Yesterday, I diaried about a meeting Representative Steve Cohen had with a group of black Baptist ministers. Cohen went to talk to the group, because they were opposed to his support for a Civil Rights bill, because they felt that it would limit their ability to preach against homosexuality, which it would not.
However, in the meeting, the group's real complaint about Rep. Cohen came out when one pastor, Rev. Robert Poindexter of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, stated the following:
"He's not black and he can't represent me, that's just the bottom line."
Now the fall out begins.
From today's Commercial Appeal -
The Memphis Democrat's appearance at Tuesday's meeting of the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association was a hot topic on talk radio, said numerous pastors who also said they fielded calls all day on the subject.
The discussions followed an excoriation of Cohen by some black ministers for his support for a federal hate crimes bill.
But the freshman congressman's endorsement of that bill was eclipsed by charges that Cohen cannot adequately represent the predominately black Ninth District.
Cohen and some ministers speculated that the attack was an attempt to garner support for Nikki Tinker, who is black. She lost to Cohen by 4,459 votes in last August's Democratic primary.
"It's not my sentiment, but I understand the frustration of some who see this seat as one held so long by a person of color and that now is held by a white man," said Dr. Randolph Meade Walker, pastor at Castalia Baptist Church. "Some see it as a step back to lose the seat, but I think Rep. Cohen has done a good job, is fair and I appreciate him."
Cohen slammed the detractors, describing them as politically motivated and more concerned about race than record.
"African-Americans elected me to this seat, not based on my race, but because of who they felt could best represent them," Cohen said Wednesday. "There is no way anyone can beat me on my voting record or my response to the community and issues that affect them, so some are attempting to use race as a wedge."
There is a poll with the article, that everyone should vote on.
Atleast one of the minister in attendance saw the real problem with all of this and how it should not be about race.
"I don't think race should ever be part of our dialogue, although regrettably it often is," Geaney said. "I'm reminded of Dr. King and his dream that we judge not on the color of their skin, but on the quality of character."
Rev. O.C. Collins, a member of the ministers' association, agreed. As a result of Tuesday's meeting, he invited Cohen to speak to his congregation, Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, on Sunday.
"It's hypocrisy to say that a white person can't represent the black community," Collins said. "That's racist talk and we need to put an end to it now. We need to be about the business of mending fences, not building bigger ones."
WMC TV in Memphis filed a report with video with the setup. They also stated that Cohen belives that Nikki Tinker's campaign was behind it in one way or another.
Cohen suspects the ambush may have been orchestrated by the Nikki Tinker campaign. She came in second to Cohen in '06 and is running against him again in '08.
"She has been to the minister's association several times soliciting their support," says Coehn. "And through her airlines (Pinnacle Airlines), she's given them and members of their church free airplane rides around the city," he claims.
Yes, these "men of God" have been flown around Memphis by Ms. Tinker's airline. How nice? No way that would influence them on attacking Rep. Cohen.
In the WMC report, the reporter tried to get some of those "men of God" that attacked Rep. Cohen for being white and Jewish, to explain their point. None of them had the courage to. Probably because they don't want to be seen on camera being the racist bigots that they are. Their flock may actually see that on their TVs. Cowards!!
All of this will cause Rep. Cohen to spend valuable dollars in the primary to keep his seat.
Rhodes College political science professor Marcus Pohlmann said the confrontation could benefit both sides.
"This could rally his moderate base and at the same time it may energize a conservative faction that opposes him," Pohlmann said. "As odd as it sounds, since he's the incumbent, he's almost considered the underdog now. And what seems to have been lost in the shuffle is the issue of hate crimes."
Cohen, who is Jewish, called the criticism a thinly veiled plot to undermine his reputation and attributed it to a group of extremists. He said that a national network of activists is working behind the scenes to create division within the Democratic Party.
"The ayatollahs of America have struck in Memphis," Cohen said in a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. "They're a coalition of right-wing Republicans who don't believe in the separation of church and state."
Do not think that the ministers do not want to get their "black" candidate and if that means getting into bed with right wing groups to do, they will have. Look who supports them.
Rep. Cohen is a progressive that truly looks out for the people of Memphis regardless of race, sex, or religion. Ms. Tinker would just be another Harold Ford Jr. DLC clone that just wants the seat to have the seat.
To support Rep. Cohen click here or here.