Ophelia Your Pain

Tennessee Democratic State Senator Ophelia Ford, a member of the Ford political dynasty that includes U.S. Representative and Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr., has been given a stay by a federal judge in her bid to keep from getting kicked out of office.

As PD noted yesterday, Ms. Ford was elected to her post after her brother, John Ford, was indicted in Operation Tennessee Waltz, a federal corruption sting that nabbed elected officials for bribery, conspiracy, and in the case of Mr. Ford, threats of violence. When Mr. Ford resigned his state Senate seat, his sister announced her intention to run for it. Now Ms. Ford's 13-vote victory has been beset by allegations that dead people, felons and ineligible voters cast ballots. Ms. Ford has not been accused of fixing the election.

Election officials are investigating, but the state Senate, which is in a special legislative session to debate ethics reform, decided to act. A committee voted 17 to 14 to void her election and kick her out. The full Senate was to take up the matter tomorrow and was expected to endorse her ouster.

But Ms. Ford fought back. "It's about racism, it's about Jim Crowism and we're going to let the federal courts decide," she said. A federal judge issued an injunction against the Senate and a hearing on the issue is set for January 25.