Very true! But...I've never passed the Bar exam either. Never took it! A quote from your link below "Ford, a congressman from Memphis, has a law degree but has never passed the Tennessee bar exam". Where does it say he actually took the exam?
In 1997, Ford Took The Bar And Failed Because He "Didn't Quite Know" Tennessee Law In An Interview With CNN's Larry King In 2000, Ford Said He Failed The Bar In Tennessee On His First Try Because Having Gone To School In Michigan He "Didn't Quite Know" Tennessee Law. CNN's LARRY KING: "So you passed the bar and you're..." FORD: "No, no. When I graduated, I went right to Congress." KING: "You haven't had a chance to take the bar?" FORD: "I took the bar and I wasn't successful. So I wound up in Congress at the time." KING: A Michigan grad was not successful?" FORD: "Don't tell anyone. I wasn't able to study, but my dean -- I promised my dean I'm going to let the school down. I'll take it and pass it." KING: "You're going to take it again?" FORD: "I will." KING: "For Tennessee or Michigan?" FORD: "Tennessee." KING: "For Tennessee." FORD: "I did well in the first day but the second day, the Tennessee law, I didn't quite know so well, having gone to school in Michigan." KING: "Are you looking for higher offices?" FORD: "I love what I do. My focus right now is to see Al Gore elected." (CNN's "Larry King Live," August 16, 2000) "Michael Powell, Senior Adviser To The Ford Campaign, Said U.S. Rep. Ford Took The Tennessee Bar Exam In February 1997 And Failed." (Michael Davis, "Ford Called Self A Lawyer But Did Not Pass Bar Exam," Chattanooga Times Free Press, October 6, 2006) Ford Characterized Himself As A 'Lawyer' In A Recent Interview With The Chattanooga Times-Free Press Editorial Board Congressman Ford Represented Himself As A 'Lawyer' During A Chattanooga Times Free Press Editorial Board Interview Last Week. "Mr. Corker make the point that he believes that it's time for a businessman and not a lawyer. I was flying back with Sen. Alexander and I told Sen. Alexander, I won't hold it against you, if I'm elected - to have 2 lawyers in the delegation who try their hardest to work through the issues. I said I know the guy who you are chairing the campaign for, he meant nothing against you, it was really directed at me - specifically." (Congressman Ford, Chattanooga Times Free Press Editorial Board, October 3, 2006) But The Times Free Press Revealed Ford Did Not Tell The Truth About His Resume "Democratic U.S. Senate Hopeful Harold Ford Jr. Referred To Himself As A Lawyer Earlier This Week, But The Congressman Has Not Passed The Bar Exam. . . . Rep. Ford, of Memphis, got his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1996, according to his congressional Web site. He said Tuesday during a meeting with Chattanooga Times Free Press editors and reporters that Republican opponent Bob Corker has said the next senator should be a businessman and not a lawyer. 'I told Senator (Lamar) Alexander, I said, 'I won't hold it against you if I'm elected, and there's two lawyers in the delegation who try their hardest to work through the issues,' Rep. Ford said." (Michael Davis, "Ford Called Self A Lawyer But Did Not Pass Bar Exam," Chattanooga Times Free Press, October 6, 2006) "Adele Anderson, Administrator For The Tennessee Board Of Law Examiners, Said Friday That A Person Must Pass The Bar Exam, In Addition To Meeting Other Requirements, To Qualify As A Lawyer In Tennessee." (Michael Davis, "Handful Backs Ford's Claim Of Being Lawyer," Chattanooga Times Free Press, October 7, 2006) Ford's Senior Adviser Denied That Ford "Has Represented Himself As A Practicing Attorney." "At issue is whether Ford should be allowed to call himself a lawyer. He has referred to himself as a lawyer to several media outlets, but Ford senior adviser Michael Powell has denied that the candidate has represented himself as a practicing attorney. Ford earned his law degree the University of Michigan in 1996, the same year he was elected to Congress. He failed the bar exam the following year." ("Senate Hopefuls In Tenn. To Square Off," The Associated Press, October 8, 2006) Ford's Campaign Claims Ford Was "Joking" When He Said He Was A Lawyer. "Ford, who has a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, is not a member of any bar. Powell said the reference to being a lawyer was done in a 'joking manner' and pointed out the irony that President Bush during a fund-raising visit to Nashville and Corker himself have labeled Ford a lawyer." (Bonna de la Cruz, "Ford Campaign Staff Not Relaxing Despite Slight Lead In Polls," Tennessean, October 9, 2006)
Well, that clears that up. I'll still stand by my endorsement of Ford for the Senate seat. If that little mis-speak is his worst offense, he's the cleanest guy in D.C. Republicans are digging pretty deep to smear him with chicken shit like this. Anyway, thanks for the confirmation you posted.
Isn't Harold Ford socially conservative anyway? The fact is that if he were as liberal as most other Democratic legislators he would be twenty points behind in the polls. He wouldn't have a chance in Tennessee. He is anti immigration, pro-war, pro-military, anti-gay marriage, for restrictions on abortion rights, etc.. Ann Coulter once said that Ford was "one of her favorite democrats." He has supported almost every major Bush/GOP legislation. I don't understand why true liberals support the guy. The fact that a conservative columnist endorsed him isn't a big suprise. I guess it is the (R) vs. (D) phenomenon. Republicans automatically hate him while democrats automatically love him. Neither side does any critical thinking. Maybe the Knoxville columnist actually looked at Ford's voting record.
You consider the bar exam issue with Ford a "scandal?" Now that is truly funny.... Did his resume say he passed the bar? Did his resume say he practiced law, beyond being a legislator? He has a law degree, and whether or not he passed the bar doesn't matter really, he is a lawyer. Just as a doctor who never practiced medicine, or passed the boards is still a doctor. As I have mentioned, some professionals get degrees but never take the tests to practice, but rather utilize their talents and training in other areas. I met a woman once who had both a medical degree and law degree. She never practiced medicine, never intended to, but specialized in law surrounding medicine and related issues. She made a bundle as an expert witness, as she was trained in medicine but practiced law. Those who have political aspirations, and certainly Ford knew he was going to carry on the tradition of legislators in Tennessee, go to law school for training in the law...not necessarily to practice it in a courtroom or to work as a practicing attorney. Here is a question: Is Clinton still an attorney? Answer is yes...
Did I say I consider it to be a scandal? No. The people of Tennessee obviously do. It was in all the major papers across the state. Yes, a doctor who never practices medicine is still a doctor. They have a medical doctorate(MD) degree. However, if they are not licensed they cannot refer to themselves as a physician in a particular state. Ford is a doctor to. He has a JD degree. That doesn't mean he is a lawyer in Tennessee. There is a difference between professional titles (licensed) and degree titles (earned). But I agree this is a trivial matter. I only initially brought it up because it was one of the hot issues in the campaign. Most of those currently elected have probably done a lot worse.
The Bar thing is hair splitting in my opinion. If he had passed the bar in michigan, he still wouldn't be entitled to hold himself out as a licensed attorney in Tennessee. Plenty of young lawyers practice in big firms before they pass the Bar. All that said, I cna't imagine the Tennessee bar is that tough, so failure to pass it is not exactly a feather in one's cap. As a minority and from a politically connected family, I'm guessing he could have gotten into Michigan with something less than top drawer credentials. Whatever. I don't see it as very important. The only really important issue in this election is that if the Democrats take this seat, Harry "Land Deal" Reid could be Majority Leader and a bunch of other extreme leftists like Ted Kennedy, Pat Leahy, Dick Durbin, et al would be in line to take over important committees.
=========== Thank God & good voters; that tax raiser /liberal /Bush critic , H. Ford is not Senator now, Corker is.