What? A Congressman Can’t Have A Drink Outside His Opponent’s Fundraiser?

By Kleinheider Posted on July 16, 2008 at 10:05 am

Rep. Steve Cohen says he was just having a casual drink outside a fundraiser for his primary opponent hosted by his fellow incumbent Democrats. That incumbent, however, has a bit of a different take on the situation:

“I have to question whether or not, if I was an African-American and had that seat and a Delta ran against me, would [Tubbs Jones] be involved? I doubt it,” Cohen told The Hill.

Cohen, a freshman, represents a majority-black district, so the campaign already had strong racial overtones.

Tubbs Jones also supported Tinker in 2006, when Cohen won the race for an open seat against a crowded field of black candidates. But it’s unusual for members of Congress to support a primary challenger.

Tubbs Jones said she was supporting Tinker because they are friends and sorority sisters.

She then said that Cohen sought to disrupt the fundraiser by sitting outside it and chastising people as they walked by.

“He absolutely was, and I went outside and spoke to him,” she said. “I told him that I thought his conduct was inappropriate.

“He did try to intimidate the people coming and going. He sat out front and called out their names. … Since he’s accusing me of holding a fundraiser for Nikki Tinker just because she’s African-American, I want to put on the table the conduct that I observed.”

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