New Harold Ford, Jr. campaign slogan: "pandering since 2004"

by: Adam Bink

Mon Jan 11, 2010 at 17:16

Former Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN), who is gearing up to challenge appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in the New York Democratic primary, has announced that he now supports gay marriage.

Appearing on the Today show, Ford pointed out that he'd previously supported civil unions. "My support for fairness and equality existed long before I moved to New York," Ford said.

Hm. Really? Here's an excerpt of a Stonewall Democrats e-mail back on January 25th, 2007:

Washington, DC - Today, the National Stonewall Democrats called on the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) to affirm its past opposition to discriminatory ballot measures that require states to bar domestic partnership benefits, civil unions and the legal responsibilities of civil marriage to same-sex couples. The organization also called on Congressman Harold Ford, Jr., whom the Democratic Leadership Council officially announced this morning as its new Chair, to affirm such past positions of the organization he will now lead.

"We are asking the Democratic Leadership Council to affirm its opposition to anti-family constitutional amendments that have been championed by Harold Ford," said Jo Wyrick, NSD Executive Director. "Anti-gay populism has failed just about every Democratic candidate who has tried to exploit it, and it has failed Harold Ford. The DLC should not allow such diversions that it has labeled 'cynical and desperate' in the past to corrupt the mission of its organization. The Democratic Leadership Council and Congressman Ford need to strongly affirm the platform of the Democratic Party and the past policy of the DLC in opposing these measures."

In 2004, with his eye on his senate race, Harold Ford reversed his past opposition to an amendment to the United States Constitution that would permanently bar the legal responsibilities of domestic partnerships, civil unions and civil marriage to same-sex couples. In 2006, Ford again joined only a small minority of Democrats who voted for the amendment, which was dramatically defeated by both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.

[...]

In his 2006 senate race, Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. swiftly exploited a ruling by the Supreme Court of New Jersey that challenged the state legislature to provide basic legal benefits for same-sex couples. "I do not support the decision today reached by the New Jersey Supreme Court regarding gay marriage. I oppose gay marriage, and have voted twice in Congress to amend the United States Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage. This November there's a referendum on the Tennessee ballot to ban same-sex marriage - I am voting for it." (National Journal, The Hotline -October 25, 2006)

While it's true Gillibrand has also evolved on this issue, Ford has a history of moving around on marriage equality- from opposition to a Federal Marriage Amendment to support, and now, one would assume, back to opposition- when it's convenient. People will try and equate Gillibrand, who has done significant work to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and been fully vocal in support of other LGBT issues since her appointment- with Ford now that they hold the same position on this issue. There is no comparison. I am glad Ford is in favor, but I'm no fool.