More on Harold E. Ford Jr's "gay problem" ...
After voting twice for Bush's odious Federal Marriage Amendment, against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), against needle exchanges, against extending hate crime protections to gays and lesbians and against gay adoptions, Ford left Congress in 2006 with a "25" (out of 100) rating from the Human Rights Campaign. The former congressman now claims to have supported "civil unions" since he was "elected to Congress in 1996". But there is no record of Ford publicly expressing support for civil unions ... until after his retirement in 2007.
Duncan Osbourne at Gay City News:
In a January 11 appearance on “The Today Show,” Ford said he now supports gay marriage and had long supported civil unions. "I’ve been a supporter of civil unions since I was elected to Congress in 96," he said. " My support for fairness and equality long existed before I moved to New York." However, the earliest Ford statement supporting civil unions found by Gay City News came in 2007 at an appearance at East Tennessee State University that was reported in the East Tennessean, that school’s student newspaper. He also told students that he intended to run for office again. In 2001 and 2003, HRC asked representatives to co-sponsor bills that granted benefits to the domestic partners of civilian federal workers. Ford was not a sponsor of that legislation in either congressional session.
The newspaper says Ford's spokesperson refused to provide answers "to questions about the former congressman's claims on gay rights issues."
One highlight of Junior's LGBT record: Ford supported a 1998 amendment to a District of Columbia appropriations bill that banned gay adoption in DC. In the next Congress, Ford reversed his position on the gay adoption ban but "supported legislation that barred using federal funds to develop school curricula that addressed anti-gay bullying."
My commitment to equality is unmistakable, the man says ...
Did You Read...?
Harold Ford Gives Himself a "10" on LGBT Rights
WATCH: Anti-Gay Harold Ford Now "Pro-Gay Marriage"
Surprise! Harold Ford Suddenly Pro-Marriage Equality
Anti-Gay and Anti-Choice Ford Hit with First Attack Ad
Reid Asks Bloomberg Not to Support Anti-Gay Ford
Pride Agenda Slams Harold Ford Jr's Anti-Gay Record
Anti-Gay Harold Ford Jr. to Challenge Gillibrand?
Harold Ford to Chair the DLC
How Low Will They Go?
More Racist Ads Target Ford
Ford Called "Snake Oil Salesman" on Gay Marriage
Ford Runs to the Post to Revise His Anti-Gay Record
Poor thang, got all those lies caught UP! Tellin' em' too fast.
Harold, you're better off just giving the gays as much face and body time as you can. We do like to look at your face, at least.
Posted by: Chitown Kev | 14 January 2010 at 15:52
Talk about pissin on someone's leg and tellin em its rain while they're lookin straight at you.
Posted by: TheObvious | 14 January 2010 at 16:09
Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me!!!
Posted by: Dré | 14 January 2010 at 16:57
People's opinions can evolve over time as they mature, they have different experiences, they broaden their social circles, etc. Arianna Huffington was a Reagan Republican, and George Wallace appointed record numbers of Blacks to Alabama government positions in his last term (after standing in the school house door to keep Blacks out just 20 years earlier.
Unfortunately, this does not seem to be such a turnaround. All politicians are opportunistic almost out of necessity. That's how the game is played here in the US. Junior seems to be taking it to a new level. I could respect his position more if he was just honest about it and gave a rational explanation.
This is just smarmy.
Posted by: Byron | 14 January 2010 at 17:05
Saw him at the airport once in NYC. Arrogant, smug, rather small, with his Barbie on his arm. But Harry is hotter than 5 alarm chili with a side of curry.
Posted by: Seven | 14 January 2010 at 17:23
He looks good, but his past and his statements make him rude~
But hey!! Let's get some nude alone time and some sexin' goin on, I have a better position for him to run for....(LOL) or at least try to make me run from it--(LMBAO!!!)
After a couple of months to a year, maybe then someone will believe you....Maybe!
Posted by: CC | 14 January 2010 at 18:58
See, Harold, what you need to do is chill with all the talk and give the gays some face time.
Get out there in Chelsea and WERK it like the natural ho that you are (after all, you are a politician). The gays (of all colors) love to look at you. And I am sure that more than a few stupid queen will be thourghly convinced of your miraculous change if you do that.
Oh, and Harold, I think that you better leave the bea...uh, wife at home for these ventures. Throwing your wife up in the gays faces won't go down to well.
Posted by: Chitown Kev | 15 January 2010 at 08:23