As Harold Ford Jr. preps for his upcoming marriage to Emily Threlkeld, he may want to also be thinking about how to appease some black voters in his home state of Tennesse — if, that is, he ultimately wants to be elected as governor there, as insiders have said.
In reaction to his proposal last month, several African-American voters have been asking in various Internet forums why he didn’t choose a black mate.
“Why is he doing this to his people?” one woman who claimed to have dated him in the past has asked Big Head DC. “I am hurt, and we should all be angry.”
Ford’s connection to his heritage has long been questioned. “If you take a big hypodermic needle, stuck it in a brothers arm, and sucked all the Hip Hop out of him, you would be left with Harold Ford Jr.,” one blogger wrote in April. “No flavor. No sista. No courage. Second class white boy. Post Civil Rights Negro.”
The politician has not responded to requests for comment to date, but some say he had hope to project a more “settled image” by getting married.
Looks like the blacks in his district are being racist
I thought that blacks can’t be racist?
I disagree with your assertions. Black women are not against Harold Ford for his choice in a mate. To each his own.
[…] Big Head DC discusses the political impact of Harold Ford’s new fiance with whom he recently attended the CMAs: As Harold Ford Jr. preps for his upcoming marriage to Emily Threlkeld, he may want to also be thinking about how to appease some black voters in his home state of Tennesse — if, that is, he ultimately wants to be elected as governor there, as insiders have said. Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. […]
http://www.liveinternet.ru/community/newfashion/post55769736/
Scroll down to bottom of page for a picture of his fiancee.
[…] Ford | Meghan McCain: Party Girl | Reagan Library in Turmoil | Romney’s Twirl With Gay.com More Fodder for Foes of Harold Ford Jr. Friday November 9th, 2007 11:16 AM by BHDC Staff Filed under: Harold Ford Jr,Emily Threlkeld Here’s his new fiance Emily Threlkeld at Bergdorf’s for cocktails recently. As you’ll recall several black women are questioning the politician’s choice in brides. […]
He’s black?
Let’s not forget the whites in Tennessee who will hate to see a black man with a white woman. ie., the whites that Bob Corker and the RNC were trying to appeal to when they ran those ads against Ford in which a blonde woman said that she “met” Ford at a Playboy party. In Tennessee, Ford is going to have some people of all races unhappy about this union.
[…] Read the coverage of some who do not share my blessings for the couple at Big D.C. at http://bigheaddc.com/2007/11/08/blacks-angered-by-harold-ford-jrs-bride-choice/ […]
why would she not be happy camper????
Explain the whole Shay thing please, someone.
It shouldn’t matter at all. Besides isn’t he part white.
I thought the south had changed, but I guess I was wrong.
Of course you’re wrong. Have you been to Georgia lately. Hicks, galore! Now what about Shay?
MJ,
I don’t know if your still out there but I will touch upon Shay and her blog Booker Rising. It is blog named after Booker T. Washington who believed in “self-help”. It is a current affairs blog for black moderates and conservatives. She is not necessarily comfortable with inter-racial couples and back in 2006 she had a very stinging indictment on Harold Ford’s Senate seat loss. Read it here at http://bookerrising.blogspot.com/2006/11/how-harold-fords-impulsive-love-for.html . I hope this answers your question about the whole Shay thing. I, of course, a black Canadian moderate conservative (gentlemanly) disagrees.
He ain’t winning ish now! GOOD. I have no tolerance for sell-outs.
I just saw on the news here in Memphis about Harold Ford and his soon to be wife and how ever body is so upset. The bible says the enemy comes to still, kill, and destroy. Im amazed at how we respond to the media’s propandaganda and the worlds foolishness. Willie Lynch Still lives today and they (the powers that control the media) continue to exploit the slave mentality that still exist in so many black people today. This is the most racist town that I have ever lived in. What difference does it make what nationality his wife is, if the man is happy we should be happy for him. Love nows no boundaries. Get a clue people….
I am so sick of black people telling other black people they should only marry other black people. What happened to marrying who you love?! Who one loves and the person who loves you back have abosolutely NOTHING to do with black, white, brown, yellow or any other color. I just want all of these very little people to stay out of other peoples lives. If he LOVES her, and she LOVES him, THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS. And by the way I am a black woman. I wish Mr. Ford and Miss Threlkeld all the best.
The reason so many blacks are upset is because Harold Ford Jr. has always courted the black vote and black people except when it comes to his marriage. I am sure when he is running for office and goes into the black neighborhoods he will not take his white wife along. This also gives black women the assumption that as black men progress their appreciation of black women decreases. It also gives the impression that they are saying “I have made it and here is my trophy”!!!!!!
I think he has not given his political career any thought. If he runs for any office again, surely he won’t win. You don’t carry the black vote and marry white. I will never vote for him again.
Well Pat shows herself to be rather intolerant and racist. Junior dated black women and wanted very much to marry a beautiful woman who is now an attorney in Memphis. This lady turned him down and married a former NFL player who is a remarkable fellow in his own right. Harold’s interracial dating is a non-topic with whites. We don’t have this hang up. People have the right to date anyone who wants to date them. Get over it.
I am not a racist, but I am annoyed and disappointed when people of certain backgrounds exhibit behavior that typifies the worst stereotypes of their race. I will give everybody a fair chance if they work hard, play by the rules, and learn English.
Who is the beautiful black memphis attorney that junior wanted to marry?????
Nearly 90 % of the black votes went for Obama — that screams racism. I did not see any democracy in it.
I think Ford Jr should be the VP for Hillary. Wouldn’t that be a slap in the face for Obama?
A black woman has never been good enough for Harold Ford Jr. His engagement to Jennifer Baltimore was a PR ploy. He told you himself in Essence magazine in 2006. The question was asked, “What do you love about a Black Woman”? His response was, “What I love about a black is my mother is a black woman”.
What about the baby.
The only use Harold had for blacks period in the 9th Congressional Dist was votes. After 10 years of his representation we ALL need Anus Reconstruction Surgery. He did a number on us. This young man took Self Serving Politician to a new level.
Boy!!! U guys are hard on Harold Ford. He made a choice for his life, and the majority of u think that his choice was a choice for ur life. Just because u live perfect lives and do all u can to make everyone else happy, that doesn’t mean that everyone lives like that. Harold is own man, and has the right to date, marry, vote, or any other thing that he wants to do in his life and for his life. Cut him some slack. He is just trying to enjoy a little happiness on this earth!
Harold is not black. He is Caudian(Irish & American Indian). Why would you expect him to marry outside of his race?
All the beautiful amnd intelligent black women to choose as a mate and he chooses this skinny white woman! A damn shame,he made a conscious effort to pursue a white woman!
Dont you people get it. Harold does not consider himself black. He lost his identify as a child.
Hey Anonymous 29. Both of Harold Ford’s parents are Black! And they consider themselves Black! I’m certain they are both of mixed heritage with European blood very close but neither one of his parents are considered full White or American Indian. Get your facts straight!!!!! and next time you see him on TV, take your focus off his fair skin and blue eyes and take a closer look at his hair texture, there is no question he is a Black man!
Harold’s mother has dark brown skin and is definately a black woman. Here’s a picture. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/03/AR2008020303275.html
All the blacks that are so outraged have to be from memphis, because they are the most racist group of people from anywhere!
People do not be upset with Emily because she was chosen to be Harold’s wife. I am sure that she is a wonderful young women. You should feel sorry for her because she is going to fall under the curses of the Ford family. She does not know what she has gotten herself into. Everything that glitters is not gold. You will see.
Anonymous 35, I second that. We should offer our condolences for this young lady (Emily).
This couple had the nerve to have their engagement party on MLK’s 40th anniversary marking his assassination in Memphis. This was very disrespectful to the dead leader and to the community. It was insensitive and disrespectful to have an engagement party on this day at all. However adding injury to insult, MLK and his black wife did not make the sacrifices that they did so that well off black men can marry white women as trophies. 70% of black families are being raised by single mothers, which is leading to the deterioration of the country as a whole. Children who are abandoned by their fathers are becoming negative statistics and impacting the entire society. Many black men do not value black women enough to marry them and raise their families, partially due to the after effects of slavery and the medias propaganda that white women are more desirable and should be valued. As a politician this man is supposed to be a role model, by this action he is setting the example that well off black men should abandon their responsibilities to their communities and marry trophy white women who should be valued more than black women. His fiancé is an unattractive woman, with a seemingly mediocre background and would probably never have married an attractive well off man of her own race. So one would get the impression that this is not love, but that he is showcasing a white “trophy” on MLK’s anniversary, which is the height of disrespect and in my opinion shows that he is brainwashed, confused and needs deprogramming. Many people view this marriage as political suicide.
#37 Harold does not think that he is BLACK. Dont you get it!! A black woman has NEVER and will NEVER be good enough for him. He probably secretly hates his mother because it is her fault that he can not pass. This young woman does not have to be stunning, being white and having a rich powerbroker step-father is good enough. What do looks have to do with love/relations anyway? With Ford Jr being the OPPORTUNIST EXTRAORDINAIRE that he is, there is no way that he could pass this up.
True #38, he is a gold digger, confused, wants to be white, crazy, etc.. and because of this I do not personally know of any black women who genuinely wants to marry him. But he is not white and he was given allot by the black community, so much was expected of him and he should have done his duty in a political marriage. Now he is of no use to all of his backers both Black and White because he is destroying his political career. His usefulness to the stepfather is now null and void as his political career will soon be over, so I do not see how HF will ever get any of the stepfather’s gold and now he can not make much of his own. He could have been VP if he had married any black woman. That black woman could have helped the black community. Now he is going to understand what it means to be a Blackman in America with mediocre intellect and no real career prospects, I’m sure that his white wife will eventually leave him, as they do when black men go broke. However the black community will not help him again and then he will see that he is not white, as when HF is lacking both money and power whites will not help him either.
Also, #38 it would have been more profitable for Emily and her stepfather for Emily to be the influential mistress of the first black vice president, than the wife or divorcee of a broke, career in the toilet blackman, that can’t pass the bar.
He must be out of his mind to flush his political career for that E.T. Everyone who gave him money bet on the wrong horse and must be upset. #29 might be right he may be part American Indian; HF’s new nickname “Crazy Horse”.
#40, Harold is not what you call broke. He is Vice Chairman at Merrill Lynch. It is rumored that his salary is in the ballpark of $2M. They can live extremely, extremely, extremely comfortable on that salary. Unless he is one of the 3000 employees that will be laid off. I doubt it though.
Recent polls show that est. 35% of all white democrats are against interracial dating, so it is not just blacks that are against this match. Democrats are supposed to be liberal so I am sure the percentage that are against interracial dating amongst Republicans and middle of the road independents is much higher, though I have not seen a poll for Republicans.
From what I understand HF got that Merrill Lynch position because he is the chair of the DLC. Once he throws away his political career I am sure he will be booted out of the chair position of the DLC and laid off from Merrill Lynch. ML does not pay the big bucks to a has been with no influence. And the DLC can not have a perceived sell out and looser as their poster boy, since the DLC is also loosing influence. The presidential nominees would not even show up for the DLC yearly convention. For once HF will have to find a real job and actually work and I am not sure if he can keep a real job where he has to actually work everyday.
If he can find a real job with all the layoffs I hear Financial Analyst make about $60,000 and work about 70 hours a week, not sure if that is going to keep him in his expensive suits, flowers and pedicures though. However it may help Emily to buy her thrift store dresses that she can’t afford to have tailored to actually fit her correctly. I really don’t get the impression that her stepfather is supporting her from the look of her second hand clothes, so I don’t think HF will be able to dig any of his gold.
Sledge, I don’t’ believe the rumor that his salary is $2m. If anything that might be with yearly bonus, but since the market has done so poorly this year I doubt he is going to get bonuses on top of salary anywhere near $2m. Maybe he is making more like a $300- $500,000, if that, he has probably spent most of the money already and he will probably get laid off.
Supposedly, he quit his job at Fox as a Political Analyst. However, I believe they did not renew his contract. He came across as the phoney that he is. This fool has been play acting for so long until he does not know who he is or what he believes.
There is nothing genuine about him but his Gucci loafers.
If Merrill Lynch lays him off, as much a** as he has kissed, I am sure that someone will give him a job. He can always go work for his father as a lobbyist or his step-father-in-law will probably open some doors for him.
Why do you people care so much about what happens to Harold Ford anyway. He chose the woman that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, I think we should be supportive.
I think that his fathers lobbying business was doing well in the past when HF was in congress. But now that HF political career is in serious jeopardy, I don’t think that the business is going to continue to do well.
Anne, a lot of money and resources were invested in Ford and they expect a return on their investment. And if he throws away his political career by marrying a white woman there will be no return for any of his backers black or white.
#49 I am sure someone will give him a job, but not for the big money he needs to feed his expensive tastes. Since he will no longer have any political future or influence no one is going to continue to pay him the big bucks. And I’m sure the job will eventually go the way of the FOX news gig.
Anne, personally I would rather jump off a bridge then spend the rest of my life having to sleep exclusively with that boyish, alien looking E.T. So that is why a lot of people do not believe that he is in love with E.T. I may have missed something but all the reasons that we are reading that Ford gave for marrying her, never mentioned love or desire. So far we have heard money, appearing settled and we have seen that she is white and think that he is brainwashed. So we believe that he trying to dig fools gold or have a white trophy, which is upsetting in light of the amount of resources that have been wasted on him.
Anne, personally I would rather jump off a bridge then spend the rest of my life having to sleep exclusively with that boyish, alien looking E.T. So that is why a lot of people do not believe that he is in love with E.T. I may have missed something but all the reasons that we are reading that Ford gave for marrying her, never mentioned love or desire. So far we have heard money, appearing settled and we have seen that she is white and think that he is brainwashed. So we believe that he is trying to dig fools gold or have a white trophy, which is upsetting in light of the amount of resources that have been wasted on him.
Do not come back to the 9TH Congressional District looking for support if you decide to run for governor. Keep your butt in East Tennessee were your people are or better yet move to New York and run for governor.
Frist for governor of Tennessee in 2010!!!!!!!!
#54/55, Ford men do not EXCLUSIVELY sleep with any woman. That is absolutely unheard of in these parts. Infidelity and Ford are synonymous. However, Harold may be the one to break the cycle.
Well fellow posters, the wedding will be on Saturday. I guess the next big announcement will be that they are expecting their first child. I know his mother Dorothy will be elated. Her grandbabies will be soooo pretty. If the child is born with blue eyes, someone will have to put a pillow under her head. She loves blue eyes.
I heard a rumor that the wedding was cancelled. (And a collective sigh of relief was heard around the nation.)
#58, I heard a rumor that the wedding was cancelled. (And a collective sigh of relief was heard around the nation.)
#60 If the wedding is cancelled, Ford may have a chance as Hillary’s running mate.
I do not believe that the wedding is canceled. If anything it has been posponed for a more convenient time. If Hillary gets the Democratic nomination and ask him to be her running mate, they will get married after the election. STRATAGEM, STRATAGEM, STRATAGEM!!!!
Now black womem, if the wedding has actually been canceled, do not allow him to use you. You were not good enough before to be his mate and he would only be using you to further his political career. Don’t be bamboozled.
#40, Maybe Harold/Emily must have taken heed to your words.
#62 Ford is not good enough for the black women that could help him to become VP, no one genuinely wants to marry him, because he is crazy and wants to be white. Ford will not get the black vote or be VP unless he is settled and married to a black woman. There are a few black women that would use him to have a position to help the black community.
#40 The arranged marriage to a black woman, would be mutually beneficial for all involved, including his black and white backers who have thus far wasted their money on “crazy horse”.
#62 Holpefully he won’t marry Emily. Even if he divorces her the stigma of him marrying a white woman will follow him in any election in TN or for VP. His political career will be over.
#64 I agree, even in NY none of our black politicians are married to white women so that will not fly here either he is finished. In fact I can not think of one black politician in America that has married a white woman and has been elected to any office. So statistically there seems to be an obvious aversion to interracial dating and voter decisions. Who ever advised him to marry a white woman to appear more settled should be fired. Ford is politically finished after the 26th wedding.
No one had to advise him to marry a white woman, that is his preference. Black women are not good enough for him. He may hump a sister once in a while, but he spends him money on white women.
Don’t vote for Hillary if HFJ is her running mate!!!!!!
I don’t know about the gay rumors but…..he is an equal opportunity dater and has slept with them all. I talk to his cousin and the family is kind of split on the marriage. His penis is very small and when he has been drinking you can forget about it. but he will probably be like his parents and be married in name only in a few years. Ford, sr. is a player for life and he idolizes his daddy.
Harold can marry Omarosa. She will be willing to be his bride in name only!!!!!
Watch Harold and Emily at wedding rehearsal here.
#68 I heard that rumor also, but if he wanted a beard for his career it was very counter productive and career ending to get a white one.
#70 Saw video and it looks like a sham, she is all over him and he looks like he is embarrassed and trying to get away. She seems like she wants attention to launch her fashion career as a designer, but in marrying her he has ruined his career so he can no longer help her. She should have married a rapper or actor, if she wants to be a fashion designer. I give this marriage about 6 months just enough time for him to run out of money, and her to find another stepping stone to launch her career. But even if they divorce today his political career is over.
Goodbye Harold.
Hello Governor William Frist.
Tennessean, You should have posted;
Hello Governor Anybody but him.