Far too many Tennessee Democrats, including me from time to time, have been disappointed with the voting record of our United States Senate nominee Harold Ford, Jr. He has been characterized as too conservative, even "Republican-lite" by his home team.

But let's step back for a minute and look at some of the progressive legislation Congressman Ford has sponsored:

• H.R.1383 : To direct the President to transmit to the Congress each year a comprehensive report on the national homeland security strategy of the United States. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.922 : To improve treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder for veterans of service in Afghanistan and Iraq and the war on terrorism. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.887: Provides $150 per year in postal benefits for mail sent to soldiers overseas who are on active duty in armed conflict or in a military hospital as a result of injury sustained in such conflict. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.1561 : To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the incentives for adoption. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.1643 : To amend various banking laws to combat predatory lending, particularly in regards to low and moderate income individuals, and for other purposes. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.3296 : To authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to States and local educational agencies for hiring and training prekindergarten teachers. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.4459 : To provide tuition assistance to undergraduate students in exchange for the performance of National service. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.3297 : To extend Federal funding for operation of State high risk health insurance pools. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.3796 : To establish the AmeriCorps Disaster Relief Corps to carry out national service projects that address the needs arising from the consequences of Hurricane Katrina, and other major disasters and emergencies. Status: referred to committee.

And here is some of the legislation co-sponsored by Congressman Ford:

• H.RES.688 : Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require that legislation and conference reports be available on the Internet for 72 hours before consideration by the House, and for other purposes. Status: referred to committee.
• H.RES.841 : Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require committees to hold hearings upon the issuance of certain reports from an Inspector General or the Comptroller General the subject matter of which is within the jurisdiction of such committees. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.115 : To strengthen the national security through the expansion and improvement of foreign language study, and for other purposes. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.197 : To amend title 10, United States Code, to require a State to charge in-State tuition rates to active-duty members of the Armed Forces domiciled or stationed on active duty in that State and to the dependents of such members. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.292 : To amend title 10, United States Code, to increase the amount of the military death gratuity from $12,000 to $100,000. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.871 : To establish reporting requirements relating to funds made available for military operations in Iraq or the reconstruction of Iraq and for military operations in Afghanistan or the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and for other purposes. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.616 : To provide for reduction in the backlog of claims for benefits pending with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.838 : To ensure that the reserve components are able to maintain adequate retention and recruitment levels by protecting the financial security of the families of activated members of the National Guard and of the Reserve. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.376 : To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate fair prices for Medicare prescription drugs on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.519 : To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make the allowance of the deduction of State and local general sales taxes in lieu of State and local income taxes permanent. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.550 : To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require a voter-verified permanent paper record or hard copy under title III of such Act, and for other purposes. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.226 : To strengthen and expand scientific and technological education capabilities of associate-degree-granting colleges through the establishment of partnership arrangements with bachelor-degree-granting institutions. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.759 : To provide for a program of scientific research on abrupt climate change, to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by establishing a market-driven system of greenhouse gas tradeable allowances that will limit greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, reduce dependence upon foreign oil, and ensure benefits to consumers from the trading in such allowances. Status: referred to committee.
• H.R.810 : To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell research. Status: vetoed by President Bush.

And while we can all criticize Congressman Ford's position on divisive issues such as gay marriage or his position on silly non-issues such as flag burning, here are other Constitutional amendments he has co-sponsored:

• H.J.RES.28 : Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States regarding the right to vote. Status: referred to committee.
• H.J.RES.29 : Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States regarding the right of all citizens of the United States to a public education of equal high quality. Status: referred to committee.

Perhaps Democrats should keep in mind that most of the conservative measures Congressman Ford and other Democrats voted to support would have passed anyway in our Republican controlled Congress, with or without moderate Democrat votes.

But in a perfect, bi-partisan world, Democrats who side with Republicans on some issues would get something in return. Instead, the Republican Party, led by our "uniter not a divider" president, is drunk with the power they have used to bully Americans for six years now. They are interested in only one thing: furthering their divisive, destructive agenda.

Take a look at the status of the legislation sponsored or co-sponsored by Congressman Ford. Perhaps Ford's voting record would be more to the liking of progressive, left-leaning Democrats if he and others in Congress were given an opportunity to actually vote on progressive legislation.

Sadly, in our present Republican controlled government this will not happen. Under President Clinton, America enjoyed eight years of unprecedented growth, peace, and prosperity, even with a Republican controlled Congress.

President Clinton's "triangulation" strategy represented the simple, time-honored deal of "give a little to get a little," something that is not working for Democrats in Congress under the Bush regime. The difference is that we had a built-in check on GOP power sitting in the White House. President Clinton vetoed 37 bills, and was only overridden twice. In his six years in office, President Bush has only vetoed one bill (HR810 supporting stem-cell research).

Harold Ford, Jr. has been trying to tell Tennessee voters this for months, but we are too distracted by bimbos and bigotry and terrorists lurking in the bushes to pay attention, thanks to the unprecedented nastiness of the GOP smear campaign brought to you by people with no ideas and too much money to fund their lust for power.

If Bob Corker is elected, you can expect more rubber-stamp approval of Bush administration policies for the benefit of big business and corporations, while sending progressive, "by the people for the people" legislation to die in committee. You can expect further lack of support for veterans, health care, education, accountability and transparency in government, fair elections, and all the things that we value as Americans.

The only way to fix our present government is to elect a Democratic majority to the United States Senate and House of Representatives. This coming Tuesday, the Volunteers of the Great State of Tennessee can help by voting for Harold Ford Jr. for Senate.

It is time for Democrats and patriotic Republicans to expose the corruption and failures of bad government and put an end to it. It is time for Democrats and all Americans on the left, in the middle, and on the right to stand together against the divisive Republican administration and their enablers in Congress. We can sort out the rest of it starting in January. I trust Harold Ford Jr. to help start the healing process. You should, too. And you should tell five other people. And tell them to go vote, and to vote for Harold Ford Jr. for United States Senate.

I am R. Neal and I approve this message.