McKinney rebuked by her leader (Pelosi)

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Josephine Hearn

House Democratic leaders publicly rebuked Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) yesterday over an incident last week in which she hit a U.S. Capitol Police officer when he stopped her at a security checkpoint.

Speaking at a news conference, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) said of McKinney’s explanation, “I don’t think any of it justifies hitting a police officer. I don’t know if that happened, but if it did happen, I don’t think it was justified. … I find it hard to see any set of facts that would justify striking a police officer.”

Pelosi, who is no longer on speaking terms with McKinney, went on, “Our Capitol Police have a very difficult job protecting this symbol of democracy and the buildings around it.”

House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (Md.) was even more emphatic.

more: http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/040506/news3.html

[rodeodance]

1. not a good headline--repugs will pounce on this one.

[MADem]

6. Actually, this is a deflecting move--the GOP want to make hay with this

with a resolution in the House about how wonderful the Cap Police are. Talk about a pandering move for political purposes...who would vote against it? That makes it seem as though it is a rebuke of the Rep...in a sneaky sort of way.

Of course, with Delay bailing and that pervert getting arrested at DHS, this issue sort of slips to the back of the files...the whole mess is close to jumping the shark. If the cop and Cynthia can come to some sort of private accord, the matter will be yesterday's news in a nanosecond.

Pity Terrence Gainer isn't still on the Hill as Police Chief. This business would be so OVER--he'd broker something that would work for everyone.

[bowens43]

2. 'if it did happen, I don’t think it was justified'

Absolutely correct. If she did she should face the consequences.

[grytpype]

7. I think Pelosi is getting this exactly right.

She doesn't know what happened, so she doesn't have to denounce McKinney like the Repugs are calling for.

But obviously, striking a police officer is wrong and if she did that, she was wrong.

I give her an A+.

[atreides1]

3. I Guess

Having a police officer shove a stick up her ass, without her consent, still wouldn't justify striking a police officer? Maybe someone should ask her that.

She's right about one thing, that " symbol of democracy" remark, because that's all it is, a symbol!

Like the Golden Arches of McDonalds!

But at least McDonalds has got the dollar menu!!!!

[grytpype]

4. How could they back hitting a cop?

Huh? Care to explain?

[atreides1]

5. No one said they had to back anything

Why don't they just wait until all the facts are laid out? You remember, innocent until proven guilty, or is that a pre 9/11 concept?

[grytpype]

8. If you read the article CAREFULLY...

Pelosi says she doesn't know what happened but if McKinney struck an officer she was almost certainly wrong. Which is the only thing that can be said.

[Moderator]

9. Duplicate topic

This has already been covered within this thread, and this post specifically:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2207014&mesg_id=2208514