McKinney Admits Misusing Taxpayer Money

[Freddie Stubbs]

POSTED: 3:40 pm EDT April 3, 2006
UPDATED: 3:57 pm EDT April 3, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Cynthia McKinney admits that she broke government rules by spending money to fly a celebrity to Atlanta.

Channel 2 Action News has uncovered documents showing McKinney, D-Ga., spent about $1,000 of taxpayer's money to fly singer Isaac Hayes to Georgia to help dedicate a new office in Atlanta.

The money came from a fund members of Congress are supposed to use for office supplies.

Using the money to pay for Hayes' airline ticket and hotel expenses is a violation of strict congressional rules. Those rules state that taxpayer money can only be used for "travel by Members, Members' employees and vendors. A vendor is an employee of a private company that provides maintenance and support for equipment and software..."

more: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/8442213/detail.html

[Bacchus39]

1. why did she pay for his flight in the 1st place??

South Park not paying enough to Chef?? yeah right.

[AndyA]

2. Could the timing of this revelation be better?

Geez. Here it comes...the freepers will go wild with this one, as if the Repugs have never done such a thing.

Here's a reminder, for those of you who forgot:

DeLay
Frist
Ney
Cunningham
Abramoff

On second thought, it would be easier to name the Republicans who haven't done anything illegal:












.

[No Exit]

92. Is THIS the best they can do??!???

One THOUSAND measly "taxpayer dollars"???

And we're supposed to GIVE A SHIT, when millions upon millions of taxpayer dollars are flying out the window to Bush-front contractors in Iraq who build 20 hospitals when they were paid to build 142 hospitals??

Give me a FRIKKIN' BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cynthia, you're a PIKER. (Look up that term if you don't already know it.)

[swag]

3. How very helpful.

[Laughing Mirror]

4. SMEAR campaign now in full gear

What other fabulous dirt will those maniacs dig up?

[Pastiche423]

12. It's full spead ahead

Will it work like it did last time? Will there be more cross over voting like before?

:mad:

[Laughing Mirror]

19. Lady Overboard! Full Speed Ahead!!

As long as there are haters of real true democracy and justice, there will always be filthy money sloshing around to crucify brave magnificent voices like Cynthia McKinney's.

[Roland99]

45. No one is above the law or the rules.

[Laughing Mirror]

82. Corrupt power will stoop to great lows to take out dissenting voices

That is the real battle being waged against Cynthia McKinney, and not who or what is above this or that supposed law.

[midnight]

86. Point is very fine.

I think I will have to agree with this thought.

[Catrina]

101. That's what I thought once, then I learned about the missing trillions of

Pentagon dollars that no one even asks about ~ and watched billions go to a war that was lied about, those responsible ARE above the law, no one has even been asked to account for the missing billions, while more billions were given them just a few weeks ago.

Let's get all worked up over a few $$$ though, that'll show everyone that no one is above the law. Well, no one who speaks out about illegal wars and suspicious crimes that don't get investigated.

[NaturalHigh]

74. How can anyone defend her for this?

She broke the law. Yes, much worse goes on every day in Washington, but that doesn't excuse her. The $1000 she spent belongs to us, the taxpayers. I don't excuse the grand theft of tax dollars by other politicians, and I won't excuse McKinney either.

[Laughing Mirror]

81. How can anyone NOT defend her??

That is the question that I ask. I do defend her wholeheartedly from all attacks in this obvious witchhunt.

Others might defend the Joe McCarthys of this world. I defend the Cynthia McKinneys.

[karynnj]

95. It's very easy not to defend her on this

We lose all moral credibility on this issue if we try to pick and choose who can break the rules. This is not a witch hunt. What she did here was wrong. If it were Delay or Santorum, you would n't excuse it.

In fact, if it were a favorite politician of mine, I would be angrier than if it was Delay, because I would feel that he/she let me down and wasn't who I thought he/she was.

[TankLV]

115. Ahh - condemned, tried, judged, and sentenced all at the same time.

So much for "innocent until proven guilty".

But the RACIST PIG gets a pass.

Very interesting.

[NaturalHigh]

133. To what racist pig are you referring?

If you're referring to the officer who stopped her after she breached security, no evidence of racism on his part has been presented.

[NaturalHigh]

96. If she admitted misusing the funds...

then she's hardly the victim of a witch hunt, although she's good at playing the victim (of racism, sexism, whatever) in front of a camera.

[Igel]

99. Caesar's wife.

It's rather like having a married minister with a girlfriend on the side complaining about the rampant prostitution in his flock.

Sure, he may have a point: Others are doing worse. But if his standard is a lack of corruption, not just moderate corruption, he has to take his lumps, too, and that undermines his moral authority.

[No Exit]

93. I can't! Cynthia, you've broken the GOLDEN RULE, which is:

"Thou shalt never steal anything small."

Your repukelican congressional colleagues are all adept at following this very important rule. That's why THEY'RE going to heaven, and you're not!:sarcasm:

[NaturalHigh]

98. Do their misdeeds excuse McKinney's?

[No Exit]

103. Has McKinney been proven guilty of this "misdeed" yet?

Is there a legal principle in the United States that states that an accused is "presumed innocent"? Is this still operative, or has the Pretzeldent issued an Executive Order abolishing it?

If she did such a thing, Cynthia is a piker. Yes, I think the incredible magnitude of the misdeeds of CONVICTED REPUBLICAN FELONS (See: Abramoff, Cunningham, Rudy, Scanlon, etc.) DOES completely overshadow this penny-ante allegation against McKinney. Yes. I answer your question with a YES. I would rather see "taxpayer funds" used to fly Isaac Hayes around than I would want to see them used to buy incredibly expensive golfing trips for Tom DeLay and his cohorts. Isaac Hayes has done me no harm that I know of. Not so for DeLay and the others.
Yes. I would be willing, furthermore, to donate more of MY tax funds to fly Isaac Hayes around, if in return the government would PROMISE NEVER TO SPEND ANOTHER PENNY OF MY TAX MONEY ON THE DEATH OF AMERICANS AND OTHERS IN IRAQ, AND THE WHOLESALE DESTRUCTION in Iraq.

[NaturalHigh]

104. She admitted that she misused government funds.

Okay, she called it an error. Saying that it doesn't matter because Republicans have done worse makes a mockery of our principles.

[Limbought]

112. Let's Face It ...

McKinney is not the poster child for the Democratic Party. If she erred she should admit it & take her medicine. To justify it by saying that Re-pugs have done worse, is no justification at all.

As far as this "slapping episode" is concerned I think she is trying to use this for her 15 Minutes.

[pauliedangerously]

105. I completely agree

As political tensions are bone tight right now, I think it is terribly irresponsible and downright STUPID to be breaking rules like that.

We all know that the opposition will run with anything they can get their hands on, made clear by their inability (or unwillingness) to differentiate between lying about receiving oral sex versus lying about justifications for military action.

I haven't payed much attention to this story because I think it's trivial. However, if it's getting all of the scrutiny elsewhere as it is here, I think she ought to not only apologize, but also resign.

Every Democrat in office should be on SAINTLY behavior right now and ALWAYS. Anything less is unacceptable.

[ShortnFiery]

26. I hope not ...

McKinney is US. Yes, in addition to an uppity black congresswoman, the Right Wing with the help of the Corporate Media is trying to make us all compliant little Bush-Bots.

Yes! Any time an member of Our Dear Leader's country assaults one of us - we deserved it! Yes we did because, somehow we failed to fully subjugate ourselves to Big Brother.

If we don't support her, we are LOST!

We may already be lost but she gives me hope that someday the truth may come out - the whole truth.

[Milspec]

130. What do you mean "We"

If we don't support her, we are LOST!

I was a little to young for Freedom Rides, but have been in the left of most thing since campaigning for Gene McCarthy and being arrested 14 time working with the grape boycott.
McKinney is nuttier than a squirrel turd. IMHO of coarse

[underpants]

17. I'd say so

I wonder if anyone will actually see this :hide: it appears to me that she was WRONG about the cop thing. In this matter she was wrong too but it is not even close to material.

There I said my piece.

[av8tor05]

84. Wait a second.

It is only a smear campaign if it is not true. We have to maintain an honest perspective or risk looking like partisan hacks. My question is rather simple and not based on her political party:
1. Did she or didn't she slap a police officer? 2. Did she or didn't she break Congressional rules in flying Hayes to Atlanta?

Works for me.

[Name removed]

90. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[av8tor05]

109. Are you in a habit of calling all who disagree

with you a troll. What did I say that is false? By the way, what does Tom Delay have to do with Crongesswoman McKinney? Please stay on topic and we can have a civil informed discussion of the facts minus irrational ramblings.

[rinsd]

142. I must have missed the wall to wall MSM coverage of this issue...

...because that would imply equivalency or the attempt to make it look so.

Maybe you're fine with a politician using taxpayers funds allocated to them for conducting the people's bnusiness for private campaign activities, I am not.

That said, McKinney and her staff have admitted error and are paying back the money. End of story.

[Mr_Spock]

113. Why are you here pursuing her in so many posts?

You seem to be a one-note poster...

[Name removed]

116. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mr_Spock]

118. "Enjoy your short stay here."

yOU TALKIN TO ME PUNK?

wHY i OTTA KICK YER ARSE!

:ROFL:

j/k

[TankLV]

126. Opsie - response directed to the new eight-poster above you.

Sigh...

Gotta have a sense of humor I guess...

Some are SO obvious.

[Mr_Spock]

131. Hehe - yeah - though that one hasn't stepped over the "ban" line yet

Mine as well trash that ID though - I'm like glue to these folks...

[av8tor05]

136. Trash away.

[av8tor05]

137. The only morals I am policing are that of one Congresswoman

from my home state.

[av8tor05]

135. Because I'm from here in Atlanta. Didn't you notice my avatar.

I don't like politicians who slap police officers and then claim they are victims of racial profiling. All she had to do was stop at the check point, tell the policeman who she was and what a great job he was doing and she would have been a hero. She is am embarassment. We need Denise Majette back.

[Mr_Spock]

139. Wow - she caused you to start posting here huh?

I have to admit, after seeing her claim "I'm a black woman", I was already sick of hearing her talk. I could care less about the misunderstanding, but she is handling this very poorly. Perhaps you're OK after all :D

[av8tor05]

144. Thank you, you are too.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

5. Meanwhile, billions of dollars are being raked off the top by....

...the NeoCon Junta and their fellow travellers.

$1,000.00?? Chump change for our GOP overlords.

What is this...pile on McKinney week?

[Benhurst]

6. Sad -- if true. NT

[oasis]

7. Looks like Cynthia is getting a Scaife-styled, fine tooth comb going over.

As for Ike Hayes, if he's so broke why did he walk out of "South Park" in a huff?

[Kingshakabobo]

8. Ruh-ro. Just when I thought it was safe to go in DU again. n/t

[LisaM]

9. Geeze - I WANT to like her. Why does she do stuff like this?

It's like the Congressional incident. They shouldn't have grabbed her, but why couldn't she just wear her pin?

[Mandate My Ass]

15. Yeah, I can tell you *really* want to

but the scandalous badge debacle really was beyond the pale. :eyes:

[LisaM]

29. No, I do! I really admired her anti-war stance

and I detested how she was driven out of Congress. But I don't think it's too much to ask to wear your ID badge if you want to side-step the security camera.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

35. Uh...for like the millionth time...she was wearing her Congressional ID...

...but hates wearing the tiny lapel pin, something that the entire security force understands. The lapel pin story is a red herring.

On the other hand, how difficult is it for the security personnel to recognize only one out of the fourteen black female Members of Congress?

[WhiteTara]

58. That would require the police to

look at them as human beings.

[Judi Lynn]

64. It was revealed today on CNN that simple Congressional PAGES,

hired at 16 years of age are required to know ALL Congressmen and Congresswomen by face and name as part of their jobs. It was questioned would it not be reasonable that security people would be expected to know as much as these children!

It's not as if they have too many other duties.

[LiberalFighter]

65. It is unlikely that the Capitol Police don't know McKinney

First, they had her picture posted so that they would recognize her.

Second, there are only 535 members of Congress


I work in a plant with about 3000 employees. Of that, I would reconize at least half of them by sight that work on 1st shift. And then some on 2nd shift due to transfers and their known activities connected with our company or union. That is over 1500 that I would recognize at a minimum. In addition, I would reconize previous employees that I had known that are now retired if they were to come back for a visit. My 20 years would be comparable to Capitol Police going thru their employment where they would first be exposed to every member of Congress at the time of being employed and then thru their years learning the names and faces of new members of Congress that are elected for the first time.

If the Capitol Police have trouble reconizing a member of Congress then they need to reassign that particular individual to another detail.

[Karenina]

125. The real issue here

is that they don't WANT to recognize her (in more ways than 17 ;-) ).

[LiberalFighter]

132. Correct... I was describing that if I can recognize over half of 3000

then they should be able to recognize 535 members.

[Karenina]

138. They should be REQUIRED to do so

Just as the teenaged pages are.

Of course, you can do so and have likely erred on the low side with your estimate! YOU are doing your job without an agenda. I'm a people watcher by nature and meet tons of people who recognize me from having seen me on stage. If it's someone I've spoken to briefly or seen at more than one concert I DO REMEMBER the face even if I can't place it.

You're perfectly correct in your assessment!

[WhiteTara]

71. I admire Cynthia. I think she works very hard

and her stance on 9/11 has my vote. But what the hell was she thinking with the ticket for whos'its? Dems need to remember that we are on the firing line every day and we can't take a break in ethics because they are so slimy. Heartless can shoot someone in the face, dead drunk in the afternoon with his mistress and the only thing that happens is the victim appolgizes, but us? Oh my goddess! Please bring on our media stations soon so that we have a voice.

[TankLV]

120. DING DING DING! We have a winner!

It's much to easier to consider the Congressional Black Caucus (and all minorities) "them" instead of "us" (pasty white fat repuke men)!

After all "they" all look alike, don't "they"?

Don't "those people" know "their" place after all these years?!

[DubyaSux]

67. That makes no sense...

.....none whatsoever. She had a simple choice. Either go through security, or wear the pin. She chose neither.

It's pretty fricken simple.

And now, she knows the rules and chose to break those as well. And again, she seems above the law and when challenged, cries foul.

[Doremus]

97. Seems reasonable enough. Now make the other half of Congress do it too.

Do you watch C-Span? How many members do you see wearing their pins? You wouldn't single out one member out of dozens for special treatment, would you?

BTW, just how effective is a system that relies on a piece of jewelry that 1) doesn't have the member's name, and 2) doesn't have the member's photo? Pretty weak system, doncha think?

As far as crying foul, when the Capitol Hill police have a history of mistaking elected members of Congress as hired help, I'd be crying more than that.

[Guaranteed]

129. So the police officer stopped her. So what?

Did she then hit him? Is that what happened? Because he STOPPED her???

[toopers]

111. She wasn't driven out of Congress . . .

She was voted out of Congress, by the same constituency that voted her back in.

[The Wielding Truth]

80. They can find dirt on anyone whenever they want. And if they can't find it

they invent it or turn the truth on it's side so it looks like a problem.
How sad that they are focusing on McKinney now. She's smart,and she's been dealing with their kind for a while now maybe she can stay strong and ride this out.There was probably some paper work that says the money was dispensed correctly.I have faith.

[KansDem]

91. Perhaps McKinney was one of the NSA spying subjects?

This might help explain why Bush ignored the FISA court and law.

[The Wielding Truth]

110. No doubt she would be on their short list.

Have you seen how she called Rummy on the carpet, and from what I'm learning she has been grilling Bush Co. for some time. I know she has to be a thorn in their side. I wish we could clone her.

[Maine-ah]

10. we need to hold all of our representatives to the same standards.

republican and democrat alike. If you don't it's a double-standard, and it leaves you nothing to stand on.

eom.

[KoKo]

16. True...but we should wait for more details to come out about this, before

we jump the gun.

[MODemocrat]

21. I agree; she knew that was wrong in the first place

She needs to be treated the same (not worse) than anyone else. Those people all make a helluva lot of money, in their job, so it's not as if she couldn't have afforded to buy his ticket out of her own pocket. As for the republicans, they break so many laws every day, it's impossible to keep up with them.
McKinney has just made herself an easy target for the fascists. :eyes: :eyes: :nopity:

[mom cat]

27. Issac Hayes fits my definition of a vendor. He was providing a service at

an official function.

[LostinVA]

46. We are -- many Congressional members don't wear their pins

[Bake]

50. This is separate from the "pin" incident.

Two different things.

BAke

[bemildred]

11. Bwaaahaaahaaa. This is so transparent.

I especially like the part about "strict congressional rules".
:rofl::rofl:

[underpants]

14. OOOH a thousand dollars!!!

Wow that is like what 20% of the national budget :eyes:

[KoKo]

13. The article says "Action News has uncovered documents.."this may be

an old story or new. The news clip doesn't say much but she will "repay it."

I think we need to know more about the circumstances of this before we throw Cynthia under the bus.

We all know how the Smear Machine works and just jumping before we have the details usually works out badly for us.

:shrug:

[Just Me]

18. I will NEVER throw her under the bus! This is an intentional smear,...

,...campaign and an obvious one at that!

When is our own Truth Machine going to get running so we can convict the criminals in charge? That's what I want to know.

[Teaser]

22. Is it a smear if its true?

?

[aquart]

63. Yes, sweetie. Even if it's true.

Whoever is in charge of overseeing that fund just says, "Cyn, give me a check to cover this, a celebrity is not, despite his usefulness, an office supply."

And Cyn says, "But I thought....oh, okay. Here."

And it's over.

Unless this is someone with a bullseye on her back.

[Teaser]

69. I ain't no one's sweetie

Just so you know.

Still McKinney did a stupid. So she's got to deal with the PR trouble, as it is at least partly her fault.

[KoKo]

32. I agree...it sounds very suspicious ...who released the documents to Actio

News. Well...we can guess. :eyes:

[SoCalDem]

77. They have "ways" of handling "uppity" people like her

Remember Carol Mosely-Braun? Alcee Hastings?..

That said, I WOULD like to see dems getting their acts together a bit more and not giving these vampires anything TO latch onto..

Until we have a fair media (probably never again), they must be like Caesar's wife..above reproach.

[NorthernSun]

20. 911 conspiracy statement

This is what happens to you should you question the official 911 theory as she did. They cheated her out of office and she had the temerity to get elected again.

[cassandra uprising]

33. And then she got spanked again by returning as a freshman

http://www.house.gov/mckinney/bio.htm

Pelosi wanted her in leadership not so much.

welcome to DU :hi:

[yurbud]

61. and if you look at her statement, I think it was more on warnings that

were ignored, something nearly everyone had to concede after 9/11 Commission.

[laruemtt]

23. the timing of both of these

is really interesting - just when the 9/11 official story is starting to get a lot more questioning, one of its major questioners in congress starts drowning in a bunch of minor crap. could they be any more obvious?!

[ShortnFiery]

24. I'm sure ALMOST every other representative may have made

a similar mistake.

Damn, the sharks are out early.

[wordpix]

34. exactly what my repuke colleague said when speaking about Nancy Johnson,

our CT rep in Congress (R-CT). She took $1/2 million in campaign contributions from Big Pharma, Health Care and Big Insurance in one year and then helped write health care legislation that beneifted them in the same year. :puke:

But, it's ok with my repuke colleague because it's "business as usual" in Congress.

Nancy Johnson's usual business is OK but McKinney's is against the rules, right? :grr:

[mom cat]

25. Its a great day to donate to our champion Cynthia McKinney!:

They are trying to get rid of her because she tells the truth! Lets all donate to her re-election fund and let her know that we appreciate a Rep who can fight! We can all pay for Issac Hayes's trip. According to my understanding, Hayes should have been considered a vendor. He was providing a setvice.

http://www.cynthiaforcongress.com/donations.html

[ShortnFiery]

28. I'm there! May God Bless and Keep Cynthia McKinney Safe ...

Oh please check out those small planes fully before flying in them. :scared:

[mom cat]

56. I had the same thought. They are really after her!

[EFerrari]

47. I just called her office in support.. Man, when colorful WOMEN

speak up, they become natural targets.

I'll balance the checkbook and send what we can.

How surprising is this? :eyes:

[mom cat]

54. Great. We can all send some "Green Roses"! donations to her

re-election campaign:
http://www.cynthiaforcongress.com/donations.html

[formercia]

30. He was a maintenance man

adjusted their attitude.

[Bake]

31. What a bunch of hypocrites here!

If this were a Puke, you'd all be calling for his/her head on a platter! We CANNOT excuse wrongdoing, even if it's "only $1,000", just because it's a Dem.

If she did it, it's a damn shame and she shouldn't have done it, and she needs to take her lumps for it. She does our side no good by skimming over the rules. WE do our side no good by excusing her actions.

Bake

[salin]

36. While I like McKinney, I have to agree.

This is an era where folks need to be particularly careful - this seems very sloppy.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

37. McKinney was wearing her Congressional ID, not her tiny lapel pin....

...and yes, quite frankly, I do want to know more about the $1000, particularly as it compares to the billions of dollars raked off the top by the NeoCon Junta.

IMHO, we do ourselves no good by believing every smear job that comes down the pike,

[Bake]

39. Ummm ... she ADMITTED it?

I think the Capitol Hill scuffle is a smear job.

I think this, if true (and it appears to be true), is not a smear job. Do we have to be perfect? If we're going to bitch about the other side's ethics, yes we DO have to be perfect.

It's not too much to ask that our Dems follow the rules. Basic honesty.

Bake

[Zhade]

53. Where in the article is she quoted as admitting it?

I must have missed that.

[bpilgrim]

41. look who's talking - we are supporting a dem congress woman assaulted

by the police.

it's quite common on DU, btw...

peace

[Bake]

48. Two different things entirely.

I DO support her as to the Capitol Hill scuffle incident allegations. THAT is a smear job.

If she broke the ehtics rules, that's a different matter entirely.

I don't want to hold the Dems to a "higher" standard, I just expect them to follow the rules. That way, when the Pukes DON'T follow the rules, we have the moral right to scream about it. No hypocrisy there.

Bake

[bpilgrim]

52. my bad

wrong thread, sorry :hi:

peace

[Old and In the Way]

42. Point is, you'd never hear about this if she were a Republican.

This will get more airplay than Janklow's murder conviction and Cunningham's million dollar+ legislation-for-sale put together.

But that's OK...Democrats will have to be even better, more honest legislators than their Republican counterparts. Republicans won't countenance any corruption competitors.

[President Kerry]

123. Thank you. Thank you! Thank you!!

Classical double standard. What she did was wrong, and she needs to own up to it. But the playing field must be level. The Bush junta is getting away with robbing the whole damn treasury! Come on, people - wake up!

[worldgonekrazy]

55. She is obviously being smeared

You have to keep that in mind when evaluating these charges, which so far have no proof whatsoever behind them. It looks to me like maybe the Republicans are trying to use this McKinney episode to shelter themselves from corruption charges by implying that Democrats are just as guilty. We know that isn't quite true.

[Ariana Celeste]

108. exactly

the (D) isn't the only important thing.

we look like the other side in all of these threads. x(

[superconnected]

38. Dumb. Like the republican hypocrites are going to cut her slack just

because they're doing it 1000X what she did.

Dumb. She shouldn't have.

Does she get to donate to her favorite fund and expect everyone to forget about her doing this like the right wing, probably not. Maybe she can just change the law...nope. Dumb. I hope other dems cope a clue from this.

[ShortnFiery]

49. They've already have probably done worse ...

Don't buy into this Rove-Co smear campaign.

How much did "The Duke" steal?

She can refund the amount.

Damn Rove and his hideous cohorts on the Radical Right Wing are assholes. We must stand united behind McKinney, or else we will FALL into rule by a monarch and live in a police state.

DIVIDED WE FALL! Remember that's the M.O. of all these smear tactics?

[superconnected]

89. We are in a police state now.

People are afraid, even here, to say the truth of whats going on, and to point out Bush needs to be hung along side hussein for genocide.

The fear of using free speech and opinion, in America, is proof that we are living in a police state.

I know Gays that are now hiding they are gay from their neighbors, and plotting ways out of the country should this place turn a few MORE degrees to the right.

Gavin DeBecker nailed it when he said trust your instincts. If you feel like you will be arrested for your opinion, you are probably right.

Yes we should stand behind this woman, but make no mistake, we ARE in a police state. The current dictatorship has dismissed all democratic laws/process to spy on and arrest you.

[Old and In the Way]

40. Democrats get the microscope treatment.

Republicans get the pass. I guarantee we'll be hearing about this $1000.00 problem from now through election day while the corporate press takes a walk on every real investigation going on with the Republican Syndicate.

Democrats are held to an entirely different standard than Republicans.

[yurbud]

60. Yep for Dems, "have you ever taken a kleenex from a colleagues desk

without asking?" For GOP, it doesn't matter if you kill thousands of people to give oil concessions to your cronies.

[Bake]

94. Not a total pass ... ask Duke ... ask the Hammer ... Abramoff

I think the days of the "Get Out Of Jail Free" Card for Pukes may be over.

Bake

[INdemo]

43. Dont believe it,..consider source

[EFerrari]

44. Natch. What a pantload. n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

83. Has WSB-TV been unreliable in the past?

:shrug:

[Name removed]

85. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Freddie Stubbs]

102. I always strive for the truth

Some people only want the truth when it reinforces thier world-view.

[Name removed]

127. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Freddie Stubbs]

134. I try not to look in the mirror too much

I'm so damn handsome, it can be distracting. ;)

[Kingofalldems]

141. Did you hear that Delay resigned yesterday?

And he's been indicted in Texas, and three former aides are in trouble and the culture of corruption in GOP dominated Washington, DC? And you seem totally focused on McKinney. Interesting.

[Freddie Stubbs]

145. Delay is now the past

I for one am pissed that he resigned. His seat was probably going to be won by a Democrat. Now that may not happen.

[NVMojo]

51. and they aren't even done with the Abramoff investigation yet ...

hmmmm.

[WhiteTara]

57. oh no! She is toast

and I really really like her. This is too sad.

[DBoon]

59. Big deal.

It's not like she had sex with one of her interns or something serious like that

[Jose Diablo]

62. Isaac Hayes!!!!????

Why not Tina Turner? I'd much rather see her.

Anyway, the smear is underway, just like '02. I think she is secure though, the voters in her district should all be aware by now how the political machine operates here the 'cracker' state.

Edit: You know, Herr Rover must be worried about that 9/11 stuff coming out to try all this.

[LiberalFighter]

66. Why the hell do congressional rules permit

travel by vendors to be paid by a member of Congress?

How often is that done in the private sector? Sounds more like a loophole that Congress created to utilize it for special reasons.

[cosmicdot]

68. Channel 2 Action News "uncovered documents"?

Investigative journalism in the corporate media?

where's the 'pass out' smiley??

Who wrote this article?
No name is given.
Journalism by committee? by directive??


... or did Tom Delay/Dennis Hastert fax the info to Rove and Rove to Cox Board of Directors who passed it to WSBTV? Cox is an Atlanta-based corporation. Cox's CEO has contributed to the campaigns of both Delay and Hastert fwiw.

Are the GOP operatives burning the midnight oil digging for something...anything???

Maybe WSBTV's 'journalists' are more proactive when it's a Democrat ...

... the timing is curious.


OK Channel 2 Action News, how about uncovering the Diebolded Georgia elections ... for starters.
Go get'em! One of your Senators and your Governor are illegitimately in office; ergo, are corrupting the will of the people, and the course of this country's destiny.


"Watchdog groups call taxpayer-funded celebrity travel a blatant waste of taxpayer money."

Yeah, but who is being paraphrased?
What 'watchdog groups'?
Who said it's a 'blatant waste'?
Or was that in the Rove Press Release?


Who, what, when, how, where ...


"The money came from a fund members of Congress are supposed to use for office supplies."

Is it 'suppose' or 'supposed'? Anyhoo ...

Gotta go ... an Enron jet is flying me out of town ...................


WSBTV's homepage http://www.wsbtv.com/index.html has

SLIDESHOW: McKinney's Changing Hairstyle ***Unbelievable***


How about doing one on helmet hair and wigs on white male Hill members??


There's ***a poll*** on the homepage, too, re the House security incident. Looks like one of those which allows one to vote more than once.


Based on current information who do you think is to blame for the confrontation between Rep. Cynthia McKinney and a police officer?

Choice Votes Percentage of 1774 Votes
Rep. McKinney 1674 94%
Police Officer 53 3%
Don't Know 47 3%

"Thank you for participating in our unscientific poll."

Thanks for admitting your polls lack integrity.

Cox CEO political contributions

ROBBINS, JAMES
ATLANTA,GA 30327
COX COMMUNICATIONS INC./PRESIDENT
5/14/2004
$2,000
National Cable & Telecommunications Assn

ROBBINS, JAMES
ATLANTA,GA 30327
COX COMMUNICATIONS/PRES./CEO
8/4/2003
$1,000
DeLay, Tom <-----------------------

ROBBINS, JAMES O
ATLANTA,GA 30327
COX COMMUNICATIONS
11/20/2003
$2,000
Bowles, Erskine B <---------- hmmmmm

ROBBINS, JAMES O
ATLANTA,GA 30327
9/30/2003
$1,000
Hastert, Dennis <--------------

ROBBINS, JAMES O
ATLANTA,GA 30327
10/1/2004
$1,000
National Republican Senatorial Cmte

ROBBINS, JAMES O
ATLANTA,GA 30327
COX COMMUNICATIONS INC
3/29/2003
$1,000
McCain, John <------------------


ROBBINS, JAMES
ATLANTA,GA 30327
COX COMMUNICATIONS INC./PRESIDENT &
1/26/2005
$2,000
National Cable & Telecommunications Assn

ROBBINS, JAMES
ATLANTA,GA 30319
COX COMMUNICATIONS/PRESIDENT & CEO
6/2/2005
$1,000
Norwood, Charles W

ROBBINS, JAMES
ATLANTA,GA 30327
COX COMMUNICATIONS
6/30/2005
$1,000
Allen, George <--------------------

ROBBINS, JAMES O MR
ATLANTA,GA 30319
COX COMMUNICATIONS/PRESIDENT
6/30/2005
$1,000
Barton, Joe

http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?NumOfThou=0&txtName=robbins%2C+james&txtState=GA&txtZip=&txtEmploy=&txtCand=&txt2004=Y&Order=N
http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?NumOfThou=0&txtName=robbins%2C+james&txtState=GA&txtZip=&txtEmploy=&txtCand=&txt2006=Y&Order=N


Cox Board of Directors (2004)

James C. Kennedy, 56, has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cox since May 1994. Mr. Kennedy has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Cox Enterprises since January 1988, and prior to that time was Cox Enterprises’ President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Kennedy joined Cox Enterprises in 1972, and initially worked with Cox Enterprises’ Atlanta Newspapers. Mr. Kennedy is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cox Radio, Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, and a director of Flagler Systems, Inc. Mr. Kennedy holds a B.A. from the University of Denver.

G. Dennis Berry, 59, has served as a director of Cox since January 2003. Mr. Berry has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Cox Enterprises since October 2000. Previously, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Manheim Auctions, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, from 1995 through October 2000. Prior to that, Mr. Berry was publisher of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he held several positions spanning more than twenty years, including President, Vice President and General Manager, and Advertising Director. Mr. Berry also serves as a director of Cox Enterprises and Cox Radio, Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. Mr. Berry holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of Georgia.

Janet M. Clarke, 51, has served as a director of Cox since March 1995. Ms. Clarke is president of Clarke Littlefield LLC. Previously, she served as Chief Marketing Officer of DealerTrack, Inc., where she was employed beginning September, 2002. Prior to that, she served as Executive Vice President of Young & Rubicam, Inc. and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, KnowledgeBase Marketing, Inc., a subsidiary of Young & Rubicam, from 2000 to 2001. Previously, she served as the Managing Director – Global Database Marketing of Citibank. Prior to joining Citibank in 1997, Ms. Clarke was Senior Vice President of Information Technology Sector of R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, which she joined in 1978. Ms. Clarke is a director of ExpressJet Holdings Inc., eFunds Corporation and Forbes.com Inc. She is also a Charter Trustee of Princeton University. Ms. Clarke earned a B.A. from Princeton University and completed the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.

Robert C. O’Leary, 65, has served as a director of Cox since May 1999. Mr. O’Leary has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Cox Enterprises since December 1999. He joined Cox in 1982 as Vice President of Finance and later that year was promoted to Senior Vice President of Finance. He was promoted to Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration of Cox in 1986, and to Senior Vice President of Operations, Western Group, in 1989. In August 1996, he transferred to Cox Enterprises, becoming its Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Cox, Mr. O’Leary was employed by the General Electric Company. Mr. O’Leary serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Cox Enterprises and the Georgia Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and as a trustee of the Woodruff Arts Center. Mr. O’Leary holds a B.A. and an M.B.A. from Boston College.

James O. Robbins, 61, has served as a director of Cox since May 1994. Mr. Robbins has served as President of Cox since September 1985, and as President and Chief Executive Officer since May 1994. Mr. Robbins joined Cox in September 1983 and has served as Vice President, Cox Cable New York City and as Senior Vice President, Operations of Cox. Prior to joining Cox, he held management and executive positions with Viacom Communications, Inc. and Continental Cablevision. Mr. Robbins holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School. Mr. Robbins serves on the executive committee of C-SPAN, and as a trustee of STI Classic Funds and STI Classic Variable Trust.

Rodney W. Schrock, 44, has served as a director of Cox since July 2000. Mr. Schrock served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Panasas, Inc. from February 2001 until December 2003. Previously, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of AltaVista Company from January 1999 until October 2000. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President and Group General Manager of Compaq Computer Corporation’s Consumer Products Group beginning in 1995, and in other management and executive positions with Compaq beginning in 1987. Mr. Schrock earned a B.S. degree in industrial management from Purdue University and an M.B.A. from Harvard University.

Andrew J. Young, 71, has served as a director of Cox since March 1995. Mr. Young has served as Chairman of GoodWorks International L.L.C. since 1998, and was Co-Chairman from January 1997 until 1998. He was Vice Chairman of Law Companies Group, Inc., an engineering and environmental consulting company, from February 1993 to January 1997, and was Chairman of one if its subsidiaries, Law International, Inc., from 1989 to February 1993. From 1981 to 1989, Mr. Young was Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, and prior to that he served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under President Jimmy Carter and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Mr. Young was Co-Chairman of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games for the 1996 Summer Olympics. Mr. Young is a member of the Boards of Directors of the Archer-Daniels-Midland Company, Delta Airlines, Inc., and Thomas Nelson, Inc. Mr. Young holds degrees from Howard University and Hartford Theological Seminary.


Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners (as of 2004 Proxy, SEC Filing DEF14A


Cox Enterprises, Inc.
365,691,176 61.6 % 27,597,792 100.0 % 0 0 % 73.8 %
Greenspun Entities
7,801,454 1.3 % 0 0 4,836,372 100.0 % 1.4 %
William H. Gates III
33,839,886 5.7 % 0 0 0 0 % 3.9 %

http://www.hoovers.com/free/co/secdoc.xhtml?ID=43269&ipage=2715307&doc=1&num=7
http://www.hoovers.com/free/co/secoutline.xhtml?ID=43269&ipage=2715307&filingID=3a20ad0b72621ace8d58532d09a6b780

[FogerRox]

72. I think cosmicdot just killed this thread, good job cosmicdot

[Janice325]

75. Thanks for that info.

:hug:

[0007]

87. Thank you man, thank you. Only Stubbs could come up with another

bogus news story.

[TankLV]

122. Yep - funny how they're always scoldingt us for discussing our spineless,

gutless so-called democratic members/leadership when they kiss repuke butt and vote against progressive democratic party ideals, but are curiously SILENT when it comes to criticizing these same spineless VICHY Dems when THEY criticize OTHER Dems!

It's aparently OK to criticize only PROGRESSIVE dems when they dare to criticize other REPUKE MOLES in our democratic party like Zellout and "holy" Joe.

More of the same from these santimonious DU'rs.

[Cookie wookie]

70. Too bad WSBTV can't use some of their money to

pursue stories that if proved true would have a headline like this:

Georgia Elections Division and Secretary of State Conspired with Diebold Election Systems to hide true undervote rate in order to sell Diebold technology to other states and give false impression of success to Georgians; false data used by researchers in CalTechMIT Voting Project report, "Residual Vote in the 2004 Election".

Certainly worth investigating to get to the bottom of. Oh, forgot, the media doesn't do anything that might make a corporation look bad, and in Georgia only spend their money investigating people like McKinney, not Cox.

[Marie26]

73. Wow, what a coincidence that

this would come out now. :sarcasm: "Channel 2 Action News has uncovered documents showing McKinney, D-Ga.." should be replaced w/ "Channel 2 was given documents by a Republican source showing ..."

[Janice325]

76. I just googled "McKinney Isaac Hayes"

There were only 2, I repeat TWO, links to that story when I googled the google news a couple of minutes ago. One was from the Atlanta Journal Constitution (subscription only) that was one hour old. It looks like it was a quote from WSBTV. I'm not positive if it's directly quoted 'cause I don't subscribe. The second link was the one Freddie Stubbs originally posted. It was listed as nine hours old.
Listed below are the most popular stories from the WSBTV site from above:

Most Popular Stories
McKinney Admits Misusing Taxpayer Money
McKinney Statement
Woman's Hand Chopped Off During Fight
Cops Seek Arrest Warrant For McKinney
Applebee's Fires Two After Blacks Complain

Things that make you go "hmmmmm."
Edited to add that Denver has now picked this up:
Police Seek Arrest Of Congresswoman
cbs4denver.com, CO - 16 minutes ago
... Monday, Atlanta's WSBTV reported McKinney admitted she broke government rules by spending about $1,000 of taxpayer money to fly singer Isaac Hayes to Atlanta ...

[Judi Lynn]

79. .I don't see any perspective Pulitzer material here, do you? (sneer)

Quite a far cry from respectable "journalism." Look how far we've come. Thanks for the view.

[0007]

88. Our boy is doing some deep deep digging this morning, 'eh?

[flaminbats]

78. this is what defeated her in the primaries four years ago..

it wasn't just Republicans voting for Majette in the primary, but people on our side becoming sick of taking the fall for stunts like this! Republicans would love to equate our side with all the celebrates of Hollywood..no need to bring to bring up such examples about the other side Cynthia, just confess. :puke:

[Freddie Stubbs]

140. History does have a way of repeating itself...

http://www.hankjohnsonforcongress.com

[npincus]

100. and Prez Asswipe spent $40,000 of our money to vote in Crawford

[Dora]

106. Snap! n/t

[lonestarnot]

107. WHAT?

[TankLV]

114. Gee - the same people who are always criticizing US for daring to suggest

that our democratic leadership/members are wimps, spineless, etc. when it comes to OPPOSING REPUKE POLICIES, are strangely OKIE DOKIE with criticizing other LIBERAL dems they happen to dislike.

WE ARE NOTICING AND KEEPING A RECORD.

"We should be criticizing the REPUKES not each other!"

(Where have I heard THIS before?!)

And we aren't buying the bullshit either.

GOD BLESS CYNTHIA MCKINNEY - a true American PATRIOT.

[stepnw1f]

117. I'm Really Sick of this Too

why would a progressive spread this crap on a progressive site? I don't get it...

[rinsd]

121. "WE ARE NOTICING AND KEEPING A RECORD"

Cool, I used to think enemies lists were so Nixonian.

Glad to see someone keeping a register of the "real" progressives

:eyes:

[TankLV]

128. You're welcome!

Glad to be of help.

It helps to recall the bullshitters from the truth-seekers.

[flyarm]

119. let her pay it back like all the rethugs have abramoff!!!!!!!!!!

yes let her pay it back ...to not do so the rethugs only look more complicit in their paying back abramoff...seems the rethugs are in a hurry now to pay back ..rudy...

but i do find it odd the Rudy/delay story has taken back page to all this crap..and it sure was a hell of alot more than 1000$..but a dollar is a dollar..
she should pay it back and then demand delays wife and daughter pay back abramoff..and rudy..

fly

[Moosepoop]

124. OK, here's what I don't get.

Wsbtv.com has all these different stories going on McKinney, and two of them are on this subject of the Isaac Hayes trip.

Check out the differences in the story as reported twice by the same station.

The one posted in the OP says that McKinney paid for Hayes' trip to Atlanta to help dedicate a new office in Atlanta, and that she used office supply money to pay for his trip.

Now check out the other one.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/8465045/detail.html

Questions Raised Over McKinney Fundraiser

POSTED: 3:17 pm EDT April 4, 2006
UPDATED: 6:12 pm EDT April 4, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Cynthia McKinney may have violated congressional fundraising rules.

Channel 2 Action News has learned that McKinney paid for singer Isaac Hayes to fly to Atlanta last March 25 to host a fundraising event at the Stone Mountain home of State Senator Gloria Butler.

--snip--

Congressional rules strictly forbid using taxpayer money for campaign events.

--snip--
"It's breaking house rules which prevent a member from using travel funds for anything but their own travel. And it breaks federal Election Commission law, which requires that only campaign funds be used for campaign expenses," added Sloan.

*******

So, what is the accusation?? Spending office supply money on a celebrity trip to dedicate an office? Or spending travel funds on a campaign event??

Apparently, the asshats at WSBTV.com don't know what the hell they're accusing her of! They're just throwing shit, and hoping one version or another will stick. The two stories were posted several days apart, but they have both been updated today. So there's no excuse for the discrepancies between them.

[Lostnote06]

143. LMAO....POSGOP values at work...let'em hang themselves

......Leave Issac outa this, Southpark just gave him a beating....The Man needs a decompression period....

[Moderator]

146. Locking

Not breaking news any longer, too many flames, circular arguments, and newer news stories available to discuss this topic.