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)
Quote from CaptainObvious:
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?