Cynthia McKinney's Troops Sue to Keep Her in Office

CNSNews ^ | 10/15/02 | Jim Burns

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Despite the resounding defeat of U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney in Georgia's Democratic primary in August, some of McKinney's supporters are still battling to keep her in office.

They have filed a federal lawsuit to try to get the Aug. 20 results, which showed McKinney losing to Denise Majette 58 to 42 percent, voided and McKinney declared the winner.

McKinney's supporters claim Republicans engaged in a "malicious crossover" when they voted in the Democratic primary and in doing so, ensured McKinney's defeat. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, seeks to have the Republican crossover declared unconstitutional

McKinney has represented Georgia's 4th Congressional District for five terms, but her controversial comments about the 9/11 terrorist attacks made her so vulnerable, she failed to win even her party's nomination this year.

In March, during an interview with a Berkeley, Calif. radio station, McKinney suggested the Bush administration had failed to act on prior warnings of the Sept. 11 attacks.

"We know there were numerous warnings of the events to come on September 11th. What did this administration know and when did it know it, about the events of September 11th? Who else knew, and why did they not warn the innocent people of New York who were needlessly murdered? What do they have to hide? Persons close to this administration are poised to make huge profits off America's new war," McKinney charged at the time.

Tuesday, attorney Mike Raffauf, who is representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, indicated he would be satisfied with a new election, but refused to comment any further.

Named in the lawsuit are Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox, the DeKalb and Gwinnett county (Georgia) elections supervisors and Majette.

Teresa Wynn Roseborough, Majette's attorney, told CNSNews.com, she is confident Majette will win the lawsuit.

"The Democratic voters of the 4th Congressional District have spoken and selected their candidate. Denise Majette is honored to be that candidate and the Georgia primary election system is one that we can all be proud of. It encourages strong voter participation and that's what happened in this case," Roseborough said.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution analyzed the 68,612 votes cast for Majette and found that no more than 3,118 of the voters clearly identified themselves as registered Republicans.

McKinney's supporters claim 37,500 Republicans crossed over into the Democratic primary to oust McKinney. The lawsuit claims the crossover voting violated the Voting Rights Act by denying African-American voters the right to elect the candidate of their choice.

"The court will agree with us that the Democratic Party and its voters are the ones that should select the candidates for political elections and not the courts and that the courts will not participate in an effort to change the outcome of an election," Roseborough concluded.

Congress enacted the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to correct voting irregularities in Southern states and to reinforce the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which has guaranteed Americans the right to vote regardless of race since 1870.

McKinney's supporters also allege that Majette was a Republican Party plant, noting that Majette voted in the 2000 Republican presidential primary for Alan Keyes, a political commentator and the only African-American GOP presidential candidate.

McKinney's Capitol Hill office did not return phone calls Tuesday seeking further comment on the story. Her congressional website made no mention of the case.

The Congressional Black Caucus did not return phone calls seeking more comment on the story.

Last month, McKinney blamed the Democratic Party for the losses she and her father Billy McKinney, a Georgia state representative, suffered at the polls, thus fueling speculation that she might leave that party.

"The Democratic Party cost my father his office," said McKinney during a meeting of the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference in Washington.

She also accused Georgia Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes of helping Majette. A spokesperson for Barnes denied the accusation.

Calvin Smyre, chairman of the Georgia Democratic Party, dismissed McKinney's criticism, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"In a primary with one Democrat versus [another] Democrat, the voters of Georgia made their decision," Smyre said.

Billy McKinney was defeated in August in his re-election bid and vowed to leave the Democratic Party and take his daughter with him.

"I've always worked on what the Democrats wanted and tried to defeat Republicans. Now I'm an Independent. We're through with the Democrats," Mr. McKinney told the Atlanta newspaper.

McKinney's father, on live television, blamed his daughter's campaign problems on "J-E-W-S," spelling out the word.

There is also speculation Cynthia McKinney could run for the U.S. Senate in 2004 when Democrat Zell Miller, who called McKinney's comments about 9/11 "looney" comes up for re-election.

According to her campaign website, "Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney is going through all the letters and e-mails asking her to continue the struggle, to run again, to run for the U.S. Senate. Shortly, there will be an announcement on this button."

During this term in the House, McKinney has served on the House Armed Services and International Relations committees.

[xeno]

She also achieved special recognition last month in Roll Call's anonymous survey of Congressional staffers as the "dumbest member of Congress" (and that's saying something!)

[Paul Atreides]

You lost, Cynthia. Get over it.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Tuesday, attorney Mike Raffauf, who is representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, indicated he would be satisfied with a new election, but refused to comment any further.

Just keep holding elections until your candidate wins. Sounds pretty familiar.

[Judith Anne]

Is she still physically IN her Congressional office? I predict that she'll have to be bodily removed when the time comes...

[MistrX]

I think Algore just found his running mate!

[martin_fierro]

Seriously (seriesly?)!! <|:)~

Barbara Boxer must've given her some pretty stiff competition.

[DWSUWF]

"...McKinney's supporters claim Republicans engaged in a "malicious crossover" when they voted in the Democratic primary and in doing so, ensured McKinney's defeat. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, seeks to have the Republican crossover declared unconstitutional..."

We're almost at the point where something must be done to deal with these utterly lawless traitors.

[South40]

[AmishDude]

Do you have a link to that? I'd really like to search the archives. I'd heard Washingtonian magazine does a similar poll, or is this the same one?

[ladtx]

There needs to be a nationwide push by the RNC highlighting the Democrat effort to void elections, disregard election laws, importing voters from other states etc. The Dems need to be shown what they truly are, anti-Americans. No right thinking American would pull the stunts they are pulling just because they are in a panic mode over the November elections. It would be nice to see some TV ads showing all their shenanigans all over the country. When I make RNC chairman I'll make sure I do that.

[xeno]

Yes, seriously. Roll Call runs this staff survey every year or so, asking about the worst member to work for (I think Arlen Specter won that one this time), dumbest member, smartest member etc. I will look for a link to post.

[XJarhead]

The lawsuit claims the crossover voting violated the Voting Rights Act by denying African-American voters the right to elect the candidate of their choice.

"To elect the candidate of their choice"? You brainless fools, the Voting Rights Act only gives you the right to vote for the candidate of your choice.

Federal courts are generally reluctant to award sanctions for the filing of a frivolous lawsuit, but I'd hope that the judge here would invoke Rule 11 and nail the lawyer who signed his name to that pleading. It's a disgrace.

[expatguy]

Can someone please explain this in layman's terms.

[Saundra Duffy]

Republicans engaged in a "malicious crossover"

I hope to shout!

[Sally II]

Jeez! what is the deal with the Leftists? First Gore, then Reno, now McKinney. I find it chilling that we've had so many people on the left REFUSING to accept defeat through the voting process. I thought this stuff only happened in the third world.

[KineticKitty]

What is it about these people that keep them from recognizing the American people's final decision(vote)? Gee, Don't like the results? fight it! I wonder if her office will be in worse shape than the white house when clinton/gore left? < /sarcasm>

[RoseofTexas]

MAN! These RATS don't know when to quit! Put some ice on it YOU RAT!

[expatguy]

Seriously, is this some kind of sick joke?

[southernnorthcarolina]

Gee, wouldn't it be a shame if the McKinney supporters were so disgruntled that they stayed home on November 5 and failed to turn out for Senator Max Cleland? Saxby Chambliss is getting within striking distance there; an upset isn't out of the question...

[Toidylop]

Don't think for a minute these actions sound ridiculous. I had been tried in Floriduh, and now successfully done in New Jersey, the RATs think it ought to be done everywhere else. Surprised!!!

[meenie]

The Democrat voters were disenfranchised by the action of the terroble Republicans. This has as much legal principle as the New Jersey Supremes had. No principle. I hope the Georgia Supremes have more integrity than they have in New Jersey. The United States Supreme Court is going to be sorry they didn't take the New Jersey case. We are going to have these imaginative cases until the Supreme Court does rule on one.

[Toidylop]

Oops... "I It had been tried ..."

[Paul Atreides]

Oh please, please, please let that come true!

[Judith Anne]

I just had a mental image of it....;-D

[snarkpup]

There needs to be a nationwide push by the RNC highlighting the Democrat effort to void elections, disregard election laws, ...

Here in California, we have had trouble for several years with the Democrat Party using the courts to void the outcome of ballot propositions with which they disagree. Up until Algore, they were only brazen enough to do this with propositions. They're now doing this routinely in the election of persons.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Cynthia is a Loser! L-O-S-E-R.

[jz638]

Oops... "I It had been tried ..."

Don't worry, the courts will overturn that last post.

[Tacis]

Well, I'm backing Congresswoman McKinney on this one. She is a brave and righteous member and her district and the nation need her. All of us in her district know that a wrong has been done her and hope that she will out trick them and retain her rightful place.

Congresswoman, please, please, do not leave us!! Fight the good fight and stay to help us!!! Run as a Green!! Don't let the whites and that other group (ask your father) run you off like a toothless old dog. Stay and fight!!

If you run as the Green candidate, there will be so many crossovers from the Republicans, who knpw you've been done wrong, and your people who know how hard you work for them. Don't be a quitter!! Stay and fight!! (Think about all the things you'll be leaving behind, all the things you've come to love and value.) "Reelect Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney!! Candidate of the Green Party!!!"

[DWSUWF]

"...Don't think for a minute these actions sound ridiculous..."

Well, they are 'ridiculous' in the purely definitive sense, i.e., being "an action deserving to be ridiculed".

But they must be taken seriously, I agree.

We are moving into that part of the struggle where the enemy's tactics are becoming increasingly surreal, increasingly divorced from anything resembling reality.

The aftermath of the 2000 Presidential election marked the moment at which we crossed the line, and reached the point of no return.

It stopped being 'whether' and became 'when' at that point.

[afuturegovernor]

Gee, open primaries aren't as fun when your the one getting screwed.

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[RabidBartender]

Regardless, the average intelligence of Congress will go up expotentially on January 20 when the Anti-Semite is unseated.

[Toidylop]

It stopped being 'whether' and became 'when' at that point

You're absolutely right. If the 2000 election and these early voting irregularities frauds in Minnesocold, South Dakota are any indication, it's gonna be an open season in November 5th.

God help us.

[Explorer89]

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution analyzed the 68,612 votes cast for Majette and found that no more than 3,118 of the voters clearly identified themselves as registered Republicans.

What is wrong with this picture? When I go to the primary polls, I am handed the ballot for my party. How could a REGISTERED Republican vote in the Dem primary? Secondly, when I turn my ballot in, I'm under the impression that it is anonymous. How do they know which vote corresponds to which voter? (did the voters sign it saying: I'm a registered Republican?) Help me, I'm confused here....

[Marysecretary]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH!!!!!!!!

[capitan_refugio]

That's quite an accomplishment, considering she had Shiela Jackson Lee of Houston and Maxine Waters of "South Central" LA as competition! Whe it comes to dumb, let's just call Cynthia the "primus inter pares" (first among equals).

[hewhowaits]

that would be sweet. hehe

[capitan_refugio]

A little melodramatic, don't you think? ;^)

[DWSUWF]

"...Regardless, the average intelligence of Congress will go up expotentially on January 20 when the Anti-Semite is unseated..."

LOL!

She'll leave. She's a cowardly, stupid sack of crap who hasn't the starch to stand and fight.

But a time IS coming when some democrat traitor won't submit to the results of a legal process or election, and will stand openly against the Constitution and the people.

It very nearly happened with algore...

We came nearer during those days to something terrible than most people will ever know.

Open conflict didn't happen that time, but it will come if the traitors don't capitulate.

And what would you calculate are the odds of that?

[xeno]

I will never forget watching CSPAN coverage of a committee hearing Cynthia McKinney was in and a Republican said something she disagreed with. Instead of coming back with a cogent rebuttal, she shouted "Shutup!" and then the Committee had to have a big discussion on whether or not to take "the gentlelady's" words down. :-)

[frnewsjunkie]

When I voted in Ga in the primaries, they asked which ballot I wanted... Republican or Democrat. It is legal and upfront in Ga to be a registered Republican and ask for a democratic ballot in the primaries. It is also legal for the democrats to ask for a Republican ballot... and they have done that in the past. The dems just don't like it done to them.

I am a registered Republican, and those at the table serving on election day would know if I asked for a Democrat ballot.

[capitan_refugio]

It is the law in Georgia that in a primary election, a registered voter can ask for the ballot of their choice, regardless of registration. In Ms. McKinney's (former) district, there is little doubt that the Democrat will win in a two-way race, due to the overwhelming democratic registration. However, when faced with another strong Democrat candidate in the primary, the anti-semitic and race-baiting McKinney felt the wrath of the more-or-less disenfranchised Republican minorty, which turned out in numbers to unseat her. It is estimated (based on the turnout difference in the Republican primary of 2002 vs 2000), that thousands of Republicans voted for McKinney's opponent (an African-American feamle judge), rather than for a candidate in their own primary.

California tried this voting scheme a few years ago and it was liked by neither major party. I can't remember if the Legislature or a court got rid of it, but it's gone now. As a matter of fact, the California Republican Party seriously considered going back to a Party Convention to choose the candidates and quitting the "cross-over" primary system completely.

[capitan_refugio]

"Shut up!" I thought that was Maxine Waters!

[1L]

Help me, I'm confused here....

Texas has open primaries. I can go to either (D or R) primary and vote, and I'm not registered to any party. I don't know if Georgia has this specific way of working things, but open primaries usually mean you can go to one or the other and make the decision of which one to go to every primary.

[FreeTally]

Can someone please explain this in layman's terms.

Georgia, as well as other State, have an open primary system. Dems can vote in Republican pirmaries, and Reps. can vote in Democrat primaries. This system has been ruled to be legal many times, many moons ago by the SCOTUS. Georgia is a former Jim Crow state, so it is unquestionable whether their system is legal(the feds had to approve it).

This is a frivolous lawsuit that will be throwm out. There is no legal question at hand. The attorney and plaintifs are counting on the court not invoking Rule 11 sanctions.

[libertysdaughter]

???? Why do they even have to request a ballot of one particular party? Here there is one ballot, all parties and we vote one or the other in the primary. Isn't it too intrusive privacy-wise to have to state up front what party you are from? Why is it anyone's business?

[xeno]

She's probably said it in "debates" too! LOL

[Brian Allen]

<< She also achieved special recognition last month in Roll Call's anonymous survey of Congressional staffers as the "dumbest member of Congress" (and that's saying something!) >>

I guess it's back to: "Would Y'All like fries wid dat?" and "Y'All hurry back, Y'All hear!" For her.

Although for my money, she's too darned stupid for dat, too.

So maybe United Airlines'll hire her as a "pilot" on its affirmative action "aircrew" program?

[xeno]

I dont know, check out this excerpt from her very own webpage! Sounds impressive [/sarcasm]:

"In just nine years, Cynthia Ann McKinney, Georgia's first African-American Congresswoman and the only woman serving in the state's congressional delegation, has emerged as an internationally renowned advocate for voting rights, human rights and the strengthening of business ties between Africa and the United States. She is known as a passionate, intelligent, charismatic and effective member of the House of Representatives."