There’s time for one last TV spot before Thursday’s primary in TN-09, so here’s the closing statement released yesterday by Nikki Tinker, who’s challenging incumbent Steve Cohen in the primary in this Memphis-based district.
As you’ll recall, Steve Cohen is a white Jewish man, and a solid progressive, who represents the mostly-African-American 9th, having won the 2006 primary to succeed Harold Ford Jr. via a split black vote. Tinker (who lost to Cohen in 2006) is running to his right, but challenging him on the basis of race, gender, religion, and everything but the issues.
Apparently, Cohen, while a member of Memphis’ Center City Commission, voted against removal of a statue of Confederate General (and KKK founder) Nathan Bedford Forrest from a city park. The ad features a local pastor criticizing Cohen’s decision… while running unrelated stock footage of a KKK rally in the background.
Memphis’ major paper, the Commercial-Appeal, rightly took Tinker to task for her last-minute appeal, which can’t even be described as lowest-common-denominator since it’s mathematically impossible to divide something by zero:
Beyond all that, it’s unfortunate that the Tinker campaign would evoke the KKK image in Memphis. Many residents still have lingering resentment over a 1998 Klan rally Downtown that turned violent when anti-Klan protesters were tear gassed by police and several windows were broken.
Apparently, none of that has stopped Tinker supporters from framing Thursday’s election as a black-white contest or a division between African-Americans and Jews.
The candidate’s desperate efforts to paint Cohen with the broad brush of racist imagery may win a few votes to her cause. Those who know Cohen will see through the smear.
And Cohen has been a solid progressive in voting for the interests of his district while in Congress. But what was his reasoning for voting against moving the statue? A statue of than man has no business being on any city owned land. I assume Cohen voted that way for a reason, I’d just liek to know what it is.
This is the first time I have written on SSP. I feel so sad that this came from a Democrat, liberal or conservative. It is especially sad because race is becoming such a big side- and unimportant-issue in the Presidential level. This is a SwiftBoat attack that should never have been approved. Shame on Tinker and the like.
campaign is the biggest example of racism.
The very thought that a Jewish politician would align with the KKK of all groups is so ludicrous it is amazing anyone can even assert it with a straight face. But as I have posted more than once about this primary and how Nikki Turner was running a religious based race-baiting campaign. Turner absolutely disgusts me and if she somehow defeats Cohen I will never, ever forgive her this campaign. Her campaign is right out of Jesse Helms playbook tactics wise.
There is a strong element of the Black religious community in Memphis that despises and has long opposed Rep. Cohen. It was his legislation that created the Tennessee state lottery. They have never relented in opposing him since. And Tinker is being aided and abetted by the Family Research Council and Focus on the Family in spreading religious based lies about Cohen.
It is shameful that the most racist campaign in the 2008 cycle will be conducted by a Democrat, Nikki Turner. Shame on you Ms. Turner.
Quinipiac
Specter 41%
Matthews 36%
The survey of 1,580 Pennsylvania voters between 7/30-8/3 had a margin of error of +/- 2.5%.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/…
Some cross-tabs at Politico.
Absolutely disgusting was my second thought.
My first thought was directed to this Nikki Tinker:
“What are you doing, woman?”
… I think it’s time for John Conyers, Jessie Jackson, Jr., and Charlie Rangel to step up a bit, as they all have endorsed Cohen. I hope Emily’s List is really proud of their most recently endorsed and supported candidate.