Fancy Ford

I’ve noted several times before that the charge of “racism” no longer resonates at all with me. Granted, at one time it would have, meaning that I would have recognized a person labeled as a “racist” as someone who thought of and treated people of a race different than his own with unfair disdain.

But the charge of racism has been stripped of its power to invoke shame on those so accused anymore, by virtue of its overuse, as well as its misuse. Nowadays, if a person of one race says anything remotely critical of a person of another race – for whatever reason – that person is subject to being charged with racism. In other words, the term has become a means for some to deal with – often legitimate – issues raised by another without having to exert the intellectual effort of actually engaging in rational debate.

I thought of that as I read about the reaction on the part of some, who support Harold Ford’s U.S. Senate bid, to the website about Congressman Ford recently unveiled by the National Republican Senatorial Committee. In a nutshell, the “Fancy Ford” website is designed to let the folks back in Tennessee know about the lifestyle of the would-be Senator, paid for by his campaign contributors.

Mind you, it is not alleging any illegalities on Mr. Ford’s part, as far as I know. It is simply trying to make the case that the young, single Mr. Ford’s extravagant lifestyle, as well as his relationship with big-spending contributors that makes the lifestyle possible, doesn’t provide the average Tennesseean with much confidence that Mr. Ford is in touch with his values and concerns. Is that a fair conclusion to draw? Maybe. Maybe not. But the NRSC has simply put facts out on public view so as to let the public decide for itself. The problem is that prominent Democrats often have a somewhat uncomfortable relationship with facts – but that’s a subject for another post.

The thing is, it also gives Mr. Ford and his supporters the chance to make a legitimate defense, if such can be done, of the facts that are revealed at the site. Instead, Ford supporters have blasted the site as a case of “character assassination” (Have you noticed how often this is the term used to describe Republicans’ citing of facts about Democrats and their records?) and a “racist attack site.”

Right, it’s only the fact that Mr. Ford is black that makes his lifestyle so foreign to most Tennesseeans. Everyone knows that Tennessee is known for the rich and lavish lifestyle that most of its white folks live. And, yes, I say that as a white Tennessee hillbilly myself.

If truth be told, Democrats are afraid that this site will actually have its desired effect, by virtue of the fact that they can’t dispute any of the facts on display there. Might this be evidence that the more the undecided voters learn about major Democrat candidates, the less electable those candidates become?

Of course, the Democrats could respond in kind, by putting up a similar site about the lifestyles of the Republican candidates for the Senate seat. But don’t hold your breath waiting for such a site about Ed Bryant, Bob Corker, and Van Hilleary. I know two of these men personally, and have met the third, and can attest that the lifestyles lived by these men – all of whom are devoted husbands and fathers – wouldn’t do much to discourage people from entrusting them with their representation in Washington. Kind of surprising, since they represent the party of the cold rich and powerful, as opposed to Mr. Ford’s “party of the working man,” huh?