Day of reckoning for 9th District Rep. Steve Cohen

Early voting turn out for today's primaries has already demonstrated that voters aren't paying too much attention to local races.

That's not the case for Tennessee's 9th District Democratic primary. Incumbent Rep. Steve Cohen is white and Jewish in a predominantly black district and has been the subject of anti-Semitic and racist attack ads. One flier from a black minister claimed Cohen "hates Jesus" and urged voters to consider nothing but the color of the candidate's skin when casting their vote today.

Cohen's most formidable primary opponent, Nikki Tinker, has been widely condemned for her racist, and some say anti-Semitic, campaign ads targeting Cohen. Her ads have gained national attention for her disgraceful tactics, even earning her MSNBC's nightly "Worst Person In The World" award from Keith Olbermann.

Now comes this video from yesterday showing Cohen disparaging Armenians and shoving, and I'd argue assaulting, someone he identifies as an "Armenian photographer" at his home for an open press conference. After slamming the door, Cohen tells one of his aids to "take his tripod around back and throw at him."

COHEN: "These are some Armenians. Nikki Tinker is supported by the Armenians, and these are Armenian photographers who were harassing me last night and are continuing to harass me, and they should be out of here. They have gotten in my face. I want these people out of my house."

Disclosure: I am a contributor to the Steve Cohen's campaign