Monday, April 03, 2006

I know, I know, I should have had my camera...

As Jackson Baker reported in the Flyer on Wednesday, my friend, my Senator, and hopefully, soon to be my Congressman, Steve Cohen announced his candidacy for the US House today at the Election Commission, minutes after filing his petition.

I take nothing away from the group of candidates who are also in this race, and I'm glad they're running, we need new blood. I hope that we continue to see them involved in Party activities after this race.

However, as Steve pointed out, he is the only one in the race who has had to get legislation through both houses of a bicameral legislature. He's been doing that for 24 years. While Mike Kernell led the battle in the House, his persistence in the Senate for over two decades led to the approval of the statewide Lottery and the Hope Scholarships that they provide to high-school students from Memphis to Mountain City.

As I left, I told him that we needed a bulldog in Washington to stop the Bush policies, and that he was it. I hope that you agree.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I do so agree.

polar donkey said...

Good luck Senator Cohen.

Brassmask said...

I'm 100% behind him and I wish I had been there with my camera.

David Holt said...

90% behind him. Steve Cohen in Congress... Now that would be cool.

Steve Steffens said...

Sorry, John, that one clanked off the iron.

First, before he (or any other Democrat) can really do anything in Congress, we have to get the House back.

I know this seat would be D in any event, but if you don't think he would be more progressive than the empty suit that's vacating the seat, then I don't know what to say.

Also, you seem to be suggesting that African-Americans, who have been voting for Steve since, well, he went to the Commission in 1978 won't vote for him now is a bit racist in an of itself.

That's really the suggestion here, isn't it? That this is a Black seat and Steve should not run for it for that reason.

That's hogwash, and you know it. since Junior bailed, I believe Steve would have run if he had only one opponent. I have NEVER known him to back down from a fight, and if you've been around as long as your post suggests, you know that as well.

The subtle suggestion, also, is that those who support him are racist as well. I'll be damned if I let ANYONE suggest that because I support my friend, my Senator, and soon to be MY CONGRESSMAN, that I'm the second coming of Lester Maddox.

In a word or two, I call bullshit.

David Holt said...

Steve said that he would run if enough black people did? BS! That's a nice attack line, but it doesn't hold water. So you're saying that A. Black people won't vote for white people. B. White people who vote for white people are racist. C. White people aren't allowed to run for an office in a majority African American district. Let's see who sounds racist? I'm getting real tired of race-baiting being a primary tool of advancement in Memphis politics. I don't know if I'll vote for Steve or not. I like Steve, Pratcher, Kyles, and Stanton. Thanks for helping me make my decision. Now that I know I don't want to be a racist, my choice is easier.

David Holt said...

Subtle, Cracker? He said that supporters of Cohen's race-baiting should be ashamed. Subtle he wasn't. Full of BS, maybe, but subtle no.

David Holt said...

Truthfully, I'm not sure whether I'm going to vote for Kyles, Pratcher, Stanton or Cohen. I appreciate you helping me out with the choice. I really do. Although, am I allowed to vote for a Ford? I might have considered Joe Ford Jr., but as you've enlightened me I must not vote for a white candidate because to do so would be racist. I don't have a Ford family tree on me at the moment so I'm not sure how he might be related to that white grandmother Jr. claims. I better be safe and knock him off my list.