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Cohen criticized by ministers; suspects rival campaign

"We are people of God who ought to be compassionate," says Rev. Dwight Montgomery.

But critical is how he describes the behavior of some fellow ministers during a meeting Tuesday night between Congressman Steve Cohen and the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association.

"I felt rather uncomfortable at the time, in relation to what was happening," says Montgomery. "And I must admit, I felt for him," he adds.

Instead of discussing a federal hate crimes bill, the sanctuary filled with accusations that a white man cannot adequately represent a primarily black district.

"I left the meeting felling rather down," Cohen says by phone from New Orleans. "That I was not in a place that the Lord was in," he adds.

Cohen suspects the ambush may have been orchestrated by the Nikki Tinker campaign. She came in second to Cohen in '06 and is running against him again in '08.

"She has been to the minister's association several times soliciting their support," says Coehn. "And through her airlines (Pinnacle Airlines), she's given them and members of their church free airplane rides around the city," he claims.

We went to Pinnacle to try and track down Tinker on the job. Reporter Jason Miles also stopped by her Harbor Town home. Phone calls to a Washington DC based spokesman were not returned.

"I believe it would be in accordance with the Bible that an apology be extended to the Congressman," says Montgomery.

No matter, he says, why or how it happened.

Cohen says he has since been invited to speak at other African-American churches.