The ad is repulsive

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.

---

by: ChadInFL @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 15:42:22 PM CDT

Well, I did

some background on this, and the most I could find was:

Cohen said he wanted to avoid the racially divisive process of renaming the park, and he pointed out that city leaders never acted on the recommendation.

But it wasn't just about the statue; apparently Forrest is interred in the park too, and the plan was to take his remains elsewhere too. Maybe Cohen was weirded out by that part.

At any rate, the statue wound up being an issue in the MS-01 special election as well, as it was alleged that Greg Davis (mayor of Southhaven, exurb across the state line) had been willing to give a good home to the offending statue.

---

by: Crisitunity @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 15:57:33 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Here's a better explanation

Jurisdiction and mootness, basically:

[Cohen manager] Austin said Cohen voted against the measure because it didn't belong in front of the planning commission, and that neither the city's African American mayor nor the city council ever took up an effort to rename the park and remove the statue.

---

by: Crisitunity @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 16:04:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thanks

I knew he had to have good reason for taking that stance considering how solid he is on civil rights.  In this case the body should be moved as well.  It has no business being in public land.

---

by: ChadInFL @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 16:22:59 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Unbelievable

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.  

---

by: JohnT @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 15:42:31 PM CDT

this

campaign is the biggest example of racism.

Call no man happy until he is dead-Aeschylus

---

by: ArkDem the Ragin Cajin @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 16:00:35 PM CDT

TN-9 is the most important primary in 2008

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.    

"My name's Dr. Multimillionaire and I kicked your ass." -- Rep. Steve Kagen D-WI to Karl Rove

---

by: walja @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 16:14:02 PM CDT

Tinker, not Turner. n/t

---

by: Lucas O'Connor @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 17:38:48 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Remember too...

..that Tinker is being supported by Emily's List. They appear to be OK with religious prejudice.

---

by: stevenaxelrod @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 19:05:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Emily's list

really stuck it to their Jewish, LGBT, and Progressive allies merely due to Nikki Tinker's gender.  It would be different if Steve Cohen was tepid on women's issues but he is in fact terrific on women's issues and if they have a problem with Steve Cohen then they have a problem with me and most of the Democratic Party I'm afraid. Sure puts feminists connected to Emily's list in a whole new (and very dim) light.

"My name's Dr. Multimillionaire and I kicked your ass." -- Rep. Steve Kagen D-WI to Karl Rove

---

by: walja @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 19:35:54 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

sick of putting up with it

I dropped my membership over this, and I told them why.

It wasn't the frst time they had backed a candidate who wasn't the best candidate in a contest, but it was the most egregious. And it's not like there's any shortage of contests across the country where there's an opportunity to back a pro-choice woman against a bad incumbent, or for an open seat.  

---

by: Christopher Walker @ Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 09:34:17 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

PA-Sen 2010: Specter vs. Matthews

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.  

---

by: JeremiahTheMessiah @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 16:27:23 PM CDT

Is Matthews really a Dem?

I could never tell from watchign his show.  His brother is a republican, sort of well known in PA, so I just assumed Chris was one as well.

---

by: ChadInFL @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 16:49:32 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

You might call him a self-hating Democrat

And one who believes that you have to be a shameless partisan to consider one party more corrupt than the other.

---

by: Angel Eyes @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 16:56:09 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

you kidding, wasn't he

former State House Speaker Tip O'Neil's aide or chief of staff or something.

Call no man happy until he is dead-Aeschylus

---

by: ArkDem the Ragin Cajin @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 18:18:50 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I know he once was a dem

I just don't know what he is now.  A lot of people switched parties over the past 20 or so years.

---

by: ChadInFL @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 18:36:37 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

If Specter...

is only five points behind a loud mouth like Chris Matthews, then maybe he should just reconsider his decision to run again and save us the trouble.

---

by: Don't Tase Me, Bro! @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 17:27:50 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Awesome.

   That means that real Democrat Allyson Schwartz has a great chance against Specter.  Schwartz was the only PA congresscritter to vote against FISA who does not represent an urban area.  Most think she will run against Specter.

John McCain lets lobbyists shape his economic policy

---

by: cilerder86 @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 21:27:22 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

She raises money like crazy..

and she's in no danger of loosing her seat, so maybe.

I'm a Ralph Yarborough Democrat

---

by: dem4evr @ Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 03:42:56 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Oh, And My Thoughts On The Ad

Absolutely disgusting was my second thought.

My first thought was directed to this Nikki Tinker:
"What are you doing, woman?"

---

by: Don't Tase Me, Bro! @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 17:28:54 PM CDT

Not sure if it's too late, but ...

... 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.

---

by: IndianaProgressive @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 17:34:03 PM CDT

OK, so I looked ...

... at Cohen's webpage, and Congressman Jackson did a radio ad for Cohen that's really pretty good -- saying they are basically the same, will work with Obama, etc.

---

by: IndianaProgressive @ Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 17:37:22 PM CDT

[ Parent ]