My former Congresswoman, Cynthia McKinney, apparently, is in trouble with the Capitol Police for walking into her office without ID, and then ignoring security demanding that she stop at some check point charlie or something. What a surreal news story, from our world of fake news. My favorite part of this "news" story (I swear Jon Stewart is planting items like this in the "legitimate" journalism world!) is this: "Black clergy and lawmakers came to the defense of the firebrand congresswoman on Monday. McKinney smiled as her supporters heaped praise on her leadership and her new look — her trademark cornrows replaced earlier this year by a curly brown afro."
And check that new look. You so crazy. I think I wanna have yo baby.
Not even in the Hillary days of $uper Dooper Doo$ have i read such BS! "Heaped praise on ...her new look... a curly brown afro" You have got to be kidding me. This is the news. And check out that photo. Why do all politicians cross this threshold?? Cynthia obviously has crossed into Rockstardom, at least in her mind and in the minds of her circle. I honestly have no idea why anybody would want to go into "public service" these days ...much less journalism.
I honestly like McKinney, and I'm glad she got her second chance, after Denise Majette was defeated by the Georgia Republican Machine... but really, is this your moment in the sun, Cynthia?
Here's the full story I saw today on Yahoo news. Enjoy:
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U.S. Attorney Reviewing McKinney Case
By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - U.S. Capitol Police on Monday sought an arrest warrant for Rep. Cynthia McKinney after she tangled with a uniformed officer last week. A spokesman for U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Wainstein said he was reviewing the merits of the case.
"We are working with Capitol Hill police to fully understand and appreciate the incident," principal assistant U.S. Attorney Channing Phillips told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.
McKinney framed the matter in terms of race. "The issue is racial profiling," McKinney, who is black, told CNN.
Neither Phillips nor the police department would say what charge was being sought against the six-term Democrat or when any warrant for her arrest might be issued.
In a statement, Capitol Police said it "has referred its investigative findings to the U.S. attorney." Filing such an affidavit is the first step in obtaining an arrest warrant. Only if Wainstein approves the affidavit can Capitol Police officials ask a judge to issue the arrest warrant.
Wainstein could clear the way for a warrant. He also could turn the case over to a grand jury, even without a warrant, or he could decline to go forward with the case.
McKinney spokesman Coz Carson acknowledged the investigation.
"We're aware that the wheels are turning in Washington," Carson said. "We have no control over what they decide to do. We will make the appropriate statement and take the appropriate action once we know where they're going."
For her part, McKinney said she expects to represent her suburban Atlanta district for many years.
"Rest assured, I am doing the work they sent me to Washington to do. Nothing is going to keep me away from my responsibilities," McKinney told a crowd of supporters in Atlanta on Monday.
McKinney, 51, scuffled with a police officer on March 29 when she entered a House office building without her identifying lapel pin and did not stop when asked.
Several police sources said the officer, who was not identified, asked her three times to stop. When she kept going, he placed a hand somewhere on her and she hit him, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
McKinney issued a statement of regret for the incident but no apology. She and her lawyers have repeatedly declared that she was a victim of inappropriate touching and racism and said they were considering pursuing civil action against the officer.
She and her attorneys have refused to say whether she hit the officer as alleged. James Myart Jr., her lawyer, suggested in a CNN interview that McKinney had acted in self-defense.
Black clergy and lawmakers came to the defense of the firebrand congresswoman on Monday. McKinney smiled as her supporters heaped praise on her leadership and her new look — her trademark cornrows replaced earlier this year by a curly brown afro.
Her supporters tried to minimize the incident — which they called political, not criminal — but they also suggested it was an example of racial profiling. They called publicity surrounding the episode a distraction that is being used by "her enemies" to keep the congresswoman from performing her elected duties.
The Rev. Darrell D. Elligan, president of Concerned Black Clergy, called McKinney competent, courageous and committed.
"She has our support unconditionally," Elligan said. "She is not a threat to the security of our country."
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Associated Press Writer Errin Haines contributed to this report from Atlanta.
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On the Net:
Rep. Cynthia McKinney: http://www.house.gov/mckinney/
Concerned Black Clergy: http://www.concernedblackclergy.com
Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials: http://www.gabeo.org
6 comments:
I just have to ask: What's to like about Ms. McKinney?
Well, she does look like the majority of folks she represents (and I am not just talking about her beautiful blackness), which is getting to be a novelty in the good ol US of A. Increasingly, our congress neither looks nor acts within the mainstream. Look at Tom DeLay...I don't think too many of his constituents are sad that he resigned today, I bet the vast majority feel he is out of touch. Cynthia's rockstardom notwithstanding, she is indeed in touch with her peeps, and that is a good thing.
Putting her race aside for a second (something Ms. McKinney seems ardently against doing, by most accounts; more on that later), how does she look like the majority of her constituents? Act like, I could understand. If by reflecting mainstream attitudes you're implying that she's ineffectual, then I might agree, and in that sense she might best resemble the majority of her constituency. But, furthermore, I would ask, is that what you want in national representation?
I haven't any problem with sending someone who's fit to fill the shoes to the national level to best represent and fight for the voters of a district, but I'm not sure that slipper fits McKinney's hoof. She comes from a relatively controversial family (read up on her dad sometime), and seems a bit to quick to use her race as a defense to any argument, no matter how ill-founded. Couldn't the 4th find someone--anyone--to send to The Hill other than McKinney? I would say, too, that she's been rendered more than ineffectual with her return to Washington, what with the party refusing to recognize her tenure from previous terms. Why would they do this? Because of her race, I'm sure McKinney would say. More likely its out of fear of the damage she would wreak on decent committee appointment.
DeLay: I'm flexible on that. He's sacrificed himself on the Elephant Altar with the hopes that someone, somehow will step in and take his place. Did he do something wrong with the finances? Possibly, but that has yet to be proven, from what I recall, and by stepping aside he takes one cross hair off the table of for the Democrats. (And let's not forget Cynthia's mis-appropriation of funds to bring Chef to town.)
I can't believe she hit someone with her CELL phone. She is a special kind of freak, that's for sure. And believe me, I know all about Daddy. He is a train wreck. But really, it is hard to have respect for a person that will hit someone with a cell phone. Geez.
And by the way, she's not ineffectual, she's just working on an agenda you don't agree with. You know her peeps in Stone Mountain don't think she's ineffectual.
Did you watch Saturday Night Live this past weekend? The black guy dressed up as her and was REALLY funny. You should check it out if you can.
Micah: no I did not. I'm way too lame to be up that late here in the hills of Ohio. But geez I sure would've liked to! Maybe there's a way to see that online somehow....hmmm. Thanks for clueing me in though.
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