Love-Hate Mail
Preferring to think voters are racist
Your post-mortem on Harold Ford’s doomed Senate race (“Corker Crashes Ford,” Nov. 9) is a masterpiece of self-deception. You suggest that it was not racism but opposition to the “Ford machine” that caused a crucial percentage of white, otherwise progressive-minded types to vote for Bob Corker, a conservative Republican, despite Ford’s obvious charisma and communication skills. To justify this, you claim that “there was not much in the way of ideological difference” between the candidates— this on the grounds that “both had progressively moved from their party’s moderate wings to positions that were clearly right of center.” But since the two parties stand for quite different things, equal movements from their respective centers will land them in quite different places.
Still, you say, with casualties mounting in Iraq, that progressives could, and even should, vote based on Ford’s family and its doings. The big-city poor have always had their machines. Is the point that the Fords should “know their place”—inner-city Memphis—and not try to go statewide? Wake up and smell the mint juleps!
JAMES A. MONTMARQUET jmontmarquet@tnstate.edu (Nashville)
Sling state
As a big fan of your publication, I was incredibly disappointed by your distasteful headline, “Corker Crashes Ford—Tennessee to the Ford Political Machine: ‘Drop Dead.’ ” (Nov. 9). When I saw it, I had to look twice to be sure that it was, in fact, the Nashville Scene and not some ignorant local tabloid. A large number of voters throughout our state did believe in Harold Ford Jr. (and still do). Supporters waited for hours to cast their votes for a man who would have been a history-making figure for our state. It seems they are owed a bit of respect. And, regardless of your opinions of Ford’s family, the man in question ran a strong campaign and very nearly defeated Bob Corker—even after the disgusting barrage of lies and cynicism that Corker personally funded through his advertisements. With the election over, you seemed to be determined to sling mud one last time. Harold Ford Jr. should be congratulated for all he accomplished and recognized for the qualities that almost took him to the U.S. Senate (even in our very red state). I hope and pray that we have not seen the last of Harold Ford Jr., for I am one of many who believe that he could do amazing things for both our state and our country.
KERI CANNON keri.cannon@comcast.net (Nashville)
A dem by any other name
Perhaps Harold Ford Jr.’s corrupt family did doom him, but for me those shenanigans were only the icing on the cake (“Corker Crashes Ford,” Nov. 9). Ford was a Democrat in name only. If I’d wanted to vote for a conservative, Bible-thumping, anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage candidate, I’d have voted for Corker—and I suspect that’s what anyone who holds those beliefs did.
TINA WRIGHT cardsgaltw@yahoo.com (Nashville)
Faith was robbed
The greed, the ego, the sense of entitlement, the empty rhetoric, the politics and lack of choices on the ballot—so much for the CMAs. How ’bout those Tuesday elections?
BRAD HARVEY Brad@billionbrads.com (LaVergne)
Equal footing
Thank you for your article on the gay marriage amendment (Marriage Defined,” Nov. 9). My partner and I left our Nashville home (of 11 years for me and a lifetime for my partner) for Vancouver, Canada, June 21, 2005. We decided to relocate mainly to follow a career advancement opportunity, but more importantly to experience freedom and rights afforded to heterosexuals but not to homosexuals in the U.S. Several days after we arrived, equal rights for homosexuals couples were granted on a national level in accordance with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I never realized until that day what it feels like to be equal, not just in my mind, but in the minds of the writers of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution of the United States. For me, a resident (not even a citizen) of Canada, to experience equal rights under the laws of Canada is exhilarating. It was with great shame and sorrow that I read that Tennessee residents voted to codify discrimination against homosexuals into the state constitution. I used to defend my Tennessee home when my father used to write on letters “The Monkey State.” He was right. I hate to admit when I am wrong. Tennessee is the monkey state—it is not evolving, but devolving.
PAUL HOLZAPFEL paulholzapfel@yahoo.com (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Blood, Sweat and tears
Joseph Sweat’s “Inside Pamela Rogers” (Nov. 9) is a fascinating, sensitive and perceptive insight into what motivates this tragic woman. If he ever decides to write a book about it, I’ll sign up for an advance copy.
HUGH MACNAUGHTON hmacnaughton@spragueenergy.com (Hampton, N.H.)
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