The day after Steve Cohen’s big win
Rep. Steve Cohen's (D-Tenn.) victory in yesterday's Democratic congressional primary wasn't necessarily a surprise, but his 60 percentage point margin of victory was unexpected–and perhaps a sign why his African-American opponent, Nikki Tinker, was desperate enough to run an ad deemed anti-Semitic by many observers.
First of all, if you never saw the ad, which portrayed Cohen as an outsider because of his Judaism, you can check it out here.
The Atlantic's new blogger, Ta-nehisi Coates, argues that the advertisement was race-baiting, but doesn't quite rise to the level of Jew-baiting. I'm not really buying the argument–when you combine the line about visiting "our churches" with the line "he's the only senator who thought our kids shouldn't be allowed to pray in school," would the ad make sense against a white Christian candidate?
Coates also explores whether the Congressional Black Caucus should have allowed Cohen to join when he applied to be a member last year.
An interesting argument: If Cohen had lost, it would have been deemed a horrible day for black-Jewish relations? So shouldn't his resounding win be seen as a really good day for black-Jewish relations?
A Nashville blogger calling herself "A Progressive Jew down in the Bible Belt" says the EMILY's List endorsement of Tinker demonstrates that the feminist organization "may have outlived its purpose."
And a religion blog argues that some of the media overlooked the religion angle in favor of playing up the race angle, and thus is missing part of the story.
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I’m the “Nashville blogger,” and I do agree that this is a good day for black-Jewish relations. I’m hoping for at least a few more between now and the election!
Did you guys watch or listen to Cohen’s press conference at his house the day before the primary elections? I was left speechless. I couldn’t believe a US Congressman could make comments about any ethnic group in 2008 in the manner in which Cohen defamed Armenian-Americans, calling them “these Armenians”, “yahoos from Glendale, California”, and going so far as to generalize Armenians as “assassins” and “killers”.
Shoushana is an idiot and doesn’t know what the hell she is even talking about. If your stubborn enough to make the coments you just made then you shouldn’t even be permited to vote. Ask yourself this question: If religion didn’t exist and both candidates had a skin color of green, who would you vote for? And if you answer this question HONESTLY, then you’ll get the same answer that 75% of the people in the 9th district of Tennesee put down. Racial politics is behind us, religious politics should be too!!!
To Shoushana and Leon,
When you make the sort of comments you entered on this site, please be specific about where you got your information or post a link to some reputable website where readers can see proof. I assume you want others to feel the same way you do but your comments only seem to be an attempt to incite hatred rather than provide any facts. Therefore, readers have no reason to believe your statements are anything more than targeting someone you don’t like for whatever reason.
why would a normanl man named Cohen want to join the congressional black caucus? This would be like the mayor of Newark NJ being president of a Jewish college fraternity. Never happen!
Shoushana is just lashing out without thinking. Her comments are not fully accurate. Congressman Cohen just got the support of 80% of the voters in a majority African-American district. As for Armenians, the congressman has some distorted perceptions. Two of his colleagues in the House of Representatives are of partial Armenian-American descent. One of these Congresspersons also has a grandfather, a German Jew, who was a Holocaust survivor. Is he afraid of these persons also? Does he fear Gary Kasparov, a Russian human rights advocate who is of mixed Armenian/Jewish heritage? Does he fear Cher, Andre Agassi, Adrienne Barbeau, all Armenian-Americans?
this cohen accused Armenians in assassinating in some places and Los Angeles. of course without mentioning the exact cases.
cohen is a bribed loser bastard. these kinds of politicians are assault to human rights.
to Jake Duffner
you can see cohen’s comments about Armenians in the news. Fox news also reported.
unfortunately the link is not short:
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Shoushana Baghboudarian
08/08/08 06:07 PM
Steve Cohen IS a RACIST!!!!! He is a man with no morals and values for Humans at all, his racial slurs about Blacks, Armenians and others is a disgrace for all Americans everywhere, it is unacceptable and inexcusable, he should not be let to win the November election, he is the lowest of the human race, lets make sure he does not win!!!!SHAME ON YOU cohen!
Respectfully,
Shoushana