Ford appearances on local TV today

Sun

Oct 15 2006

02:25 pm

By: R. Neal

Harold Ford Jr. was on WATE's Tennessee This Week and also on WBIR's Inside Tennessee today. Bob Corker was also on Inside Tennessee. You can watch Ford's interview on WATE'S Tennessee This Week here. (WBIR does not have an online archive of Inside Tennessee that I can find.)

Ford was strong on both shows, and the Inside Tennessee show was the closest thing to a debate East Tennesseans will get to see here. Although the candidates were on separate segments and not together, they were both asked almost the same questions. Based on their answers, the contrasts between the candidates could not be more clear. Ford was more relaxed and confident, he displayed a better command of the facts, and he offered clearer views on the issues.

The differences in character were clear, too. When Corker was asked if he had anything good to say about Ford, Corker jokingly said that Ford is a better talker and does better on the talk shows. When Ford was asked the same question about Corker, Ford said that Corker is a decent guy and has a wonderful biography and a beautiful family. (Although he interjected that he didn't think Corker has much depth on serious national issues.)

When asked if he had made any mistakes, Corker (in a bad parody of of Bush when he was asked the same question) stammered and stalled and couldn't come up with anything. When Ford was asked the same thing, before the question was even finished he said "Clearly. I don't suggest by any means I'm perfect." When pressed to name a mistake he had made during the campaign, Ford said without hesitation that he regretted calling Corker a "wimp." (But he stood by the "three stooges" remark when asked about it.)

About the only memorable thing Corker said was in response to a question about what he thought would tip race in his favor over the next couple of weeks. Corker said "Tennesseans will want to send someone to the United States Senate who is like them." The Mrs. and I looked at each other in disbelief. My reaction was "He did not just say that, did he?" The Mrs. said "Too bad Betty Bean wasn't there." The impression we got probably isn't what he meant, but it sure sounded funny, and not in a funny ha-ha way.

TAG TEAM UPDATE: Egalia at Tennessee Guerrilla Women has this report on the Ford and Corker interviews on This Week with George Stephanopoulos.

Topics:

R. Neal's blog
Login or register to post comments

Corker slip

Submitted by michael kaplan on Sun, 2006/10/15 - 3:14pm.

Corker made an interesting slip of the tongue on the WBIR show this morning. He began to say, "I wake up in the morning seeing opportunity as a prob[lem]," but quickly caught himself, changing the sentence to, "I wake up in the morning seeing a problem as an opportunity."

Frankly, I see both versions as problematic ..

Tying Corker to Sundquist

Submitted by Bbeanster on Sun, 2006/10/15 - 5:54pm.

Tying Corker to Sundquist and the state income tax was a brilliant piece of strategery. Have you noticed that when Corker recites his resume, he always touts his service as state finance commissioner, while never mentioning the name of the governor whom he served? There's a reason for that.

Sundquist is anathema to small government conservatives -- most of whom supported Bryant or Hilleary in the primary (Corker is from the country club wing of the party). Many of them are still bitter after the blood-letting of the primary, which Corker won primarily by self-financing his campaign to the tune of $2-plus million bucks and launching slashing attacks on his opponents.

Those are the people Corker must now motivate. While these conservatives are unlikely to vote for Ford, they might just choose to stay home on election day unless Corker can give them good reason to turn out the vote.

What Ford is doing is an attempt to suppress Corker's vote, and I think it's fiendishly clever. In fact, it's a page right out of the old Rove Triangulation Playbook -- attack Corker in an area he considers to be a strength and position your guy (Ford)against a state income tax (which isn't even a real issue in this race but is good for brownie points with those on the right).

Ford is the Roadrunner, Corker is looking more and more like Wile E. Coyote and is eating huge amounts of dust.

Candidates like me

Submitted by Brian A. on Sun, 2006/10/15 - 7:18pm.

I don't know about you guys, but I vote for green Martian candidates every chance I get.

Yeah, I've noticed Ford getting the Sundquist shots in when he can.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

Corker

Submitted by Stacey (not verified) on Sun, 2006/10/15 - 8:45pm.

I slept through Corker's half on WBIR so I missed the "looks like them," wow!. Thougt Ford Rocked on This Week and Tn This Week. Was glad George Steph or anybody finally asked the question, "What about Ford is out of step with Tn ." Corker stumbled around. Stacey

Did I hear Junior say had a

Submitted by CBT on Sun, 2006/10/15 - 8:57pm.

Did I hear Junior say had a 6 year old brother?

It has nothing really to do with the campaign, but I didn't believe my ears.

yep u heard right

Submitted by bill young on Sun, 2006/10/15 - 9:22pm.

we democrats call the little feller congressman

Inside Tennessee

Submitted by JustJohnny on Sun, 2006/10/15 - 9:33pm.

I emailed WBIR (feedback@wbir.com) asking about posting Inside Tennessee on YouTube; waiting for a response. Pushing ethical and legal boundries, here is the video:

It was recorded from WBIR's Inside Tennessee on Octover 15 2006. If WBIR objects, I'll remove them from YouTube. This week's program was extended to one hour, so I broke it down to 8 parts. 1-4 are Corker and 5-8 are Ford.

Part 1: (link...)

Part 2: (link...)

Part 3: (link...)

Part 4: (link...)

Part 5: (link...)

Part 6: (link...)

Part 7: (link...)

Part 8: (link...)

Video was just uploaded, so it may take the normal YouTube wait for the to show up.

Katie and the WBIR team done a great job with the show! Thanks!