Harold Ford Jr. laced into Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand this morng in a stop to Albany, saying New Yorkers don't need "parakeets" as their leaders.
Ford made the comments in an interview with The Post's Fredric U. Dicker on his Talk1300 radio show, "Live from the state Capitol."
"We need people to be more independent," Ford, a Tennessee transplant who's looking increasingly like he plans to make a go against the appoined junior senator, told Dicker.
Ford added that the senator wasn't elected "to be a parakeet or to take instructions" from party bosses.
It's not the word The Post has used to describe Gillibrand on its editorial pages - "handpuppet" of Sen. Charles Schumer - but it has a similar meaning.
Asked about why someone should choose him over native upstater Gillibrand, Ford said, "here are people who have all that experience who aren't delivering....you need not have lived there 25 years to understand (the sense that) Washington has lost its way."
He slammed Gillibrand and Schumer for votes on legislation - such as health care reform - that could have a negative impact on their home states, and he rapped Team Gillibrand as distorting his record.
They've been on a tear to "paint me as some sort of Southern zealot," he said. Ford - who recently embraced gay marriage for the first time - accused Gillibrand of switching positions on gay marriage "mor aggressively and more fundamentally than I did."
That was an apparent reference to his long support for civil unions (a position Gllibrand shared until becoming a proponent of gay marriage within days of Gov. Paterson tapping her for her new position).
He also declined repeatedly to slam poll-challenged Paterson, saying he was dealt a rough hand. And he said he would likely have to create an exploratory committee soon to comply with regulations tripped off by spending on testing a candidacy, adding, "I'd rather be inconvenienced than indicted."
And he said he is "very comfortable" with petitioning to get on the primary ballot - even though it's a harder hurdle than getting 25 percent of the weighted vote at the party's convention in May.
A Gillibrand spokesman replied, "New Yorkers are rightly concerned by a former Tennessee politician and current Wall Street insider whose extreme record in Congress is out of step with New York values. Harold Ford Jr. voted twice to enshrine discrimination in the U.S. Constitution by banning gay marriage, and he proudly said he's never been pro-choice. That’s not a smear, it’s his record. Kirsten Gillibrand has aggressively fought to protect a woman's right to choose and establish equal benefits for same sex couples."
Harold Ford (c.) took some political shots at Sen. Chuck Schumer, while lobbing compliments at Sen. Hillary Clinton, who he likened himself to should be become senator.
Schumer want a cracker?
Harold Ford, upping his rhetoric as he mulls a primary race against U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, broadened his swipes Monday to include Sen. Chuck Schumer - whom Ford labelled a "parakeet" for always echoing Democratic Party orders.
"I believe that both senators should do a better job of putting New York and New York City first," Ford said on Albany's Talk 1300 AM.
"I believe that both senators, including Sen. Gillibrand, ought to be more independent," he added.
Ford added: "Understand that you are not elected to the United States Senate to be a parakeet, or take instructions from the Democratic leadership."
For Ford, a former Tennessee congressman who has been touring the state as he considers a race against Gillibrand, it was a clear tactical shift.
Up until now, the 39-year-old has declined to take any direct shots at Schumer, who has tried unsuccessfully to convince Ford not to run.
But Ford is now clearly lumping Schumer - the No. 3 Democrat in the Senate, and a veteran pol whom many believe has his eyes on becoming majority leader - right along side the junior Gillibrand.
But if Ford was trying to draw Schumer into a war of words to gain attention, he was not successful. Aides to Schumer declined immediate comment.
After his radio interview, Ford told reporters in Albany that he thinks Schumer "is one of the most powerful members of the United States Senate."
But he added pointedly that his respect for Schumer "doesn't translate to me being a yes vote or a second vote for him."
Ford then suggested that he would be more like Hillary Clinton - who managed to carve out a persona separate from Schumer during her time in the Senate - than Gillibrand if elected.
"It was widely known when Sen. Clinton was senator from this great state, that she and Sen. Schumer didn't always see eye to eye and he didn't always have a rosy relationship with her," Ford said.
"And I imagine if I'm to run and I'm blessed to win, that he and I would have the same kind of relationship," Ford added.
Apparently he is smoking the same stuff Obama is....
How dare he the audacity to compare himself to Hillary.
But then again, isn't it interesting he compared himself to HER and not Obama. That is quite the "telling sign" Obama is already seen as an albatross around the Dems' necks.
Harold Ford (c.) took some political shots at Sen. Chuck Schumer, while lobbing compliments at Sen. Hillary Clinton, who he likened himself to should be become senator.
Schumer want a cracker?
Harold Ford, upping his rhetoric as he mulls a primary race against U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, broadened his swipes Monday to include Sen. Chuck Schumer - whom Ford labelled a "parakeet" for always echoing Democratic Party orders.
"I believe that both senators should do a better job of putting New York and New York City first," Ford said on Albany's Talk 1300 AM.
"I believe that both senators, including Sen. Gillibrand, ought to be more independent," he added.
Ford added: "Understand that you are not elected to the United States Senate to be a parakeet, or take instructions from the Democratic leadership."
For Ford, a former Tennessee congressman who has been touring the state as he considers a race against Gillibrand, it was a clear tactical shift.
Up until now, the 39-year-old has declined to take any direct shots at Schumer, who has tried unsuccessfully to convince Ford not to run.
But Ford is now clearly lumping Schumer - the No. 3 Democrat in the Senate, and a veteran pol whom many believe has his eyes on becoming majority leader - right along side the junior Gillibrand.
But if Ford was trying to draw Schumer into a war of words to gain attention, he was not successful. Aides to Schumer declined immediate comment.
After his radio interview, Ford told reporters in Albany that he thinks Schumer "is one of the most powerful members of the United States Senate."
But he added pointedly that his respect for Schumer "doesn't translate to me being a yes vote or a second vote for him."
Ford then suggested that he would be more like Hillary Clinton - who managed to carve out a persona separate from Schumer during her time in the Senate - than Gillibrand if elected.
"It was widely known when Sen. Clinton was senator from this great state, that she and Sen. Schumer didn't always see eye to eye and he didn't always have a rosy relationship with her," Ford said.
"And I imagine if I'm to run and I'm blessed to win, that he and I would have the same kind of relationship," Ford added.
Well, Mr.Ford, you are not going to be if you namecall your opponent a parakeet!
New Yorkers like equality and respect for all.
Gilabrand who I discovered is very racist keeps painting him as a thug when EVERYONE Knows its Schumer and Gillibrand who are acting like thugs. This board will never endorse that woman who is a racist puppet. I am so upset with TNA for attacking Ford all the time that I am ready to leave that organization. They are acting like the racists everyone accuses them of being. I am so disquested with everyone calling black men who dare to run against white women as thugs. Sometimes its true but in other times its not true. I will begin to delete all pro Gillabrand articles soon because she is so racist. He makes sexist remarks I will pull his threads too. That's what the Democrats do entertain themselves by watching a woman and a black man beat up on each other and Schumer needs to be thrown out of the Senate on his racist sexist traitor behind. Gillabrand stop the racism and earn back my respect and stop calling Ford a thug. I am so sorry that I wanted Patterson to appoint her now that he knows how she really feels about black men I guess he is sorry too. Note to women if you want my support stop the racist attacks. I didn't back Obama because of his sexism and I will not back any female candidate making racist statements. As for the parakeet remark he is right she is acting like a damn Parakeet she is so far up Schumers azz its not funny. He is not that powerful would love to see that seat go red. Perhaps the black people in the great state of NY will take care of both Senators and send them back to the cave where they belong. Ford was the victim of one of the most racist political attacks by the GOP and now here he is again in blue NY and some UNELECTED person calls him a thug.
MERGED NO Pro Gillibrand on this forum please. Post that racist woman's support somewhere else. A parakeet after she has made some of the most disquesting remarks about Ford is nothing.
Its not her its the woman's groups doing this on her behalf. Frankly I am just going to delete all of this race. I will not participate in the whole lets entertain white men by watching an African American and female fight for this position or not. Gillibrand has allowed things to happen on her behalf and she is acting like a spolied Princess when she participates in the whole "How dare he primary me?" That is considered racist because funny I never see this done to a white man just women and minorities. I am going to just delete all articles referring to this race. Yes Women I called her a Princess. You can throw around thug for black men I can throw around Princess to spoiled lazy women who want to stop people from primarying them. I wonder how NOW and TNA feel if the NAACP decided to send a letter to Gillibrand telling her they don't want her. I bet that would offend the hell out of them but that is what NOW and TNA did then they wonder why black women don't join their funky groups. The entire woman's movement can kiss my azz
I'm a New York State resident and very undecided about this race. I'd appreciate any info that you or others can share. Although, I won't be able to vote in the primary as I am officially unaffiliated since leaving the Democratic party.
I'm a New York State resident and very undecided about this race. I'd appreciate any info that you or others can share. Although, I won't be able to vote in the primary as I am officially unaffiliated since leaving the Democratic party.
Ditto!
One thing that I know from being in Albany for many years is she managed to win the highly conservative Saratoga area; she is herself a relative moderate to conservative and is having to embrace more of the left ideologies in going to the Senate and working with Chuck Schumer. I have seen more of Schumer influence in her statements. She has her work cut out in campaigning; it is not easy to cover the entire state, but her geographic location of being from Albany will help her greatly.
I have not read/heard her make any statements regarding Ford, rather seen her working hard and ploughing through to get as many endorsements as possible. I cannot ding her for women's groups statements, HMG. As we know, women's group supported Obama over Hillary. They do whatever the hell they want. If they make derogatory statements, we should take up action items to write to them. I have written to them plenty before (2008 especially); so let's do that.
-- Edited by Sanders on Wednesday 10th of February 2010 09:48:12 AM
__________________
Democracy needs defending - SOS Hillary Clinton, Sept 8, 2010 Democracy is more than just elections - SOS Hillary Clinton, Oct 28, 2010
I'm a New York State resident and very undecided about this race. I'd appreciate any info that you or others can share. Although, I won't be able to vote in the primary as I am officially unaffiliated since leaving the Democratic party.
Ditto!
One thing that I know from being in Albany for many years is she managed to win the highly conservative Saratoga area; she is herself a relative moderate to conservative and is having to embrace more of the left ideologies in going to the Senate and working with Chuck Schumer. I have seen more of Schumer influence in her statements. She has her work cut out in campaigning; it is not easy to cover the entire state, but her geographic location of being from Albany will help her greatly.
I have not read/heard her make any statements regarding Ford, rather seen her working hard and ploughing through to get as many endorsements as possible. I cannot ding her for women's groups statements, HMG. As we know, women's group supported Obama over Hillary. They do whatever the hell they want. If they make derogatory statements, we should take up action items to write to them. I have written to them plenty before (2008 especially); so let's do that.
-- Edited by Sanders on Wednesday 10th of February 2010 09:48:12 AM
She needs to stop with the getting people to drop out of a Primary. I don't like that sort of thug like behavior and although I am not dinging her it does offend me that she wants everyone well everyone who is either a woman or black person out of the primary. Schumer is a backstabbing peice of garbage and if she is so loyal to Hillary then she needs to seperate from him and yes she is acting like a parakeet. She doesn't like this statement then stop acting like Schumer's pet dog. I would seriously like to write an article how the Democrats especially white males are pinning women against African American men. These two groups need to stop being used as entertainment. Both of the so called groups like the NAACP and NOW as well as TNA are useless because they won't call this behavior out. They want to break ceilings yet this is not the way to go and it is going to African American women bitten in the butt by this. Hard enough to deal with the pressure brought on by both groups to support HER because she is a woman or HIM because he is African American.
Let the groups support whichever candidate they want to support for their own political reasons.
Each of the candidates need to do their sprinting for getting endorsements. If Ford wants to get into the run, he needs to do that quickly. She is doing a damn good job of knocking on doors and getting endorsements - as pretty much all Senate candidates are doing within their parties in all places, both from within the party and from among prominent players who may be visible in the media. We are seeing that on both Dem and Repub sides. That's just good politics. Just do not get into mudslinging and namecalling.
I agree that Gillibrand should stop so closely following Schumer; she is not doing herself any favors by repeating what he is saying. Schumer also needs to stop being so heavy handed; he was that with Hillary in the early days as well - something you see in a lot of "senior"/"great" senators. Besides, it would be better for Gillibrand to be her own self; most of the state west of Albany is likely to be inclined in her favor anyway.
__________________
Democracy needs defending - SOS Hillary Clinton, Sept 8, 2010 Democracy is more than just elections - SOS Hillary Clinton, Oct 28, 2010
Yeah, I'm not liking Schumer very much lately. And I'm not liking the strong arm tactics being applied in selecting candidates in New York in general. Governor Paterson seems to have the machine against him right now also. I'm thinking it's the fault of the Democratic party as led by Obama. NOW seems to uphold the party wishes. I just don't know whether to take it out on Gilibrand or not.
We have the same problem in Allegheny County. I think that Spector should have had a primary but that was the deal the Dems made. First of all it isn't fair to the other Dems. That is why he switched parties because the GOP doesn't protect its incubients and actually I think that is a good idea. I remember people doing this for Hillary and I didn't like it then and I don't like it now. Perhaps if Hillaryhad a Primary in 2000 she may not have had such a difficult time in 2008. I say to Kristian and Harold to keep race and gender out of this and stick to the issues. Have a Primary without the name calling and race and gender and if he doesn't get the endorsement he needs then to bad for him. He is not getting a break from me because he is African American. I just am senstive when it comes to Ford because of the racist crap he had to endure during his first run for the Senate. Let everyone have a fair election the candidates are happy and so are the people who elect them. How many of us are still angry over what happened in 2008 that didn't go anywhere and since it was never dealth with the Democrats are still a divided party.
Women and African Americans both need to be represented in congress and for them to continue to fight each other is just counter productive.
I say Ford not take on Gillibrand but take on Schumer
First off, I like Ford. I really do not know what happened to Ford in TN - it is something that I heard about first here (not been following him) but when I read his profile, I was pleased to read what I saw there. This was when I read that in Fall of 2008. So, I want him to pick his battle well, as I do think he has good long-term potential. Picking the wrong race a second time can do him in politically; of course many said that to others who went on to becoming Presidents.. so who knows.
Can he win against Schumer in a primary? Schumer has amassed a huge war chest, but New Yorkers do not get taken in by advertisements easily - besides, we are too busy to be hooked to the cable all the time. What NY-ers have noticed is Schumer's distinct brand of far left ideology - the corporate socialism - that has come thru again and again; his picture has been in the news very often lately in combo with Reid and Dodd. Neither is good news for him. Schumer still holds good favorability ratings, but that is in the absence of a real opponent. I do not recall seeing any hypothetical ratings run. We can call the ratings companies and put a bug in their ears, suggesting that rating comparison run. Can Ford get endorsements from labor unions and environmentalists? Those will determine how well he can fare against Schumer.
Coming from outside into the state as a candidate is not easy. Yes, we can say that Hillary did not have that "localite" advantage but she sure had name recognition, and she was intensive in her effort to meet and greet the locals all across the state BEFORE declaring her candidacy. Of course, it helps to have been a former FLOTUS, but she was careful to treat herself as an ordinary candidate in her listening sessions, meeting with people, despite the entourage that trailed her everywhere. In Ford's shoes, I would have picked a House of Reps race to establish name within NY first.
__________________
Democracy needs defending - SOS Hillary Clinton, Sept 8, 2010 Democracy is more than just elections - SOS Hillary Clinton, Oct 28, 2010
First off, I like Ford. I really do not know what happened to Ford in TN - it is something that I heard about first here (not been following him) but when I read his profile, I was pleased to read what I saw there. This was when I read that in Fall of 2008. So, I want him to pick his battle well, as I do think he has good long-term potential. Picking the wrong race a second time can do him in politically; of course many said that to others who went on to becoming Presidents.. so who knows.
Can he win against Schumer in a primary? Schumer has amassed a huge war chest, but New Yorkers do not get taken in by advertisements easily - besides, we are too busy to be hooked to the cable all the time. What NY-ers have noticed is Schumer's distinct brand of far left ideology - the corporate socialism - that has come thru again and again; his picture has been in the news very often lately in combo with Reid and Dodd. Neither is good news for him. Schumer still holds good favorability ratings, but that is in the absence of a real opponent. I do not recall seeing any hypothetical ratings run. We can call the ratings companies and put a bug in their ears, suggesting that rating comparison run. Can Ford get endorsements from labor unions and environmentalists? Those will determine how well he can fare against Schumer.
Coming from outside into the state as a candidate is not easy. Yes, we can say that Hillary did not have that "localite" advantage but she sure had name recognition, and she was intensive in her effort to meet and greet the locals all across the state BEFORE declaring her candidacy. Of course, it helps to have been a former FLOTUS, but she was careful to treat herself as an ordinary candidate in her listening sessions, meeting with people, despite the entourage that trailed her everywhere. In Ford's shoes, I would have picked a House of Reps race to establish name within NY first.
They used the old "jungle fever" attack on him. First of all there is nothing wrong with dating outside of your race but down in TN a black man with white women is still scandalas. I call it the Jungle fever card. This is serious for a people who used to die from "reckless eyeballing" or looking at a white woman rather or not it was with lust.
First off, I like Ford. I really do not know what happened to Ford in TN - it is something that I heard about first here (not been following him) but when I read his profile, I was pleased to read what I saw there. This was when I read that in Fall of 2008. So, I want him to pick his battle well, as I do think he has good long-term potential. Picking the wrong race a second time can do him in politically; of course many said that to others who went on to becoming Presidents.. so who knows.
Can he win against Schumer in a primary? Schumer has amassed a huge war chest, but New Yorkers do not get taken in by advertisements easily - besides, we are too busy to be hooked to the cable all the time. What NY-ers have noticed is Schumer's distinct brand of far left ideology - the corporate socialism - that has come thru again and again; his picture has been in the news very often lately in combo with Reid and Dodd. Neither is good news for him. Schumer still holds good favorability ratings, but that is in the absence of a real opponent. I do not recall seeing any hypothetical ratings run. We can call the ratings companies and put a bug in their ears, suggesting that rating comparison run. Can Ford get endorsements from labor unions and environmentalists? Those will determine how well he can fare against Schumer.
Coming from outside into the state as a candidate is not easy. Yes, we can say that Hillary did not have that "localite" advantage but she sure had name recognition, and she was intensive in her effort to meet and greet the locals all across the state BEFORE declaring her candidacy. Of course, it helps to have been a former FLOTUS, but she was careful to treat herself as an ordinary candidate in her listening sessions, meeting with people, despite the entourage that trailed her everywhere. In Ford's shoes, I would have picked a House of Reps race to establish name within NY first.
They used the old "jungle fever" attack on him. First of all there is nothing wrong with dating outside of your race but down in TN a black man with white women is still scandalas. I call it the Jungle fever card. This is serious for a people who used to die from "reckless eyeballing" or looking at a white woman rather or not it was with lust.
Oh Heavens!!
Frankly, I think Ford needs to run in a winning place, but he needs to put his hat in the ring early. He cannot be associated with negativism politics - positioning himself as positive and solution provider will make all the difference.
I was looking for poll results to see where Gillibrand is at with people. She is leading by big and increasing margin. Here's what I found on Rasmussen Reports. She significantly leads Ford; she trails Pataki in a couple of polls.
Didnt find any polls on Schumer, but I recall reading an article that he has a loaded warchest.
Chances against either of them are slim to none.
He needs to pick his battle carefully, because I do believe he has good future.
__________________
Democracy needs defending - SOS Hillary Clinton, Sept 8, 2010 Democracy is more than just elections - SOS Hillary Clinton, Oct 28, 2010