Leonard Pitts Jr. : McKinney created her own problems

[Wetzelbill]

McKinney created her own problems

BY LEONARD PITTS JR.
[e-mail]

You wouldn't think we'd need a fresh illustration of that truism, but here it is anyway, needed or not. For which we can thank the Democratic representative from the 4th District of Georgia.

If you haven't heard, well, I'm sorry your TV blew up and your hard drive crashed. And that your telephone is on the fritz and you don't get out much. And that your paperboy was eaten by wolves.

CAPITOL CONFRONTATION

Those of us who are still connected to the outside world know all about Cynthia McKinney's confrontation last week with a Capitol Hill police officer. According to police, she was attempting to enter a Capitol office building when she was stopped by an officer who didn't recognize her.

McKinney, who was not wearing the lapel pin given to all 535 members of Congress, reportedly failed to heed requests that she stop and identify herself, whereupon the officer grabbed her and she allegedly jabbed him with her cellphone. CNN reports that prosecutors have decided to seek charges against her.

You would, under other circumstances, consider this a rather minor contretemps. But McKinney is black, which brings race into the picture. And where race enters, stupid is seldom far behind.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/columnists/leonard_pitts/14283784.htm

[Ian David]

1. She's being persecuted because she's christian. n/t

[Wetzelbill]

2. you're on your game today

:rofl:

[Warren Stupidity]

3. "If you haven't heard"

Or, you pay no attention to the rightwing rovian attack machine. Gee golly but we have more important things to worry about. This is bullshit. Stop catapulting the propaganda.

[Wetzelbill]

4. how is it propaganda?

And, how exactly is it bullshit?

I just like reading all kinds of views, I found what he said to be interesting. I don't necessarily agree or disagree. I'd like to find out exactly what you disagree with.

[Warren Stupidity]

5. It is goddamn irrelevant. nt.

[Wetzelbill]

6. then why reply?

if it's irrelevant just ignore a post. Instead, you jump in give an opinion, which may be right, but then you refuse to elaborate on what you commented on. If it's irrelevant, why bother in the first place? You know, I'm a minority, I would say it's pretty effing relevant and it isn't up to someone to tell another person what is relevant or not. What is relevant to me may not be to you. Fine. No big deal. However, you thought to step in and make an abrasive and dismissive comment, so it has to mean something to you in some way, otherwise you wouldn't have done it in the first place. That you don't explain why, makes it more confusing. Like you purposely jumped in to try to start a fight or something.

[Radio_Lady]

7. Back on point, Wetzelbill, I appreciate your post. She apologized

yesterday for striking the cop, and also she voted FOR the Republican supported motion to recognize the positive work of the Capitol police. Wonder if it had been a black Congressman who had struck a white cop; how would it have gone then?

Wetzelbill, there are people who try to interrupt my threads, too. I think it's best to just ignore them.

I did PM one person yesterday and alerted on his message at the same time. There are deviant minds at work at this web site, but the admins and moderators do a wonderful job taking care of it.

Don't take it personally, please. I value your opinions and suggest you ignore those who try to rile you up. Charge it up to the idiot factor, or just understand that other people may have other opinions or agendas.

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[DubyaSux]

12. No she didn't...

....respectfully, that's not what happened. She apologized that there was physical contact. That could have been her or him. She has not said anything about hitting the officer. However, when asked repeatedly, she dodges the question. She has never denied striking the officer either when given all the opportunity she needs.

Pitts nailed this one.

[bemildred]

8. Boy, this is really the Pitts. nt

[oblivious]

9. What a truly awful writer - "spasms of stupid"?

I guess he gets paid by the word because it takes half the column of wasted words before you have any idea what his point is. Or maybe someone accidentally left out the first paragraph.

And this:
"But a better woman would have nothing to apologize for."

[Demit]

10. Wow. I've always liked Leonard Pitts. But wow.

I wish he had themed his column more to "they're both at fault/they both have a point" instead of coming down so hard on McKinney. He does get in his point about white guys taking advantage of the incident, and maybe a subtler sarcastic point about "Black 101", but still... Unless he is being way WAY subtle about black people still having the responsibility for incidents regardless of what part white people have had in provoking it... But the way he evokes what "we instill in our boys" makes me think there is an undercurrent of what was going on in the sixties--that business of hey, you women should just be quiet and get behind our movement, you can work on getting equal with men after the main struggle is done.

This thing really has a lot of undercurrents. Fascinating in an ugly way.

[radio4progressives]

11. Well, Leonard Pitts has just discredited himself in my eyes..

of all the issues to be writing about this week, he joins forces with the GOP's campaign strategy team - let's keep the eye off of Bush's criminality and focus on this non-issue, non news of Cynthia McKinney instead.

:thumbsdown::thumbsdown::thumbsdown:

[winston61]

13. sorry, no sale-

Mckinney is shall we say, bat-shit crazy? She brought this on herself. During the week when Delay was on the ropes, she is too stupid to shut up, admit her mistake and tend to business. I hope she gets turned out of office.

[radio4progressives]

15. 199 poster says one of the precious few progressives in Congress should

be turned out of Congress. Well excuse me 199 poster, i'd say your views are what is bat-shit crazy.

She knew fucking well the war was based on lies and had the goddam courage to say NO FUCKING WAY.

She knew fucking well that 9/11 was preventable - and had the goddam courage to say so, loud and clear at a time when anyone who dared raise the very questions the 9/11 commission uncovered was called considered treasonous to even ask.

and now it turns out that the very questions she keeps asking is still be asked, and more answers are finally coming to the surface though not through any sort of "official line".

so piss off 199 poster. take your nasty shite and shove it where the sun don't shine.

[winston61]

16. I said nothing about the war-

McKinney can be right about the war and still not have enough sense to realize that what she did was counter productive. She could have stopped, been cooperative and the whole thing could have been cleared up in about two minutes. But NOOOOOOO, that's too easy. So that may lead someone to have concerns about her temperament and judgment. How else do you explain her colleagues in the Black Caucus running away from her? So, sorry no sale. I stand by my assertion that she did the wrong thing for the wrong reason. I'm only talking about her run in with the Capitol police officer. She still has cred for her stand on the war. Her hyper-sensitivity about race may have solid footing, but she should have taken some advice on this one and let it go.I'm sure Mr. Rove will send her a thank you card. Your ugly tone and suggestions about where to place my opinions will be overlooked, they do not merit response.

[bemildred]

14. Well, the thing is, McKinney is a reliable progressive vote.

And we need to take back the house with the largest majority we can muster. Therefore, I don't see how you can oppose her, unless there is someone equivalent (in terms of voting record) on offer as a replacement.

[radio4progressives]

17. Has Pitts written about Bob Barr's altercations with Capitol Hill Security

I'd like to see those articles, before an ounce of credibility could be given for this attack on CM.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2559620&mesg_id=2559620

[DubyaSux]

18. If not...

....he should have. But Bob Barr did not cry racism like McKinney did.

The incident was raised to a national level by her bogus racism accusations. It's not the first time and certainly won't be the last.