Former Rep. Harold Ford Jr. Visits the Ford School

On Wednesday,  April 7, the Ford School of Public Policy hosted Harold Ford, Jr., U-M Law School alumni and former member of Congress. Ford Jr. left the House of Representatives in 2007 after a ten-year stint representing Tennessee's 9^th Congressional District, but fell short in a bid to replace retiring Senator Bill Frist. The race went down in history as one of the most politically charged in recent history, particularly due to a highly controversial ad ran by the Republican National Committee that stirred allegations of racism. Ford Jr. addressed his 2006 race and much more at the event held in Annenberg Auditorium.

Fittingly, Ford Jr.'s speech, given in Weill Hall, was prefaced by Sandy Weill himself, former chairman of Citigroup and U-M benefactor. Ford initially waxed on his political career, pointing out that “it doesn't hurt to have your dad as a predecessor” when running for Congress. He described the grind of the campaign, which started directly out of law school, and consisted of shaking hands at bowling alleys, bible services, and even kindergarten graduations (when he couldn't schedule any real graduations), a move that earned him the nickname “The Kindergarten Congressman.”

Ford Jr., widely known as a Democratic centrist, spent ample time criticizing what he sees as extremism on both the left and the right. The country is “more polarized than George W. Bush at his worst moments,” he claimed, and “people are unwilling to sit, talk, and respect the other side.” Ford Jr. also fielded questions from the audience on a variety of topics, and reiterated his support for open primaries, and Governor Tim Kaine, head of the Democratic National Committee.

When it came to health care, Ford Jr. was far more reserved. While he was more than willing to admit that the bill now law is “an enormous feat” and “a remarkable thing,” his skepticism over the bill's cost and effect on entitlement spending was glaring. “It's unclear to me whether it will curb costs,” he said, claiming that the Congressional Budget Office tally of the bill which predicts that the bill would cut deficits relies on “rosy assumptions.” He also said excluding the annual reversal of scheduled cuts to doctors that take patients with Medicare from the great health care bill “raises questions.” On health care, Ford Jr.'s reputation as a deficit-hawk and member of the conservative Blue Dog Coalition was on full display last Wednesday.

Ford Jr. also cautioned against curbs on executive compensation in financial markets and the idea of an independent financial regulator with control over credit markets. “I'm a capitalist,” he said, arguing for a tempered approach to financial reform. Ford Jr. currently serves as Executive Vice Chairman of Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

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