Corker Charges Ford "Shifts Positons With the Political Winds on Iraq" Says Ford, Kerry "Dancing to Same Tune"
Corker Charges Ford "Shifts Positions With the Political Winds on Iraq"; Says Ford, Kerry "Dancing to Same Tune"
Note to Ford: New Ad on Iraq Attacks Position of Own Campaign Chairman
Commenting on a new negative attack ad from Washington Congressman Harold Ford on Iraq, U.S. Senate candidate Bob Corker today turned the tables by first pointing out that the ad attacks the official position of his campaign chairman, U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis, and charged that as Ford shifts his own position based upon political expediency, his new vague and confusing language on Iraq now links him to the cut and run position of liberal Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, Ford's choice for President in 2004 (link to the official Lincoln Davis website is here: http://www.house.gov/lincolndavis/military.htm).
"Congressman Ford's new ad attacking me on Iraq is not just an attack on his own campaign chairman, but it also shows his position shifts with the political winds -- and he now appears to be dancing to the same 'cut and run' tune as liberal Senator John Kerry, for whom Congressman Ford served as a national co-chair in his 2004 presidential campaign," Corker charged, while appearing at a news conference with U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander.
"From Congressman Ford's deliberately vague language -- first he was for it, now he's against it, just like Senator Kerry -- it's hard to know what he'll say tomorrow," Corker continued. "But Tennesseans can be sure it will be whatever his polls say is popular that particular day."
Continued Corker: "Just last week at our debate in Memphis, Congressman Ford said 'we now can't leave' while his new ad says we 'need a new direction'. What direction? As is typical of a Washington politician, Congressman Ford wants to have it both ways." In addition, adding to the confusion on Ford's actual position, the Knoxville News-Sentinel today reported Ford says "staying the course in Iraq" is his position.
Corker said we need to fix our strategy in Iraq so we can get the job done and bring our troops home.
"Most Tennesseans do not believe we went in with enough troops, and Congressman Ford never said a word about it until he decided to run for Senate. Going forward, I want to ensure we listen more closely to our military commanders on the ground, and make sure they have all the tools and support they need to succeed."
Specifically, Corker said, we need to: Establish security first, focusing on hotspots, like Baghdad; Weaken and disarm private militias (like the Mahdi Army); Continue training Iraqi forces to boost their numbers and capacity, so that more than just several thousand at a time are capable of fighting at a level similar to that of U.S. forces; Allow Iraqis to draw their own internal borders, not Washington. Corker observed that former Secretary of State James Baker recently told ABC News the three state division concept embraced by Ford "is likely to kick off a big civil war." (ABC News Interview on October 8, 2006)
Concluded Corker: "Once again, I'm stating that Congressman Ford's support for the war shifts with the political winds -- just like John Kerry: he was for it before he was against it. That's not the type of leadership Tennesseans deserve on this vital national security issue, or any other issue."
"I whole heartedly support our troops. After visiting our soldiers in Iraq over the past two years I believe if we are able to establish a Democracy it will be one of this century's crowing achievements. The quicker we can get an Iraqi government established, the sooner we can bring our troops home. One can argue the manner in which we went into Iraq, but we are their now and we must see it through. If we pull out prematurely, we could irreparable harm to our nation's credibility and Iraq. We must stay the course." (Congressman Lincoln Davis website accessed on October 15, 2006 http://www.house.gov/lincolndavis/military.htm).
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