Harold Ford Heckled Over Fox Comment At Netroots Nation

Former congressman Harold Ford was billed as a sheep amidst the wolves when he was booked for an appearance at the Netroots Nation conference here in Austin. And while for the most part the DLC head and self-described 'centrist' Democrat received a cordial welcome among the progressive audience, there were a scattering of hisses, boos, and the occasionally unruly heckle during his discussion of FISA, Obama and Democratic politics more broadly.

Appearing alongside DailyKos founder Markos Moulitsas - in what has become a series of appearances for the two since they butted heads during a Meet the Press appearance last year - Ford pushed back against the notion that Obama had abandoned the netroots on the FISA fight.

"Many of the candidates that people in this room drew national attention to voted yes for FISA including Jim Webb and Claire McCaskill," he said, "as did 20 of the 30 red-to-blue candidates that were highlighted by the netroots."

For that argument, he was received with some sympathy. But the crowd wasn't too cordial later on when Ford discussed, among other things, his time as a pundit on Fox News.

"I used to work for Fox News. I no longer am there," he said after an audience member, during the Q&A session, accused him of smearing Democrats and echoing right-wing talking points. "I have great, great respect and admiration for my former colleagues there..."

Some in the crowd were incredulous, hissing Ford, asking (err... screaming) "why and who," and offering a scattering of boos.

Later Ford was quizzed on why he would support granting telecommunication companies immunity for their participation in the FISA program. His response - that it wasn't the companies who should be held to a fault but rather the public officials who ordered their participation - was challenged by several different questioners, who demanded "accountability" for privacy violations.

"I think that accountability was brought in 2006 when [the GOP] lost in the House and the Senate," Ford responded said. "And we have only eight more months of George W. Bush..."

"When is he going to prison!" screamed an audience member to a few claps.

Watch some (poor quality) video of the heckling:

Comments

[Cowboylove]

I supported Harold Ford when he ran for the Senate here in Tennessee against Bob Corker. He is a bright and capable young man. However, he suffers from the same slimy slipperiness that plagues Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. He is a little too cozy with Washington Lobbyists and special interests to truly represent the American People. All these politicians also fail to support and defend the constitution.

The current financial crisis can be directly traced to several changes in the banking and finance rules that both Democrats and Republicans in Congress supported. We have recently learned that both Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi knew of and at least gave tacit support to water boarding and other tortures, rendition, suspension of habeas corpus and illegal wiretapping. This is the real reason they supported the FISA bill - they needed immunity themselves.

Grass roots democrats re struggling with the realization that many of their leaders are not much different than their enemies. Whether they change the Democratic party by exposing their own and getting rid of them, or they form a new party entirely, somethings gotta give.

[Pithaughn]

Hang in there pal. In the words of a netroots leader, first democrats then better democrats. Remember, stop the bleeding, get the breathing and heart functiong then start on the broken bones.

[racetoinfinity]

I wish third parties had a chance in this country. Check out the Green Party platform - it's much more in line with progressives than the Democrats' reality, which is 80% corporatist-cozy.

[EyesWideOpen]

How can anyone take the Green Party seriously when it nominates Cynthia McKinney as its presidential candidate?
Cynthia 'you only stopped me because you're a racist and I don't need to pay any attention to anyone so unworthy of my attention as a Capitol guard and why the hell should I wear my lapel pin and walk through the metal detector' McKinney?
What have you been smoking?
How could anyone consider electing Cynthia McKinney to any office whatsoever when it's clear she has no respect for the law or, in fact, any interest in anything but Cynthia McKinney?
Green ideas? Great! I'm all for them. The Green Party? It's just proven itself to be a bad joke.

[ExRepublican]

"However, he suffers from the same slimy slipperiness that plagues Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. He is a little too cozy with Washington Lobbyists and special interests to truly represent the American People."

You've just described Mr O to a tee. Do you understand?

[lovethesinner]

Bottom line: before the 5th of November, the only important discussion is about putting eight seats in the Senate, and Obama in the White House.

[BobsNotWorking]

BINGO!

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

I can't stand him.

[kevenseven]

Well. OK.

[KMan1]

Ditto

[JJeff88]

Sometimes I get grumpy when I see Ford tacking a bit too much toward the center to accomodate a less liberal constituency.

At other times, I feel he's imparting sage political wisdom.

He ain't perfect, but I'm glad he's around.

[wagonjak]

JJ...I haven't seen Ford "imparting" anything except Republican and Faux News talking points...a­s the only one in the country who lost a Senate seat that he should have won, he's only around because the DLC is paying his salary. And you know how most of the ProgBlogs feel about the DLC!

He's not even adequately honest, and I'm sorry Markos didn't kick his ass around the stage during this debate!

[hoopesaz]

The "center" is where the majority of America lies. We don't like Bush because he is so out of touch with the average American..­.remember? Or did you forget that?

The last thing we need is to replace the far right with the far left. PLEASE, let's have some politicians that are a bit more in touch with the rest of us. Folks who actually take their garbage out. Who actually pay their own medical insurance. Who actually wait in line at the ER or the grocery store. Who actually have to pay for tickets to concerts or sporting events. Who sit in coach and have to pay for peanuts...­.in a middle seat. Who mows his own lawn, pays for his own car, and has a mortgage and a 401k that he is hoping will last him through retirement.

Give me a man or a woman, black, white, brown, or blue who has lived that life and has an ounce of comen sense, any party affiliation, and they get my vote.

[Bettysdad]

What is the connection between someone's average economic position, and p[olitical beliefs.

This is the kind of brainwashing Republicans and the MSM has done over the past 40 years.
Somehow, the left, which wants to improve the lives of the overwhelming majority of Americans, is tarred as being out of touch with those very people.

You somehow have bought the idea that a Democrat that wants to use taxes as a way to improve your kids' schools, is out of touch with you and your life, because you have been led to believe that all we lefties want to do is tax you and give the money to crack hos.

You have shown yourself to be more of a brainwashing victim than the Manchurian Candidate.

[Jenai]

I am here at the Netroots Nation. Although I agree that he was booed at the Fox comments, in general I think that he presented his arguments well and caused thought provoking differences. He emphasized common goals with different approaches.

One thing that this article continues which both Marko and Ford discussed is how the media distorts the differences and I am disappointed that the Huffington Post chose the one comment that created boos to focus on.

Shame on you

[terragazelle60]

When Obama said he wanted to be the president of all Americans what did those on the left think he meant? Do you think he can be elected by only makeing the left happy? Obama is about compromise­...and when he does it is a process of getting to where we want to be.

So should he hit the center and right with what the far left will be happy with? Oh yes, that will get to where we want...won­'t it?

[mamacat]

Perhaps they should have used the banner "Ford only heckled once......­.."

[Jenai]

That would have been accurate.

I just worry that the media feeds on the polarization that exists in Democrats and I was saddened that Huffington Post does too.

[gettysburg]

Harold Ford is a guy I would hate to have to depend on when times get tough. He couldn't get enough air time on Don Imus until Imus got into trouble. Imus went to bat for him about the racist tactics his opponent in Tennessee was using to smear Ford. Then, when times got tough, Ford disappeared. He can go to hell.

[ohiodem250]

A perfect example of why the Netroots will be the most short-lived political movement in history. A bunch of disgruntled 60s radicals who only know how to heckle and type. I don't remember to many Netroots bloggers knocking doors with me for John Edwards in Iowa. Thanks for nothing! I'll go with Harold Ford, Jr., no matter how centrist, any day of the week as opposed to some blogger.

[robotfog]

yeah. When is bush going to prison?

[olderdem]

I've become tired of Ford, but I do tend to agree that trying to punish the telecoms for Bush's crimes is lame way to get back at Bush. We are talking about civil penalties -- the execs that enabled the wiretapping wouldn't be punished anyway -- just the shareholders and employees, most that had nothing to do with it.

[Reine]

I like Ford, he's definitely not a hater but a common sense guy. I don't even have time to rant against the liberal media as there are more important things in my life.