Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Herenton Draws Flack for Republican Associations
Posted by Jackson Baker on Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 8:40 AM
- JB
- Herenton gets some disagreement from Lexie Carter (seated, right)
On one of his few public outings since he entered the Democratic primary opposing incumbent Steve Cohen for the 9th District congressional seat, former Mayor Willie Herenton at Raleigh found himself snagged up in party-line issues.
Speaking to a “Voice of Raleigh and Frayser” meeting at Exline’s Pizza on Austin Peay, Herenton had begun his presentation by flashing his now familiar “What’s Wrong With This Picture?” composite photograph of Tennessee’s congressional delegation, all white.
He then took his audience, heavily dosed with media representatives and other political candidates, through his usual litany, designed to make the point that the predominantly black 9th District deserved a black congressman: “Is there anyone here who doesn’t believe in representative government?," "Is there anybody here who does not respect and appreciate diversity?,” and so forth.
More or less rhetorically, he asked if anyone disagreed with his conclusions. Unexpectedly, he got some disagreement — from Lexie Carter, an African American and an officer of the Shelby County Democratic Party.
“OK, our Supreme Court is diversified. We have Clarence Thomas on there. He does not represent me,but he’s black. [Former congressman] Harold Ford Jr. did not represent my views, and he was black. You supported [U.S. Senator] Lamar Alexander, correct? He fights everything that the president comes out with. He’s a poster boy for that here in Tennessee. So I can’t kind of picture that in my head how you would support me. I’m a Democrat. I’m a Yellow Dog Democrat.”
Herenton seemed taken aback, but he responded. “First of all, I’m an American,” he said. “ I’m a Democrat because I chose to be a Democrat,…that party that espouses my values [but] I’ve never been a part of any particular group…. Does that mean I would not or have not supported individuals who are Republican. I support Lamar Alexander.”
The former mayor explained that “when I get to Congress I will be able to communicate with Lamar Alexander and with [Senator]. Corker, because of a mutuality of respect that transcends party lines. And that’s another reason I’m running. If we don’t have individuals who go to Congress with some bipartisan awareness we’re not going to make progress….
“I want you to look at me broader than that. I don’t deny that I supported Lamar Alexander, and Corker, and Senator Frist. They’re friends of mine, okay? I’m that type of Democrat. I can cross party lines. Having friends that are Republican, being friends with Republicans can help us with some problems.”
Herenton, who referred to himself as “the best qualified candidate, who happens to be African American,” was asked by an attendee about the issues of legalized medical marijuana and same-sex marriage and stated positions in opposition to both.
He acknowledged there was “medical evidence that supports utilization of marijuana for various diseases,” but said, “Let me tell you that I’m lconservative and oppose that. I’m afraid that if we utilize any form of drugs, where does it stop?”
Comments (33)
Showing 1-33 of 33
Ignoring the use of the non-word "mutuality", is Raleigh even in the 9th district?
Second, Herenton says he is bipartisan?
Main Entry: bi·par·ti·san
Pronunciation: \(ˌ)bī-ˈpär-tə-zən, -sən, -ˌzan, chiefly British ˌbī-ˌpär-tə-ˈzan\
Function: adjective
Date: 1895
: of, relating to, or involving members of two parties ; specifically : marked by or involving cooperation, agreement, and compromise between two major political parties
Merriam-Webster.com
I'm not real sure if Willie can agree on a subject with his own reflection, much less any advisers, other party members, and opposing party reps (unless there is a profit to be had that is).
If he does get elected, I wonder how he is going to handle taking marching orders from a white, pro-choice, pro-gay, pro-marijuana female?
like
dislike
"I’m afraid that if we utilize any form of drugs, where does it stop?”
Oh dear holy God, where do I begin with THAT one? Tell that to all the pharma-medicated hausfraus out there. And dear Willie, we're all wondering, since when did you stop doing drugs?
I think it's fitting that he spoke at Exlines - home of the most god-awful food in town.
"I’m afraid that if we utilize any form of drugs, where does it stop?”
I've USED a drug with Willie, at the bar on the club level at Fedex Forum during Grizzlies games. He would drink a glass of merlot, I would drink a Sam Adams Lager.
I guess Willie's fine that utilizing drugs stopped after alcohol Prohibition was repealed, despite how many careers, careers of young BLACK men in huge numbers, have been wrecked by Prohibition coppers working Willie's philosophy on this (a philosophy invented by racist white men like Harry Anslinger).
What I take from this is that Willie isn't bipartisan, but nonpartisan--he's not beholden to any group, only out to serve himself. And if he can't recognize the adverse impact of the over-criminalization of weed on his constituency, he's obviously had too much, himself.
“the best qualified candidate, who happens to be African American,”. Doesn't this contradict his entire "vote for the black guy" strategy.
Here is the important story.
Herenton wins with 52% of the vote. If I am wrong I wll accept the CEO position of Yakoubian's polling company.
They specialize in getting things ass-backwards.
and thanks for the great coverage JB, I had other engagements last night but new the meeting would be a good one entertainment wise--why no video?
Tommy, with all due respect, I live in the 'hood and I don't think you're wrong. It's people that care who will be the ones that vote in this election and folks that care are folks that are informed.
Someone delete that last post, editing on the fly f'd up my syntax--of course, I meant to say that Tommy was/is and will be wrong.
Tommy might be right, doesn't change the fact that Willie is/was/will be bad for this city if we aspire to be anything but a crime infested low wage employee town. Herenton may win, but you're not a ukranian genius (oxymoron) for predicting that outcome.
LWC: you're exactly right about what Lexie did to WW. Her use of Clarence Thomas and Harold Ford, Jr. were priceless. Michael Steele would be another good example.
WW's assertion that getting into bed with Republicans translates into the ability to communicate with them is absurd. Does he even have any idea how often a lowly congressman has occasion to "communicate" with senators? The only time I'm aware of that there's communication of any significance is at the highest levels of both bodies (i.e., Pelosi and Reid), or in conference committees when different versions of the same bill have been passed by each chamber, and have to be ironed out, and the chances of WW's being on a conference committee, ever, are slim and none since they are usually made up of senior members who are chosen by the leadership of each chamber.
You'd think a guy who excoriated the media for asking questions about his record as a mayor because they disrespected the role of a congressman would know more than he does about the role of a congressman, wouldn't you? Well, maybe not. After all, he didn't know much about the role of a mayor either.
Oh, and Tommy: Herenton loses, with 38% of the vote (and I'm being charitable). In addition to having turned off a large percentage of blacks who vote (an important distinction), remember, there's also another black person in the race (the "tea-bagger"), who, even though she obviously has no self-respect if she can run as a black "tea-bagger," may nevertheless siphon some votes from Herenton.
Here's the bet: whichever one of us is wrong has to refrain from posting in the Flyer comment forum for six months. Agreed? Boy, that oughta conflict our "fans" in their choice of who they'd rather see lose.
Packrat says
" Tommy might be right, doesn't change the fact that Willie is/was/will be bad for this city"
May be right? NO, I am right. But where did I say Willie was our saviour? I missed that part. My point is; don't be self righteous. Cohen is as much a race pandered as Willie is.
Pulllleeeeze...... spending his time and money on making things better for our convicted felons? Oh yeah, that's really going to help Memphis a bunch.
"if we aspire to be anything but a crime infested low wage employee town."
But that IS EXACTLY what liberal Memphians are aspiring to be. All of your leading social programs give money to those who perform the least, who behave most poorly and who have less respect for their fellow citizens.
Make it easier for dumb asses to pass civil service exams.
Give loans to dumb asses who can't figure out they can't pay the loans back
Allow dumb asses who defaulted on those loans to sue the bank
Encourage dumb asses like June West to chase away would be investors
Clean the slates of convivted felons to make them equal to model citizens in job applications
Yes. yes, yes, these are the strategies for a successful future! BRILLIANT, Liberal Memphis, BRILLIANT!
I had to laugh that right under a CA article about C'ville and Houston schools getting awards for academic exellence was another article about how the dumb ass Memphis school kids are getting $58 million, a longer school year and tenured principals fired. Oh yeah, that's really going to motivate these dumb shits to study harder.
We should have given the $58 million to the schools already doing well and let the dumb asses keep self destructing. Now THAT would improve Memphis.
Let's see..... misbehave........ get more money. No wonder Memphis is going to hell in a hand basket.
"Herenton may win, but you're not a ukranian genius (oxymoron) for predicting that outcome."
Capital Ukrainian, thank you very much.
Well, let's see, can you tell me who else beside ME has gone on record as saying Herenton WILL win? Any ass-hat can post that Herenton 'MAY" win. That's not what I am saying Sparky.
Herenton WILL win.
lol, what a salesman you could have been...."buy my product or you're a
f^%&ing dumb@ss!!" Convincing rhetoric Mr. ukrainia...let's put you on Fox.
Mad Merc ponders.............
"If he does get elected, I wonder how he is going to handle taking marching orders from a white, pro-choice, pro-gay, pro-marijuana female?"
This says a lot about your view of what masculinity is. Herenton hasn't taken "orders" form anyone in many years. What in the name of God makes you even think he would pay any attention to this bimbo? He will use her to blow his nose.
Herenton, like it or not, is his own man and he abides by the rules he chooses to. He will be a Bull in a China store, just like he always is. In that regard, the man is much better equipped to actually get a really meaningful project underway.
Hey Merc, forgive this sidebar but I am trying to clean up some left over promises, threats and challanges made by you and your liberal snapper-head buddies. You challenged me to a fist fight but then defecated your pants when I accepted. What was up with that? Was that offer kind of like Obama's platform? You know, just meant to get attention but never intended to be carried out?
"I will end the Iraq War by the end of 2009
"I will close Gitmo in my first year"
"All Healthcare talks will be in the open, and televised. No closed door talks"
"I will not hire former or active lobbyists"
"I will end earmarks"
See why I have no respect for liberals? You goobers just say shit to hear yourselves blather about.
Hey, if fist fighting is too brutal (you injected it, though) we can bowl.... I will spot you 50 pins per game. Darts? Foosball? Weightlifting? Compare pee-pee's? Seriously, pick your humiliation and I will deliver it.
Packrat says...........
lol, what a salesman you could have been...."buy my product or you're a
f^%&ing dumb@ss!!"
Where did I imply that? Although the most successful sales people do indeed sell that way. At least the ones who make anything of themselves.
"Convincing rhetoric Mr. ukrainia...let's put you on Fox."
No such thing as Ukrainia. There is a nation called Ukraine. There is also no place called " The Ukraine".
United States
Africa
Ukraine
Bolivia
Regarding Fox......... I am contemplating launching a blog. I have no doubt I will garner more readers than the Flyer and CA combined because as much as you guys hate the word of Tommy V, you seldom, if ever get one-upmanship and like any good drug, you're addicted.
Should I launch, I have absolutely no doubt the media will come to me.
I've been around more successful salespeople than most folks and certainly than you, and no one is successful in sales by browbeating customers with insults in their sales pitch, goofball. Ukrainians, weren't they the ones who cheered when the jew-hating Nazis first rolled into the USSR? You'd fit right in, you braggart. I'm sure you've contemplated many things, usually along the lines of, "why can't that stupid broad see I'm perfect for her?" or "mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the best-looking Ukrainian of them all?"
"This says a lot about your view of what masculinity is. Herenton hasn't taken "orders" form anyone in many years. What in the name of God makes you even think he would pay any attention to this bimbo? He will use her to blow his nose."
This says a lot about your ignorance of how Congress works (or doesn't work as the case may be). He would pay attention to her or find himself relegated to a broom closet in a congressional basement and assigned to committees the likes of Lower Delta MOsquito Control Committee. You're an ignoramus.
Tommy how many times do we have to go over this? I mean seriously, I stood up in defense of others that you were browbeating. I simply said something about taking me on as opposed to people on the site here. You threw done the proverbial gauntlet knowing that it's a win-win situation for you. The chances of me wasting my time to fool with you were miniscule and you knew that you could continue to bring it up as a distraction, a nonfactor used much like a smokescreen. Well Tommy, you can stand up and thump your chest like King Kong all day long and it's not going to impress me one bit. You think that you are this big, strong, unafraid patriot that can kick anyone's ass at any time. I'm sorry dude, but I have been in and out of combat zones, areas of unrest, riots, and the ghettos of Memphis for over 20 years now. I have had more intimate dealings with not only death, but people trying to actually kill me, literally not figuratively. You can rest assured that I am not the one that you want to try to prove your manhood with. I try my best to relax and enjoy my time at home (which I won't be for a few more weeks), therefore messing with a loudmouth, blowhard like you is not on my list of things to do. If it makes you feel better I have no doubt that you win in bowling. There's a bit of compensation for you.
One more thing, if you haven't quite figured it out, I am not some pandering liberal, nor am I some self righteous conservative. I am simply an American. I am concerned about what goes on with our government everyday. I am concerned about our basic constitutional rights being run over roughshod. Unlike you I can admit to not having all of the answers to these problems. I can also carry on a dialog with people on the opposite side of an issue with me. The part I don't understand is just when you make a couple of posts that make sense and aren't too offensive, you turn around and start going ape shit berserk with the insults and bravado. Are you bi-polar? Do you need meds? Or is alcohol? You just go out on a bender and start typing?
I'm sure you'll declare a complete and total all out victory over me now a la W on the flight deck. Your declaration will ring just as true as W's did. Now go and prepare to celebrate Chernobyl Day. It's the hottest holiday happening in all of the Ukraine!
Hey, leave the Ukraine out of this. Mr. Volinchak notwithstanding, Ukranians are badass.
tom, me thinks you're running too many people for Mayor--you're gonna wind up diluting your own vote. BTW, give me a call. I need to talk to you about consolidation.
So now they are sayin that Mayor Herrenton is the 'uncle tom' rather than steve Cone? Let me say that if Larry McGee is a 'native american' then he is a 'judas horse' type of Indian. peace
Now Tommy is going to do a blog and get more views than the CA and the Flyer. He was also going to return to the DNA Presidency. He assured us he had enough votes. He produces hip hop and rubs elbows with the biggest names. He has been on oil rigs and plugged holes with his bare hands. He was on a school bus at Kent State when the hippies turned violent and had to be killed. He saved Appollo 13. He once fought off a Grizzly Bear with his bare hands and a spork. He could thrash Mike Tyson with one hand tied behind his back. He can jump a building in a single bound. But I'd take June West on my team anyday. She has halted multi million dollar projects, and Tommy? He went all crazy in a newsletter and had to leave Downtown.
Mad Merc asks: "...is Raleigh even in the 9th district?" I don't know about all of Raleigh, but at least the Exline's Pizza where he held this meeting is. Using Congressman Cohen's "Do You Live in My Distict" app on his website (http://cohen.house.gov/) and entering the ZIP+4 for Exline's Pizza on Austin Peay Hwy (38128-5601), we get the following result: "District Check: In My District - I am proud to be your representative in Congress! I value the opinions of my constituents, and if you are interested in contacting me, I’d love to hear from you—just click here. Thank you for your interest!"
Yes williamwebb you are correct. I was not aware that roughly half of what is generally referred to as Raleigh is in the 9th district. Although according to the map tool I was using it showed that the Exlines on Austin Peay was not. No big deal.
I will also stand corrected about the word mutuality. It is an archaic usage, but it is still a real word. Damn.
Steve Cohen attended a Lamar Alexander fundraiser at John Calipari's house during the 2008 election. Steve Cohen had a University of Memphis baseball hat signed and autographed by George W. Bush. He gave the hat to John Calipari at a Memphis basketball game. Steve Cohen needs to quit pandering to Republicans.
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