I am writing in response to the commentary  “Last chance District 9 voters” written by Mr. William Larsha.

Now my purpose here is not to insult, malign or to inflame, but simply to present an alternative viewpoint to the scenario of Mr. Larsha, an honorable man.

I will concede that on the SURFACE the loss of a seat held by a black American does raise some reasonable concerns. Mr. Larsha points out that Tennessee may in fact have zero people of color in the U.S. Congress or Senate this year. He later goes on to  present a scenario where blacks via redistricting lose our majority status in district. This train of thought follows to the announcement of a group of concerned individuals who are seeking a consensus black candidate for Congress.

Now while I can understand Mr. Larsha’s points, I respectfully beg to differ on the outcome he arrives at. In fact I plan on voting for Steve Cohen because he has done a good job of representing the people of District 9. He has stood up for social and economic justice, and voted against funding this illegal and fruitless War in Iraq, and also because he has been a consistent champion of progressive values.

But, let us take a moment to be completely cynical. Let us assume that Steve Cohen is simply another self-serving politician who only cares about serving the public as much as it allows him to remain in office. Let’s take it one step further. Let’s assume that Steve Cohen is so without integrity, so craven and cowardly a political animal that he’ll say and do anything to hold on to his seat. To that I say....all the better.

Steve Cohen is a vulnerable politician and he is smart enough to know as much. Thus, you can always trust Steve Cohen to protect Steve Cohen, and the best way for him to do that is for Steve Cohen to properly represent the needs and concerns of his Black constituents.

Why? Because any time the guy does anything he knows that he is being watched by opportunistic enemies seeking to make political hay out of every single thing he says, does, and especially votes on. Steve Cohen is in fact the most watched and accountable politician in Shelby County. That also makes him one of the best.

Consider this: Would Steve Cohen have voted for the war in Iraq like Harold Ford Jr. did? NO, because if Cohen had, he would have been run out of town on a rail. Harold Ford Jr. – on the other hand – got away with it, with little fuss made about it...except by me...lol.

Would Steve Cohen have voted for the bankruptcy bill as Harold Ford Jr. did? NO.

My friend Rick Maynard described it as “An epic love poem to the credit card companies,”  and he was right. Does anyone believe that Cohen would have survived that vote? Honestly....seriously?

Would Steve Cohen have voted for the Patriot Act as Harold Ford Jr. did? NO!

Because once again he would have never been reelected after said vote.

So can Steve Cohen, a Jewish man, represent a majority black district as well as a black person can? Well the Congressional Black Caucus gave Cohen a score of 70 percent out of 100 in this his first term. Harold Ford Jr. received a 32.5 percent in his last term, including a whooping 5 percent for the year of 2005.

Why is Cohen’s score TWICE as much as HFJ? Because he has to vote the right way or risk losing his seat.  (Harold Ford) Junior had the luxury of being bulletproof; Cohen has to answer for his votes, statements and actions. That’s the way the process is supposed to work.

So, I would humbly propose that we continue a process that works for the people of District 9. Keep the guy who’s going to work his butt off to keep his job, because he can never take his base for granted.

Now as to Mr. Larsha’s associates who are seeking a consensus black candidate, I ask you gentle reader...Has anyone asked YOU which of these black candidates you want to go one on one with Cohen? Have you received any phone calls asking your opinion on the subject? Has anyone knocked on your door and asked for your input?

Well no one came to my door; not mine, nor any black people I know, work with or am related too. So I have to ask...with respect, how can you have a consensus black candidate without asking the greater black community for input? How can a secret group create a consensus in the first place? Is this how we “Let Democracy Ring?”

 Finally, as to the “Willie Lynch” comment, Mr Larsha implies that to support Cohen is somehow a statement that none of the black candidates are “good enough.” To that I ask, when you get your car repaired, do you go to a mechanic that is good enough, or do you go to the best mechanic available? When you are sick, do you go to the doctor that is good enough, or to the best doctor you can get? When getting improvements done to your home, do you go to a good enough carpenter, or do you get the best carpenter available?

The Congressional seat is a job, and when filling a job you hire the best candidate from the field you have. In this race that person is Steve Cohen.

Now, I have nothing negative to say about Rep. (Joe) Towns, Dr. (Isaac) Richmond, or Ms. (Nikki) Tinker. In fact, I invite everyone to do their homework on each of the candidates in this race. Find out who they are and what they stand for, and then make your own choice. Your Own Choice.

I made mine.