SOURCE SAYS "ITS ALL ABOUT JOHN"

I received a call on Saturday from a source that I know to be close to Harold Ford Sr stating that a deal has been cut between the former congressman and the current congressman from the 9th Congressional District.

Many have wondered over the past few days why Ford who lives in Florida has suddenly decided to get involved in the congressional race of Cohen when he didn't get involved when his son Jake Ford ran against Cohen. Many also remember that when his under study Julian Bolton ran for congress several years ago with Cohen in the race he did not get involved even though he had used Bolton to politically destroy former County Commissioner Minerva Johnican.

While it's known that Ford has been the jealous boyfriend since Willie Herenton stole Memphis away from him and has every since sought a way to to get even it's also known that he has no great love for Steve Cohen either,So why has Ford jumped on the Cohen band wagon especially when he knows that Johnican who hates him is one of Cohen's advisers.

The source states it's all about his brother John Ford who was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison. The source states that Ford had been in contact with Cohen seeking his help in getting his brother's sentence commuted. The source goes on to state that Cohen told Ford that he would do everything that he could do to help John if he would help in his congressional race against Herenton.

Cohen has already once gotten involved in helping John,In 2008 when John Ford was to be sent to a federal prison farm in La Tuna Texas 1200 miles away from family and friends Cohen got with the Bureau of Prisons to get the former state senator closer.

This information given to me by the source makes sense as to why Harold Sr. has raised his ugly head to get involved in Cohen's race. Few have thought that it was just because of his dislike for Herenton solely. Ford knows that he takes a great chance of making new political foes in the Black community by joining forces with Cohen that could and would close doors for his son Harold Ford Jr. if he should ever seek to run again for public office but he would be willing to take that chance to help John who if he ever chose to could connect Harold to some TennCare funny business.

The question also is how will the White community feel about the thought that Cohen may be seeking to help John Ford, or does he care? Cohen knows that the poll numbers given by Yacoubian is political bullshit. Every poll that the polling firm and the Commercial Appeal have ever done stating that Willie Herenton would lose a race has been wrong. Plus when the truth is really told about the poll that gives Cohen 84% if the election is held today by WMC one must realize that most blacks don't participate in polls and that persons living outside the 9th congressional district always participated in the WMC poll.

Why would Cohen be willing to cut a deal with Ford, the answer is simple,he's desperate and knows that the numbers are not there for him to receive a win. Willie Herenton no matter what anyone thinks of him will automatically start off with at least 70,000 votes. This is based on the votes that he has received every time he ran for office including the last city race.

Cohen also knows that he alone can't eat away at the 70,000 and needs Ford to attempt to cut into the numbers and hopefully draw him more black support. But what Cohen does not realize is that Ford's machine is dead and many Blacks resent him for getting involved in the race. Cohen also knows that the White vote does not really help him win, because their are only 99,000 registered White voters in the district compared to 183,000 registered Black voters.

A large percentage of the White voters in the district are republican and with a governor's race next year on the ballot most white republicans won't cross over and even if they do if won't matter it's not enough Whites in the district to allow a Cohen win. Cohen also knows that much of the black support he has enjoyed in his two terms will vote for Herenton simply because he's Black and that the district was designed for Black representation.

Cohen also knows that with Herenton in the race that he cannot floor show but must prove what he has done in the district. He knows that he has been able to ride the back of announcements of funding coming into the district that was earmarked for Memphis no matter who the congressman was,But now will have to prove what service he has rendered other than the naming of buildings after Blacks.

This is why it's so believable that Cohen would cut a deal with Ford,He wants to hold on to the seat and knows that for the first time in his congressional career that he's in for a battle with someone that that will stand toe to toe with him and OUT BLACK him. He knows that some doors at Black churches will close to him,and the ones that allow him in will also allow Herenton in who can OUT CHURCH him.

Harold Ford Sr. has no love for Cohen, But can you really blame him if he's using the current congressman to cut some of the prison time for his brother. Every one that knows Ford knows that he does not do anything unless there is something in it for him.And knowing Harold if what the source says is true Harold has cut a deal where Cohen will have to come through before next year's primary or Ford will not hit the streets for endorse him.