A former Congressman from Tennessee set off an internet firestorm when he appeared on Fox News remotely Thursday, with a portrait of former Chairman of the People’s Republic of China and founder of the Chinese Communist Party Mao Zedong in the background.
Harold Ford Jr., a Democrat, represented Tennessee’s Ninth Congressional District for a decade, from 1997 to 2007. Now, he provides commentary frequently on Fox News.
Fox News viewers noticed some strange background decor during Ford’s appearance on “Special Report” with Bret Baier Thursday.
“Wow, [Harold Ford Jr.] rockin’ the Warhol Mao over the fireplace. I liked the Muhammad Ali better,” Tom Bevan, founder of Real Clear Politics said.
Wow, @HaroldFordJr rockin’ the Warhol Mao over the fireplace. I liked the Muhammad Ali better. pic.twitter.com/lqwmDKegpM
— Tom Bevan (@TomBevanRCP) January 14, 2021
Several Twitter users posted similar photos of the frame, sending Fox News and Ford into damage control mode.
Ford absolved himself by saying it is not his home.
“As [Bret Baier] said, I’m just renting a place – didn’t choose the art – my house has Ali and MLK on the walls – no fan of Communist China or Mao – my public record and words on Fox and elsewhere about China prove that,” he said.
As @BretBaier said, I’m just renting a place – didn’t choose the art – my house has Ali and MLK on the walls – no fan of Communist China or Mao – my public record and words on Fox and elsewhere about China prove that
— Harold Ford, Jr. (@HaroldFordJr) January 15, 2021
Baier also used Twitter to clear up the controversy.
“As noted in previous tweet Tom. — “[Harold Ford Jr.] is renting a home for a few weeks in a vacation spot – he doesn’t control the walls. Strong background analysis, but Harold is not a Maoist- he was elected in Tennessee. Thanks for watching,” Baier said in response to Bevan.
As noted in previous tweet Tom. — “Harold @HaroldFordJr is renting a home for a few weeks in a vacation spot – he doesn’t control the walls. Strong background analysis, but Harold is not a Maoist- he was elected in Tennessee. Thanks for watching” https://t.co/7caESAnmwu
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) January 15, 2021
Twitter users lambasted Baier and Ford, despite the fact that the poster does not belong to him.
“He may not control the walls but he can control the setting. Getting tired of [Bret Baier],” Twitter user @ibhigg said.
He may not control the walls but he can control the setting. Getting tired of @BretBaier
— ibhigg (@ibhigg) January 15, 2021
“Gee, if I were just renting a place that had a giant picture of Mao in the living room I might say ‘ugh’ and take my video calls in a different room but that’s just me,” Twitter user @Latentem said.
Gee, if I were just renting a place that had a giant picture of Mao in the living room I might say "ugh" and take my video calls in a different room but that's just me
— Latentem (@Latentem) January 15, 2021
This is not the first time in recent memory that Democrats have appeared with communist propaganda.
In 2009, the Obama Administration came under fire for decorating the official White House Christmas tree with an ornament depicting Mao.
In 2014, Obama Press Secretary Jay Carney was busted with Soviet military propaganda adorning the walls of his home after a photoshoot with Washingtonian MOM magazine, which was profiling his wife.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a contributor at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
It must be a very small place if that is the only place he could set up the cameras. And is the painting bolted to the wall so that it couldn’t be taken down? Or is he so used to Useful Idiots believing everything he says that he assumes the rest of the world is as stupid?
He’s a freak. Clearly intimate buddies with Baer……and being injected all over Fox as a Poison Pill by WHOEVER calls the shots. He’s just a Dope….and his role is to stink things up.
I would like to rent the same place please. How may i find out who I can rent this from?
Shelby county’s finest. 🤮
Sure, and the tooth fairy is real too.
Another blue-checkmark idiot on Twitter (not sure who, now) said, “Oh, that’s just a Warhol painting” as though a picture of a mass murderer is somehow inconsequential because of that. Try hanging a picture of Hitler on the wall while conducting an interview on national television and see what happens. Fake news media and scum politicians (former and present) are laughing in our faces.