Archive for June, 2008
Pelosi: Steve Cohen "The Conscience of the Freshman Class"
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Steve Cohen at a Nashville Fundraiser
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was the guest of honor at a Cohen for Congress fund raiser in Nashville on June 22, 2008.
“His years of experience in Tennessee allowed him to hit the ground running when he reached the United States Congress,” Pelosi said of Congressman Cohen. “It made him an effective congressman with a refreshing approach to serving his constituents.”
“He never changed!” a guest shouted from the back of the room.
Pelosi continued, calling Cohen “the conscience of the freshman class.”
“Return Steve Cohen to Congress,” she concluded. “He is a progressive and an important member of the Transportation Committee, which provides the infrastructure for jobs that will make America more competitive in the global economy.”
The event was one of several in Nashville, where Cohen was joined by fellow Tennessee Representatives John Tanner, Bart Gordon, and Jim Cooper, as well as former Public Service Commission Chairwoman and gubernatorial candidate Jane Eskind.
Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association Endorses Congressman Steve Cohen
The Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association has endorsed Congressman Steve Cohen’s re-election bid for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District seat in the House of Representatives.
“Fire fighters risk their lives day in and day out to protect our safety,” Congressman Cohen said. “I’m honored to serve them, and I’m honored that they support me. With their assistance, I’ll continue fighting for their interests in Washington, D.C. so that they can continue saving lives on the streets of Memphis and abroad.”
The Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association represents over four thousand fire fighters and EMS workers across the state. It is a part of the International Association of Fire Fighters, which has 280,000 members in the United States and Canada.
Happy Juneteenth from Cohen for Congress!
Juneteenth is the annual celebration of freedom commemorating the fateful day one hundred and forty-three years ago that Union General Gordon Granger stood on the balcony of Ashton Villa in Galveston Texas and read General Order No. 3:
‘The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. “
The newly liberated slaves celebrated in the streets of Galveston. The very next year, Juneteenth was born as a celebration of African-American freedom.
The celebrations take place nationwide, and so far, 28 states have recognized it as a holiday, including Tennessee.
Congressman Steve Cohen and everyone at Cohen For Congress hope that everyone out there is having a happy and safe Juneteenth.
Congressman Cohen's Article on Interrogation Techniques at TheHill.com
Be sure to stop by TheHill.com and read Congressman Cohen’s commentary on the legality of interrogation techniques employed by the Bush Administration.
Excerpt:
…Based on some of the testimony from yesterday’s hearing before the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties by Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, who served as Chief of Staff to former Secretary of State Colin Powell, and Daniel Levin, who headed the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) at the Department of Justice, it appears that Bush Administration lawyers played a significant role in crafting, justifying, and implementing interrogation techniques that may be illegal. In so doing, these lawyers failed in meeting their obligation to the rule of law…
Read Lawyers and Interrogation Techniques by Congressman Steve Cohen.
Congressman Cohen Fights On Behalf of Tortured American Soldiers
Congressman Cohen recently chaired a House Judiciary Committee hearing for seventeen American soldiers that were held captive and tortured by Iraq during the first Gulf War as they seek damages from the Iraqi government.
Addressing the Bush Administration’s lack of support for the American soldiers seeking compensation, Congressman Cohen said “The president has not satisfactorily explained why these fundamental principles should be disregarded here, nor has he satisfactorily explained why all of Iraq’s assets must be shielded, even while it is reaping billions upon billions of dollars from its oil fields, and while it is readily paying off pre-war commercial debts to foreign corporations totaling $4.4 million.”
A United States federal judge awarded $959 million to seventeen former prisoners of war that filed a lawsuit against the Iraqi government in 2002, but the Bush Administration has so far blocked all efforts to collect any damages in spite of its own 2002 executive order holding nations and individuals responsible for the humane treatment of US personnel.
“It is vitally important that we fight for the brave men and women who fight for us,” Congressman Cohen said. “It’s inexplicable that a nation that would go to war in the name of justice would deny justice to its own soldiers.”
J Street Endorses Congressman Steve Cohen
J Street, a group seeking peace in the Middle East through diplomatic means, has endorsed Congressman Steve Cohen for re-election to the Tennessee 9th Congressional District seat.
“J Street was founded on the premise that there is a crying need for a new voice in American politics to support a strong, sensible pro-Israel policy based on peace, diplomacy and conflict resolution,” J Street Executive Director Jeremy Ben-Ami said as he announced the endorsements of Cohen, one other incumbent Congressman, and five candidates.
Click the video for Congressman Cohen’s response.
Communications Workers of America Endorses Congressman Steve Cohen for Re-Election
The Communications Workers of America, Local 3806, announced its endorsement of Congressman Steve Cohen in a press release issued Tuesday, June 10.
“Congressman Steve Cohen has an outstanding voting record in support of working families and labor. The 1,000 members of C.W.A. Local 3806 are proud to support such a strong advocate for working men and women,” read the press release issued by Local 3806 President Mike Bennard.
“I’m honored to have their endorsement,” Congressman Cohen said. “As a congressman, it is my duty to make sure that the working families of the 9th District and beyond are well represented. I’ve done it throughout the three decades of my legislative career, and it’s a fight that I will continue.”
Communications Workers of America is the largest communications and media labor union in the nation, with over 700,000 members.
Congressman Cohen, Councilman Lowery, and others Stand Together To Show Democratic Unity
Congressman Steve Cohen and Memphis City Councilman Myron Lowery held a joint press conference with several Obama and Clinton delegates to the Democratic National Convention in a show of party unity.
“Hillary Clinton shows that a woman can be elected president of the United States. She ran a great campaign. And Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, shows that this country is getting closer to being a more perfect union,” Congressman Cohen said.
“We are united behind one candidate — Barack Obama. The Clinton delegates are here. The Obama delegates are here. We’re here to say that there is no infighting. Everyone is in complete and full agreement that we will all work as hard as we can for the election of Barack Obama in November,” said Memphis City Councilman Myron Lowery.
Also present were Democratic Nation Convention delegates David Upton, Betsy Reid, Lexie Carter, Cherry Davis, Henry Hooper, Eddie Jones, and Memphis City Councilwoman Janis Fullilove.
“There will be a Democratic Party Headquarters open sometimes toward the fall for the fall campaign. We want all the young people that Barack Obama has inspired, we want all the people that Hillary Clinton has inspired so much to come and get involved,” Congressman Cohen said before he and Lowery led the crowd on hand in a “Yes we can” chant.
