TN-09: Even Ford Has To Disassociate

Results from the Steve Cohen-Nikki Tinker matchup in TN-09 can be found here. The polls close pretty much right now.

Harold Ford, whose wife has maxed out to Tinker, had to acknowledge the ugliness of her campaign ads (with their anti-Semitic talk of Cohen entering "our churches") earlier today.

"Whenever race, religion or gender is invoked in a political contest, it generally means the candidate has run out of legitimate arguments for why he/she should be elected. Communities and nations are always made weaker when political figures try to divide us for political advantage. It is my strong hope that lessons will be learned."

The Memphis Commercial-Appeal has more. I'll be out, but feel free to update the race here.

UPDATE: Wow, Cohen just crushed Tinker tonight. What an embarrassment. Cohen only got 30% of the primary vote in 2006, and tonight he took 79%. Tinker's career in national politics is over. She disgraced herself and got nothing for it. And I hope EMILY's List learned their lesson.

Why Did This Take So Long

Today is primary day in Tennessee between progressive Democrat Rep. Steve Cohen and race-baiting anti-Semite Nikki Tinker, who is being propped up by the Harold Ford machine. EMILY's List actually raised money for this woman (who's personally PRO-LIFE) and it took until yesterday for them to recognize the sleazeball attacks she's been using the entire campaign.

UPDATE: EMILY’s List president Ellen Malcolm issued a statement Wednesday evening condemning Tinker’s most recent ad. The group, which endorses Democratic women who favor abortion rights, has been Tinker's most prominent backer.

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

EMILY's List stands for "Early Money Is Like Yeast." How about "early understanding of a divisive race-baiting campaign is, like, necessary?" Who the hell is vetting these candidates at EMILY's List?

Hilariously, Tinker's campaign removed the YouTube of her scummiest ad after it generated all that negative attention. She wanted to carry out her attacks in secret.

The question is, will Harold Ford ever be questioned about these tactics from his protege?

UPDATE: Good for Obama, too:

"These incendiary and personal attacks have no place in our politics, 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," said Barack Obama.

But again, it's way too late.

Shame On You Harold Ford

What the Harold Ford-linked machine is trying to do in his old House seat is beyond disgusting. Steve Cohen, a progressive Democrat who may be the best freshman House member in America, is facing a challenge from Nikki Tinker. Cohen is white and Jewish; Tinker, along with the overwhelming majority of the district, is African-American. She's been race-baiting the entire campaign, and her final ad, complete with its KKK imagery, is revolting.



It's irrelevant and disgusting for this local pastor and Nikki Tinker to rile up voters and make the absurd claim that Steve Cohen, a JEW, is somehow aligned with the KKK.

Howie Klein has more on this race.

It's been a very ugly race-- and the ugliness is all on one side, Nikki Tinker's. Steve Cohen was first elected in 2006 with the help of Blue America and we have enthusiastically endorsed him again. If you know anyone in Memphis, please call them and talk to them about this race. Cohen has been a real leader for working families and he is the only progressive congressman from Tennessee. Tinker is a complete corporate shill and far more conservative across a wide array of issues. Rahm Emanuel, a longtime ally of Ford's, has encouraged institutional support for Tinker and has prevented his DCCC pawn, Chris Van Hollen, from coming to the aid of Cohen, the way the DCCC and Nancy Pelosi backed other challenged incumbents like Kilpatrick yesterday and Al Wynn a few months ago. One of the most corrupt members of the Democratic Party, Gregory Meeks (NY) has been supporting Tinker, as has Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio). More progressive and respectable members of the Congressional Black Caucus like John Conyers and Jesse Jackson, Jr. have been campaigning for Cohen.

A race like this lets you know who your friends are. Steve Cohen is absolutely superior to a race-baiting anti-Semite like Nikki Tinker. Let's hope the Harold Ford machine gets their butt handed to them tomorrow night.

UPDATE: Wow, this ad is even worse.

"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," the announcer says, referring to an old vote against school prayer from when Cohen was a state senator. And remember, this is coming from a Democrat.