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DEL.ICIO.USMcKinney and gays: This circle isn’t unbroken
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In political campaigns, victory is about coalitions holding together, however tentatively. Fractured alliances are often a prelude to defeat.
For years, gays and lesbians in DeKalb County were an essential ingredient in Cynthia McKinney’s formula for holding her 4th District congressional seat. No more, and it’s gotten quite personal.
Shortly after her 2002 loss to Denise Majette, McKinney locked on DeKalb County’s same-sex community as one of the groups that had betrayed her.
Here’s an excerpt from an October 2003 speech McKinney gave in California:
“By the time the corporate media had finished with me, my white support had plummeted. And sadly, this was even among people whom I had represented for a decade and who knew me.
“I was even booed at our annual Gay Pride Parade despite my lifetime 100 percent [Human Rights Commission] voting record.
And Atlanta’s white gay and lesbian leadership refused to march with me, including Georgia’s only openly gay member of the Legislature, whom I had endorsed and for whom one of my trusted staffers had worked to ensure that she won.
“I protected her during redistricting when other Democrats targeted her. A white lesbian that I helped get elected in a majority black district. She refused to march with me, too.�
The only woman who matches the above description is state Rep. Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates). More on this later.
This spring, at a forum attended by a reporter from the Southern Voice newspaper, McKinney’s father, Billy McKinney, said much the same thing.
“Cynthia supported gays for 10 years, then the gay leadership abandoned her and voted for Majette,â€? the father said.
In that same article, Southern Voice, a publication aimed at gay and lesbian readers, reported that, since returning to Congress, McKinney had not signed on to any legislation favorable to gays.
Back to Karla Drenner. Last week, she handily won re-election to House District 86, with 62 percent of the vote — despite some surgery and an unplanned hospitalization. Drenner was forced to rely on an army of volunteers.
Her opponent was Cynthia Tucker of Stone Mountain — no, not that one. This Tucker was endorsed early in the race by Cynthia McKinney, as well as other African-American leaders in DeKalb County.
House District 86 is located in the center of DeKalb County, home to 90 percent of the 4th Congressional District. The same territory that gave Drenner nearly two-thirds of the vote, doled out only 45 percent to McKinney. Hank Johnson won 44 percent.
Perhaps there’s a connection, perhaps not. But it certainly could matter whether Drenner’s supporters — whether gay or not — hold a grudge in McKinney’s Aug. 8 run-off.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By MW
July 25, 2006 7:10 PM | Link to this
With gay people and with white people, Cynthia McKinney only courts their support if it’s needed. She rarely campaigns in the majority-white areas of her district. If she didn’t need the extra votes, she’d be perfectly content to represent just her “base” in South Dekalb county…and even some of her base is starting to open their eyes to other options because they recognize her for what she is: a race-baiting opportunist.
Cynthia McKinney is no true friend to gays, whites, even the African Americans she claims to represent. She talks alot about racism and civil rights but has precious little ACTION to show for it.
The days of sit-ins, marches, and standing around singing “We Shall Overcome” are over….how about some ACTION from her to ensure that all school children have equal access to quality education? Or to address the climate of low expectations that many black young people face. You don’t solve these problems by giving speeches or making appearances with Harry Belafonte. You solve it by building consensu and taking action.
We can do better. Change is needed NOW.
By Big Ed
July 25, 2006 7:31 PM | Link to this
Cynthia McKinney has put “single black females” back years when she called out a Washington police guard. By faking her way through this incident her high profile will only serve to jeopardize girls who really are being tormented. When the girl in the Duke rape case came forward the first thing I thought of was I wonder if this is another Cynthia McKinney. I have a hard time believing she cares about anyone but hersel little own gays. She even called her own assistant a “fool”. She needs to go away.
By Calvin G. Sims, Sr.
July 25, 2006 7:35 PM | Link to this
McKinney like too many so called black leaders mislead by playing the race card at every turn. Her latest exampl was in response to the money pouring in in support of Hank Johnson’s run-off bid. She said in an AJC article ” My opponents are attempting to polarize the election along racial and party lines.” What? How is it racial polarization when her opponent is a black man? How is it Party line polarization when her opponent is also a democrat? thsi is the kind of nonsense that Cynthia MvKinney is know for. It is divisive, it is exploitive and it is time for it to stop. Read more comments from author Calvin G. Sims at Link:Journal of American Freedom
By Steve
July 25, 2006 7:51 PM | Link to this
Cynthia McKinney doesn’t represent anyone well. He is a terrible legislator who literally gets nothing done in congress. She claims to be a champion for the little people, those who desperately need a voice in national government…and then she gets nothing done in congress. No bills of any sort…she just collects a paycheck on the backs of those she supposedly represents and adds to her pension. She is also a tremendous embarrassment to the district…the woman just has no class. I’m voting for Hank…I didn’t vote last week figuring she had it wrapped up. Now, Hank will get my full support. He can certainly do no worse as a lawmaker than McKinney, and just maybe can represent us all with some basic dignity…something this district has had to do without lately. Let’s all hope that Hank can win this race and represent us all in the manner we deserve…for many years to come. And let’s leave Cynthia and her sorry legacy in the past where it belongs.
By Political Foreskin
July 25, 2006 7:54 PM | Link to this
Cynthia McKinney was correct about Bush pre-911. Cynthia McKinney is a true patriot. She is EXACTLY what we need in Washington: Someone who can see an incompetent, conspiring, lying, and treacherous president. She also courageously spoke up, and her voice had the ring of truth then, and it rings true today.
I would rather have McKinney for President of the USA anyday than the “facile and nimble” fool we actually have. (to quote a great american)
Mckinney needs to be elected, and she needs to eventually run for President.
The cop incident? Who cares. Play the race card? Why not, Americans ARE racists. We’re so racist, that we still think being black is more than a light reflection, and that’s “pathetic”. (to quote a great american).
Vote for McKinney. The country needs her.
By Blue in Georgia
July 25, 2006 7:57 PM | Link to this
I still am begging forgiveness for putting a CM sign in my yard in 96. I honestly did not know she was a sorry representative with absolutely no business being in DC.
I met CM @ Gay Pride in 1996 and at the time thought she was a promising politician. She puts herself and her race in front of everything.
Vote for Hank! ((oh and now I live in the 11th district — lol real bummer))
By RL
July 25, 2006 8:04 PM | Link to this
Well said Blue in Georgia!!
By Blue in Georgia
July 25, 2006 8:06 PM | Link to this
Will someone please circumsize Politcal Forseskin?
By Clete
July 25, 2006 8:44 PM | Link to this
Hey Political Foreskin…How does it feel to to be a BITTER LOSER in the greatest country on Earth?????
By David
July 25, 2006 9:30 PM | Link to this
Hey, will someone please circumcise Cynthia? That should make her feel much more in tune with her fellow African women. Might buy her more political support from her Islamic male supporters also!
By justme
July 25, 2006 9:54 PM | Link to this
I can’t wait to do the Cynthia McKinney victory dance, the Electric Slide, celebrating her being voted out of office. Good riddance CM, with no support in Washington. You are nothing but an anarchist.
By Bobby
July 25, 2006 10:06 PM | Link to this
I feel bad for ole’ Cynthia. She isn’t qualified to do anything other than be another useless member of the house.
By time for the truth
July 26, 2006 12:13 AM | Link to this
McKinney is a hateful cynical black racist who needs to be dumped in the political dumpster and left there to rot!!
Liberal foreskin is just another brainless leftist dolt with marginally less political insight than a dyslexic anorexic gadfly!!
Maybe McKinney can use her connections to get a job cleaning the run down King Centre very soon, the day after her sorry bigoted arse is booted out of politics FOREVER!!
Hopefully it will then assault another cop and this time it REALLY will go to jail, emptily screeching racism one more time.
My neighbour’s yappy Jack Russell would be a better bet for Congress than this worthless corrupt deadbeat!!
By Hunter
July 26, 2006 7:05 AM | Link to this
OK, now she’s agreed to a couple of debates this next week…it oughtta be fun to watch…
Which hairstyle do you think Ms McKinney will favor for the big events? Which one looks more successful?
STRIVE to be SMARTER than a DEMOCRACKKK !!!
By Blue in Georgia
July 26, 2006 7:32 AM | Link to this
Hank Johnson represents a breath of fresh air in congress for Georgia’s 4th.
A pragmatic left of center Democrat is what is needed.
Hopefully we can put behind the pettiness CM has brought and the petty comments about which hairstyle she will choose.
Hank 2006!
By Rod
July 26, 2006 7:44 AM | Link to this
You know, there may be reprocussions to us all if McKinney loses the election. Think about it. She will need a job. Mayor Shirley Franklin cannot seek re-election (stupid 2 term rule) and there will be a vacancy.
McKinney’s strong base is the black community - of which there are many to vote in a Mayoral election. Shirley Franklin has done a great job and has opened people up to the idea of a black female (as Cynthia likes to state) mayor. Who knows, Shirley may even endorse Cynthia, knowing she’ll do a bad job so Shirley can then run easily for re-election 4 years later.
Think about it - it could happen: Cynthia McKinney, Mayor of Atlanta (worse than the Bill Campbell years).
By Rawena
July 26, 2006 8:10 AM | Link to this
Thankfully Ms McKinney lives in Lithonia.
By Nel
July 26, 2006 11:07 AM | Link to this
If the people who strongly support Cynthia actually looked at her voting record they might actually learn something about her bluster. I have had nothing but positive interaction with Hank Johnson’s office during his tenure. You called, they acted, and followed up with you. What more can you ask for. He gets my vote! The 4th district does not only consist of black people and a representative should represent ALL constituents. If she were white and saying what she says, there would he complete uproar. Such hypocrisy. We need someone who wants the job for the long haul to make Dekalb County move forward with class. Every election cycle I am reminded how many people still blame white people for their problems….and she encourages them in that thinking.
By John D
July 26, 2006 3:59 PM | Link to this
Cynthia has been right about so many things: the war in Iraq, the miserable record of the Bush Administration, etc. Unfortunately, she sets back her own causes by her fiery temperament and often poorly chosen words. For someone who is always lecturing the rest of American as black woman, she might consider the Zulu expression: “I cannot hear what you say for the thunder of what you are.”
By Justin
July 26, 2006 4:40 PM | Link to this
Cynthia and her staff are just as shrewd and prejudiced as other politicians when it comes to courting voters. Now that she realizes she needs more voters — maybe even…gasp…white voters — she wisely removes the “cracker-crats” blog by Greg Palast from her campaign site.
By Justin
July 26, 2006 4:44 PM | Link to this
Nevermind…it’s still there. I can only imagine the backlash if a white Republican had a blog post on their site that referred to the n*gger-crats.