Racial profiling and demagoguery

[question everything]

I watched McKinney interview - rather, an attempted interview - by Soledad O’Brien earlier on CNN.

What a shameful performance. Like a good demagogue, she would not answer the simple question: please tell us what happened - but started on how she opposes the war in Iraq.

And tried to divert the topic to racial profiling and to other lawsuits against the Capitol police. On the other hand, the police rep was dignified and talked about the specific events.

And I was thinking that "racial profiling" can go both ways. If one insists that she should be recognized since there are only a handful of black women in Congress - isn't this the flip side of racial profiling?

We have bar tenders and liquor stores sales people carding everyone. They do not concentrate on someone who looks especially young.

Airport security checks everyone, yes, including 70 year old people in wheel chairs. They do not concentrate on middle eastern looking men.

And the Capitol police should check the credentials of everyone who does not have that special pin that allows a person to bypass security. They should not let only black women pass through.

[TomInTib]

1. Amen! n/t

[oasis]

2. This wasn't the first time the cops have had to tangle with their nemesis.

You'd think they would know her face better than that of their supervisors. wouldn't you? :shrug:

[question everything]

3. Should not matter

If the speaker or if Pelosi do not have their pins on, they should not be allowed to by pass security. This rule should apply to everyone, regardless of whether they are recognized or not.

And what is the justification to hit the officer with the cell phone? Who does she think she is? Russell Crowe?

[oasis]

21. Her defense:"I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore".

I'll bet she's dying to tell her story in court.

[mondo joe]

29. If she's dying to tell her sorry in court why not file suit?

[oasis]

33. She's apologizing on the House floor now. No stepping on the Libby story.

She's a team player.

[mondo joe]

36. Thanks for the heads up! -eom-

[Erika]

4. How many black women have been terrorists?

Get real. Are you going to try to say that a black woman who walks through a special line should be accosted out of fear of her being a terrorist?

Where's politeness and manners?

Most of us are sick, sick, sick, and tired of being treated like a potential terrorist when we don't fit the profile.

This is a political stunt. I'm sure W is in charge on the capitol police.

[question everything]

5. And how many grandmothers in wheel chairs have been terrorists?

If there are rules on passing through security - whether in the airports, court houses or the Capital - it should apply to everyone.

Politeness and manners? Hitting a police officer with a cell phone?

[Erika]

8. So how many non ME men have been held as terrorists?

How many grandmothers in wheel chairs or black women walking through special lines have been terrorists. Get a grip on reality. Look at the stats and facts. Don't just drink the Kool-aid. We need to stand up with a spine as this lady did.

[Erika]

9. Most cell phones are plastic 2 by 5

A grand jury? Get real.

[mondo joe]

28. I don't know when anyone said she "should be accosted".

I must have missed that. Could you point out the post please?

[mondo joe]

30. Are you saying you support profiling?

That appears to be your line of thinking when you say "Most of us are sick, sick, sick, and tired of being treated like a potential terrorist when we don't fit the profile."

If you think those who don't fit the profile should be considered, aren't the only ones left the people who DO fit the profile?

[Erika]

6. Some of you have been drinking the W Kool-aid

Suspect everyone when only 19 ME men caused problems. Get a hold on your hysteria.

[question everything]

23. Calling me names may satisfy your indignation but will not win us

elections.

I can assure us that most voters will think twice before having more of her in Congress.

Get real, please, We have to win Congress and we need to show the voters that we are responsible adults, not some who will run the race card, or the gender card, or whatever crutch one chooses to get one's way.

Calling me names, jut like swearing, is the last refuge of those who ran out of arguments and reason.

[Horse with no Name]

7. First of all, let me say, I did not see the interview

However, her defense is based on the fact that she frequently opposes this administration and this is retaliatory for her differing views--notably one being the War in Iraq.
So how is that not relevant to an interview?

[Erika]

11. Who appoints their boss?

Relevancy?

[Charlie Brown]

12. Well, it has nothing to do w/the incident in question

and if this was about race, as she suggests, why would it make a difference if she opposes the war? Do the Cap Police only single out black reps who happen to be against the war?

If McKinney winds up in a court defending her actions and starts talking about the Iraq War, the judge will not be very impressed.

[The Magistrate]

13. If, Ma'am

The incident occured because she was not recognized, then it could hardly have sprung from her being who she was, and holding the views she does. Without the root act of accosting by a policeman, after all, none of this would have occured. Her views would be relevant only if it were believed the whole matter were a put up job all the way down to the policeman being in on the matter from the start. They may have something to do with how hard the thing is being pressed in the news, but that is really secondary, since without the physical act there would be nothing to press.

[Erika]

16. There is no proof of any physical act - No video n/t

[The Magistrate]

20. Both Participants, Ma'am

Seem to have reported some sort of altercation having taken place. Though they characterize it very differently, of course, that can be taken as proof something physical occured. In trying to assess what that was, there is less guidance: trying to tell whether it is a policeman or a politician who is lying the worst poses a pretty problem, experience having shown the wisdom of discounting most statements by representatives of either group....

[Virginia Dare]

25. There might be witnesses?

It's my recollection that depending on the time of day, there can be lines of people waiting to get through security there, it tends to be very busy and hectic, thus, why technically Members of Congress can bypass, in case they have to get to a vote, etc.

My guess is there were at least a few eyewitnesses.

[Horse with no Name]

27. Oddly enough

The "witnesses" were all Republicans.
How strange is that?

[Virginia Dare]

31. If that's truly the case, then yes, it would be a bit strange...

can you provide me with a link to this info? Thanks.

[Horse with no Name]

32. My mistake--I thought there were 2 witnesses

However, the only link that I can find states there is one.

>>>snip
An assistant to Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich., witnessed the incident and gave a statement to Capitol Police, sources told FOX News. The witness, whose name is being withheld, told police that she saw McKinney hit a police officer. The witness was unaware that McKinney was a congresswoman.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,189940,00.html

[Virginia Dare]

34. Okay, thanks....n/t

[Horse with no Name]

26. I totally agree Sir

However, we know the way that Bushco works.
Not to besmirch the reputation of the Capitol Police--but it IS possible that Bushco (by this I mean any of the tentacles of Bushco), or even a die-hard Republican fan of Bushco--got himself inside to do this particular task . Take down Cynthia McKinney. Working outside the knowledge and totally unbeknownst to the Capitol Police.
I would like to see the videotapes and I would like this officer to be investigated to make sure he didn't have any hidden agendas.
Then and ONLY then will I decide whether it was racially or politically motivated..or not.

[Karmakaze]

10. The thing is...

McKinney claims that the Captiol Police DON'T stop everyone who is not showing a pin, and certainly not by grabbing them. THAT is where the racial profiling comes in, not inthe fact that SHE was stopped, but in the fact that many others ARE NOT.

Whether she is right or not I can't say. But what I can say is that the police and the right have not provided one shred of evidence that EVERYONE, no matter race, is treated the same way McKinney was. Well not that I have seen.

[Erika]

14. And there is no video at all n/t

[Virginia Dare]

24. That should be easy enough to prove...

subpoena every single member of Congress, put them on the stand and ask them whether they've every been stopped before when not wearing their pin, and if so, how many times.. Case closed.

[bliss_eternal]

15. How would you define flip side to racial profiling?

I'm curious.

[Erika]

17. I think you have to look at Muslim terrorists

No one else should be profiled.

[bliss_eternal]

18. I'm sorry

but I don't see your point. What about Muslim terrorists?

It is my personal belief no one should be profiled.

[Erika]

19. The 9/11 bombers

None were black women or people in a wheel chair.

[bliss_eternal]

22. I see your point.

I intend no disrespect, however perhaps it would have been helpful to allow the original poster to answer the question, what they meant by the statement? This was who the question was directed toward...

[Karmakaze]

37. Actually there are many Muslims....

including terrorists, who are not Arab. For example the KLA is almost exclusively made up of white Europeans, but they are Muslim terrorists who have worked closely with Al Qaeda in the past.

Thus, focusing only on Arabs would garauntee that the next attack would not be prevented.

[question everything]

35. Stopping your car because you are a minority

is what we usually describe as racial profiling.

Not letting you pass by security because you ar a black woman is racial profiling

But letting you get by even in the absence of a pin - required for all members of Congress - because you are a black women is, in my opinion, the flip side of racial profiling though I suppose there should be a different term. Racial preference? In MLK's dream where no one would be judged - for better or worse - by the color of their skin?