Why I'm voting for Harold Ford, Jr. without having to swallow my pride

Without my favorite candidate in the race, I am now in the precarious position of evaluating what to do with my vote. I would like to offer my perspective looking ahead.

First, to the Kurita supporters: Thank you for your tenacity, it is tough to stay with a long shot candidate no matter how much you believe in them. But now that Rosalind has closed up shop, I recommend you vote for Ford. I know it feels wrong after such a heated primary, but rather than sticking to your ideological guns and trying to avoid humility, take a look at Nader's votes in 2000 and the abstentions in 2004 and see if that protest vote is really worth it.

No need to bow, no need to crawl, and no need to go silent. Harold Ford, Jr. is now the superior candidate in this race (by a long shot). Proudly back him with all you've got!

Now, to everyone else:

I've spent hundreds of hours researching Harold Ford, Jr. I've read many full congresional bills and laws, floor debate, speeches, articles, editorials, press releases, and many other materials. I've looked at every vote he cast in the House two different times. My endorsement of Ford is no flippant thing. Likewise, it is not a concession. I admit I would have prefered Rosalind Kurita. But we do have to take into account electability, it's true. Ford is the one with the momentum. We also have to account for the ability to get things done in Washington, and here Ford has a proven track record.

There is no question in my mind that Harold Ford, Jr. should be our next Senator. Consider these four points:

1. Harold usually votes Democratic.

Whereas the Republican candidates are highly likely to use their offices to further the current corrupt culture and immoral policies of the Republican Senate and George W. Bush, Harold Ford is highly likely to further the general agenda of the Democrats.

Harold occasionally sides out when I wish he wouldn't. I have been very critical of him this year for having voted for several major GOP initiatives. But the flip side of the coin here is that these examples are the exhaustive product of hundreds of hours of meticulously combing votes and literature on harold Ford, Jr. The immutable act remains that he votes wit the Democrats the vast majority of the time.

2. Harold cares for the poorest Americans and he views them with great dignity.

There is a substantial distinction between Ford's supply-side approach and the Republican supply-side approach, one I have been shocked not to hear from his supporters this year: The strict conservative worldview says that people are poor because they deserve to be poor - they are immoral.

Dan Quayle called rich people 'the best people.' In 2004, Arnold Schwartzanegger said that if you work hard and play by the rules, you will get ahead - meaning if you haven't gotten ahead you are lazy and immoral. Van Hilleary says that entitlements are stealing from those who DESERVE their wealth [regardless of how the wealth was earned or whether the rich person is good by any other standard].

In contrast, when Harold Ford talks wealth and poverty he expresses the sentiment we heard from Barack Obama and John Edwards in 2004: the poor are very often poor because of systemic problems that prevent them from getting ahead. As a society, we must respond to their needs, we are our brother's keeper. As Bono said, we hope Jesus is with the rich but we know he is among the poor. There also should we be!

It is true, I disagree with Harold over how we get there - supply side economics is only half the story. But we're working from a very similar set of values towards a similar goal. This is morally, economically, and in all other ways superior to all three GOP candidates in this race.

3. Harold has consistently gotten it right on fiscal discipline, a woman's right to choose, the environment, and security.

The few criticisms I have leveled at Ford in these areas are fairly insignificant compared to his total voting record. harold is the only candidate in the race who will fight against irresponsible tax cuts, cuts to social services, and the belligerent Wolfowitz-doctrine foreign policy.

4. Replacing Bill First with Harold Ford is a unique and major improvement.

On the other hand, all three GOP candidates would be a step down. Above all, an American election has to do with looking at where we are and what our options are going forward. This is a clear case where only one candidate is set to massively and categorically improve the US Senate and Tennessee's representation in it: Harold Ford, Jr.

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I'd like to take this opportunity to do a little housekeeping before I close shop:

1. Protectionism isn't so good after all.... Two weeks ago I changed my mind on protectionism. I believe that we need social programs to retrain people and ensure transitions to liberalized trade do not destroy towns and families, but I no longer believe that protectionism is a sustainable official policy approach.

2. Ford has personal integrity, enough to overcome the questionable dealings of some of his family members.

My personal criticisms of the Ford machine are a legitimate issue, in my eyes. And we all know the Republicans will make that their driving argument since the GOP has such bad ideas and PR these days. I will admit that Ford's acceptance of the current scheme does bother me. I don't like the lobbyist or fundraising situation.

But this is a systemic criticism - all four candidates in this race are in the same boat, and I would argue that Hilleary is much worse in this respect. The pertinent question to my criticisms of the Ford family is to what extent this indicates Harold Ford is exactly the same. For that link I have always lacked sufficient evidence. Out of my concerns I have made innuendos and suggestions, but in retrospect I regret having taken that leap - it is highly questionabl at best.

And remember, folks - the Republican candidates cmoe from the Republican family. Which family am I for between the current Republican machine and the Ford machine? There's no question; I'll take the Ford clan every time.

3. Thank you all for checking in with me from time to time.

I'd like to thank the people who routinely posted on this blog, who questioned me and Rosalind Kurita. At our worst moments we played a ruthless game of devil's advocate. But when we were able to treat each other civilly, I really think we embodied a great democratic process. We're far more alike than different, I would be very proud if we found ourselves cooperating in the future. For the offenses we gave each other, I hope we can forgive and move on - in the interest of a more progressive Tennessee if nothing else!

Tennessee is full of people who care about the environment, who want the economy to reward hard work, who think the poor need help, who want to see a strong economy, a balanced budget, energy security, and a less dangerous foreign policy. And despite the strength of the anti-choice movement here, I think most people don't realize that abortions were lower under Carter and Clinton than under Reagan, Bush, or George II. We believe in real sex education, in helping poor parents achieve economic stability, in offering health care to pregnant women, and in so much more. I think most people are tired of war. They're tired of the lies from this White House, they want a Senate that will take a stand.

The progressives are the ones with the truly pro-life agenda and it's time for us to get a Senator who realizes it. I'll see you out there drumming up votes and changing hearts and minds!