Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Obama Endorses Cohen's Reelection Bid
Posted by Jackson Baker on Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 9:59 AM
- President Obama
The official release of the endorsement statement will be coordinated with the White House, Young said.
A presidential endorsement of a primary candidate in Tennessee is rare and perhaps unprecedented. Today's action comes after a spate of rumors, beginning with the weekend, that an intervention in the local congressional race by Obama was imminent.
Cohen was one of the early endorsers of the Obama presidential candidacy on the eve of the Tennessee presidential primary in February, 2008.
UPDATE: The text of Obama's endorsement statement, released at 11:01 a.m. Tuesday by the Cohen campaign in conjunction with the White House:
“Congressman Cohen is a proven leader in the United States Congress and a strong voice for Tennessee. Together, we passed historic health care reform and together we’re continuing the fight to renew our economy and bring jobs back to the American people. I am proud to stand with Steve and support his re-election to Congress. —President Barack Obama.”>
Cohen issued the following statement in response:
“I am grateful to have the support for my re-election from President Barack Obama. I look forward to continue working closely with the President and his administration during the 112th session of the United States Congress.
“I was inspired by President John F. Kennedy to enter into politics to make a difference in my community and my country. Like President Kennedy, President Barack Obama inspires a new generation to do the same. It is my hope to continue to build on my 31 years of public service to make the promise of America, the practice of America.”
Comments (14)
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Herenton will probably say that since Obama's mother was caucasian he must be a hater.
"All Politics is local."
Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill
Herenton is going to win comfortably regardless of an endorsement by President Obama for Cohen. The demographics are in his favor. Herenton has never lost an election in nineteen years.
"All Politics is local."
Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill
Steve Cohen's campaign staff looks they all came from Georgetown, not Memphis. The question really is, who will AC Wharton endorse? That is, if AC is still a Democrat.
It makes sense for Obama to endorse Cohen...if we were to follow Herenton's campaign theme then Obama wouldn't be President.
Herenton is in for an embarrassment, and it won't be because of Cohen's campaign staff...it'll be because of the hard work that the Congressman has put into the district.
What's the benefit of this endorsement to Cohen? All Obama's support will do is turn off the independent voters who were going to vote for Cohen simply because they are sick of Herenton.
It's not as if Obama's endorsement is going to sway African American voters to side with Cohen. History shows that African Americans will typically side with the African American candidate when given the choice between a black and white candidates.
thescribbler - That doesn't make any sense. Sick of Herenton? He's not in an office.
Why would President Obama's support turn off independent voters? Who else are they going to vote for? Mayor McCheese?
What does President Obama's endorsement have to do with swaying black voters? Because of his own race?
Sounds as if you have your own notions on what this election is about.
President Barack Obama has endorsed Congressman Steve Cohen in his race against Dr. Willie Herenton. In a statement, Obama said, "Congressman Cohen is a proven leader in the United States Congress and a strong voice for Tennessee. Together, we passed historic health care reform and together we're continuing the fight to renew our economy and bring jobs back to the American people. I am proud to stand with Steve and support his re-election to Congress."
Congressman Steve Cohen has always believed that the best politics is doing the job you were elected to do well. Since elected in 2006, Steve has:
• Worked with President Obama on tax cuts to create and save jobs in the 9th Congressional District
• Authored an amendment to prohibit employers from discriminating against job applicants with poor credit records
• Fought for a much needed Health Care Reform bill that gives health care to millions and reduces the 9th District’s burdens by allowing The Med to recover funds spent treating out of state patients
• Introduced
I'm curious to know when the last time any sitting president got involved in a House primary in any state. I'm not aware of anything like this ever happening before.
Shane - I know a number of middle-of-the-road voters who were planning on voting for Cohen simply because they couldn't stomach the idea of Herenton representing them in Congress.
Now that Cohen has tied himself to Obama, however, there is no way these voters are going to support Cohen.
Will these disenfranchised independents now vote for Willie? Not likely.
But the Obama endorsement kills a key voting block for Cohen -- independents.
And what does the Obama endorsement give Cohen? Nothing.
There are few things OBama has done that I approve of. For the people of Memphis, liberal whack-jobs that thye may be. This was a good thing.
Bravo Obama!
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