Misplaced Priorities, Absent Logic

Today's Commercial Appeal explores the legislative priorities that Ninth Congressional District candidate, former Mayor Willie Herenton, plans to emphasize in his campaign. The beginning of Herenton's campaign seemed focused more on racial polarization than on legislative priorities, so news of a campaign platform is a good sign. In particular, his interest in increasing funding and opportunities for pre-school and post-secondary education would go far to lift people out of poverty and grow the economy in the Ninth District. As a progressive voter, I was pleased to hear him champion this issue.

However, my heart sank as I kept reading.

Herenton's list of legislative priorities includes education, same-sex marriage, abortion, healthcare, deficit, seniors & social security, jobs and the economy, energy, and crimes.

Take a moment to reflect on the order of this list. Who can be certain if this list of legislative priorities is ranked in order of importance, but "same-sex marriage" is second on Herenton's list. With all that is going on today in this country, is "same-sex marriage" really the second most important issue on the minds of Ninth District voters --- before healthcare and jobs and the economy?

Even those who don't support marriage equality might find it troubling that same-sex marriage is #2 on Herenton's list of legislative priorities. Tennesseans voted to add discriminatory language to the state constitution in 2006 that prohibits recognition of marriages of gay couples in this state. So why is Herenton raising this issue when it was settled in Tennessee 4 years ago with 80% of the vote?

Herenton's continued high-profile inclusion of marriage discrimination in his legislative priorities disappoints, but look closely at what he says about it:

I am unalterably opposed to same-sex marriage base [sic] on my personal values and religious foundation. However, I also opposed any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The above statement makes no sense. The second sentence does not logically follow the first. If Herenton opposes any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation, then he would support marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples. Denying gay couples the right to marry and denying recognition of a gay couple’s marriage license from another state is discrimination based on sexual orientation. Plain and simple.

The above statement begs important questions.

How do Herenton's personal values and religious foundation allow him to support legislation that promotes LGBT-inclusive employment protections? Faith leaders in the last several decades began to recognize the need for equal protection in employment for LGBT workers, but it has not always been this way.

On what rational basis does civil marriage equality violate his personal values and religious foundation? No church is required to perform any civil marriage – gay or straight – even in states where marriage equality is the law. Churches and other religious organizations are free to deny their blessing of a marriage on any grounds. But is the government?

Examples in current law are helpful in illustrating this troubling position. In this country, it is currently illegal to discriminate against a person applying for a job because of their race or religious affiliation. Our society has made it clear that a black person can apply for any job and have a legal recourse if they are not hired because of the color of his or her skin. The law also protects job applicants from being discriminated against because they are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc.

While it has not always been so, it is illegal in this country to refuse a marriage license to inter-racial or inter-faith couples. A black person can marry a white person. A Christian can marry a Jew.

Our society and government have determined that there is no rational basis for denying employment or a marriage license to persons because of their race or religion. Rational arguments now favor extending equal protections in employment and marriage for sexual orientation.

Herenton owes voters in the Ninth District a rational explanation of his position. First, why is marriage discrimination in his list of legislative priorities? Second, how does he explain his dissonant view on LGBT equality?

Is Herenton using the Gay community?

Former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton -- who frequently supported the gay community while in office – is now trying to use the gay community to score political points in the race for the 9th Congressional District.

In a March 1 letter to pastors in Shelby County, Herenton wrote, “As pastors, I hope you will join me in my opposition to same-sex marriage and the legalization of marijuana,”

With these words, Herenton casts a dark shadow over his previous record of supporting the GLBT community in Memphis.

On September 25, 2000, Herenton appeared at Calvary Church in Memphis beside Judy Shepard (the mother of slain hate crime victim Matthew Shepard) to proclaim the day “Memphis Against Hate Crimes Day". During his proclamation, Herenton said:

"I'm here tonight because this great city of Memphis ought to stand tall and protest vehemently against hate crimes . . . . This should be a city where people don't have fear because of the color of our skin or the religion we practice or the person we choose to love."

Within the same year, Mayor Herenton participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the grand opening of the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center in the Cooper-Young Neighborhood.

In January 2009, Herenton pledged his support for a Non-Discrimination Ordinance that would protect employees of the City of Memphis and City contractors from employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression to leaders of the Tennessee Equality Project’s Shelby County Committee.

Voters in the 9th Congressional District should hold Herenton to his own words:

This should be a city where people don't have fear because of the color of our skin or the religion we practice or the person we choose to love.

It sounds like fear is all Herenton has to offer the intended audience of his March 1 letter.

-Jonathan Cole

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.

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.