Cynthia McKinney - My Hero

[Cronus Protagonist]

Back when it wasn't popular, and was even considered treason, to even suggest Bush might have made even a small tiny little mistake, Cynthia McKinney read this statement into the Congressional record. For that, she is my hero. And I am sure that the character of the person displayed here is not that of one who would start a pissant fight with a security guard. The media is making a tempest in a teacup with the current news, of that I'm sure. Here, you be the judge of her character...

Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney

The Twilight Zone

The text that follows is a direct cut and paste from the 107th Congressional Record for 03/05/02, page H676, found using Thomas — the text can be easily located using the Thomas Text Search System and searching for "Twilight."

The SPEAKER pro tempore: "Under a previous order of the House, the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. MCKINNEY) is recognized for 5 minutes."

Ms. McKINNEY: "Mr. Speaker, I am worried about what is happening to our great country today. I fear that many of us cannot see what is happening here. Maybe we are too close. Maybe there are even people who do not want us to see; but our friends and allies in Europe and elsewhere are reporting that they are seeing disturbing developments in our country, like the fading of our fundamental constitutional rights, the creation of a war machine that threatens world peace, the spending of a generation of Americans on this war on terrorism, and even an attack on truth in government by forming the Office of Strategic Influence to lie to us and to the rest of the world. The President even asked Hollywood to make these developments palatable to the American people.

With this as a backdrop, I would just like to ask that Members close their eyes and imagine being drawn deeper and deeper into black space. If Members keep their eyes closed and if they close them good and tight, they will be able to imagine themselves going faster and faster and deeper and deeper into a black unknown.

All of a sudden we see a bright light at a distance far away, but faster and faster and closer and closer it becomes brighter and brighter; and in one instant, with one grand motion, we can cross from the darkness into the light. But just before we make the crossing, a huge booming voice coming from nowhere, and at the same time coming from everywhere, booms all around us: You unlock this door with the key of understanding. Beyond it is another dimension, a dimension of hearing that which is not spoken, a dimension of seeing that which is invisible, a dimension of reading that which is not written.

We are moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. Welcome. We just crossed over into the Twilight Zone, otherwise known as George Bush's America. For it is here and only here that the White House could receive warning after warning of massive attacks that were going to take place on American soil, the attack happens, and both the President and the Vice President, in separate phone calls to TOM DASCHLE, ask that Congress not investigate what happened and why.

That could only happen in the Twilight Zone.

Or that an administration battling worldwide perception, as well as a domestic one having come to power in circumstances like Zambia's or Kenya's, could form a shadow government inside the selected government, with no one in the real government knowing about the shadow government except the shadow leaders in it. That could only happen in the Twilight Zone.

Or that this President could propose the biggest hike in defense spending, where his dad stands to make a mint, as long as increased spending does not get lost wherever the $2.3 trillion is that the Pentagon has already lost, and the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, says we can afford it. That could only happen in the Twilight Zone.

Or that Arthur Andersen, who kept Enron's books, could still have contracts to keep the books over at FBI, DOJ, and the Pentagon. That could only happen in the Twilight Zone.

Wake up, America. We are not only in the Twilight Zone, we have crossed the threshold into George Bush's America."

Permalink here: http://cronus.com/zone/

[knowbody0]

1. i agree

hannity absolutely considers her treasonous. foam and spittle flew this evening.

she is an amazing and courageous woman.

(and i love her new hair style)

[NYCGirl]

2. I think she owes a big apology to Al Gore for calling him racist.

After he chartered those flights to NO to rescue those people, she owes him a BIG apology.

[Cronus Protagonist]

5. I leave calls like that to the people on the receiving end

I'm a white male, so I don't have an iron in that fire.

[NYCGirl]

6. I'm a white female and I'm still pretty pissed off about it.

Al Gore doesn't have a racist bone in his body.

[Cronus Protagonist]

8. I agree, but sometimes we can make mistakes

Maybe Al made a genuine mistake. I'm not familiar with the incident, and as far as I knew, Al was simply doing his best to help out. Nonetheless, I think the entire lack of and fucked up response to Katrina was possibly racist, but again, that's not my call.

[NYCGirl]

10. She called him a racist during his 2000 campaign. She said

"Gore's Negro tolerance level has never been too high. I've never known him to have more than one black person around him at any given time."

I wonder if she didn't know who was Gore's campaign manager at the time. It's a disgusting statement.

[Cronus Protagonist]

12. That does sound bad, fer sure but in context...?

In context, her accusation is more along the lines of a complaint that Gore won't doing anything about it when his black security detail complained about being passed over for promotion, allegedly simply for being black. Again, being a white male, I have no iron in this fire, but it sounds like she has a point to make, albeit crudely done.

http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0900ntl.htm

Three of Al Gore's black Secret Service agents have recently filed a lawsuit, citing racial discrimination against their supervisors in the vice president's security detail. The three men contend that black Secret Service agents are frequently passed by for promotions; they claim that Gore has made no response to their repeated attempts to draw the matter to his attention.

Cynthia McKinneyWell, if the vice president wasn't aware of the problem before, he probably is now. Congresswoman McKinney made several critical remarks about her party's presidential pick that found their way not only to her own web site, but also to the front page of the Washington Times on Friday, September 8, 2000.

"Gore's Negro Tolerance Level has never been too high. I've never known him to have more than one black person around him at any given time. I'm not shocked, but I certainly am saddened by this revelation," said the outspoken four-term representative from Decatur. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, McKinney often speaks out on the issues surrounding race relations. Boy, does she ever.

"I've personally been discriminated against at the White House by the very same people these Secret Service officers are complaining about," the congresswoman continued. "That these black officers had no response from Gore's staff is symptomatic of a larger problem. Gore would like these problems to just go away, but they'll never go away if they're not addressed."

more...

http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0900ntl.htm

[5X]

17. That sounds like a reliable source. NOT! n/t

[msgadget]

24. Thanks for providing the context, Cronus P

She tried to disclaim the statement but once it was out...

But, a from that same site lead to this interesting passage (context for remark?):

Al Gore, Sr. did not stop at simply voting against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In addition, Congressional Quarterly reported that Gore attempted to send the Act to the Senate Judiciary Committee with an amendment to say "in defiance of a court desegregation order, federal funds could not be held from any school districts." Gore sought to take the teeth out of the Act in the event it passed.

Ostensibly, Senator Gore was "elated" at the idea of young Al, Jr. going to school with black children. In reality, however, the future vice president attended an elite private school.

In the end, the Gore Amendment was defeated by a vote of 74-25. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, one of President Bill Clinton's political mentors, was among the 23 southern Democratic senators and only one Republican voting with Gore for this racist amendment.

[brentspeak]

69. That's quite some context, there...from a right wing website

Strange source to be quoting, don't you think?

[Cronus Protagonist]

87. Well, it's the only source I could find for context

All the other sources simply quoted the damning phrase. At least this one had more extensive quotations and gives a better picture because of it. No one can complain that the source is biased in her favor, yet the larger context quotations are there. Go figure.

[msgadget]

94. Not at all

when the history they report is not in dispute

Edit for double word

[brentspeak]

97. Really? Is ExitStageRight a source you normally consult

when researching American history?

Actually, it is true that Gore Sr. voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. So that part I'm not disputing. What I am disputing is the article itself -- and your championing of it -- which depicts Gore Sr. as a hypocritical racist.

Albert Gore Sr. admitted later that he made a terrible mistake when he voted against that act. But how come the article forgot to mention that Gore Sr. was also one of the few southern Democratic senators to vote in favor of the 1956 Southern Manifesto opposing intergration? How come it didn't mention that he supported the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

[Cronus Protagonist]

98. Sounds like you need to start another thread

I quoted that nasty article because it was the only one I could find that provided more context. Not for it's Gore content. I'm a HUGE Gore fan. If you feel so strongly about Gore being smeared on this issue, and I agree, perhaps a new thread is in order?

[brentspeak]

99. Hold on here

I was responding to MsGadget both times. While I did read your posts, and didn't like you using EnterStageRight as a source, I wasn't criticizing or responding to you by proxy. Let MsGadget respond for herself on this.

[msgadget]

103. I read right and left media daily, in fact,

but, as luck with have it, there it was one link away, a possible explanation for why Ms McKinney felt as she did about Mr. Gore. And, since the site wasn't pro-McKinney, I found it that much more validating. I like Al. I like Cynthia. They don't have to like each other.

[martymar64]

47. Al shut down the challenge to the election in 2000 by the CBC

I like Al but he was wrong. The fact that he shut down the CBC in that matter could be construed by a reasonable person as racist. But then we as a country have a rich heritage of racism, if you don't believe me, go to Jasper, TX or to anywhere in Idaho or Wyoming.

[NYCGirl]

107. A reasonable person, as you say, would do a little research and find out

that the reason he did that had NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with the skin colors of anyone.

[MrBenchley]

32. Amen to that!!

McKinney is an antiSemitic loony.

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

100. Deleted message

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

[TankLV]

112. I am SHOCKED you would say that!

SHOCKED I tell you!

:sarcasm:

[AtomicKitten]

3. I agree, but she is wrong here.

Sorry. She should have had her ID on. Defying protocol and excepecting special treatment is wrong.
It's just a big ugly mess that she brought on herself, and I'm sorry to see it.

[ruggerson]

4. Exactly

and it trivializes truly important issues for us to trump this up as some kind cause celebre.

It ain't.

[Cronus Protagonist]

7. I bet you $100 she's not alone in not wearing a pin

I bet you $100 that more than a dozen congresscritturs walk around without pins on, relying on their photo id where needed every single day. A pin means nothing. The ID is the true credential. Why can't some people on this board understand that? The pin is a red herring.

[AtomicKitten]

9. We don't "understand" that because it's a hypothetical,

and you've got your knickers in a twist based on a hypothesis you've cooked up to excuse this BS.

What can't you understand that?

She did not have her ID on and they didn't recognize her. Hell, I didn't recognize her when I saw her new look. They are only doing their job. You do understand that, right?

[Cronus Protagonist]

15. Haha

Funny, but I'm not upset. Are you? Congressional identification is the ID card - we both agree on that. Anyone could put on a pin and it would be meaningless.

And I think the complaint is not about being stopped and asked for ID, but the manner in which force was used. We'll see in the future how this plays out, but the media is fanning the flames based on rumor and speculation, focussing on the pin, which is irrelevant.

Cynthia has complained about being treated badly before....

http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0900ntl.htm

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, McKinney often speaks out on the issues surrounding race relations. Boy, does she ever.

"I've personally been discriminated against at the White House by the very same people these Secret Service officers are complaining about," the congresswoman continued.

Surely you don't doubt there are racist officers there?

[TankLV]

113. Of course! Afer all, there's - what - 3 black persons in the entire

congress and even less black women?

I mean, it's HARD trying to identify the HUNDREDS - no THOUSANDS of black congresspeople! - Especially ones who are invisible and don't make waves like Cynthia!

Next you'll be telling me that "they" "all look alike"!

Now where have I heard such CRAP before....

[mondo joe]

13. What do you think the lapel pin is for?

The purpose of the lapel pin is to grant access around the detector. If it means nothing, what's it for?

[Cronus Protagonist]

16. Cool. I'll wear one then!

Easily copied. Easily forged. Not ID. Not a credential. I presume it must be for casual recognition, not bypassing security checkpoints because a pin is not a security credential, and in fact is not even in the same domain as one.

She was counting on being recognised, I'm sure, just as she is recognised several times a day for weeks and months on end without any incidents at all.

Personally, I think every Congressctittur should be made to wear their photo ID on their chest at all times. Anything less is less secure. Surely you agree with that?

[mondo joe]

19. Again, if they are meaningless why do you think they exist and

are required?

Simple question. Please answer.

(And to answer you question, yes, I do think they should wear their photo ID. It's not clear she was wearing that either. Per her statement, after she was stopped she showed it. I don't know if that means she was wearing it, wearing it where it might be easily seen, or not wearing it at all.)

[brentspeak]

72. Thanks for some common sense

If both Capitol police and government security didn't think the lapel pins were important, they wouldn't insist that Congresspeople wear them in the first place.

[Lostnote06]

65. Thank YOU......well stated

[rman]

41. Not having the ID pin on is not a violation of any law,

which is why that is not the issue.
Assaulting a police officer is a violation, and that's what she is being charged with.

Of course that doesn't stop people from asserting that the issue is lack of ID.

[BooScout]

45. She has not been charged......yet.

Neither has it been proved she assaulted a police officer.....yet. Of course that doesn't stop people from convicting her before she has her day in court now does it? :sarcasm:

[rman]

49. Arrest warrant sought for Rep. McKinney ( Associated Press)

Not charged yet, but getting close - and it's about the alledged "punching", "poking", whatever - not about the ID pin nor about the metal detector.

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/14254113.htm
Arrest warrant sought for Rep. McKinney
LAURIE KELLMAN
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - U.S. Capitol Police on Monday asked a federal prosecutor to approve an arrest warrant for Rep. Cynthia McKinney after she tangled with a uniformed officer last week.
<more>

[BooScout]

53. That's been explained.......

Over a dozen times that I'm aware of. Doesn't mean one will be issued or that she is guilty.

[rman]

59. True, but also it doesn't mean that it's about the ID pin.

Which is the point a was trying to make.

[martymar64]

51. The pig assaulted an elected official!

Grab someone from behind and see what reaction you get. Or is it that black people should expect to be manhandled as a matter of course? Is that what you're really saying?

[rman]

54. I'm saying "that's what she is being charged with"

(more accurately: that's what she's being threatened to be charged with)

Good point though about being grabbed from behind, probably firmly because the officer had tried to get her attention three times without getting a response.
Then a defensive reaction - probably turning around while pushing away - is not out of the ordinary.

[Moochy]

122. Maybe she was using her iPod

I know when I'm dancing around to "Jerk it out", that I certainly can't hear the security guards when I pass through my checkpoints.

:P

[Moochy]

121. Verr are your papers?

send her to gitmo!!!

[Sarah Ibarruri]

11. She's a loose cannon

One minute she's doing good things, the next minute she's embarrassing everyone by doing the dumbest things. She needs to let someone else take over.

[fed-up]

14. I guess to some people the truth is embarrasing nt

[Cronus Protagonist]

18. She hasn't embarrassed me

And, in fact, I wish we had a hundred more like her. We'd be getting shit done instead of marking time, cowering away from the power boys like most of the "leaders" in the capitol.

[TankLV]

114. Me too!

God bless and protect her.

[Cookie wookie]

20. Says who? I don't see the national media spotlight of

"doing the dumbest things" equally on everyone in Congress. just McKinney. People love to buy the rovian "lore" about her. That's all this is. the halls of congress are filled with people "doing the dumbest things" but they aren't being branded with that label because that's not the marketing/pr tool that the corporations and media are told to use on them. After all, a surprisingly large number of people still think * has good judgment, is a "strong" leader, blah blah madison avenue.

[martymar64]

52. Someone white, right?

The not so veiled racism of this thread is appalling.

[TankLV]

111. The subtle racism is indeed disgusting.

And all the usual players are assembled again for this one, I see.

[Moochy]

142. Aint it funny how they align on issues like this?

I find the usual suspects are the ones coming out saying "for shame" and "she's an embarrasment" are the same shills who try and sell the milquetoaste pro-big-money anti-democratic line.

(snicker)

Birds of a feather...

[rman]

58. She's embarrasing the RW,

because she does not hesitate to speak truth to power.

A loose cannon that rocks the boat - i just love it.

[RDU Socialist]

21. so if the media was talking about tom delay striking a police officer

and his hitting the police officer was done in a legit circumstance, would that too be a tempest in a teacup? or simply because he happens to have his mouth surgically altered to allow bush's penis in more easily, that makes it a different scenario?

[Placebo]

22. YOU are wise...

but there's a sadness to your wisdom.

[RDU Socialist]

23. and... to be honest...

an arousing element...

[dolstein]

25. Boy, you really set the bar pretty low

NT

[Cronus Protagonist]

88. I wasn't setting a bar at all

And I can't tell what you mean.

[leyton]

26. Who the f*** hits a cop?

She had no business going through the special metal detector or whatever it is unless she was willing to prove she was a congresswoman. There are 435 of them, for God's sake, and the police can't be expected to remember all of them.

[oasis]

27. The police are "expected to remember them all." It's their job. (eom)

[HardWorkingDem]

28. No excuse....

I work in an organization of under 300 people and I don't even know all of their faces or names.

There is no excuse for her behavior. She just needs to admit she made a mistake and move on.

[me b zola]

30. They are required to know all names & faces of Congress

If they can't identify them by name & face, then certainly a lapel pin that allows people to bypass security lines is in no way secure.

[mondo joe]

34. If they are expected to know them by face, what's the ID for?

Thank you.

[ProudDad]

31. How about that gestapo

asshole of a cop admitting that HE made the god damn mistake and moving on!!!

On edit: And it SURELY IS THEIR FUCKING JOB to either know everyone's face, oh, I forgot, all of those black ones look alike to them, right!?

[HardWorkingDem]

104. Oh, I guess you are perfect?

These officers are probably required to know more than 535 people - I would imagine the most important aides get some sort of pass too.

But this is what I love about partisans: Here it is that SHE made the mistake; not the cop and YOU want to take it out on him? Is that right? There are reasons for rules. I could imagine what the people that are defending this action would be saying if say some Rethuglican Rightwinger snuck through and did this same exact thing.

Hey, and do you even figure that maybe there are quite a few of Democrat Cops on Du?

[TankLV]

115. Don't agree at all with your premise.

The PIG made the mistake by ACOSTING her.

I'd take CYNTHIA's word over some pasty fat white racist repuke PIG anyday.

See how this works!

[HardWorkingDem]

118. No, I don't.....

What has came out that race had anything to do with this at all? Point me to that information.

And what exactly are you trying to say? That white cops are all racists and republicans?

[ProudDad]

132. Excuse me but what planet do you live on?

Race has EVERYTHING to do with it in racist amerika...

At worst, she just got fuckin' fed up with racism. It's ABSOLUTELY true that a white-male would have been treated and spoken to differently!!!

Get a grip on the sick society you live in, please....

I thought this was a left-liberal board. Us real left-liberals have known this shit for decades!

[HardWorkingDem]

138. I AM SO FUCKING TIRED OF THIS SHIT AT DU...

I'm sick of it. People here evidently can't disagree or ask for simple goddamn explanation without getting a smart ass fucking insulting answer and I'm FUCKING SICK OF IT.

What is it with people here?!?!? We are supposed to be the group of fucking compassion, understanding and fucking common courtesy and many replies in this thread show that this is bullshit and I'm tired of it.

Now, back to my question - where has it been shown that race has played a role in this? For example, when I saw the image of McKinney on the news I did not recognize her at all from her past usual appearances and had to do a double take. She looked completely different from when I have seen her on CSPAN in the past.

And what has been released about this cop? Is he a rookie? A veteran? Or what? Does he know who she is?

My god - for the last five years the Bushies have been selling fear and here we have a congressperson allegedly go through an area without the proper attire or "pin". She is the one that made the mistake. Certainly, maybe the cop should not have grabbed her, but as far as we know maybe she was completely ignoring him.

But the replies here are terribly out of line......."gestapo" "pigs" et cetera.

I certainly remember the left falling in love with ATF people when they were called "jack booted thugs" by Liddy a few years back.

[Cronus Protagonist]

157. We are supposed to be the group of fucking compassion, understanding....?

Wrong. We are a group of people with two things in common - a desire to oust Bush and put the Democratics in power. Other than that, we are not unified and there are no rules as to who can claim the mantle of being a Democratic supporter.

If you alter your expectations to match the real world, you'll have less need for shouting swear words and the world would be better for it. Thank you.

[HardWorkingDem]

160. My swear words...

were directed toward the behavior here of those that throw out nasty replies and treat other DU'ers as if only their opinion matters and if you don't agree with it, then you don't deserve to be here. One poster likened cops to the gestapo and another said some cops should be shot in the head.

I'm tired when Du'ers are discourteous of other Du'ers simply because of a different opinion. And the swear words were a reflection of that anger and weariness.

[beaconess]

158. Almost as bad as outright racism is the paternalisti attitude of some folk

when it comes to blacks - there seems to be an assumption by some here that ANYTHING a black person does must be unquestioned and anyone having the temerity to suggest that a black person's behavior isn't perfect, noble and without fault MUST be a racist, including other blacks (like me). This smacks of paternalism and suggests a lack of understanding that black folk are normal people with flaws, we make mistakes and some of us are just plain nuts.

Notice the deafening silence of other CBC members - none of whom stepped up to defend McKinney's behavior (Sheila Jackson Lee stated that she sympathized with her frustration, but stopped well short of defending her actions)? Notice that no civil rights groups stepped up to demand an investigation? There's a good reason - and NO - it's not because her felow CBC members and the civil rights community are wimps, or aren't as brave as McKinney or have sold out (and anyone who claims this, I dare them to say it to John Lewis' face). It's because, unlike some DUers who think that black folk are always victims and can never err, these people know that sometimes black people DO screw up and DO scream racism when it's unwarranted and they aren't going to undermine their principles and credibility by lining up to fight stupid battles that aren't worth the effort, every time a fellow Afrian American yells foul.

I'm used to dealing with outright racism, but Lord save me from our "friends" who think that, no matter what the circumstances, regardless of fact, despite all evidence to the contrary, my people are ALWAYS victims who must be defended and protected.

[HardWorkingDem]

159. What a wonderful and thoughtful reply.....

You wrote a wonderfully thoughtful reply that I hope many others will read. I'm going to take the time to go back and read more of your postings. Thank you for your time.

[ProudDad]

163. This is racist Amerika

and until the conversation is completely and honestly undertaken and the depth and breadth of racism in this country recognized, this type of incident will occur again and again.

I don't belive cops, I have personal reasons for not believing them -- I've been inside the system and stretching the truth or making it up is how they make a living.

But even giving that, I've considered that maybe the cop involved in this incident was just typically macho in grabbing her and not really racist.

It still doesn't matter. I've seen racism all my life. I was brought up in the Jim Crow south. People exhibit racist behavior, different behavior to different people depending on what their color is, and don't even know they're doing it. And amerika is getting MORE racist, not less...more subtle but still alive and well.

Sometimes folks just get fed up and one white cop running up behind them is enough for them to snap. Any of you good liberals taking the pig's side ever consider that?

From what I read, many congresspeople go without their pins or id. The cops' JOB is to know them. They're supposed to be "observant". Most of them have been around for years, hell, they should know them from behind from 50 feet just by the way they walk!

And I sure as hell don't know anyone on the left who were in love with the ATF at ANY time (and I know hundreds of lefties, by sight!).

[tirechewer]

119. I worked in a large building....

with hundreds of others. We had to go through a checkpoint every morning. The guards knew us. They saw us every single day. We also had to wear ID but we didn't put it on until we were inside a specific, secured area beyond the guards.

She did say she regretted the incident, and I believe she is trying to move on. The Republicans are the ones not letting it go. It's payback time for an opponent. I'm not a big fan of hitting people either, but I do recognize that there are times and places when people have had all they can stand, and if a guard grabbed them at that point, they might very well get smacked. Also, given the tremendous regard the Bush administration has displayed toward black people in general, do you suppose she was treated with a great deal of respect as a rule?

If that had been any white Republican do you suppose he/she would have been grabbed like that? I don't, and I'm sure she was quite aware of the double standard too. It may have been a large source of her anger. I wouldn't have handled it the way she did, I hope, but I do understand her response.

[ProudDad]

131. Thank you!

I was going to make this point but you've done it for me...

[tirechewer]

150. You're welcome.....

You're welcome.;) Glad I could help. The situation is just really sickening in its hypocrisy.

[HardWorkingDem]

140. 30,000....plus....Clinton's White House did a similar thing to her...

It has been reported that the Capitol Hill police screen 30,000 people A DAY entering this building.

And from CNN,

"McKinney has complained before of not being recognized as a member of Congress, both on Capitol Hill and at the White House. In 1998, she demanded and received an apology from the Clinton administration after White House guards stopped her."

But don't get me wrong - I have always liked McKinney and believe she has more guts than most other congress people, but there comes a time when wrong is wrong and making excuses because one is a member of our side is what the Rethugs are best at.

[tirechewer]

149. I wasn't making excuses....

I wasn't making excuses. I was simply pointing out that I thought there was a double standard at work here and that the Bush White House is making hay with an opponent.

If we were all going to be worried about people adhering to the letter of the law, why wasn't Cheney prosecuted for shooting his friend in the face, and why isn't George Bush being tried for war crimes?

Still they are coming down on her because she smacked a cop. It seems like disparate treatment to me. It doesn't make violence right, but they should address their own problems before throwing mud on her. That goes for the right wing pundit who called her a "ghetto slut" too.

I know you didn't mean to sound this way, but it seemed as if you were telling me why I wrote what I did instead of asking me why. I think I'm the one who should be telling you what I think, and why I formed my own conclusions, not vice versa. If you had asked me, I would have told you that I would have felt the same way regardless of who she was. This is more of an issue of fairness and parity of treatment than party. It is also another incident which underlines the racism which runs through this administration and its supporters.

[HardWorkingDem]

151. I don't see the racism in this....yet....

I'm sorry, but the racism angle is a bit premature. Not to defend Cheney's incompetence, but that was probably a drunken accident. From the CNN report, the police officer reportedly called out to her at least three times and she refused to stop. But who knows....maybe when the police officer grabbed her it startled her. I don't know.

And it is important that a congressperson is being called out for alledgedly hitting a police officer. As this story unfolds and the details emerge, we will get to know the entire story, but until then, on its face, what she did was wrong and only gives the Rethugs something to make hay over.

[tirechewer]

152. I'm sorry you don't see...

the racism here. That's your perception to deal with. I'm a white lady from the comfortable middle class and I saw it right away. I don't know whether you are a man or a woman, and that's OK. But as a woman I can tell you that if someone yells at me or grabs at me I have an impulse to move away as fast as I can. It stems from a fear of assault that many women carry around all the time. We have to take more care walking, driving at night and be much more aware of locking our doors and windows when living alone.

So if I am walking down a hallway and I hear someone yelling behind me, especially if I am not being particularly vigilant, I tend to speed up and move away. I'd yell if they grabbed me before I hit them, but I'm a Quaker and I don't believe in violence. Some women would simply freeze, others might lash out.

Cheney may have been drunk and he may have shot before he should have, but under most laws if you put someone else in danger knowing that there may be a potentially lethal outcome, then you face criminal charges. If you're prancing around drunk with a shotgun and wearing ear protectors which muffle sound as Cheney usually does, how is that not a foreseeable danger? Particularly if you are part of a hunting party made up of other people. It's not like his friend simply materialized out of nowhere. Cheney was aware he was not alone and he did not exercise ordinary care and caution. I don't think that a regular guy who behaved so negligently would be sent home with no criminal charges at all, do you?

Also it's a question of the degree of the so called "crime" here. Why is it that a woman walking alone who hits a policeman has to be prosecuted vigorously, while all of the Republicans like Bush and Frist are walking around free and clear with no thought of anyone prosecuting them, and for much greater crimes? And her prosecution is the Republicans "making hay." It's just another kind of swift boating as far as I'm concerned. I'm sorry you see a woman hitting an armed policeman as a greater threat to Democracy than all of the Republican thugs who are trying to destroy it. You're entitled to your opinion, but I don't share it, and I surely don't understand it.

[HardWorkingDem]

155. Throwing in all kinds of side issues....

Tirechewer,

I am a w/m. And you are throwing in all sorts of scenarios that do not fit in this incident. Yes, certainly, the Bushies are more of a threat to democracy than McKinney, but that is not the issue here. And your description of walking all alone down a hallway is not applicable here as well. I have not seen the video tape of this incident, but let me ask you this: how else is someone going to get another person's attention when the person is ignoring that person or does not hear the person for whatever reason? Did the officer violently grab her arm or place a hand on an arm, or what?


Also, do not forget, this officer allegedly did not recognize McKinney (and like I've posted elsewhere - with her attire changes, I had to do a double take to recognize her when I saw her on the news the other day - I've always seen her with the French braids and very conservative business like women suits and when she appeared before the news cameras the other day she had her hair worn down and out and was wearing a completely different clothing style. So I can understand how at first glance he might not have recognized here at all). Then throw in that the Bushies have created this unrealistic season of fear where all sorts of public officials have been whipped up into a "homeland security" frenzy that boggles the mind.

Throwing the automatic "racism" label in does none of us any good. That is a very powerful accusation or implication and to me, it has not been shown yet.

[tirechewer]

156. I said everything I had to say....

I have tried to be very polite to you, even though I do not agree with you. I am very tired of you telling me what I am doing, what I am thinking and how I feel. I do not intend to spend a lifetime chasing your particular bugbear and pursuing your sophistries.

I think you are being stunningly insensitive. That is your prerogative. However, I do not accept being patronized, and that is what I think you are doing.

I don't care what your particular vendetta is with Ms McKinney in this or any other situation. I don't care what you think of Ms Mckinney or race relations in general. It is fairly obvious, and I have no respect for it. You posed a question, I answered it over and over to the best of my ability. My well reasoned ability, I might add, and that is that.

Now I suggest you go find others who feel as you do and discuss it with them. I know racism when I see it. If you don't that's your problem, and not one I care to share with you.

Your response sounds more like it was written by a Republican than a thinking Democrat. That is my opinion. This is my third and last response to you. I suggest you go bother someone else.

[HardWorkingDem]

161. Please read this above post....it really is a remarkable one...

I'm sorry if you thought I was being patronizing to you. It was not my intention.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2549606&mesg_id=2556291

[rman]

36. Who the fuck assumes she did hit a cop, before having seen evidence?

[Cronus Protagonist]

89. I think youi're expecting rationality from the emotionally motivated

And apparently the emotion is hatred / disgust / embarrassment for Cynthia, the facts be damned. Could some of that be because she's an uppity black woman?

Gosh, I hope it turns out she's a lesbian too :)

[Moochy]

123. Yeah besides she's already been judged

as an "Anti-semitic Loon" so why should it concern us "good democrats" that she is being pilloried for unproven allegations? I guess the ends justifies the means ?
:sarcasm:

[Name removed]

133. Deleted message

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

[HardWorkingDem]

139. Your comment is out of line...

but why don't you tell us which ones?

[me b zola]

29. I stand with Rep McKinney

Rep. McKinney has consistantly stood against the most powerful to be a voice for the people and because of this she has been a target of the rw for several years. It is more than a little disturbing to see how many people on a progressive message board are so quick to accept the rw spin on what happened between Rep McKinney and that capitol hill police officer. Are those same people so accepting of bush*s spin on world events? Did those same people believe the swiftboat liars?

Rep Cynthia McKinney marched with us in DC Sept 24th, 2004. Did your congresscritter?

Oh, and for those who spew the "embarrassment" word around when speaking about McKinney: She is someone that I aspire to be-----YOU are embarrassing.

[bdamomma]

35. Rep. Mc Kinney is a Patriot

we are in a very dark place right now, why is it that everyone else sees what is happeing to our country, like those in Europe, and we continue to live in denial (excluding present company), when will the American people wake up and see that our country has been hijacked by these ideologues. But again, this has been a on going conversation for the past 5 years hasn't it.

[Moochy]

127. Me Three!

There are some real anti-progressive (regressive?) democrats here who hate the term, think that it's all marketing and folly, and that we should really all stop using words like "corporatists" since the united states is not controlled by corporate interests. To the moderate, progressive haters, it's all just silly conspiracy theories, and so much claptrap. Many can't be shaken from the belief that getting republican voters to switch sides is our path to victory, forget policies, just start talking like them, use more explicit religiosity, be more warlike (Kerry's ill advised "I'll do this war better than Bush" strategy.)

That being said, racism and sexism always rears its ugly head here, and those smug, lilywhite assholes who sit in judgement of McKinney's now are as bad as swiftboaters. They would throw McKinney overboard for the "embarrasment" she may cause the party.

The cops man, who will protect the cops???

[ProudDad]

134. The U.S. sure as shit IS controlled by corporate interests!

I applaud your point about the racism and sexism that reared their ugly heads in this. That's what it's really all about. Just as Rosa Parks "was just too tired to put up with it any more" (although that's not the REAL story), Cynthia allegedly got sick and tired of the daily grind of racism and sexism and fought back, once.

However:

The U.S. sure as shit IS controlled by corporate interests! That's the BOTTOM LINE of the Amerikan Empire. That's what the repukes are ALL about and the Dems are mosly about with a few exceptions. The corporations in amerika OWN this government from the top to the bottom! Until we get complete public financing of elections this will continue to be a government of the corporations, by the corporations and for the corporations.

I don't give a shit about repuke voters switching, we don't freakin' need them, they're only 24% of the electorate. We won the last two prez elections on the votes, the elections were stolen by the illegal activities of the repukes supported by the mealy-mouthed impotence of the Dems.

This is a SECULAR COUNTRY. Screw religion, it has NO place in our political sphere, NO PLACE! Hey DEMS, this is the talking point: "I will not discuss the 'place' of religion in politics because it HAS no place in politics!"

[enough already]

33. Screw the cop

I'm with Cynthia on this one. I'm glad she won't back down and more elected Dems need to be standing with her.

[Cronus Protagonist]

90. I wouldn't like the smell of pork on my penis but...

I suppose it might be worth it to yell "sooooweeeeeee".... :puke:

[Time for change]

37. We need a lot more like her in Congress

:applause:

[Cronus Protagonist]

91. My point exactly

If half of the Democratic leadership were like Cynthia, we wouldn't be in a war and Bush would be on trial.

[Virginia Dare]

38. Even heroes make mistakes...n/t

[ChiciB1]

39. Sorry Folks! Once Again... Fellow Dems Are Refusing To Support

one of their own. Seems they can't run away from this issue fast enough!!!

There is NO WAY Dems can ever win back the House OR Senate until they start UNIFYING!

Haven't seen ANY of it in a long, long, long time! Someone makes a stand and guess who "flames" them first! Their OWN party! Why do we try??? Nothing has worked yet and the Repukes keep rolling along!

Even DeLay gets to move to Virginia to work "behind the scenes" which in many ways will be MUCH worse! One thing for sure... THEY know what the word COHESION means!

I usually say wake up America, but it's obvious we need to say WAKE UP DEMOCRATS! I just don't GET it!

[paulk]

40. she may have broken the law

you can't expect her fellow Dems to support her with out knowing the facts.

[ShortnFiery]

50. No, that would require personal respect and faith in her word!

I support her 100% and screw the gutless and spineless Representatives, they'll soon be toast if they have any contenders in the primaries.

[paulk]

60. you know

your post here and your others in this thread

add nothing

[ShortnFiery]

71. Should I take that as a personal attack?

Good day to you too!

[paulk]

81. I don't care how you take it

if you've got a problem, hit alert.

[ShortnFiery]

92. That hurts - I care about you!

:pals:

[TankLV]

116. Adds plenty to counter the BULLSHIT spewing forth around here I think!

In fact, his/her post is REQUIRED!

On the other hand...

[rman]

42. Got a source for that? I do - and it's obviously a lie:

McKinney is distraction, say the Dems
http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/040406/news4.html

The bizarre scuffle Wednesday between Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) and an unnamed U.S. Capitol Police officer is winning the spirited congresswoman few new friends in her caucus. In fact, some Democrats are trying to distance themselves from her.

McKinney has been aggressively publicizing the incident, calling press conferences on each of the past two business days and even attracting a mention on the front page of The New York Times, something that the dozens of House and Senate Democrats combined couldn’t match when they unveiled their homeland-security plan last week.

...

All of the attention has some Democrats concerned that McKinney is drawing the limelight away from their policy goals and Republicans’ ethical missteps to focus on a momentary, disputed encounter in a Capitol Hill hallway.

“There’s been a lot of eye-rolling,” said an aide to a moderate Democrat who spoke on condition of anonymity. “The national attention it’s been getting has been unfortunate. It’s becoming a distraction.”

===

Interesting isn't it, how "some Dems" manage to be equivalent to "the Dems", and how "some" Dems manage to do "a lot" of eye-rolling.


And then of course there's the DU poll on the matter:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x829786

[ChiciB1]

43. Thanks For The Link.... n/t

[themaguffin]

44. not relevant; she's wrong now

and does a disservice to herself and the party.

it's great that speaks her mind and doesn't hide like many others, but she should act like an adult. She has not handled this well at all and now here's yet another thing to nullify any quality statements or actions that she does in Congress. Way to go.

[rman]

56. She's wrong how?

And what is the basis for your conclusion?

This hasn't even been in court yet and you have already convicted her?
Where is your sense of justice?

[themaguffin]

66. I didn't convict her

but she doesn't have to be found guilty of something, to be wrong about something, or act wrong.

She hasn't handled this in a dignified way. She is doing herself an injustice.

[rman]

70. Still you haven't explained what you think she did wrong

It can't be the part about her assaulting the cop, since that has not been proven. If charges are pressed against her it will be about that (so it has been announced by the accuser), and it will be either proven or disproven in a court of law.


So, what it is that you think she did wrong?

[themaguffin]

75. is it unreasonable

to think that she handled this poorly? I like to think that we are better than the idiots that control Congress.

[rman]

76. Of course the Dems do not control congress.

You are deliberately avoiding to be specific about what you think McKinney did wrong, aren't you?

[themaguffin]

77. what is the mystery?

I deliberately saying that she handled this poorly. No if or buts and I can't stand this nonesense.

All she had to was assert herself in a professional manner. Say who she was and that she understood the security protocal, but that she was a Congresswoman who needed to get into the building yadda yadda yadda.

[rman]

78. When asked she showed her ID

Besides that, it's a habit for Congress people to just walk in and out of there. There wasn't anything unusual until McKinney was grabbed from behind by this security officer.

[themaguffin]

80. that's not the issue

it's how she handled it that has become the circus.

[rman]

164. You keep changing your arguments

First it was "Say who she was and that she understood the security protocol,"

Then you say not protocol (having to do with ID), but the idea that "she didn't handle it well" is the issue.

Spin much?

[AtomicKitten]

46. This scenario reminds me of a doctor

who worked for several hospitals I worked for. Each hospital has computer ID for the physicians. This one particular fellow refused to use the different IDs at the different hospitals and would use only one ID number for all hospitals. Needless to say this caused all kinds of work for all kinds of people in all kinds of departments, but he wouldn't budge.

Reminds me of the congresswoman.

Except he never punched anyone.

[ShortnFiery]

55. Yeah, submit! You will be assimilated by the BushBotBorg

Where's our American love of individuality? Where's our suspicion of authority that helped form this democratic republic?

IMO wasted on sexism and racism ... by covert hate to put a good woman IN HER PLACE. Not me. McKinney has my support and the little $ I have to donate.

[AtomicKitten]

61. Where's your respect for the rule of law?

Christ if DU'ers can't tell real racism - KATRINA - from hyped BS, we are truly in deep shit as a party.

[paulk]

63. many du'ers don't belong to the party

and the deep shit is what you're wading through

[ShortnFiery]

64. Oh my goodness! We are Democrats for heaven's sake ...

Here many moderates harp how we have to tolerate the pro-business goons like Biden, yet when it comes to supporting a FIVE term congresswoman, you attack her shamelessly.

Perhaps because I grew up in an Ultra but secular Right Wing family, I resent ASSUMED authority. Whoa! If you were a teen in the 70s, this "Oh my God, we sin to even touch or poke a cop" would be laughed out of the disco.

This "rule of law" is BUNK when Bush Co. holds the reigns the blessed LAW only exists to serve their agenda.

Yeah, I love the rule of law, when it is exercised judiciously.

[paulk]

82. a police officer's authority isn't "assumed"

go punch a cop if you don't believe me.

[ShortnFiery]

93. Well, the dead young womens' families who's loved ones were ...

raped and murdered by a LEGITIMATE San Diego Highway Patrolman in the late 80s, would beg to differ with your authority decree for all cops. :cry:

Even today, I counsel every woman I have the opportunity to be acquainted with, to NOT stop on a deserted freeway but drive slowly to a populated area. Yes Virginia, we should not assume just because someone is in uniform that they have our best interest at heart or deserve our unwaivering respect.

Yes, a person in a uniform shows us THEIR POSITION but should they needlessly assault us, such authority is not warranted.

[rman]

68. Hyped BS - hyped by who?

One wouldn't think the officer might be ever so slightly exaggerating the "punching", right?

[rman]

57. Again: it's not about the ID pin.

Nor is it certain that she "punched" the officer.
As you very well know.

[AtomicKitten]

62. Protocol that she refuses to follow.

Now five altercations regarding the fact that she REFUSES to wear the identifying pin.

And consideration of an arrest warrant is not for nothing particularly with witnesses.

Her behavior disgraces her party and her race.

[rman]

67. Why keep harping on about the ID pin

when you know that's not the issue?

Why do you draw conclusions before you know all the relevant facts?
This hasn't even been to court yet. Why be so swift with your condemnation?


Got any sources for those five altercations?

[paulk]

84. why isn't the ID pin the issue?

If she'd had it on, none of this would have happened.

[TankLV]

117. Maybe because A LOT of "other" congresspeople do JUST THAT, ALL THE TIME?!

As has been related NUMEROUS TIMES here?!

Naw... THAT couldn't be it!

[paulk]

129. but, numerous times, I've seen the opposite related also

I don't know which is true.

However - the point I made stands. If she had been wearing her pin, none of this would have happened.

[SOS]

130. Simply outrageous

"Her behavior disgraces her race"

Have you completely lost it?

Does Donald Rumsfeld disgrace the white race? Your answer to this question is awaited with alacrity.

[Moochy]

144. And Your behavior is a digrace to kittens

[Karenina]

148. Her behavior disgraces her....... race.

HOT DAMN!!! I haven't heard THAT ONE for YEARS!!!! :woohoo:

[AtomicKitten]

154. She can't yell racism when she provoked the incident

She buzzed the security checkpoint and refused to stop when asked (and she may have even struck the cop as well).

Shit happens, employees come and go and it is not reasonable to expect each and every one to know over 400 faces all of the time. There is more than ample reasonable doubt to counter the automatic assumption of racism.

You know what racism really is? It's the 2000 election, Katrina, crappy schools in poor areas, and an unfair, inequitable judicial system.

But Ms. McKinney being stopped at a checkpoint, not so much.

[brentspeak]

73. I don't know about the punching part

Unless the cop was injured or the exchange of physical contact lasted for more than five seconds, the cops might be making a big deal over nothing, and should drop efforts to press charges.

Still, it's McKinney's fault for not wearing the lapel pin, for ignoring the cop -- and, especially, for making a racial issue out of this.

[Name removed]

74. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[win_in_06]

79. Her episode will not help us in November

[ShortnFiery]

83. Well then HANG her out to dry ...

I submit that it just MAY help the Democrats if some of us can shed this "decorum" image that pervades the slams on McKinney.

If those who are Moderate and "ashamed that she did not fully submit" keep holding on to your truth but, for a change, do NOT admit it in front of the public?

I know we are so disparate in our party but we will lose everything if we can't compromise for each other and stand strong. I dislike many pro-business democrats but also understand that we must, as a party, take back the house. If folks would just refrain from "jumping on the bandwagon" or acting ashamed (IMO there's nothing to be ashamed of), we just might be able to have this blow back in the faces of these repeatedly dishonest political operatives.

Work with the left here and this fall, we'll hold our nose and vote for your DLCers, or what many of us consider DINO? It takes humbleness and cooperation on both sides of our party. We must make this work come this fall. :-)

[win_in_06]

85. The best that can come of this for dems: a Sista Soulja moment

Doing unto McKinney as Bill did unto Sista Soulja back during the 92 campaign will bode well for some wily democrat

[ShortnFiery]

86. I agree with the folks who author the Left 2 Right Blog ...

http://left2right.typepad.com/main/2004/12/sister_souljah_.html

"I suspect that the reflexive use of the phrase "Sister Souljah moment" is itself in bad faith. It's a way of defending a comfortable conception of the political scene as neatly polarized. When political figures disavow their own supposed allies, they make the political scene resistant to glib generalization: they force us to think. Easier to dismiss it as an SSM."

Again, we must, both left and right try and compromise with each other instead of partake in these seemingly endless attacks.

"Divided we Fall." And yes, with regard to The Democratic Party today, no truer words were ever spoken. :patriot: :hi:

[win_in_06]

95. A Sista Soulja move is needed here

we need to cut this albatross loose

[ShortnFiery]

96. And if the DLC continues to disown the left ...

I promise you WE WILL ALL (The Democratic Party as a Whole) lose and lose big.

We (the left) have compromised for you, it's beyond time that you acknowledge our presence, or at least promise to not add to the "smear campaign" against one of our most respected congresswomen?

We are much more than an albatross, we have THE NUMBERS!

Us working to lower middle class wage slaves are tired of the pro-business democrats.

Either work with us and we will try our best to tone-down and compromise, otherwise the Democratic Party will go the way of the Dinosaur.

[MrBenchley]

101. LOL!

It's the far left that keeps making grand pronouncements here about party purges and announcing that they're going to storm off if they don't get their way (although they never seem to go anywhere).

Frankly, neither they or McKinney seem to be much of an ornament for the party.

[ShortnFiery]

102. If that's what you believe ...

then nothing I can say can convince you otherwise.

However, if the Democratic Party continues it's move to The Right, then is it really all that different than the Republicans. Especially when you support NAFTA and MultiNational corporations over the Average Working to Middle Class American.

If the Country continues down this Pro Big Business path, the only Americans who will be respected are those within the investor class.

If you don't have a significant chunk of change invested in the stock market, I'd suggest any thoughtful Democrat rethink this notion of disowning the wage-slave class?

[MrBenchley]

105. Well, you're off to a helluva start (snicker)

How IS that Green party doing?

[Name removed]

106. Deleted message

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

[MrBenchley]

125. Yup. She's an antiSemitic loony.

"Why not tell us what she should have done"
How about wearing the fucking pin when she walks past the checkpoint, as she's supposed to?

[SOS]

136. Supporting working Americans

against Wall Street greed, unfair taxation, the effects of globalization, pharmaceutical companies that write the Medicare legislation and credit card companies that write bankruptcy legislation is reason enough to purge us from the Party? If we support any candidates who want to reign in the outrageous corporate excesses and corruption of the last 20 years we should join the Greens?
Point taken.
Thanks for purging us and our ideas from the Party.

(snicker verb • (of a horse) to whinny. Fits perfectly!)

[Moochy]

143. a horse or a horses ass?

oh wait, air that comes out of a horses back side, that's an onion fart?

(snicker) (chortle) (oppress)

[Sarah Ibarruri]

108. So she gets to punch a cop and not go to jail? Why not?

If I punched a cop I'd end up in jail. Is she better than me? Excuse me but I don't think she should be given any more rights than me.

[Moochy]

109. Yes, congresspeople are better than you

:puke:

Give me a break, all you law and order purists.

[dolstein]

110. If a Republican Rep hit a cop, I bet you'd be singing a different tune

Agree with me or not, but at least my position has the virtue of consistency.

[Moochy]

120. Care to take that bet?

If a republican woman slugged a security guard who accosted her, or grabbed her person then I'd expect the capitol police officer to be reprimanded, and for no expectation of assault charges etc.

The proper procedure, I would think, would be for The capitol police to not violate the unknown person's bodily space, regardless of sex or political affiliation.

But the cops man, who will protect the poor cops from these rogue congresscritters????

[rman]

124. You don't know that she "punched" the police officer

The latest revision has it that she "poked" the officer. And that's after she was grabbed from behind by the officer, so she didn't see who grabbed her.

[Moochy]

126. SEND HER TO GITMO(RANT)

POKED, PUNCHED NO MATTER!!!!!

NOBODY touches a cop in this town. NOBODY!
Oh and besides she voted against the war in Afghanistan which everybody loves so much.
Oh and her hair was frizzy and so white people shouldnt be expected to recognize her. (read in another thread)

And um, shame on those DU'ers for taking the word of a black congresswoman over a captitol police officer. We all know that security personnel are infallible, and to even think of touching a security guard is tantamount to treason.

Shame on us for not playing into the RW distraction.
Shame on us for not supporting the "Commend the Capitol Police for their actions against Cynthia McKinney" measure being sponsored by the Republicans in the house.

:sarcasm:

Law and order uber alles Uber Alles!!!

[rman]

128. hey,

chill, dude

;-)

:toast:

[Moochy]

141. Very good advice

:beer:

though the rant was meant to be read with a sarcastic tone. I fully support her, and anyone that is harrassed by guards who are "just doing their job" in this climate of paranoia post 911.

Sorry for screamin in your general direction, here's another beer to compensate for the flecks of spittle that might have landed on you.

:beer:

[rman]

146. no offense taken

i know you were being sarcastic
:toast:

[rfkrfk]

153. more likely would be Robben Island .n/t

[ProudDad]

135. Because the cop was in the wrong

You sound like cops' shit don't stink. Well it do, and often.

They're para-military ambulatory gestapo units. That's the way they're trained. They're imbued with sexism and racism down to the core.

I'd take 1000 Cynthia McKinney's over one cop.

[woodleydem]

137. That's a nice speech, but she's dead wrong in the Capitol police incident.

I interned on Capitol Hill for a white, male congressman and he was stopped by Capitol police in more than one occasion. There are 435 members of the House, and believe or not, Capitol police don't remember them all. Just show your ID badge and/or member pin and they let you right through. Yelling racism at something that could easily be a police officer doing his job cheapens the very issue of racism. (and I am racial minority so I have some perspective)

[laugle]

145. Well said!!

[rman]

147. "Our mission is to protect and support the Congress..."

Capitol police is supposed to "protect and support" Congress members, and they are supposed to recognize Congress members on sight. It is not a requirement to flash ID nor to wear the ID pin.
Members can be in a meeting off the hill when they are called to vote, for which they have 15 minutes. It is common for them to be in a hurry, it is pretty much standard procedure to basically just run in and out of there.


1) US Capitol Police, training, profiles etc
http://www.uscapitolpolice.gov/profiles.html

"The dedication. The pride. The legacy

Mission Statement-
Our mission is to protect and support the Congress in meeting its Constitutional responsibilities."


2) Cynthia McKinney Accuses Capitol Police of Racial Profiling
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/04/04/1419259

[McCamy Taylor]

162. Good speech.