

Harold Ford: Attended law school but failed bar exam due to campaigning

Q: I want to clarify some misconceptions I’ve seen in the media. Did you pass the bar exam, and do you consider yourself a lawyer?

FORD: I went to a great law school, the University of Michigan. But even going to a great law school doesn’t guarantee that you can pass the bar exam. I took it one time, and I didn’t pass. I took it right after I graduated from law school, when I was first running for Congress and I had just gotten elected. I learned an important lesson--you got to study for that thing.

Source: 2006 TN Senate debate, at University of Chattanooga Oct 10, 2006

Harold Ford: This race is about whether we want a rubber stamp for Bush

This race for the Senate is about whether we want a US Senator who will essentially be a rubber stamp for what has happened over the last six years. Whether it be the minimum wage, whether it be stay-the-course in Iraq, whether it be healthcare, or even with accountability in Washington. If you believe America is better than what they have given us in the last six years, I’m asking for your vote.
Source: 2006 TN Senate debate, at University of Chattanooga Oct 10, 2006

  • The above quotations are from Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. (D-9th) & Former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker debate at the University of Chattanooga, hosted by the Chattanooga Times Free Press, WTVC-TV News Channel 9, & the Chattanooga Bar Assocation, Oct. 10, 2006. .
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Candidates and political leaders on Principles & Values:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Feb 25, 2019