MEMPHIS, TN – Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton describes current 9th district Congressman Steve Cohen in vulgar terms. He also gets personal about a secret conversation with Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton. The comments were recorded during an interview with Memphis Flyer writer and long time political columnist Jackson Baker.Baker said, "I was staggered by what he had to say."
During the interview, Mayor Herenton said, "I’ve known Cohen for 30 years... And to be honest with you, he's an ***hole... And anyone who knows Cohen, knows he's an ***hole."
The Herenton interview is the cover story of the current edition of the Memphis Flyer.
Baker told myEyewitnessNews.com, Herenton made one aggressive assertion after another during the interview.
Baker said, "He's trying the bait Cohen into a mano a mano in which he can get a WWE throw down. You know in which he's the black guy and Cohen's the white guy and he gets the racial dynamic into the election."
But during a part of the interview recorded on camera, some of Herenton's most ominous comments were reserved for Shelby county mayor A C Wharton, who considered running for city mayor in the last election.
Herenton said, "I had deep resentment for that... Felt that he should not have flirted with that, that that was a character flaw."
This is what Herenton says he told Wharton during a secret meeting between the two men before the last election at La Chardonnay restaurant: “ We would have won, but it would have been ugly...it would have been real ugly. Memphis Flyer Reporter question: "Well, maybe that’s why he didn’t run?" "It would have been real ugly, because I would have described him."
Baker says, "...and I said how? And he said I would have ‘described’ him.” myEyewitnessNews.com reporter: “Did he explain what that means?” “No, he said he didn't have to because it didn't happen."
Baker tells myEyewitnessNews.com he thinks what Herenton said in the interview was completely calculated, designed for its political impact.
You can read and see more of the mayor’s interview at http://www.memphisflyer.com/.
