KKK Ad Runner Loses TN Primary In Landslide

Being linked to "big oil" turned into a big problem for Tennessee Republican freshman Rep. David Davis, who became the first congressman from that state to lose in a primary in more than four decades. ...

Meanwhile, in the 9th District, in Memphis, a racially charged Democratic primary ended with an incumbent congressman trouncing the opponent who ran an ad linking him to the Ku Klux Klan.

Unofficial results showed Democrat Steve Cohen with 79 percent of the vote to 19 percent for Nikki Tinker, a black corporate lawyer who was his chief opponent in the district that covers Memphis, with all precincts reporting.

Cohen is the first white congressman from Memphis in more than three decades and one of only two white congressmen representing a majority black district.

"The results are pretty clear," Cohen told cheering supporters at a victory party. "I'm here to report that Tennessee and Tennessee (District) 9 voted firmly for the post-racial politics that has carried a new generation to power."

The campaign turned ugly in its final days, when Tinker ran a television ad juxtaposing photos of Cohen, who is Jewish, and a hooded Ku Klux Klan member. Tinker's supporters argued the district, which is 60 percent black and 35 percent white, should be represented by a black candidate. Cohen, a former state senator, has a long record as a civil rights supporter.

Tinker said her ad linking Cohen to the KKK for opposing a 2005 effort to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest from a downtown park "merely states the facts. I think the nation needs to know Steve Cohen's complete record."

But the ad drew condemnation Thursday from Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. It juxtaposed pictures of a statue of Forrest, an early leader of the KKK, and a hooded Klansman in front of a burning cross while asking, "Who is the real Steve Cohen?"

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[dct1999]

Good for the voters of Tennessee's 9th district.

This Tinker woman is a crazy bigoted hater who tried to appeal to the worst in people. I bet she goes to church every Sunday and considers herself a good Christian.

[reshas1]

Hope the One was watching this primary, and get a clue, that playing the race card just isn't going to work.. Er, uh, DUH

[markj757]

What a tool. Yeah, O is playing the race card. Give me a break.

[Obamaalltheway]

You still don't get it do you... Er, uh, DUH

[reshas1]

Meanwhile, in the 9th District, in Memphis, a racially charged Democratic primary ended with an incumbent congressman trouncing the opponent who ran an ad linking him to the Ku Klux Klan.


I find it funny that it's ambiguous on what party this lady is from(not a lady, really), BUT, SHE IS A DEMOCRAT!! Imagine that!!

[TAFL]

Why would you think "Democratic primary" fails to indicate she's a Democrat?

There is nothing ambiguous about her party identifica­tion--Repu­blicans, Libertarians, Greens, Natural Law Party members, Constitution Party members, Socialists, and the like are not included in Democratic primaries. Yeah, I know, it's just silly how only Democrats run in Democratic primaries....

[belief08]

reshas1;

Wow, this sounds soooooooooo familiar. She's only mimicking this crazy bigoted guilt by association method you people have thrusted upon Obama. But, it's ok when you people do it to Obama; when the roles are reversed you have a caniption fit. Where's your outraged for that, no; you just accepted the lies at face value without giving the man the benefit of the doubt.

It was also ok when Clinton bashed her fellow Democrat. It was acceptable by her standards and yours. That's the hypocrisy of your comment and others like you.

[MartyGee]

Congratulations to the citizens of this TN district. You've made my day!

[Sylmason]

I'm from Memphis and I knew the people were too dignified to vote for that tinker woman. Cohen is a very sweet man who has been a positive force in Memphis politics. Good job Memphis, you got rid of a creep and sent a good man back to Congress.

[morbie5]

Steve Cohen is proud and happy that he is a tool of the Republic of Turkey to help them cover up their bloody crimes against Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians. He is a disgrace.

[foxbat]

Oh the irony ... she obviously never saw Forrest Gump!

Forrest: (voice-over) Now, when I was a baby, Momma named me after the great Civil War hero, General Nathan Bedford Forrest... She said we was related to him in some way. And, what he did was, he started up this club called the Ku Klux Klan. They'd all dress up in their robes and their bedsheets and act like a bunch of ghosts or spooks or something. They'd even put bedsheets on their horses and ride around. And anyway, that's how I got my name. Forrest Gump. Momma said that the Forrest part was to remind me that sometimes we all do things that, well, just don't make no sense.

That last line is a classic: "to remind me that sometimes we all do things that, well, just don't make no sense."

[nicholasclaxton]

You know seldom it seems in politics we get a clear victory for mankind!

Thank the Heavens for the Residents in the District in Memphis (and the rest of us) for seeing this for what it was. THere is no place left in this america for this kind of BS.

I'm glad she lost big, and I hope she has a most dificult time finding any clients. Deplorable!

THERE IS ONLY ONE RACE - THE HUMAN RACE!

buildthedream.org

[protagonia]

Exactly!

One race.

[vshdst]

It's a laugh to read how outraged whites are about using race in a political campaigns. Race in America has, and will always matter(willie horton.) All of you "outraged" people should stop being hypocrites and face the truth. Whether we like it or not, there are many people in our community who do not want to lose control of what we have, and the only way to keep and maintain it is to have divisiveness. That's the American way!

[joekutz]

It is all coming out the GOP cannot hide behind their lies and deceits.

[jay1975]

Tinker is a Democrat.

[TroubleNYC]

But ... but ... she's black in a predominantly black district. Don't all the blacks stick together?? This must be putting Pat Buchanan in a mental tailspin!

Good for her and her dirty politics.

[DoomtoNeoCons]

Sleaze is sleaze, no matter what color it comes from

[Big0725]

A White Jew? In Tennessee? In a predominantly black district?

Who wudda thunk it?

[DevilAdvocate]

that's hot! LOL

[markj757]

I hope the Jewish community takes note of this primary. Barack was at a Jewish town hall meeting in Florida, and one of the Jewish participants said if he changed his name he would vote for him. That angered me like you wouldn't believe. Barack was gracious with his answer of course, but I wish I could have answered it for him. I would have told him he can take his vote and go to hell. I'm positive if Cohen got such a high percentage of the vote, he was clearly the better candidate, and most likely ran a more decent, honest, and effective campaign. And blacks voted not based on race but based on the two candidates in which they were presented. I hope the Jewish community will give Barack the same opportunity.

[pkafin]

Fear not. One Jewish idiot, like the one you mentioned, has little effect on the overall opinion and voting patterns of American Jews. American Jews will vote for Obama by a greater than 2 to 1 (66%+) margin. Most likely, they will go over a 3 to 1 margin (75%+).

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they ultimately go over 4 to 1 (80%+).

[HerbTee]

Having lived in Florida once for 5 years and having relatives residing there (including my Dad and Step-mom), I for one am sick and tired of Florida politics and the dirty games of "red state" racism they play there. It's a fact that the entire state is run politically by old bigoted Whites, old bigoted Jews and Cubans who are still stuck on stupid for over 50 years over Castro and Elian Gonzales. None of these people are smart enough or progressive enough to ever vote for BO. So why is BO even bothering! Let the Repugnicans have and keep Florida...no big loss. There are 49 other states to work with.

[infpinfp]

We live in David Davis' district and voted in the Republican primary this time to get him out. Good riddance. He was an accidental choice of Republicans last time as two more moderate voices split the vote and David Davis snicked in.

[gwt301]

I'm a black man and this is excellent news. First of all it shows that black people will vote against a black candidate if they feel the white candidate is better able to serve their interests. It happened here in Maryland when Ben Cardin (who is white) beat Michael Steele (who is black and the former lt. gov) in PG County (one of the largest and richest majority black counties in the country). PG County overwhelmingly rejected Steele, a republican, for using the same tact as Tinker--basically trying to paint Cardin as a racist. We were not buying it and sent the old lt. gov. packing. Secondly it debunks the myth tat Obama gets the black vote only because he is black. Perhaps black people really feel like he is the person best able to serve their interests. Lastly, it is a great day for America when racist tactics of any kind even from a black person is not tolerated by an electorate. America, give yourself a pat on the back. This is a good thing for us all.

[hpesr]

I am shocked that not one poster mentioned the racist comments that Cohen made about
Armenians as assassins in response to his refusal to recognize the Armenian genocide. He did this of course for no other reason that he did not want to rile his Jewish friends here and in Israel who see the Turkish government as their ally. The man is a Zionist racist. For some reason Jews love to see themselves as progressives except on issues regarding the subjugation of Palestians. As a true progressive in all matters, I have a tough time supporting any Zionists including Obama.

[joekutz]

Well at least we know where you stand. The term Zionist racist as we all know is one of those watchwords that are part and parcel of the KKK.

[Sahaquiel]

FYI: When you're going to try to comment about someone being a racist, it helps not to appear to be one yourself. Using enormous generalities like "Jews love to see themselves..." is one way to devalue any legitimate argument you may have had.

[AzRealProgressive]

Nonsensical.

[pkafin]

You can enjoy voting for Cynthia McKinney. She's no "Zionist", of that you can be sure.

However, regarding your ignorant over generalization (replete with spelling errors)" For some reason Jews love to see themselves as progressives except on issues regarding the subjugation of Palestians.", You would, apparently, be surprised to find the large number of American Jews who lead organizations (and American Jewish organizations themselves) whose main purpose is to raise awareness of the situation of, and facilitate justice for, the Palestinians.

I suggest you look at the small sampling of links I'm providing. If you care to educate yourself further, google will spit out dozens of more examples.

http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/
http://www.masscouncilofchurches.org/docs/Middle%20east%20peace%20groups.htm
http://www.forward.com/articles/13037/
http://www.faithfullyliberal.com/?p=1035

One would think as a "true progressive", you wouldn't spout out false absolutes about an ethnic group that is part of the American fabric.