- Candidates in the race for Tennessee’s Ninth Congressional District, Nikki Tinker, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen and state Rep. Joe Towns Jr., debate Sunday.
Posted on 07/14/2008 7:37:08 AM PDT by SmithL
It didn't take long for Sunday night's Congressional debate to turn to race.
In a televised debate on WREG-TV Channel 3, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen and challengers Nikki Tinker and Joe Towns Jr. began by telling viewers why each should be elected to represent Tennessee's Ninth Congressional District.
But minutes into the debate, the conversation turned to race, a theme that has been a near-constant in this campaign.
Some believe the incumbent Cohen isn't qualified to represent the majority black district because he's white; Tinker and Towns are black. For others, what matters is merit, not pigment.
"I have never said that this is about race or religion," said Tinker, an attorney with Pinnacle Airlines.
She added that her supporters wanted at least one of Tennessee's congressional seats to have minority representation.
Cohen, repeating a theme he stressed throughout the debate, asked people to look at what he's done.
"I would like people to judge me on my record and my character, not on the color of my skin," Cohen said.
Towns, a state representative, took the middle ground: "If you're black and you're no good, you're no good. If you're white and you're no good, you're no good."
At first, the candidates answered questions from a three-member panel and the audience.
WREG Commentator Norm Brewer asked Tinker and Towns if either of them could cite a Cohen vote with which they disagreed. Tinker did not, but Towns did cite Cohen's advocacy of FedEx at what he said was the expense of labor.
But it was when the candidates faced each other that the debate turned spicy.
Tinker, with her "gotcha" question, asked Cohen if he was profiting from the surge in gas prices because his portfolio included oil stocks.
Cohen said he'd had such stocks for decades, and that it's all public knowledge. He then asked Tinker if her Pinnacle pension fund included similar stocks. When she retorted that she's on leave during the campaign, Cohen pointed out that she would still receive the pension.
Cohen's "gotcha" moment came when he tried to paint Tinker as a corporate lawyer and lobbyist instead of a civil-rights attorney, saying she only spent "one year out of law school when you might have done some civil-rights work."
Tinker responded that she's worked for numerous labor groups, which continue to support her. Cohen, unsatisfied with her response, said, "I think we've seen the answer to that question."
At that point, the debate turned testy and a palpable dislike between Tinker and Cohen seemed obvious.
Other highlights:
Cohen, who pointed out several times that he helped found the state lottery, suggested that the government use some oil reserves to offset high gas prices. Tinker suggested higher taxes on oil companies.
Tinker, responding to a Cohen question about how she would combat rising crime, made the statement that, "I stood on a corner watching my friends die waiting for an ambulance to come." She didn't elaborate.
Tinker accused Cohen of flip-flopping his position on the war in Iraq, but Cohen said he only voted to fund the war if the bills included a timetable for withdrawal.
- Candidates in the race for Tennessee’s Ninth Congressional District, Nikki Tinker, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen and state Rep. Joe Towns Jr., debate Sunday.
Remember: it’s only racist if blacks think they’re getting screwed.
Only white people can be racist. People who are not white are allowed to hate anybody they want.
Funny how white liberals are will almost completely be replaced with “diverse” liberals who breed like rabbits on viagra pills.
Demographics is destiny.
Conservatives must have lots of kids to SAVE THE REPUBLIC!
My district, now that I’ve been gerrymandered.
“Some believe the incumbent Cohen isn’t qualified to represent the majority black district because he’s white; Tinker and Towns are black. For others, what matters is merit, not pigment.”
Reading the article, I see no source for that statement. They have a poll next to the article, that indicates 4% think race is relevant, 7% feel it’s somewhat relevant, I sure hope that’s not the author’s source. I’ve sent an email asking for clarification.
LOL. Payback is a bitch. I love it when white liberals are challenged that they can’t represent predominantly black or Hispanice constituencies. Stephen Solarz found that out when his district changed to mostly Hispanic. Despite serving nine terms, the Dem voters in the primaries got rid of him. Other white liberal incumbents representing districts that are growing more and more black or Hispanic will suffer the same fate. For the Dems, race and ethnicity does matter
They reap what they sow. LOL
Anyone surprised by this hasn’t been paying attention.
She added that her supporters wanted at least one of Tennessee's congressional seats to have minority representation.
I guess it is actually Impossible for some attorneys to exercise logic, reason and consistency. LOL
Welcome to hell AKA Memphis. I’m from here.
Cohen might win it this time. The democrat is a lock for the seat, so whoever get the “D” nomination is the winner.
But by 2010, he will be thrown out for a black candidate, for sure. Race rules in this race. I am in this district.
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