According to Cohen, the presidential race isn’t too Close to call
By Blake FontenayMay 9th, 2008
During her presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton has compared herself to Rocky Balboa.
But according to U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, she may be starting to more closely resemble another famous movie character: The psycho lady played by Glenn Close in "Fatal Attraction."
When asked about whether Clinton should drop out of the race on Fox 13’s "Good Morning Memphis" program today, Cohen said: "Glenn Close should have stayed in that tub."
As fans of "Fatal Attraction" will remember, Close’s character gets into a struggle with Michael Douglas’ character in a bathroom near the end of the movie. Close’s character seems to have drowned during a struggle in a bathtub, then revives and makes one final charge toward Douglas, which results in her being gunned down by Anne Archer’s character.
(Had that last part not happened, "Near Fatal Attraction" would have probably been a more apt title for the movie.)
Anyway, I can’t help but wonder if Cohen might be starting to feel the same way about Nikki Tinker, who’s running against him for the congressional seat for the second time.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
[…] Silence reports: Memphis Commercial Appeal’s Blake Fontenay: According to U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, she may be starting to more closely resemble […]
May 9th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
[…] Steve Cohen compares Hillary Clinton to Glen Close’s character in Fatal Attraction to which Blake Fontenay says: I can’t help but wonder if Cohen might be starting to feel the same way about Nikki Tinker, […]
May 10th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
I am in shock at this disgusting display of misogyny. The men in the media continue to try to trivialize the Hillary Clinton for President Campaign. Hillary has run a terrific campaign. There are 16 million (plus) people in the United States who agree with me who have already voted for her.
I deplore you to stop this sexist, unfair and hate filled effort to keep a woman from winning the Presidency.
Rep. Cohen is indeed running against a strong woman in Memphis, but this is way beyond the pale. There was a time when women in Tennessee could count on Rep. Cohen, but guess he has decided the 51% of us Tennesseans who are female are no longer important.
May 10th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
To compare Senator Clinton to a movie character who is quite unbalanced is an insult to all women. Because Senator Clinton has not jumped to the calls from media talking heads and other males to withdraw from the campaign for President, Senator Cohen considers her mentally ill. Never mind that Senator Obama participated in a church where the minister preached racism and more subliminally, overthrow of the U.S. government. That information was met with deafening silence from the media and most members of Congress. Yet, many Americans have thought long and hard about the revelation and are not comfortable with that type of person leading our nation as President.
I shudder to think what Representative Cohen and others of his mindset would have done if the same details had been revealed about Senator Clinton. Representative Cohen and his like minded thinkers will find the 2008 election carries the same results as when George McGovern, Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis ran for President.
There is considerable talk about healing the split in the Democratic Party and moving forward. When individuals such as Representative Cohen speak and leave the impression that women are still chattels, it is very unlikely healing will occur. Instead, Democrats will either hold their noses and vote for Senator McCain or simply sit out the election. Either way, the Republicans will stay in the White House another four years. Even if Representative Cohen wins the primary in August, he might find himself sitting back in Memphis come January as he becomes a casualty of the vote and the backlash against him and the Democratic Party.
By the way, since Senator Obama is so anti-Israel, I wonder what Representative Cohen’s synagogue thinks of his statements about his comparison of Senator Clinton to an unbalanced movie character.
May 10th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
I am appalled that Steve Cohen is stooping to this type of commentary about a democratic presidential candidate that many of his constituents respect. I am fine with his support of Obama and encourage him to work for and support him. But, I don’t understand this juvenile behavior, and have never noticed him making such misogynist comments before. There are some I wouldn’t think a thing about reading words like this from, but I certainly expected more from him.
May 11th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Rep. Cohen’s comments are offensive to all the women who support Hillary and whose support is necessary for the Democratic nominee to win in the Fall against McCain. These comments have a tone of misogyny that will alienate women who would otherwise be energized and supportive of the final nominee. Rep. Cohen should publicly apologize for these offensive remarks.
Hillary’s supporters are enthusiastic about her qualifications and put off by all the men who keep bullying her to get out of the race early. She is not some fringe candidate who has garnered a small percentage of vote. She has won the large states and important battleground states that are necessary for an electoral victory for the Democrats. Two states she would clearly have won have not even been counted. If this were a winner-take-all contest, like the Presidential race will be; she would be ahead 2:1 in electoral votes against Obama.
If Rep. Cohen wants the Democrats to take back the White House in the Fall, he should be respectful of this first serious female contender for the highest elected office in our country. Those of us who support Hillary want to feel that our candidate has been treated fairly. If she is, we will continue to vote in large numbers and be on the phones and streets for the elected nominee in the Fall. Remarks such Rep. Cohen’s will divide the party and leave many Democratic unenthusiastic and some even staying home - not his intent I’m sure. He should retract his disrespectful remarks.
Pat Branham, Elected Delegate for Hillary Clinton
3rd Congressional District, TN
May 12th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Women in this state need to get the respect we deserve. Support action against sexist men by joining “TN Women Take Action.” I’ll spend some time helping Steve’s opponent in Memphis if anyone else is willing to go. How about it women? Many of you know how to contact me.