TPM slams Emily's List for supporting the opponent of a progressive TN Democrat....Steve Cohen.

[madfloridian]

and for using anti-semitism against him. He's the incumbent.

I notice the video is down for now, but the description is still there. Nikki Tinker is being supported by the Congressional Black Caucus, Emily's list, and the family of Harold Ford, DLC chairman.

EMILY'S LIST: Its Candidate Uses Anti-Semitism To Defeat a Liberal in Tennessee

It's bad enough that Emily's List would back any challenge to Steve Cohen, one of the most liberal members of the House.

But now Emily's favored candidate is using racial and anti-semitic charges to defeat Cohen.

What gives? Does Emily's List believe that, by definition, any woman is better than any man? Does Emily's List condone anti-semitism? Or racism?

Or is everything permissible when you know you are a liberal? Sickening.

More from The Politico:

Tinker attacks Cohen over religion.

The campaign of Democratic attorney Nikki Tinker is increasingly using issues of race and religion to attack freshman Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), a white Jewish congressman representing a majority-black Memphis district. Just days after airing a racially charged ad connecting Cohen with the Ku Klux Klan, the Tinker campaign is up with a new ad not-too-subtly questioning his religious convictions.

“Who is the real Steve Cohen, anyway?” a narrator says as a child is heard praying in the background . “While he’s in our churches clapping his hands and tapping his feet, he’s the only senator who thought our kids shouldn’t be allowed to pray in school. Congressman, sometimes apologies just aren’t enough.

The apology line appears to be a veiled reference to Cohen’s just-passed legislation in Congress that apologizes to African-Americans for the “fundamental injustice” of slavery and racial segregation.

"He’s never voted against prayer in school. It’s an out-and-out lie. This is desperation upon desperation," said Cohen campaign manager Jerry Austin. Cohen planned to hold a press conference Wednesday morning to respond to the new ad. Cohen already has been the target of an anti-Semitic mailer was distributed earlier this year in the district. The flier said that "Cohen and the Jews HATE Jesus" and called upon "Black Christians" to support one "Black Christian" and oppose "this opponent of Christ and Christianity." Tinker is facing Cohen in a rematch of their 2006 primary. Until this week, she had been running a low-profile primary campaign, concentrating on biographical spots. The primary is Thursday.

The election is tomorrow I gather, I pray Cohen wins. Here is more on the support from the Ford family...including donations from Harold's new wife to Tinker.

How they keep progressive incumbents from being elected and reelected. Cohen, TN



Cohen, Tinker, Ford

-- Harold Ford Jr. just got married a couple of months ago, but he's wasted no time in taking advantage of one of the main political advantages of marriage - insulation from controversal political donations. Looks like Ford's bride, Emily Threlkeld Ford, has maxed out contributions to Nikki Tinker, the primary opponent of 9th district Congressman Steve Cohen.

.....House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls him the "conscience" of the 110th Congress. He's been endorsed by his House Judiciary Committee chairman, John Conyers. Rep. Maxine Waters, the liberal California firebrand, calls him "brother."

..."Walking with him in the hallways of Congress, where he's stopped repeatedly no matter how fast he's moving to make a vote, it's clear that Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., has made a powerful impression in his first term. YouTube him and you'll find video clips of dozens of Cohen's floor and committee speeches about the Memphis Tigers basketball team, Stax records, Guantanamo and the war. When he asked Dick Cheney's chief of staff recently if the vice president was a "barnacle," the riposte lit up the blogosphere.

But beyond witty repartee, how effective has the unabashedly liberal and anti-war Cohen been for his constituents in Memphis' 9th Congressional District? Some, like former NAACP national executive director Benjamin L. Hooks, see a solid voting record consistent with a civil rights agenda. Hooks' view is upheld by the national NAACP's "report card" on 25 Cohen votes of interest to its members, where he scores a 96 percent. (Rep. Marsha Blackburn, a Republican who represents West Tennessee's 7th District, by contrast, scores 28 percent.)

I am stunned and surprised at the Congressional Black Caucus if true, and at Emily's List for such a pick.

[Gabi Hayes]

1. she was just named Olbermann's worst person in the world!

for just what these links demonstrate

good call!

[madfloridian]

3. I missed that. Wish I had seen it.

.

[madfloridian]

9. Found the video clip from Countdown. Nikki Tinker...WPITW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrw7ZBo256g

[roguevalley]

27. Emily's list sucks. THey just plain suck.

[Tarheel_Dem]

2. Let me say as a lifelong Democrat, and an African American, I hang my head

in shame that Ms. Tinker hasn't been scolded and/or reprimanded by the CBC. One's ethnicity should never be introduced into the debate, especially by a another "democrat". I think I'll drop Rep. Cohen a few bucks to help him fight this horrid woman.

[madfloridian]

4. I agree. I hope Cohen is reelected tomorrow.

There was no need for this to happen.

[Tarheel_Dem]

5. No need whatever, and no matter what happens, I want to see the

upstanding members of the CBC and the Democratic Party roundly repudiate these tactics.

[Celebration]

19. politics as usual in Memphis n/t

[cascadiance]

6. The Armenians are being used by Tinker in targetting Cohen too!

I had my Armenian office mate single her out to talk about her as being one his community is supporting a lot. Knowing that he's supporting Obama and is starting to come around to my feelings against corporatists, I told him to look into her ties with Harold Ford and that her opponent is someone I'd strongly support instead. Here's an idea of how they are going after him. I guess he'd upset them, much like Wexler has in fighting the Armenian genocide resolution in the House.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/0808/Cohen_shoves_ArmenianAmerican_cameraman.html

If you know some intelligent Armenians out there, and those that know how to prioritize issues properly, tell them to look more closely at her ties to the DLC and Ford, and not so much on the one issue of the genocide resolution.

[cascadiance]

31. Fox News and the Armenians are teaming up on harrassing Cohen..

Check the video clip here from yesterday from none other than Fox News that appears to be teaming up with Tinner's and Ford's "hit squads". Apparently the Armenian cameraman is looking to file assault charges against Cohen.

http://thepoliticalcarnival.blogspot.com/2008/08/video-cohen-shoves-armenian-american.html

Another article talking about it here at Fox's web site:

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/08/07/rep-steve-cohen-tosses-armenian-american-cameraman-from-home/

Cohen seems damned frustrated. From what I've heard here and other places, I can't say I blame him. We need to have a way to deal with these folks that are constantly on the character assault missions against him as part of the corporatist efforts to shut true grass roots politics down! It's a damn shame!

And my Armenian officemate came over to talk to me again about him today unsolicited. That community is really rallied against him now to try and go after him these last few days! As much as I'm sympathetic to many Armenians and the pasts their ancestors have had to endure, you Armenians need to get some priorities, and be able to judge better when folks like Ford and Tinker are USING you just like the Republicans have been spinning the religious right against their interests with emotional issues.

[Alexander]

7. Cohen supports impeachment. Don't let him down, DU!

He needs our help.

[madfloridian]

8. Finally Emily's List condemned the ad. From Down with Tyanny

http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2008/08/yesterdays-primaries-and-preview-for.html

"EMILY's List Embarrassed By Nikki Tinker's Racist Campaign

We were pretty disappointed when EMILY's List came out for Nikki Tinker in her anti-semitic, homophobic, racist jihad to turn a solidly Blue district reddish. I think they wish they had never gotten involved with this campaign of bigotry. The following statement was issued by Ellen Malcolm, president of EMILY's List, in response to recent ads run by the Nikki Tinker for Congress campaign:

"We were shocked to see the recent ads run by the Nikki Tinker for Congress campaign. We believe the ads are offensive and divisive. EMILY's List does not condone or support these types of attacks."

Next time DLC Chair Harold Ford makes a recommendation, take it with a grain of salt."

Amen, Howie, you are right. Take Ford recs with a grain of salt.

[ikojo]

35. This is what happens when an organization knee jerkly

supports someone based only upon gender, ethnicity, race or religion. They have mud on their faces and for some it will take time for the wounds of this endorsement to heal. Ms Tinker didn't just suddenly become antisemitic, she probably always harbored ill feelings toward Jews and didn't think the people to whom those ads were targeted would have a problem with the undertones either. It's the same as the push polls done on McCain in the 2000 election, the organizers knew that the thought of a white couple adopting a black baby would repulse the community to whom those calls were made.

[Dr.Phool]

10. Screw Emily's List.

They refused to support my friend Suzan Franks in the special election last year for Florida's 3rd Senate District. Suzan is a progressive, and is running against Good Ole' Boy, Charlie Dean again this year.

Emily's list came up with some bullshit excuse not to support her, even though they had supported her in the past when she was a New Hampshire State Legislator.

I think those who predicted the demise of the DLC were premature, as they seem to be fighting back with everything they have. Look at how many of them have taken jobs with Faux News this year. They're showing their true colors. Green as in money, and red as in repuke.

I for one, wish I never had to look at Harold Ford's asswipe, DLC face again.

[George II]

11. Why don't you EVER post anything critical of Republicans, just Democrats?

[Lars39]

12. Did you not read the OP?

She is supporting the Democrat against a smear.

[madfloridian]

13. Yes, I am supportive of the progressive incumbent Cohen who is being pushed out..

by the groups I mentioned. I can't see the post you responded to, but yes that is what I am doing.

I thought it was pretty clear.

This is how they keep progressive Dems from being in Congress, and it is often our own doing it. That the Fords appear to be working against Cohen is pathetic.

[crimsonblue]

15. why do you have to be a hyperbolic dumbass?

some things, the world may never know....

[burythehatchet]

51. lmao

:rofl:

[madfloridian]

14. I think the primary is today....hope someone from TN keeps us posted.

Fingers crossed for Cohen.

[Rudyabdul]

16. I no longer live in his district

but I told my sister and her husband to vote for him. My sister voted for him, I don't know about her husband.

[Clark2008]

17. Cohen enjoys 63 percent support to Tinker's 11.

I wouldn't worry too much.

http://www.swingstateproject.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2003

(I'm in Tennessee, but not that district).

[Celebration]

18. Cohen represents my district

I would be sort of surprised if he loses. It is best if there is a big Republican crossover vote, because Cohen is definitely "the devil you know" for them. Honestly, politics in this town is not Republican vs. Democratic, or liberal vs. conservative, it is black vs. white. So, Republicans and all white Democrats find a lot to like about Cohen. I like him fine. He is a little out there, and has some nutty ideas, but he is honest and hard working. And there is no way any Ford can control him.

As a weird sort of aside, he has had to deal with a ticked off Armenian--

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002935693

The issue became personal on Wednesday, according to local news reports, when Peter Musurlian, an Armenian-American filmmaker and activist from California, followed a local reporter who had been invited into Cohen’s home, prompting the congressman to shove Musurlian out the door.

There are more tidbits in that article, such as Tinker using images of the KKK in an ad against Cohen, because he did not want to rename a park here.

My precinct is Republican, and the turnout here is pretty good. Every person that I saw in the book voted in the Democratic primary--although that was only four people, LOL. But that is a good sign for Cohen.

[Fly by night]

20. Steve and I went to Vanderbilt together a long time ago. He's the best liberal voice ...

... that Tennessee has in Congress these days. Here's hoping he stays there for a long, long time.

[kaygore]

21. Emily's List supports the likes of Turner but not Andrea Mitchell

who is running against a terrible Republican, Randy Forbes, in Virginia for Congress.

I stopped financially supporting Emily's List when they were supporting Hillary Clinton for president and when they refused to support Andrea Mitchell. This Nikki Tinker thing makes me really glad that I stopped my monthly automatic contribution and now contribute directly to the candidates I choose. Guess I'll send what would have been my monthly contribution to Emily's List to Cohen this month.

[geiger]

22. Emily's List smeared a former U.S. Rep running agst a female moron in Ohio

but Jerry Austin is a scumbag political consultant, too. takes all the money and loses all the races in Ohio.

[Arnold Judas Rimmer]

23. "Just days after airing a racially charged ad connecting Cohen with the Ku Klux Klan"

Since when did the KKK start endorsing Jews? :wtf:

Disgusted, but not entirely surprised that the DLC and their proxy organization stooped this low.

[Ichingcarpenter]

24. Obama wades into the nasty primary

Obama Wades Into Ugly Tennessee House Primary

August 07, 2008 1:21 PM

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, waded into the ugly politics being waged in today's Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District's Democratic primary.

“These incendiary and personal attacks have no place in our politics," Obama said in a statement, "and will do nothing to help the good people of Tennessee. It’s time to turn the page on a politics driven by negativity and division so that we can come together to lift up our communities and our country."

Interestingly, Obama was referring to attacks being waged against the white incumbent, Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., by an African-American challenger, corporate attorney Nikki Tinker.

Tinker has been accused of playing some of the more ugly racial politics of the campaign season.

She put the image of a Klansman standing before a burning cross in a TV ad to drive home the point that Cohen, as a member of the downtown development board in 2005, opposed renaming a park that is named for Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, a founder of the Ku Klux Klan. (Watch the ad HERE.)

But what aroused the condemnation of Sen. Obama is Tinker's new TV ad that not-so-subtly points out that Cohen is Jewish.

The ad states that Cohen has voted against allowing children to pray in schools "while he's in OUR churches slapping hands and tapping his feet."

<SNIP>

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/08/obama-w...



Harold Ford junior and his father's and uncle's machine
need to be put to pasture.

[bunkerbuster1]

49. "Interestingly?"

How about "as one would expect?"

It's ABC, I know, the official mouthpiece of Team Bush and the Blame Clinton for 9/11 meme, but still...

[JerseygirlCT]

25. That's very disappointing. People who ought to know the horrible harm done by

discrimination and yet support it themselves.

[Jackpine Radical]

26. I've been kinda watching that campaign.

I really don't like what's coming down on Cohen, especially from some of the black Fordites. Now it's Emily's list. It seems to be rabid feminism on the part of the latter and Machiavellian DLCism from the former. C'mon, folks, possession of white skin and a penis (with or without foreskin) is neither a qualifier nor disqualifier for public office. Steve Cohen is a much-needed liberal player in Congress. Go find a DINO to mess with. Oops--sorry. That would be Weird Harold, wouldn't it?

[truebrit71]

28. So WTF is this woman's problem? What kind of Dem attacks another Dem like that?

She needs to have her ass thrown out of the party...or is she another plant like the woman that ran against Cynthia McKinney as a "Democrat"...?

[Joanne98]

29. Why is Emily's List supporting prayer in school?

Are they hanging out with the Christian right?

[jkilvik]

30. A pox on Emily's List and Harold Ford. This is unacceptable conduct for Democrats..

I've already written Emily's List and asked to be removed from their donor list and it's apparent that Mr. Ford needs to find a new job.

[madfloridian]

32. It is unacceptable

Agreed.

[entanglement]

33. This "progressive" denies the Armenian genocide...some "progressive"

I think these opponents deserve each other.

[cascadiance]

36. While I'm sympathetic to the Armenians concerns on genocide... (PRIORITIES!)

What is going to be solved by passing an "Armenian genocide" resolution, and at the same time ignore the SO MANY HUGE issues that are facing us today! Wexler has the same problem with the Armenian lobbies too. And both Wexler and Cohen are doing their best on the most essential of these issues, impeachment!

Now I've been one of the first at the line to have us expose the corruption by Turks and the ATC to do things like buy off Dennis Hastert and also buy off our military and black market WMD and drug trafficking, etc. But just focusing on the genocide and continuing to beat it in the ground like these folks were doing to Cohen is asking us to share their sense of priorities of what's important to deal with TODAY, which personally I think gets to be ridiculous if you do it at the expense of ignoring everything else and having things going to hell and a hand basket. I would wager that there is a lot of Armenians buying off congressmen as well as the Turks too. When both of these groups do it the rest of us suffer when those in congress just focus on their petty differences, and not so many of the other heavy issues we have . But those are dealing with issues in the present, and in those cases, YES, let's go after the Turkish bad guys that are out there.

Hopefully, once we can get a progressive congress in place, and push a lot of these neocon and corporatist forces out of power to a large extent, THEN I hope congress can take up and draw up comprehensive legislation against those countries that commit genocide, and include those in the present like Darfur, as well as even us in the past with the American Indian in many cases.

Come up with a way of defining past events that the majority of everyone can accept that helps us put the past in the past and work towards a better future with newer generations, and hopefully have some rules in place that don't allow us to make the same mistakes as we did in the past.

If we only focus on past events, and addressed EVERY group of people's concerns from every segment of history, the only people we're going to make happy are lawyers. Especially someone like Mark Geragos.

[fishwax]

34. About the CBC: What evidence is there that the CBC is supporting Tinker?

[madfloridian]

41. Some in the CBC ...here is the link.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/2391

There are more than those named at the link, but I can't find the rest right now. Will look.

[fishwax]

47. Ah, I see ... there are also some in the CBC who support him

Conyers and Waters, for instance. From what I've been able to find online, it appears some in the CBC support him and some don't, but I can't find any support for the contention that the CBC (as opposed to individuals who are members of the CBC) is supporting his opponent.

This may seem like a minor objection, and on the whole I think there is a lot of great info in your OP and I appreciate you posting it. I certainly don't know all the ins and outs of the situation, but the anti-semitic tones are appalling and your analysis of how they keep progressives from staying in power is good. I just wanted to object to that characterization of the CBC, which remains an important and consistent progressive voice in American politics. I felt it was important to clarify because, for one thing, the right loves to characterize the CBC as divisive, and I've seen conservative bloggers make the claim that the CBC, for purely racial reasons, has withheld support from Cohen's candidacy.

Incidentally, this isn't the first time that the right has used Steve Cohen in their attempt to marginalize the CBC. There was some furor a couple of years ago when he had to back away from his pledge to become the first white member of the CBC (a pledge he made without consulting the CBC or fully understanding its membership history/procedures); that situation prompted all kinds of discussions of the CBC's "racism."

At any rate, as I said, I agree with much of your OP, but just wanted to clarify the comment about the CBC since it seemed, to me, a bit out of step with the rest of your post.

:hi:

[spag68]

37. The Ford family

When Harold Ford was swift-boated, I really had sympathy for him. Since then I have done a little research, and found more then a few of his extended family in jail, or served time in jail. Others were involved in scandal, but slid by. Now Harold comes out on the news and parrots the DLC company line. He might as well be Joe Lieberman. I know we need these so called blue dog Dems., but what the hell, do we have to suffer this kind of indignity for ever. I long for the day when blue-dog dems. can go back to being liberal republicans, so everyone knows just what they are. here's to the day we don't need them any more. Progressives can save this society if given a chance, I hope to live to see it.

[Bright Eyes]

38. I certainly hope Cohen wins.

How are the polls looking for him?

[Ichingcarpenter]

42. Cohen winning by 80% no thanks to Emily list

thank goodness.

[madfloridian]

45. Thank you. Are all the results in yet?

:hi:

[Ichingcarpenter]

46. There is a thread up ... with the local news here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3749425

I nominated it.

[NashVegas]

39. What Tinker Did Was Stupid and Awful And She Would Have Done It With OR WITHOUT Emily's List

This is just another example of misogyny of the so-called Left, Progressive blogosphere that has been exposed by this year's primary.

[madfloridian]

40. Oh, that is an awful thing to say. There is an incumbent

in this race who has done a good job. I am so sick and tired of the word "mysogyny" that I never want to hear it again.

The over use of that word this primary has weakened the cause of women for a long time to come with false accusations.

[NashVegas]

43. Just Because You're Tired Doesn't Make It Untrue

Tinker would have done what she did regardless of whether or not Emily's List was sending contributions her way. Yet the TPM blogger chooses them to vent his spleen at. Shouldn't he also peg the Congressional Black Caucus? After Emily's List, they're her largest donor.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/jul/22/gamblers-ante-up-64188-to-cohen/

[loudsue]

50. What YOU are saying is an example of misogyny

You are acting as if women should get a pass on being assholes/republican lite just because they are women. What a frikkin' put down! That is as discriminatory as anything has ever been.

The problem here is that there are republicans of both sexes who have invaded the Democratic party. Harold Ford and his ilk are the PERFECT example. Does that make me a racist, too?

The republicanism of the Democratic party is what is being exposed here.

[NashVegas]

52. Bullshit

What did she do with their financial support that she couldn't have done with the money she got from any other group?

Tinker received $13k from Emily's List members. She received over $70k from other sources. How is it that Emily's List is the sole backer that gets singled out for scorn? What makes Emily's List donors soooooo special?

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out.

[loudsue]

53. Your logic is completely skewed.

Emily's list should support progressive candidates, because progressive candidates are not trying to undermine the power of women in politics or anywhere else. DLC candidates are undermining the power of women everywhere because they support republican philosophy. Tinker is DLC. Emily's list should be ashamed.

[NashVegas]

57. Okay. So.

Where's your - and the TPM blogger's - scorn for the congressional black caucus?

[TahitiNut]

56. Hear, hear.

:applause:

[TheWraith]

54. No, but what you said is an example of how some people love to scream sexism.

Tinker is a stain on the party, and a group like Emily's List deserves to be ashamed for not repudiating her. It's that simple.

[Rudyabdul]

44. As of 9:30 pm (Central),

the totals are:

Cohen 42,664 votes

Tinker 10,109 votes

Although more votes are still coming in, he is being declared the winner.

[Celebration]

48. Democrats won everything in Memphis

That isn't *necessarily* great because some of them may be like Tinker.

Regarding Tinker's ad-- I think it was just a "Tinker" thing. We can't necessarily blame Emily's list, Harold Ford, or anyone else, even the narrator (hopefully). Not that I approve of them!

It was narrated by Walter Bailey, a rather respected black politician here, who nonetheless tends to see racism even more than it actually exists. I have to believe that they DID NOT tell him of the imagery that went along with the ad.

The issue of Nathan Bedford Forrest being buried in the park in midtown, with the commemerative statue was just a huge issue a few years ago with the black community here, and Cohen did not support moving the body/statue. In a way it was a strange issue, with UT Medical School supporting the move because they wanted to take over the park and probably build buildings there. I am not sure how everything settled out but NBF and the huge horse statue and park are still there. I am saying this because this was not some minor vote by Cohen that was cherry picked. I think it was a legitimate issue to highlight in the contest. It was the way that it was presented that was horrible.

It is EXACTLY the type issue that is a deal breaker for Walter Bailey, and yes, he would be the type to remember Cohen's vote on that--forever. But I bet Bailey had no idea that a burning cross would be part of the ad. I have to believe that (hopefully I am guessing correctly on that). And he was for Tinker because of that one vote by Cohen.

Everybody here knows how hard Cohen works. He was for a lottery in Tennessee, and after decades of busting his butt, finally got it. I don't think that's the best issue in the world on which to hang your hat, but he was relentless in pursuing that and got it done. You have to admire that.

Cohen was an early Obama supporter, and I get the idea that Cohen's campaign might be somewhat ticked off because Obama denounced the ad a little bit late. But Tennessee just is not on the radar in the eyes of Obama.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

55. Did anyone here support Tinker?

Or care not to admit to it?

[NashVegas]

58. Not That I'm Aware Of

I have, however, defended Emily's List member's contributions to her campaign.