Blake’s Blog

The next election for the Ninth Congressional District seat isn’t until next year, but already the race between incumbent Steve Cohen and challenger Nikki Tinker is taking on the tone of a good soap opera.

For those who haven’t been following this little saga, a group of ministers has been criticizing Cohen for his support of a hate crimes bill, on the premise that the bill could restrict ministers from speaking out against homosexuality from the pulpit. Except the bill specifically says it wouldn’t restrict speech.

Tinker has remained strangely quiet as members of the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association have torn into Cohen, with a campaign spokesman saying Tinker’s not quite ready to start talking about issues yet.

Meanwhile, Pinnacle Airlines, the company that employs Tinker, gave a free airplane ride to some members of the ministers’ congregations in June, after Tinker had announced her candidacy for the seat.

Not a ride to any place in particular, mind you. Apparently just a flight over the skies of Memphis.

Flying in circles. What a perfect metaphor for the whole hate crimes bill debate.