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DEL.ICIO.USMcKinney & Fox & Friends
It takes a special woman to give Tom DeLay a chance to talk about somebody else's troubles
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Seven days after the event, Gov. Sonny Perdue waded into the flap over U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney of DeKalb County.
On Wednesday, he challenged his two Democratic rivals in the governor’s race to turn their backs on the congresswoman, who allegedly struck a U.S. Capitol policeman — after he chased her down for bypassing a security checkpoint.
“We have to be accountable for those people we associate with, and I think the silence is deafening,” Perdue said at a morning press conference. “I think we need to hear from those people who would associate with Congresswoman McKinney.”
A couple things are happening here. Obviously, it’s in Perdue’s interest to tie McKinney as closely as possible to Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor and Secretary of State Cathy Cox. McKinney is red meat to white swing voters who’ll decide the race in November.
McKinney has endorsed Taylor’s bid for office and Cox’s husband, Mark Dehler, has contributed money to McKinney’s past campaigns. (However, McKinney and Cox are famously at odds, the result of past voting disputes in DeKalb.)
So there’s the Georgia angle.
But McKinney has become exceptionally convenient to national Republicans as well. It’s clear that they see the flap as a topic-changer, an antidote to the Beltway buzz that surrounds the departure of former House majority leader Tom DeLay.
And you’ve got to admit, McKinney seems to be doing her best to keep the story alive. She was on Fox News on Wednesday morning. So an hour later, when DeLay was interviewed on the same program, he had something to talk about other than Jack Abramoff, or House ethics investigations.
“Anybody who would hit or attack the Capitol Hill police — I had a Capitol Hill police officer die, was shot in my office, protecting my office. So I have a special place in my heart for the Capitol Hill police, and anybody that would attack them for doing their job is just outrageous, and frankly ought to be punished,” DeLay said.
U.S. Rep. John Lewis, we hear, is furious with McKinney. Other Georgia Democrats are innoculating themselves. Said U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall of Macon on Wednesday, in a prepared statement:
“Thinking an officer is racially motivated does not excuse hitting or pushing past him. If there is proof the officer was racially motivated, he should be punished.
“If there is no such proof, just a color difference, then the officer is due an apology at the very least. Racism hurts people. False accusations of racism hurt us all. They wrong the accused, reinforce negative stereotypes and distract us from real racial discrimination.”
Comments
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By x-security guard
April 6, 2006 01:08 AM | Link to this
McKinney is a joke. The only ones racially motivated are the ones who always play the race card. This has nothing to do with color just be a LADY.
By Jeff Smith
April 6, 2006 01:13 AM | Link to this
Mckinney is nothing more than a hateful,egomaniacal,RACIST. She makes a mockery of even the pretense of public service. She serves only herself,and unfortunately, the press gives her the headlines she lives for. What a loser! It must be a miserable existence to wake every morning with the funked up gray matter she’s got between her ears. Jeffery D.Smith , Sandersville
By JC
April 6, 2006 01:46 AM | Link to this
Whoa! We see where the hate is coming from. The fact that powerful people are turning the inappriopriate touching of two members of our government into a federal grand jury is a clear sign of the racial profiling and abuse of justice system towards Blacks and other minorities. This was not a big deal locally. Nobody wanted to do anything about this, however the attention being placed on it is creating a public trial that is forcing this ridiculous charge. Why is it fair that some Members get recognized and and not grabbed? If some get to enter Congress being facially regnoziable then why shouldn’t all? This is precisely why the founders created in Article I, Section 6 “…be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; …they shall not be questioned in any other Place.” Now to say that a member of Congress was trying to strike someone with malice or with the attempt to hurt or injury an officer of the Capitol Police is not true and prosecution attempts is a reinactment of the Clinton trial.
JC, Decatur
By dhc
April 6, 2006 03:13 AM | Link to this
Why is it fair that some Members get recognized and and not grabbed? If some get to enter Congress being facially regnoziable then why shouldn’t all? There are more than 500 members of Congress - that’s a lot of people to know by sight which is why they have their special lapel pins.
Article I, Section 6 “…be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same … Try going to the Federal Building downtown and attempt to get around the security checkpoint - I think you would quickly find out that McKinney was given the proper deference under this provision.
… to say that a member of Congress was trying to strike someone with malice or with the attempt to hurt or injury an officer of the Capitol Police is not true …
It doesn’t matter who you are or your intent - you simply don’t hit, slap or shove cops.
By kevin
April 6, 2006 07:10 AM | Link to this
Mckinney is an embarrassment to the state of Georgia, the Congress and her race. The next time she is “working” in DC and someone attempts to bypass security, would she really want the police to ignore them? Her safety depends on the police, she is just too stupid to realize that!
By Neal
April 6, 2006 08:07 AM | Link to this
Shame on you JC! Do you think that it is okay to strike an officer. I don’t think so. If Cynthia was white and the officer was black I’m sure you’d think that the officer should sue. All she had to do was say, “Hey, I’m a congresswoman…gotta go I’m late!!” Instead she hit him!!! You are only making excuses for her because she’s black.
By Neal
April 6, 2006 08:14 AM | Link to this
Oh and by the way Article I, Section 6 was created so that congressmen and women could not be arrested on the way to vote on an issue so that the vote may not be unfairly swayed.
By Lisa
April 6, 2006 08:17 AM | Link to this
JC, are you stuck on stupid? McKinney was 100% wrong for not wearing her pin. Two words, nine eleven. Security is important! I have no idea why she feels she can play the race card and assault folks, I am sick of seeing her face at the point. I have one word for McKinney, GUILTY. By the way, I am a Black woman.
By Hunter
April 6, 2006 08:28 AM | Link to this
All she had to do was apologize in the beginning, but she wanted to convert this into a media circus, which is exactly what she has done. WHY is she such an angry racist? And her daddy?
By Linda
April 6, 2006 08:54 AM | Link to this
It doesn’t matter what color, race or nationality you are….LADIES should act like LADIES!! When does a “lady” have any right to strike someone…especially someone in authority? NEVER She needs to learn the etiquette that comes with the job….it begins with RESPECT. She is always trying to stir things up. No matter what it starts out to be, it always turns into a racial issue. WHY? I don’t care who or what you are, when asked for ID by a guard in government building, why can’t you act like a civilized person? Show your ID and be done with it.
She is a disgrace to the State of Georgia, her congressional district and above all…her own race. But the voters are the ones who have egg on their faces for voting her in AGAIN.
By jd
April 6, 2006 08:59 AM | Link to this
I had a small rant on Cynthia testerday on my new blog. For the life of me I really cant figure out where her problem originates. I hope she can pull her head out of her you know what before she gets kicked out of Congress. That would look bad on all of us. jd
By John Mayall
April 6, 2006 09:06 AM | Link to this
We can only hope that not only will Ms. McKinney’s unconscionable act be dealt with with all of the legal weight that any ordinary citizen would receive under like circumstances, but that also the people of this country will look anew at how the ongoing ‘unconscionable’ acts of the vast majority of our ELECTED officials needs to be made more accountable. NO politician is above the very laws of the land that THEY enact - no matter how self-important he or she feels they are. McKinney may well become the ‘poster child’ for better behavior from the politicos, and that may be the only good news to come out of her hugely arrogant mistake.
By JW
April 6, 2006 09:15 AM | Link to this
Way to go McKinney, you have made the race card a credit card with no buying power now; it’s over its limit, cut it up, shread it…whatever, it’s ineffective now, just like you are. Your appearances on the moring talk shows yesterday just confirmed you are a danger to our national security and a racist and also, a total idiot. I live in your district, so I have a vaild opinion. The only piece of legislation that has yet to come off your desk is a bill to open up an investigation into the death of Tupac Shacur. Great piece of law, this really represents me. Now with your big fat mouth going full throttle you have opened up an investigation into your spending habits with MY tax dollars. I hope you end up in prison, then you will truly be in the company you deserve. Ok everyone, Georgia has open primary elections. All Republicans in the 4th district, vote Democrat against McKinney then switch over and vote Republican in the general election, it is legal. This is the only way to remove this danger to our national saftey. She has been bought by the radical Islamic groups, REMOVE this insane woman now.
By KABA
April 6, 2006 09:21 AM | Link to this
It appears that McKinney has no listening skills. She wasn’t listening and kept going when the security guard requested her to stop, and she didn’t answer any of the questions put to her on the FOX interview. Does the gentle Congresswoman listen to anyone but herself?
By T D
April 6, 2006 09:29 AM | Link to this
Who is this Presley fellow with McKinney all the time?
By Buzz Brockway
April 6, 2006 09:47 AM | Link to this
It’s telling that so few Democrats have come to McKinney’s defense. Perhaps race baiting has lost it’s effectiveness and that would be a good thing.
McKinney’s an easy target and I admit I find this whole incident hilarious, but I suspect McKinney be easily reelected.
By amadamaranda
April 6, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this
Ms. Mckinney is not the queen she views herself as. She is subject to laws and rules, just like her constituents, and in a time of high alert for terrorism, she should have had her badge on and yielded to the police instructions. She committed a crime in striking the officer and as far as I’m concerned is subject to the consequences. Period.
By kathryne lee
April 6, 2006 10:48 AM | Link to this
The only racism that exists in this country is the racism blacks have against whites. They hate whites and always will. They keep perpetuating it in their children. Whites are the reason they fail. Whites are responsible for everything wrong in their lives. Is it any wonder whites just don’t care anymore causing further division between the races.
By Howard
April 6, 2006 10:49 AM | Link to this
McKinney is a joke. I hope she wins re-election in November along with Ted Kennedy and other leftist. We need them to remind us what liberals really think!
By Savannah Thinker
April 6, 2006 10:57 AM | Link to this
Okay, if the Governor is going to attack Cox and Taylor for association with McKinney, what do you call the Republicans association with Ralph Reed?
And my God, Congress has become a circus when Tom DeLay has the ground to attack anyone for their conduct in office…
Very annoying…
By ronda
April 6, 2006 10:58 AM | Link to this
I am a african american female. After I initially heard about the incident,I had hoped that Ms.McKinney would not automatically pull the race card, but …..
By The Grinch
April 6, 2006 11:20 AM | Link to this
Ronda, you had hoped she wouldn’t pull the race card but you knew she would. It’s an automatic response.
By Lisa
April 6, 2006 11:57 AM | Link to this
Kathyrne Lee, lay off the meth and come back to Earth. You generalized a whole group of people, sounds like you’re the one with the problem. Back to the subject at hand, McKinney was wrong, period the end.
By kathryne lee
April 6, 2006 12:27 PM | Link to this
not on meth lisa just telling it like it is. and if you don’t see it, you are not looking
By atltoday..
April 6, 2006 12:51 PM | Link to this
Rep. Mckinney was completely wrong but lets say someone grabs you and you are not aware of it…no matter who it is…you may just swing and that she did. that does not excuse her but i don’t excuse the officer either. no one should be allowed in congress by face recognition especially if you don’t know all the faces and what is a pin…someone could steal a congressional pin and then they can just go into congress….please….that doesn’t work..try one better than that.
By atltoday..
April 6, 2006 12:53 PM | Link to this
kathryn lee..there are racist in every group, religious, color, creed and gender. do generalize so much because it makes you what you say you’re not…A RACIST.
By JW
April 6, 2006 12:58 PM | Link to this
hell must have just frozen over because McKinney just offered an apology, I’m sure it was heart felt and sincere. I think she thought she’d get the backing of her Democratic counterparts in Congress and when no one , I mean no one but some old has-been relics who have lived off of entitlement all their lives show up and no one esle, what do you do? You apologize. She is not sorry, she is just sorry she has no support. Hopefully this is the final nail in her coffin, anyone coming out supporting her now…career suicide.
By Elizabeth
April 6, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this
I’m not sure how everyone else feels but I am so sick of hearing about Delta Pilots and Cynthia McKinney I could loose my lunch. Delta needs to go on out of business and get it over with and Cynthia McKinney needs to apologize, admit she was wrong and move on. The more she defends herself the more guilty and ignorant she looks. Too much time, attention and money is being spent on something most people could care less about. It really is a slow news week. MOVE ON PLEASE!!!
By def
April 6, 2006 01:04 PM | Link to this
How is it that Ms. Mckinney is the only black congress person to have had this problem?…more than once! Does security recognize every other black representitive, just not her?
We have local Dristric Attorney that is being charged with the exact same thing, asault on an officer of the law. Why would Cynthia McKinney get a “pass” and Paul Howard face charges?
By getalife
April 6, 2006 01:04 PM | Link to this
Why do we have laws?
Assaulting a police officer?
Illegal immigration?
Illegal wiretaps?
CIA leaks to justify war?
Open the prison doors and free the prisoners because if the people who write the laws, breaks the laws, the system of laws do not apply to everyone.
So, why have laws?
By Sarah
April 6, 2006 01:06 PM | Link to this
McKinney’s apology, I am sure, has much to do with her probably being arrested soon and she needs all the support she can muster up. She knows what she did and what she said when she did what she did and she knows the ugly truth will be exposed. I think she was truly surprised at the lack of support she received, like poison…no one touched her. Perhaps she will behave in a more mature and lawful way and for a lawMAKER she will become less of a lawBREAKER. She was elected to a national position, she knows she should behave in a way that should be an example to others, her behavior was right off the COPS show on TV. Can you imagine how she will react being arrested, oh lord.
By amadamaranda
April 6, 2006 01:20 PM | Link to this
As a taxpayer, if she apologizes and acts appropriately and they want to accept it, none of our tax money will be spent on this fiasco. Works for me.
By Alvin Ginsburg
April 6, 2006 01:58 PM | Link to this
It is amazing to me that the AJC reporters could not find anyone to interview in McKinney’s jurisdiction, that does not support her. I for one don’t think it is appropriate for a representative to beat up a cop.
Then again I didn’t support her before this altercation. And I suppose the people that elected her all look forward to using her act as a precedent when they get accused of similar felonies.
By Shauna
April 6, 2006 01:59 PM | Link to this
Okay, you guys are not going to like me. I don’t get what the big deal is about. Is it okay to hit someone - no, but is it worse because she hit a police officer? In my opinion no! They are no better than anyone else and I don’t understand why people think that they deserve more respect than anyone else on the street. So what they protect the streets and the halls of justice - that’s their job. They chose to do that. They shouldn’t get a d*mned medal of honor for it. If it is too dangerous for them then they need to quit.
Cynthia was wrong for hitting another person. Period. It shouldn’t matter who that person was.
By Nikole
April 6, 2006 02:07 PM | Link to this
She was wrong, but forget all this stuff about being a lady. Should a police officer, or anyone else ever put their hands on me, I am going to knock the crap out of you.
By Shauna
April 6, 2006 02:15 PM | Link to this
Kathryn Lee,
I am a black woman and I don’t blame white people for sh*t. I just work hard to make the ones that need to look bad, do just that. Look bad. I don’t trust you, but I don’t blame you either. And I don’t teach my children to blame you either. They can accomplish whatever they want to because they have their FAITH and their MOTHER. Please don’t generalize all of us.
By Shauna
April 6, 2006 02:17 PM | Link to this
Nikole,
I’m with you. No one has the right (police or not) to put their hands on the African-American Queen here. You touch my person you are subject to a beat down. PERIOD!!!!!!
By Cosmo
April 6, 2006 02:27 PM | Link to this
Shauna, so if someone accidentally brushes up against you in a crowd you will attack them? That is called assault and you would probably be arrested.
The officer asked McKinney to stop three times and she did not. His job is to protect the people who are in that building which means stopping anyone trying to go around security that he doesn’t recognize. So when she didn’t stop after being called he grabbed her arm. His job! She absolutely had no right to hit him and he every right to stop her.
By Shauna
April 6, 2006 02:51 PM | Link to this
Cosmo,
Brushing up against me on accident is different from a cop grabbing me. Don’t grab on me. Cop or no cop. You don’t have the right to put your hands on me.
Why is it okay for the cop to put his hands on Cynthia, but not okay for her to put her hands on him. Bottom line, everyone needs to keep their hands to themselves. He could have stood in front of her, he didn’t have to put his hands on her.
By jiffly
April 6, 2006 03:10 PM | Link to this
so now that Ms. McKinney has ‘regretted the incident’ it should be forgotten? I don’t think so. If you or I were the ones involved, we would still be looked at by the Grand Jury - and they should continue so this sort of nonsense doesn’t continue. The Capitol Police have a job to do! Have we all gone insane and forgotten 9/11?
By shauna
April 6, 2006 03:14 PM | Link to this
No we haven’t forgotten 9/11 but are we going to refer to it every time something happens? People don’t have to act a fool and forget their home training just because of 9/11.
By jffly
April 6, 2006 03:30 PM | Link to this
Remembering 9/11 is the reason the Capitol Police have the instructions to do their job which interfered with what Ms. McKinney wanted to do. It is the reason for the heightened security all around this country. Yes, I agree people shouldn’t forget their home training but it seems as if some never got any training of any kind - home or otherwise and that’s the saddest part of all. When I grew up we were taught to respect law and order and the authorities. If you weren’t doing anything wrong you had nothing to worry about. That doesn’t apply today for most folks.
By Cosmo
April 6, 2006 03:35 PM | Link to this
Shauna, the officer did have a right to put his hands on her to stop her - he asked her 3 times to stop and she did not. If you (or anyone) were doing something wrong a police officer would have the right to put his/her hands on you to stop you according to the law. And if you were to hit an officer more than likely you would be cuffed and hauled off to jail (as should have happened to McKinney). Then try convincing a judge…..
By Shauna
April 6, 2006 03:57 PM | Link to this
Jffly,
Unfortunately, you do have something to worry about even if you weren’t doing anything wrong. Please don’t believe that everyone who gets into trouble is guilty. Cops will get you if they want you.
Cosmo, Like I said, he could have stood in front of her, he did not have the right to put his hands on her. Being a cop does not give you the right to be a bully. I’m not saying that he was bullying her, I’m just saying that cops should keep their hands to themselves as well. For me, I try to stay away from cops. I don’t even call them if I need help. My husband is black and I don’t trust a cop around my husband. If I need help, I’ll figure something else out.
By Justin
April 6, 2006 04:17 PM | Link to this
People, this is just a distraction while our legislators pass a “amnesty” bill for all the illegal aliens. I don’t care what crazy McKinney is doing. She is a distraction and a disgrace to our race running around acting like the stereotypical angry Black woman. So many Black people are angry at her pompous attitude.
By Jim
April 6, 2006 09:32 PM | Link to this
McKinney apologizes? Her feigned sincerity was sickening. She has nothing but contempt for police and Caucasians. The two things she’s sorry about are that she got caught plus the people she thought would be standing beside her weren’t. Even they can see she’s blatantly racist. McKinney’s insincere apology reminds me of the idiot bank robber that got caught thinking if he returned all the money all would be forgotten. The public and the prosecutor are not that stupid and we can see right through her phony apology. Maybe McKinney can try that apology again at her sentencing. It’ll probably work then about as well as it does now.
By House Employee
April 6, 2006 11:17 PM | Link to this
I have a few things to say. I work under the “Gold Dome” and Im as “Yellow Dog” as they come! However, I cant always remember 256 peoples faces without their name badges. There is no way to expect someone to remember 500+ peoples faces. I have never said this and never will again but I agree with Neal Bortz on this one issue. If she were to have shut her stupid mouth and apologized for this it would have been over in 24 hours. But guess what, she looked at her card and what did she play? RACE CARD!! When I met Cynthia in Speaker Terry Coleman’s office 2 years ago her head barely fit through the door. Now I know why she hasnt been back; cant get in! Well Cynthia, congrats. As a US Rep you deserve only 1st class treatment and 1st class is what your going to get. A first class ticket to looking for a job. To all you public officials, remember you work for me, I vote!
By the way nice hair!
Ps. Tyrone, MLK did not stand for what was wrong regardless of race. He stood for what was right. SIT DOWN!
By Earl
April 7, 2006 07:04 AM | Link to this
I’m just a poor ol’ white shmuck from Snellville but if I broke through a check-point and was told 3 times to stop and didn’t, I’d been tased, handcuffed, and hauled off to jail. She’s lucky she’s a woman of color and received the kid glove treatment. Police have been criticized in the past for shooting scumbags, so they’re given tasers instead. Then the police are criticized for tasing the scumbags. “Rush to judgment” the race merchants like Jesse Jackson and Louis Farrakhan constantly cry. The Capitol Hill police put their lives on the line daily to protect members of Congress from scumbags trying break through. And then along comes Cynthia McKinney.