Which is more embarassing McKinney or other Dems helping Bush?

[yurbud]

Poll question: Which is more embarassing McKinney or other Dems helping Bush?

Cynthia McKinney is facing a runoff in an unexpectedly tight race for her primary. A story posted elsewhere here said this is because her altercation at the capitol caused cops to back her opponent.

I wonder if it isn't something else. She got a pretty chilly reception from the party leadership when she returned to Congress after losing her seat and winning it back. The reason she lost it in the first place was she dared to stand up to the Bush administration, ask tough questions, and called things as she saw them.

This not only pissed off the GOP, but seemed to piss off some Democrats because McKinney reminded the public what all our representatives are supposed to be doing, especially the opposition party, but weren't.

While her personal style might not be everyone's cup of tea, I would prefer a street fighter representing me in congress instead of someone with the demeanor of a florist or undertaker, Just as most of us would want Johnny Cochrane defending us in a murder trial instead of an attorney more interested in getting along with the prosecutor than winning.


I am wondering which is more embarassing and/or frustrating for us, McKinney's fiesty attitude, dust up with cops, and debatable new hairstyle or other Democrats remaining silent or even voting with the Bush on the worst of his legislation and appointments.

[spotbird]

1. We need more McKinney's

Bush is an embarrassment and the nation's shame.

[DYouth]

2. McKinney's mostly attacked because she's a major rebel

That's why the major media has always been after her.

She is a powerful leader for minority causes (minority as far as politicians not people are concerned).

Having met her I can say she ranks right up there with Kucnich

[Name removed]

3. Deleted sub-thread

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[Donnachaidh]

4. we need reps with guts

And for all the inflated press Ms. McKinney has gotten, when the smoke clears, she's the one with the backbone and fortitude.

[yurbud]

19. she got the negative press BECAUSE of guts. Would anyone care about the

hairdo of a milktoast?

Or how often do Republicans brushes with the police get the kind of coverage her brief shoving match got?

Joe Scarbrough had a dead intern in his office and it got less play.

[Nutmegger]

5. Guts over cowardness.

McKinny

[Nikki Stone 1]

6. Option six: Screw the word "Feisty". Always used for women of courage

and an insult.

McKinney is heroic, especially when compared to the jellyfish leadership of the Democratic party.

[Daylin Byak]

8. We don't need McKinney

She's an embarressment to her party and I don't it right for her going around punching cops and playing the race card in the process.

Let her return to Georgia, I don't need her.

[MisterP]

12. how dare she get herself smeared in the press and then

dare say race and police ever intersect!

[Zhade]

39. Of course, the grand jury acquitted her, which means no evidence.

Which means you just repeated a lie.

[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

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[LostinVA]

70. THere is zero evidence she punched a cop

The Caps kept on saying there was a tape... yet never showed the tape. The GJ decided the charges were false, and chose not to indict. Remember the old axiom? A GJ can indict even a ham sandwich, the standard for indictment is so low? Gos, guess Rep. McKinney had less guilt than a ham sandwich. Interesting, huh? Yet, you're saying she did do this. Evidence? Link to the video? I would love to see it.

And, she NEVER apologized for punching a cop.

The only thing that makes the party look bad are DINOs and people who claim they are Democratic, yet still love agreeing with the Repubs about the actions of that Uppity Black Woman with the Ghetto hair. Damn, Cynthia! Can't you look and act more like Condi? Bow and shuffle, and say "Yas, Massa! I shore do like you cutting dem fundings for poor black chillun!"

Oh my GAWD.

[slaveplanet]

78. she never admitted

to punching a cop.

She only regrets any touching(Paul Mckenna accosting a represenative) took place in the incident.

Where do you get the idea that she punched anyone?

[Zhade]

79. "she punched a capitol police officer and had to apolgize for it."

See? You lie again.

[LostinVA]

69. "Playing the race card"

Ahhh... where have I heard that wonderful Progressive meme before.... hmmm.... let me think.... I think it may have something to do with a small cacnine...

[yurbud]

23. I was trying to think of a synonym for combative that wasn't insulting

[yurbud]

24. leadership is a jellyfish that only stings Dems with spine never GOP who

steps on them

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. I didn't know much about Ms. McKinney until after she lost to Majette,

but then I saw her in a video clip about international financial scandals.

She was right on top of the situation, knew all the details, and had ideas for what to do about them. She is obviously one smart and fearless woman (qualities that conservatives consider undesirable).

I was impressed, and I now understood why Republicans and their enablers don't like her.

[Sadie5]

10. The Dem's who dislike Cynthia

are probably those Dem's who always voted with Bush. Lieberman, Biden etc.

[MrBenchley]

15. The Dems who dislike Cynthia

also dislike insanity, ugliness and bigotry...

[yurbud]

16. so her appearance bothers you too?

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

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

[CatWoman]

35. MrBenchley, MrBenchley

you were hanging out with Bob w-a-a-a-a-a-y too much.

[MrBenchley]

37. Ah. catwoman....

The lesson you should have taken from Bob is that those who cheer mindlessly (like the McKinney supporters) always have a few screws loose themselves. Dont' forget to slap a cop for Cynthia.

[CatWoman]

60. I'd really much rather slap you

.........

[Lydia Leftcoast]

38. Hmm, maybe Bob isn't fictional

:shrug:

[Zhade]

41. You dislike yourself?

NT!

[MrBenchley]

42. No, I dislike antisemitic loonies

and hypocrites who pretend to be "progressive" while supporting antisemitic loonies.

[Zhade]

44. Then I'm not sure who you're referring to.

Since she's not anti-Semitic (her father is, but she's not him) and I'm not a hypocrite pretending to be progressive, I'm not sure who you're talking about.

[MrBenchley]

48. Yeah, that's why she hangs out with Louis Farrakhan....

[Zhade]

50. Right - so because you hung out with now-banned freepers...

...you share their principles?

I don't believe that, even about you.

[MrBenchley]

53. Ah, the honesty of the far left....

So tell us, zhade, when was I hanging out with "banned freepers"?

McKinney certainly shares Farrakhan's principles...she was wandering around with him on the campaign trail. But then I forgot--you're trying to pretend her father is the owner of her odious views.

[Zhade]

80. Oh, so you're going to pretend you weren't Bunter's friend?

Right, okay. Your "honesty" is showing.

[LostinVA]

72. Who's antisemitic? Cynthia McKinney isn't

There is NO legit evidence of this. Now, the Repubs told lots of lies about her...

And loony? Not to me. She's more outspoken and "in-your-face" than I am, but that doesn't mean she's loony. It means she knows what it's like to have people try to kick her down, and is tired of it. Of course, you know how those Black women with Ghetto hair can be.... uppity.

[LostinVA]

71. How is she insane, ugly, and a bigot?

I've seen zero evidence of any of those.

[cynatnite]

45. Assume much?

:eyes:

[mopinko]

21. smart women

aren't all that well loved by dems, either.

[Zhade]

43. Not when they're obnoxiously arrogant about their self-labeled brilliance.

You're right there.

[Pastiche423]

59. Was that the Dutch video

where she talked about the Carlyle Group?

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article.395.htm

If so, I've found it again, but after the page loads, I keep getting an IE error message. (Tried it six times.)

Weird, eh?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

67. Yes, that's the one

She was really impressive in that video. (I lost the bookmark when my hard drive crashed.)

[me b zola]

9. Cynthia McKinney is what representative government looks like

AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL!

Few in Congress have fought for our Constitution and for US as Cynthia has done. She is a jewel, and if we lose her it is definetly our loss, not hers.

Here is what Michael Ruppert had to say about Cynthia:

THE BELOVED CYNTHIA McKINNEY

A White Ex Cop Speaks Out About a Georgia Congresswoman

by
Michael C. Ruppert

April 11, 2006 1300 PST (FTW) - ASHLAND -Cynthia McKinney is a friend of mine. Until the day I die she will be a friend of mine. More than that, she will be a role model and an inspiration that I don’t ever expect to be equaled, let alone surpassed. Full disclosure.

Out of several dozen Op-Eds, news reports and commentaries on the now-infamous so-called “cop-slapping” event of March 29th, I haven’t seen a single one that, from my perspective, got it right. So right up front, let me say that if I am forced to look at this one snapshot incident, divorced from context and history, then yes, my very good friend messed up. It shouldn’t have become as big a deal as it has and she bears some responsibility for that. But if I look at the event as part of a continuum of the life of congress, or the life of this nation, and (no less importantly) of the life of this woman, things look and feel a whole lot different.

The virulent, spit-dripping, white, racist commentators from Boortz to DeLay and the oh-so-PC and dainty black Democratic pundits, columnists and pols who pick Cynthia McKinney apart—pretending to defend her while putting her black butt on the E-Bay auction block for November—are actually allies. They both want her to go away. They both want the issues that have come too close to public recognition in this case to go away. Leaders from left and right, black or white, cannot bear the thought of actually looking deeper at what happened with Cynthia McKinney and what it means.

~snip~

I have walked the halls of Congress with Cynthia McKinney maybe eight to ten times. I have walked into and out of the Cannon and Longworth house office buildings with her. I have walked to hearings in the Rayburn house office building with her. I have walked the underground tunnels from one of those office buildings directly to the edge of the House floor and its anteroom with her. I can tell you one thing for certain because I have seen it and I have felt it. Cynthia McKinney and her staff get treated differently from just about anyone else on the Hill. It’s subtle, but so is the taste of dirt when it’s in your mouth.
http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/041106_beloved_mckinney.shtml

[charlie]

11. I don't think history will be kind

to national Democrats during the Bush reign. McKinney will be one of the few exceptions.

[yurbud]

17. history will be about as kind as to pre-Civil War Democrats and Whigs

who compromised and temporized and even defended blatant evil in spite of growing public sentiment against it.

[cynatnite]

13. I don't like McKinney...

never have cared for her.

Maxine Waters is ten times better.

[oasis]

20. Maxine Waters? Why are you using Maxine to measure Cynthia?

Have you some inside knowledge about Rep. Waters that you can share with us? :shrug:

[cynatnite]

31. I stated a preference...

I wasn't measuring anyone.

I've never cared for McKinney. I always thought she was too out there.

Maxine Waters I like a lot. I think she's a tough talking no-nonsense lady that I admire.

Not sure what you're looking for.

[oasis]

33. Not measuring? You stated that Maxine Waters is "10 times better."

But if you insist that it's not a measurement, I'll just leave it at that.

[cynatnite]

36. Oh, I see...

I forgot I said that.

Yeah, I like Maxine Waters ten times better than McKinney. So what? I think Maxine Waters is more level-headed and smarter. I admire and respect her.

[oasis]

46. So what? "I like Maxine ten times better" is far different from saying

"Maxine IS ten times better".That's what.

Now that my curiousity on your actual meaning is satisfied, let's consider the matter closed. :-)

[cynatnite]

49. I'm sorry I wasn't clear...

I'm sure we all have our preferences when it comes to politicians and some we like better than others.

Let me say this much before I shutup. :) If I was in the voting booth and I had to choose between McKinney and a repub, McKinney would get my vote without a second thought. No matter my personal feelings about her, she's a hell of a lot better than any repuke out there.

But, I still like Maxine Waters better :hug:

[oasis]

54. Pax

:pals:

[yurbud]

65. try this: whenever MSM and right wing make someone out to be a nut

go look at their record, what they said themselves in their own words, who would benefit, and who would be hurt by the policies they support.

Democrats should be a little more savvy about this after the lamest character assassination in American history--Dean's scream. Clearly, he made some people nervous, they couldn't find real dirt, so they just made him look ridiculous.

McKinney's reputation as a wacko is variation of the same thing.

Dean got too close to taking the reins of power.

McKinney told the truth too often and too loud, and they are afraid people will start listening.

[DanCa]

14. Zell "go to hell" Miller.

Come on lets start at the top of the embarrasment heap and work our way down.

[LincolnMcGrath]

22. Once again, the dlcentrist-zellocrats of DU show their true colors.

Which are sadly, a cross between (gop) red and (chickenhawk) yellow.

[yurbud]

26. it's a good measure of how threatening a thread is to them.

What's odd is, they can't possibly be affecting anyone's opinion with mindless, contentless talking points and digs that pass for discourse on MSM TV, but looks painfully thin and shallow when seen reduced to writing.

[LincolnMcGrath]

30. SEARCH is your Friend with some hypocrites

[Zhade]

47. Bench's turnabout is amazing.

It must have been like watching people turn to b*s* after 9/11.

[MrBenchley]

57. No turnabout at all, zhade...

I've never liked ignoramuses, hypocrites, bigots or loonies on either fringe.

[Zhade]

81. Well, who likes them?

Of course, the anti-DLCers are just armed with facts, while all you have is vitriol.

But it doesn't matter. Most active Democrats hate the DLC too, so you, my friend, are ineffectual.

Obsolete.

Powerless.

[readmoreoften]

62. Out of the woodwork. Here they come.

Fascinating. Hey Linc :hi:

[LostinVA]

74. Bingo n/t

[Zhade]

25. Well, I don't find McKinney embarassing at all, actually.

I find her to be a stalwart defender of justice.

[yurbud]

27. me too.

[TahitiNut]

28. Yep. I like a gal with 'tude.

:thumbsup:

[blonndee]

34. I'm guessing

you're using the word "gal" in a completely progressive way, right? Right?!?

Just giving you a hard time. :)

Sincerely,
Another one of them gals with 'tudes.

[LostinVA]

75. Me too

[madville]

29. The biggest recent embarrassment was

Don't forget another recent embarrassment when Rep. William Jefferson got caught by the FBI. Then him not stepping down from his committee and the support from the CBC in opposition to the Democrat leaderships' wishes kept the story alive even longer. This incident completely derailed the "Culture of Corruption" angle that Nancy Pelosi was pushing at the time, haven't heard that phrase since. Patrick Kennedy and his incident at about the same time didn't help either.

[yurbud]

32. that was the point of both incidents, to derail that meme...

I don't know what McKinney said, but an argument in both cases can be made for due process as opposed to the GOP method of just ignoring corruption until you become a political liability.

[Zhade]

51. ...Bench, on this thread?

:D

I kid - he's so insignificant (aren't we all!) that he's not really an embarassment as much as a source of amusement.

[Jazzgirl]

40. Damn skippy on dems helping *shrub!

Look at LIEberman and the others that stay silent or by default support his ass. Especially LIEberman though and his *shrub kiss. McKinney's hair has always been a puzzle to me. I don't even understand why it has been an issue. I can't believe hair is even something to be discussed especially when where she stand should be the crucial point. She got a chilly reception because she wasn't afraid to point out how this misadministration was screwing us into the ground. She didn't bow down like the rest of the good old boys did. I like her style.

JG

[AbsolutNickUSN]

52. Uniters

Were Republicans who worked with and cooperated with President Clinton a disgrace to their party? Working with and/or supporting the President is their choice just as opposing him is their choice. Its about what these representatives feel is best for their constituents and the country at large. Uniters do not oppose for opposition's sake, that is what dividers do. Are Democratic legislators to be uniters or dividers? Just so this is clear: "Uniter" does NOT mean they surrender their principles nor step in line with the President on every single issue. "Uniter" means a willingness to work together as Americans, as opposed to bickering as Democrats and Republicans. If Democrats are to demand their positions be respected we must be willing to do the same. We're Americans before we are Democrats and we should remember that, just as the Republicans should.

[yurbud]

66. she should shave half her head, then go on Fox News and say...

Which is going to hurt America more, Bush's war to enrich his oil company and defense contractor cronies--or my hair?

[mopinko]

68. damn skippy

one of my favorite sayings.
how are we ever going to get through to people, and get them to ignore the attack dogs? when they loose the dogs, we need to have an instinct to rally round, ya know? we need to learn to see them as a barometer. go cynthia, you are a credit to the party.

[yurbud]

73. What would Democrats do if McKinney made same threat Lieberman did?

I don't have an opinion on whether she should, but the asking them the question would be illuminating.

[Solo_in_MD]

55. McKinney is a lot like Bolton

in many ways. COmbative, ignores precendent and procedures, thinks the rules do apply to them. If McKinney is cool for our side, we lose a lot of standing to critize Bolton.

[yurbud]

63. on the contrary, McKinney was demanding that rules were applied

that her colleagues actually do their oversight job which they have abdicated.

In her contested elections, she demanded that the rules be followed about voting machines and such, and got back into Congress as a result where other Democrats sit there stunned like road kill waiting scraped off the road and tossed in the bushes.

[LostinVA]

76. McKInney is nothing like Bolton

She fights for the truth and against the oppressors. Bolton is one of the oppressors, and his specialty is oily cover ups and spin. McKinney also hasn't broken a host of international and domestic laws. She's also spoken out the truth, no matter what's done to her. I don't always like her, but I ALWAYS admire her! You go, Cynthia!

[theanarch]

58. i think some here are confusing personality

with policies and positions. Yes, Cynthia can be a little over-the-top; and i can accept that she might be a little short in the "people" skills so necessary for political advancement. That said, she has complied one of the better legislative records of sitting congress-critters, and has been an outspoken (if at times obnoxiously so) defender of unions, the poor, civil liberties, etc, as well as one of the more consistant voices for peace. I'll take her record on issues over those of any DLC'er any day. BTW: did you know that when Cynthia reclaimed her seat, the DLC House leadership stripped her of her previous seniority? Said she had to start all over again, as a 'freshman', despite having previously served several terms. There's no love lost between the CBC and the DLC House leadership...try reading The Black Commentator sometime.

[yurbud]

64. I listen to him on Pacifica. People are falling into the MSM fallacy

of confusing gossip with policy.

Even if the worst things they say about McKinney are true, which they probably aren't, it would have no bearing how she votes or what she proposes.

Some Republicans seem like very pleasant people, and yet they politely vote for policies that result in the deaths of Americans and people abroad, and confirm Bush appointees who are war criminals and even a supreme court justice who doesn't believe in checks and balances.

If most people are "going along to get along" and you make even a few principled stands, how ever politely, you will look like a bomb throwing radical--or at least be portrayed as one.

[LostinVA]

77. Great post... and a belated welcome to DU

You hit the point just great.

[rucky]

61. I'm a McKinney fan

Great women have rarely been well-behaved.