If you need another reason why Democrats should dismiss anything that comes from the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), this gem of a quote from former Tennessee Congressman and current DLC Chairman Harold Ford Jr. should do it.

When Harold Ford, Jr. walked onto the Quick Center stage for his OPEN Visions forum he knew whose district he was standing in.

"There is not a better Congressman in Washington than Chris Shays," said Ford, to a crowd of about 600 Fairfield University students and community members.

Chris Shays? Chris Shays?

• The same Chris Shays who said that Democrats didn't do anything to support the troops in Iraq?

Christopher Shays (R-CT) was so sputtering mad that he lapsed into poor English:

"I can't think of hardly anything that the Democrats have done [to try to win this war]!"

He said that twice....

It also "blows him away" that Condi has to come before Congress to examine the question of whether the Iraqi government is corrupt.

• The same Chris Shays who belittled the victims of the American contractors who were providing private security in Iraq, ambushed by a mob, and had their bodies dragged through the streets of Fallujah.

• The same Chris Shays who not only embarrassed himself during the House Oversight Committee hearing on steroids in baseball...

10:49 | Black Sox and Steroids

Christopher Shays (R-Conn.), called the scene "surreal" in his opening remarks/diatribe, and then began some surreal questions of his own. He invoked the Black Sox scandal, and then suggested that players involved with steroids should be dealt with as harshly as Kenesaw Mountain Landis did with the Eight Men Out from 1919.

"Why should cheating be a matter of collective bargaining?" he asked rhetorically to Mitchell - who, as usual, had a measured and informed response.

"It has been settled law in the United States for more than 20 years that drug testing in the workplace is a subject of collective bargaining." Showing some restraint, Mitchell omitted the requisite "duh", given the solemnity of these proceedings.

Shays interrupted and plowed ahead: "But isn't there a difference? The purpose of these drugs is not to give pleasure. It's to give an unbelievable advantage to players."

Shays continued, and later during his five minutes referred to Rafael Palmeiro as "Palmerry." Mitchell kept his composure during a confounding question, regarding whether Palmeiro had tested positive "before his three-hundredth hit?"

A knowledgeable baseball fan despite recent events, Mitchell responded: "I'm sorry, before what?"

...but also embarrassed the entire state of Connecticut with his over-the-top browbeating of Roger Clemens trainer Brian McNamee (without saying ONE word about Clemens using steroids) during the same meeting.



I think Jane said it best in this quote...

Someone should let Ford know that the "D" in DLC is a passing reference to "Democrat."

Better yet, these guys said it best.



Help send Shays his walking papers...donate to Jim Himes.

UPDATE: Oh look, Harold Ford responds to the criticism and claims that his comment was taken out of context.

"Chris Shays is my friend, and I was proud to serve with him in Congress. It's unfortunate he's not a Democrat.

However, I plan on endorsing the Democratic nominee for Congress in Chris's district and everywhere in the country for that matter - as I plan to work for the Democratic nominee for President with all my energy and heart.

My comments were clearly taken out of context.

How the f*ck can someone's comment be taken out of context when the comment CAME FROM HIS OWN SITE.

People-powered media strikes again. The lying xenophobes and anti-immigrant politicians in Danbury should take note before it's too late...