Harold Ford Defends Gay Marriage Reversal By Lying About Sen. Schumer

Former Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN) is pushing back aggressively against criticism of his newfound support for same-sex marriage. 

According to a spokesman for Ford, "It's a sad day in American politics when someone is maligned for listening to the debate, paying attention to the arguments and reaching the same conclusion that people like Bill Clinton and [Sen.] Chuck Schumer were allowed to make." 

However, there's one crucial detail that distinguishes Ford's evolution.  As the Daily News reports, "Neither Clinton nor Schumer (D-N.Y.) supported an outright constitutional ban on gay marriage."

Ford, on the other hand, did -- twice. 

As a member of the House in 2004, Ford joined 194 Republicans in voting for a federal marriage amendment.  Two years later, he joined 206 Republicans in doing it again. 

Conversely, while he previously supported the Defense of Marriage Act, Schumer opposed cloture on a federal amendment in both years. 

The bottom line is: Ford advocated an extreme position, siding with the far-right's efforts to inscribe hate into the Constitution.  His complete reversal just a few short years later reeks of political opportunism.