ABOUT FIRST READ

First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Obama weighs in on TN primary

Posted: Thursday, August 07, 2008 12:48 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: ,

From NBC's Mark Murray
Obama just released this statement on the very negative Democratic primary taking place today between incumbent Rep. Steve Cohen and challenger Nikki Tinker.

"These incendiary and personal attacks have no place in our politics, and will do nothing to help the good people of Tennessee," Obama said. "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."

As we mentioned earlier today, Cohen is a white Jew who represents a majority-black district in the Memphis area (it's Harold Ford's old congressional seat). Tinker is black.

The race has received attention -- including from today's New York Times -- because of ads that Tinker is running that features an image of the Ku Klux Klan and another one that says, "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."

Cohen won his primary in 2006 because the black vote was so split. This time, he's facing a smaller primary field.

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

Hmm, KKK and attacks on the candidate's church.  Yeah, that's the ticket.  Get Schmidt on the phone!!

I've found our message at last!!!!!
AMEN, AMEN,AMEN FOR SEN. OBAMA.  HE HAS CONTINUED TO BE TRUE TO HIS WORD.  ALL THE ATTACKS LEVIED BY SEN. MCCAIN & THE GOP, SEN. OBAMA STANDS FIRM, TALL AND RESPONDS WITH DIGNITY, GRACE & PRESIDENTIAL

TENN DEMS IT'S TIME TO STOP THE SHAMLESS FIGHTING. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS TYPE OF BASHING, ATTACKS FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS AND IT'S ENOUGH TO LAST US FOR THE NEXT 1,000 YEARS.

TENN DEMS IMMEDIATELY JOIN TOGETHER AND SPEAK ON SUBSTANCE, THE ISSUES, NOTHING BUT THE ISSUES.

THANK YOU SEN. OBAMA.
Will Tinker be okay with kids saying Jewish prayers in school?  Or Muslim?  Besides if he's Jewish I would think he's attending Synagogues not Churches.
Good call from Obama.

I would like to see the end of negative campaigning. It really seems so childish. Think about it!!!

But if folks attack you, its hard not to defend yourself. bad actions begat bad actions. So it ALL of this needs to stop. Hopefully we will gain respect for one another and common sense ONE DAY!!!!.

We Americans are terrific folks—we should act like it!

OBAMA, 08
More empty words from the worlds best manipulator
I commend Obama for his comments.
Its too often (Democrats pay attention) The democratic party uses race in its campaign. I thought it was a local issue (Here in Detroit/Michigan) but it seems to be everywhere.
Its not the Republicans using race, this is Democrat vs. democrat. STOP IT.
Its one of the things that make me independent.
Tinker should be absolutely ashamed of herself. She is disgusting.
'kenn' is your last name, right?

First name is 'Richard'?

Obama '08
Did anyone ask obamma why the lapel pin to show patriotism or how he got his house from RESCO or why he sat in a church for 20 years and never heard a word or why with all the volenteering he never joined the armed forces on and on keep asking Macain even thou he is never going to win it is better not to know about tour next president and his true feelings ,did the goverment give AA people AIDS.Are gay people going against Obammas god that he asked to be an instrument for how about abortions ,how many AA people are on DEATH ROW is obamma for the death penalty you liberals should know this guy is more conservitive on personal rightds than bush TELKOM mean anything to yall
kenn (Sent Thursday, August 07, 2008 12:11 PM)
******************************************************
Although this was difficult to read I'll try to answer.
Now Kenn I think you understand as well as I do that I could grow through a long list of associations that John McCain has had and still does have. Just look at the people he has running his campaign right now. It seems that some illegal activity is popping up daily in his campaign. I can counter your flag pin by saying John McCain does not wear a flag pin. I can counter rezco with Keating. I can state that John McCain likes calling his wife the C word and left his first wife for a younger and much more wealthy wife. Or how he was against everything eight years ago that he stands for today.
There is a counter argument for all the mud slinging on both sides.
My question to you is why do you support McCain? Is it his energy policies? His stand on the wars we are currently fighting? His plan for health care and social security?
These is the kind of debate we should be having. When you post these nonsensical and misspelled rants it makes it difficult for people to take you seriously.
You should at least be able to spell the last name of the person you are attacking! His name is spelled Obama. Just one M Kenn.
I'm originally from Nashville, now living in Ohio.
I'm totally embarrassed over the actions of my home state. Races have always been dirty there, but since Harold Ford's defeat, they've gone to the bottom of the barrel. Racism abounds in the south, and it just makes me sick.  I'm just tired of all the negativity in general. Including the Presidential election.
Great job.  Old politics must be buried .
More empty words from the worlds best manipulator
kenn (Sent Thursday, August 07, 2008 12:59 PM)

****************************************************

Yeah, but Kenn, Georgie wasn't mentioned in this article.
I know First Read wants to make a thread about Obama, but the racism, anger and bittern in Mrs Tinker is the second most detestable comment this year.

The first one came from the lips of a delusional Hillary Clinton raising the "assassination issue".
Throw her under the bus!
More empty words from the worlds best manipulator

kenn (Sent Thursday, August 07, 2008 12:59 PM)
******************************************************

Karl Rove?

http://thepajamapundit.com/
Kenn. shut up.

Tinker: you are embarrassing Democrats. If you want to be a part of the right wing evangelistic nut case party, go ahead, but in this race, keep your sniping to the issues. If the white, Jewish guy is a better leader for your community, and they support him, then that's that. You shouldn't have to win by slinging dog poop (you are way past mud). I am SICK AND TIRED of bitchy Dems using this kind of divisive tactics on our own--save that for the Republicans if you make it that far!
Obama should but out, and start talking tougher himself.

Unless he knows all the details of that primary, it seems to me he's just playing politics.

There are a ton of Jews in Florida ready to screw up the election again, this time just because Obama is black. And Joe Lieberman isn't helping to set them straight.

They are just as wrong as Tinker's divisive advertising.
FR - you guys have to be putting the silly comments from people like - kenn.

This can't be a blogger - this is too obvious.
More brilliant thoughts from "kenn."  Little wonder, he/she is so thought provoking with his/her grammatically, punctually and capitalized rants that make absolutely no sense whatsoever.  "kenn," do us all a favor and take a typing class, or better yet an elementary school language arts class or two and come back then.  Perhaps someone might actually take you seriously if you could write in complete sentences and make sense grammatically.  This teacher would be shocked if you were educated in the US, though given NCLB and our current 2-term President, perhaps I shouldn't be.  In fact, continue posting as you do "kenn," you just prove my point every time you do.
Working towards a better future, Obama/Biden '08!
Rep. Joyner, that Floridian politician that represented Hillary to the rules, and by-laws committee, and was embarrassingly shrill in word, and deed that day, later defended her behavior, and Hillary's for going back on her word with regard to Michigan, and Florida as just 'politics'. She repeated over, and over to an interviewer,  "that's politics", "that's politics"; as if a politician's actions will not be judged as sinful when they are in fact just that.

Senator Obama is correct to seek to raise the level of decency in our political process. I believe G-D is with him in his endeavor to do so.

I am new to politics, as someone mentioned earlier today. It is a dirty business I am looking forward to abandoning come November; if I am not already hopelessly addicted.
The blogger also jokingly asked about the importance of checking tire pressure. Said McCain: "We got to make sure that we have that public service announcement, but it doesn't solve our energy problem."

Has anyone in the media bothered to ask Sen. McCain why he deliberately and blantantly attempts to distort and reduce Sen. Obama's energy policy to a pressure gauge?

How come there is never a follow up to such misleading answers by Sen. McCain. Like; Senator, do you believe that Sen. Obama's plan to solve our energy problems is solely based on having people inflate their tires? Is that what you believe Senator?  

Come on fellas, do your job; someone, anyone!!
Lord knows the repulics are awful enough, we don't need democrats getting ugly at each other. I think it would be wonderful to have an AA representing a mostly AA district if she is honorable. But this kind of thing does'nt seem that honorable. What a shame. Obama as usual has taken the high road and sets a good example for the nation . And considering the beating he's taken from a lot of white people, I think he has kept a very cool head. Sometimes I am saddened that my white brothers and sisters act like morons and bigots. Several of my children have married or dated inter racialy and I am proud that they don't see color barriers in the way that so many whites do. I hope that I have helped to instill that sensability in them. Thank God our younger generation is getting to a better place with color blindness.
That doesn't mean that Senator Obama can ignore these negative attacks. They should have already learned what happened four years ago to John Kerry. There is no way that Senator Obama can run a positive campaign against Senator McCain. People already think he's a weak candidate, who isn't tough enough. Senator Obama needs to hit McCain really hard on the real issues that matter to Americans.
More empty words from the worlds best manipulator
kenn (Sent Thursday, August 07, 2008 12:59 PM)

*****************************

Let's think back to George H. W. Bush's campaign promise:  "Read my lips...no new taxes!"  Same kind of promise from McCain, except when it comes to fixing Social Security, "you've got to say, 'Look, everything is on the table, let's sit down at the table.'"

Talk about empty words - what are you supposed to believe from the GOP?
Stve Cohen has been a refreshing breath of fresh air from the Memphis political machine. While I like and voted for Harold Ford Jr., his family are kooky and crooked criminals. Ms. Tinker's ad simply divides more a city that has been divided by race for far too long. And if she wins the primary today, I hope Arkansas or Mississippi with take Memphis and all its drama off our hands.

And once again, bravo to Senator Obama for taking the high road.
Good for the next president.  It's a shame that such trash still appeals in parts of the country.  I'd like to see Gov. Bredesen speak up about it, too.  All anyone running for office in Okla. has to say is that they're a Christian, love football and family and sneer at the word liberal.  Sad for America.


SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=1252907

First Read e-mail alerts


Sign up for First Read alerts
The first place for key political news and analysis

Syndicate This Site

Add First Read to your news reader:
live.com xml
myyahoo msn
bloglines newsgator
google