Nikki Tinker attempts to salvage what's left of her reputation

The Commercial Appeal printed a guest column by the former Democratic primary candidate for the 9th Congressional District. Tinker tries to defend herself against the national criticism she received for the attack ads on Steve Cohen she released in the last days of her campaign:

Try as we might to have honest discussions on such important issues as education, health care, the economy and more, too often these conversations do not happen. Sometimes other issues -- race and religion, for example -- take precedence.

I believe that was the case in my recent campaign for the Democratic nomination for Congress from Tennessee's 9th District, which ended with my television ads at the center of the debate. I wanted these ads to focus on issues, but instead the ads themselves became an issue.

Through the ads, I wanted to respond to Congressman Steve Cohen's challenge to us to examine his voting record. The ads were never intended as an attack on race or religion, or as an attempt to divide our community. But, if they did, I want to take responsibility and sincerely apologize for any pain they may have caused.

Tinker goes to claim:

I wanted to be heard on the substantive issues of the campaign -- health care, Iraq, immigration and education, and I wanted to take the challenge offered by Cohen, to look closely at his voting record. Yet reporting on the congressional race came down to race and religion.

I can't blame Tinker for wanting make amends for the offensive ad campaign she ran, but her complaint about not being heard on the issues seems insincere to me.

During her one debate with opponents and in my own personal interview with her in the spring, she offered few details about her legislative agenda and objectives. This told me that she was either a policy lightweight who had no business running for Congress or she was being backed by supporters who could easily manipulate her into voting for the more privileged classes in our society, i.e., Big Business.

Steve Cohen triumphs, but Memphis is the real winner

While TEP focuses mainly on local and state politics, I can't help but take a moment to recognize the significance of Congressman Steve Cohen's win in the 9th District Democratic Primary race. As many already know, the campaign got really ugly in the last week with race-baiting and anti-Semitic television ads from the Tinker campaign. So ugly that Tinker supporters like Emily's List and Harold Ford, Jr. publicly repudiated Tinker's tactics in the campaign's last hours.

Cohen offered these words of reflection at his victory party last night:

It says Memphis has come a long, long way and that people who were counting on racial voting to prevail are thinking of a Memphis that doesn't exist anymore. . . . The people of Memphis are more sophisticated voters that deal with issues and someone's record and not simply race.

Memphis, Tennessee has shown CNN and The New York Times and MSNBC and everyone else that we are united, we are moving forward and we are a bellwether for what is going to happen in America when Barack Obama is elected president.

As racially divided as Memphis can be, we can all take pride in the wisdom of Memphis voters. This election outcome may herald a new day in government and politics.

Shock and Naw

The folks at Emily's List are shocked by Nikki Tinker's campaign ads in the 9th District congressional race. You never know what your money's going to do when you turn it loose.

But at least they are distancing themselves from the ads. According to Mr. Kleinheider, not everyone has spoken up yet.

Steve Cohen asks for support and votes from GLBT citizens

GLBT citizens of the Midsouth held the first of two campaign fundraisers for Congressman Steve Cohen (9th District) last night at Stop 345 in Downtown Memphis. Steve supported the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and stronger Hate Crimes legislation in Congress this year. Several TEP members attended the event.

Don't miss Wendi Thomas' column in Sunday's Commercial Appeal about Cohen and his major primary opponent.

Projections for Cohen looking good for 9th District Race

Jackson Baker reports favorable numbers from a poll conducted on behalf of Steve Cohen's re-election campaign:

The congressman is the choice of 63 percent of those polled, with Tinker selected by 11 percent and state Representative Joe Towns laying claim to 5 percent. Undecided voters add up to another 20 percent.

The Democratic Primary vote will be held on August 7, 2008.

9th Congressional District Race Heats Up

The Commercial Appeal has a thoughtful editorial today about Jake Ford's run for the 9th Congressional District. He's filed as an independent and will likely face Steve Cohen or Nikki Tinker (whoever emerges from the Democratic Primary) in November.

A confident Steve Cohen files for re-election

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/mar/31/31cohenweb/

His take on the role of race is an intriguing spin. We'll see how it plays out. Maybe some Memphians will weigh in on this one.

See Jonathan's earlier post on one of his opponents, Nikki Tinker here: http://grand-divisions.blogspot.com/2008/03/so-what-does-nikki-tinker-think-about.html

So What Does Nikki Tinker Think about GLBT equality?

Don't miss my article featuring an interview with Nikki Tinker in this month's Triangle Journal (p. 5).

I asked the candidate about her views on hate crimes legislation, her opponent Steven Cohen, ENDA, the Federal Marriage Amendment, and civil unions.

The quality of the Triangle Journal is improving with each issue. Congratulations to Co-Editors James Cox and Len Piechowski, the Editorial Review Committee (Will Batts, Jamie Griffin, Alan Herbers, and David Mabury), and all contributing journalists!