But, you say, in addition to the issues Sean brought up, the Ten Commandments should be posted in courtrooms around the state. You favor school prayer. You say you’re pro-life. You want an anti-flag burning constitutional amendment. Are you going to vote with the Democratic caucus if you get into the Senate?
Effectively toeing the “principles and issues are irrelevant” line of his party, Colmes tried banging into the head of his opponent the fact that voting with the caucus is all that matters. Ford tried placating his hostile host with issues that should have appealed to him:
I’m going to vote to find a new energy path, and put us on a course for energy freedom. I’m going to vote to allow Medicare to negotiate directly with drug companies to lower drug costs. I’m going to vote to ensure that from birth to eighteen every child has health insurance. And I’m going to vote for a national program from birth to (unintelligible) early childhood as a central part of the No Child Left Behind act.
That wasn’t important to Colmes, who snapped: “And will you more often than not vote with Democrats?”
Amazing. Ford then made a huge mistake given his opponent – he brought up faith: “Mr. Colmes, I’m a Democrat, sir, but I gotta tell you, I grew up in church, man, and I can’t take that away from who I am. My faith defines my Democratic politics.”
Big mistake. Nothing offends a liberal media member more than religion. As a result, Colmes pushed his opponent into the corner, and continued the attack: “You say you are pro-life. Would you vote to confirm judges who want to overturn Roe v. Wade?”
Ford tried to defend himself:
I would have voted for Justice Roberts. I would have voted against Justice Alito – had nothing to do with abortion. I don’t have litmus tests. I think we ought to reduce, try to reduce the number of abortions in this country.
Colmes continued his barrage: “You want a federal ban on abortions?” […] “Why did you change your view? You were pro-choice at one time, what happened?”
Ford did his best to get out of the corner:
No, no. I was not pro-choice at one time. We don’t have votes like that in the Congress, sir. I voted for parental notification. I voted against partial-birth abortion. I voted the procedure my first two or three years in the Congress. But after I saw something a physician in Memphis showed me, it changed my heart.
At that point, referee Hannity stepped in to try and stop the fight: “Alright, so are you ever going to fill in for Alan again?”
Colmes then cold-cocked his opponent: “Sounds like he might be able to fill in for you.”
I kid you not, sports fans. This was the reception that Colmes gave to a man whose victory next Tuesday could give Alan’s Party control of the Senate. As such, it is clear that with Alan, only extreme liberals are worthy of his respect or courtesy. What a shame.
What follows is a full transcript of this exchange.
Colmes: Congressman, look, I want you to win. And, by the way, I think as I said, the height of your career was sitting in for me on this show, which you did one night. And, you’re invited to do it again any time. Uh, but, here’s my concern, I want you to win because I’m a Democrat, and I love to see Democrats control the Senate. But, you say, in addition to the issues Sean brought up, the Ten Commandments should be posted in courtrooms around the state. You favor school prayer. You say you’re pro-life. You want an anti-flag burning constitutional amendment. Are you going to vote with the Democratic caucus if you get into the Senate?
Ford: I’m going to vote to find a new energy path, and put us on a course for energy freedom. I’m going to vote to allow Medicare to negotiate directly with drug companies to lower drug costs. I’m going to vote to ensure that from birth to eighteen every child has health insurance. And I’m going to vote for a national program from birth to (unintelligible) early childhood as a central part of the No Child Left Behind act.
Colmes: And will you more often than not vote with Democrats?
Ford: Mr. Colmes, I’m a Democrat, sir, but I gotta tell you, I grew up in church, man, and I can’t take that away from who I am. My faith defines my Democratic politics. The reason I want to help poor people, the reason I believe the way to help more people get into the middle class, the reason I think we ought to lower taxes – matter of fact, eliminate taxes on the first $10,000 of income for everybody except millionaires – is because I want everyone to have an opportunity to live in a prosperous America and to create prosperity for themselves.
Colmes: You say you are pro-life. Would you vote to confirm judges who want to overturn Roe v. Wade?
Ford: I would have voted for Justice Roberts. I would have voted against Justice Alito – had nothing to do with abortion. I don’t have litmus tests. I think we ought to reduce, try to reduce the number of abortions in this country. For so long, we’ve yelled about this issue, and we’ve gotten nowhere on it. Every two years, the central part…
Colmes: You want a federal ban on abortions?
Ford: No.
Colmes: Why did you change your view? You were pro-choice at one time, what happened?
Ford: No, no. I was not pro-choice at one time. We don’t have votes like that in the Congress, sir. I voted for parental notification. I voted against partial-birth abortion. I voted the procedure my first two or three years in the Congress. But after I saw something a physician in Memphis showed me, it changed my heart. And, Mr. Colmes, I have no problem saying that I am a constant learning and maturing person. And the more I see things, the more I learn. I don’t adjust my principles, but I certainly…it has made me a better person, a more whole person. I don’t judge you or anybody for different than me. I’m a Democrat because I think people deserve a chance in this country, and I’m going to continue to vote my conscience if elected to the United States Senate.
Hannity: Alright, so are you ever going to fill in for Alan again?
Colmes: Sounds like he might be able to fill in for you.
Ford: If you all invite me.
Hannity: We will.
