What does this even mean? From Volunteer Voters

The most interesting portion of the Times Free Press article for my eyes was this:

Corker campaign manager Ben Mitchell said, “Congressman Ford has strong political ties in his Memphis congressional district, and as a result it seems only natural that someone like this who is politically involved would contribute to Congressman Ford’s U.S. Senate campaign.”

Wait isn’t the rap on Ford that he isn’t really from Tennessee? That he grew up in Washington and raises all this out of state money?

Either he has strong ties to Memphis or he is an out of touch Washington insider, you can’t have it both ways.
Well, actually, see - Ford has to get elected, which is where he needs help from the Memphis political machine. If he actually grew up in Memphis, and spent his free time in Tennessee (when not running for United States Senate, of course), he wouldn’t need the likes of “politicos” like Hooks.

So, it has nothing to do with “having it both ways”. It has plenty to do with how Harold Ford, Jr. got his House seat - from his family’s network and influence in Memphis, with whom the indicted Hooks is evidently a part.