Very disapointed in our US Reps

[dbackjon]

All of them voted for the Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment.

I called Ford's office, and told him to forget running for higher office, because this TN voter can never now support him.

Will be doing the same for my Rep here in Nashville.

[tnliberaldemocrat]

1. Please keep in mind...

that at least some of them would likely lose their office if they didn't vote for it.

Lincoln Davis and Bart Gordon come to mind. Possibly Jim Cooper, although Nashville is heavily Democratic. Ford would probably be safe also.

At least the amendment failed. Take solace in that.

[dbackjon]

2. I understand

Lincoln Davis/Bart Gordon's dilemna. But Ford in danger? Not likely. Cooper in danger? Hardly.

Major cop-out on their part. And yes, it lost this time, but the issue is not dead.

This is a serious make or break issue for me. I will not stand idly by and see myself demonized by a bunch of self-righteous bigots. Bottom line - vote for this amendment, you will never get a vote again from me, my partner, or my friends.

[Mr Switters]

3. Ford would be in danger...

Remember there is MASSIVE support for this amendment and other religion based "wedge" issues among the African-American church community. Bush won over some surprising support among this group with his faith based initiative programs, which some can argue provide funds for very effective inner city and urban church youth programs. The gay marriage issue is just a way for him to put icing on that cake. Ford not voting for this amendment would have probably evaporated his support among the very conservative (if not historically democratic) African-American church community in Memphis.

I agree with you that this is a idiotic issue in times like these but one that I take very seriously myself. Keep in mind that political survival for democrats in the south is a VERY tricky issue, especially when the Bush administration has been so strong at bringing up "important" wedge issues like this, and coding them into the language of religion, which for many people trumps politics and policy.

[dbackjon]

4. If Ford is kowtowing

To the Religous Right in hopes of furthering his political ambitions, then he is lost to us anyway as an effective leader. We need people to stand up to the zealots, not kiss their butts.

[Mr Switters]

5. I think we can forget Ford

I grew up in Memphis/Shelby county to pretty conservative parents. Needless to say they were not big fans of the Ford family. Looking objectively at the family history I tend to agree with some of the criticism that is leveled against them.

But after moving to East Tennessee I see a lot of people over on this side of the state that tend to idolize the younger Ford, probably because he's young, African-American, and seems to have political momentum. I'm not saying that we should give up on him, but at the same time we should be just as critical of our own "leaders" as we are of those on the other side. To me, Ford Jr. is a lost cause, especially if he is willing to kowtow to the religous right in fear of loosing his seat. It would have been SO EASY to vote against the Fed Gay Marriage amendment, claiming your vote on the grounds that it should be a decision left up to the states, without offending your voter base (in his case the African-American church communities of West Tenn).

Just because he puts a (D) after his name doesn't mean he's going to represent the party faithfully (cough Zell, cough Miller). Southern democrats are a weird bunch.

[newyawker99]

6. Hi tnliberaldemocrat!!

Welcomet o DU!! :toast: