Posted on 07/30/2006 5:15:18 AM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom
In a few precincts of American politics, voters still applaud the utterly futile gesture of defiance, the confrontational rhetoric that pleases only true believers, the fist shaken in the face of an opponent who neither notices nor cares. Apparently, such empty gestures — signs of impotence, really — have come to be seen as "speaking truth to power."
That helps to explain the remaining, if faltering, appeal of U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.), whose supporters are nothing if not naïve. They have turned Theodore Roosevelt's maxim — "Speak softly and carry a big stick" — upside down.
McKinney speaks loudly but has accomplished little in her 12 years in Congress. That's because her outrageous rhetoric and loopy antics distance her not only from the Republican majority, but even from many of her Democratic colleagues. She has few allies.
That number grew yet smaller after her most recent controversy, a very public imbroglio prompted by a March skirmish with a Capitol police officer. He says he didn't recognize her; she was wearing a new hairstyle but was without the lapel pin usually worn by members of Congress. When he stopped her, the officer said, she slugged him with her cellphone. She denounced him for alleged racial profiling and "the inappropriate touching and stopping of me — a female, black congresswoman."
While the regrettable episode further endeared her to that dwindling population which sees such incidents as proof of her cojones, it reminded many colleagues — and constituents — that she is a public official who tends more toward cheap theatrics than common sense. It's no wonder she finds herself struggling to retain her 4th District seat, consigned to an Aug. 8 runoff with former DeKalb County Commissioner Hank Johnson.
Elected as the first black congresswoman from Georgia in 1992, the so-called year of the woman, she started out well enough. She picked her battles wisely, attended to the needs of her district and took up a long-neglected cause or two, including working-class Georgians who had been exploited by the kaolin industry.
But she frittered away her promise, recklessly playing the race card and picking fights not only with opponents but also with those who should have been allies. In 1997, when she was challenged by John Mitnick, a Jewish Republican, she allowed her father, a spokesman for her campaign, to engage in blatant anti-Semitism. In 2000, her Web site posted her inflammatory analysis of Al Gore as having a low "Negro tolerance level."
But it was in the aftermath of the terrorist atrocities of Sept. 11 that she gained national prominence with reckless and paranoid pronouncements. She suggested that President Bush had known in advance about the Sept. 11 attacks but did nothing to stop them so his friends could profit from the ensuing war. That proved too much for her constituents, who dumped her for Denise Majette, a former judge. McKinney won the seat back two years ago, after Majette chose not to seek re-election but to try for the U.S. Senate, instead.
In the July 18 Democratic primary, she couldn't rouse enough support to win 50 percent outright against two opponents — a poor showing indeed for any incumbent. While political observers believe most whites will support her black opponent in the run-off, a lot of her middle-class black constituents are tired of her, too.
McKinney still has her supporters. Last week, former U.N. Ambassador Andy Young (who ought to know better) endorsed her. A week earlier, a McKinney fan sent an e-mail broadside protesting my criticism of the congresswoman: "You guys [are] against someone who is vocal against injustice in all forms everywhere! You all have been co-opted by the stinking system."
But what changes to the "stinking system" has McKinney wrought? She doesn't have the prestige or power to pass a resolution in support of sweetened ice tea.
By contrast, her colleague, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who represents Georgia's 5th District, has the moral authority to get things done. He, too, is a vocal critic of the invasion of Iraq. He, too, has frequently disagreed with the policies of President Bush. He, too, is a Democrat — a member of the minority party. But when Lewis threw his determined efforts behind extension of the Voting Rights Act, it passed.
It's the difference between infamy and influence.
I certainly hope that Cynthia McKinney wins. Every FReeper should hope that she wins.
When Tucker hits one, she hits it out of the park.
Your publicly admitting to helping the Democrats is duly noted.
Put McKinney in dirty clothes on any street corner in her district (or any other district, for that matter). She could wander about mumbling the same things that she says in office -- and nobody would doubt that she deserves a "crazy check" from the gubmint.
Ms. McKinney holding a "Will Play Race Card for Food" sign.
If they can see thru her, then why did they elect her in the first place?
Shelia Jackson-Lee?
vaudine
Voters can see through mckinney? You mean through that big hole and all of that empty space?
MURTHA
By contrast, her colleague, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who represents Georgia's 5th District, has the moral authority to get things done. He, too, is a vocal critic of the invasion of Iraq. He, too, has frequently disagreed with the policies of President Bush. He, too, is a Democrat — a member of the minority party. But when Lewis threw his determined efforts behind extension of the Voting Rights Act, it passed.
Which is precisely why Cynthia MUST STAY.
Go, Cynthia, go!!!
I'm of the opinon that every Freeper should probably send $50 to CYNTHIA.
1) Everybody know's she's a nutjob. Just about anyone would be better for the Democrats than Cynthia.
2) She's entertaining.
The voters are silly when it comes to her:
"Cynthia McKinney's political career can be traced to 1986, when she won 40% of the popular vote when her father, state representative Billy McKinney, submitted her name as a write-in candidate for a Georgia state house district, despite the fact that she lived in Jamaica at the time."
http://www.house.gov/mckinney/bio.htm
The Senate will still have Patty ("Osama bin Laden did good before he attacked us") Murray and the Congress will still have Barney Fag and that d-ckhead from New York with the big hair. Plenty of laughs for normal people.
She can get together with Mel Gibson and Hate Jews together.
Wow if Cynthia Tucker (the ultra-liberal columnist) is against Cynthia McKinney, than McKinney doesn't have a chance.
You said: Bear with me here: I think a Cynthia re-election is not necessarily bad for Republicans. First of all, even if she loses, she will be replaced by another Democrat. And Hank seems like a nice soft spoken guy. He will get nowhere near the press coverage that Cynthia gets. And when the press covers Cynthia, it's good for Republicans and bad for Democrats. Every time she opens her mouth, she projects an image of pettiness, racism, sarcasm and incompetence. In my opinion, she's a great poster child for the Democrats.
***
I agree with all you said, but I disagree with your conclusion. For democrats everything is about partisan politics, winning for one's party. For conservatives, and most Republicans, that may be an important concept, but not the controlling one. I WANT a Congress consisting of the best of both parties at articulating their relative positions because I believe that conservative policies, fairly and effectively argued, will prevail. Liberal policies, fairly articulated, fall of their own weight in most instances. I don't care to see tantrums thrown in around Congress by members of either party. It demeans the process, and, sadly, convinces some on the fringes based not on rational considerations, but on emotion and invective. McKinney should lose because she is a loser. If that means a more-qualified Dem gets the slot, all the better... for everyone.
Well said..
This is a clearly diagnosed case of the lesser to two weevils...
...Which is exactly how we got Denise Majette four years ago...Many 'Pubbies actually crossed-over for the primary to elect Majette in July... The only reason McKrazy was re-relected two years ago -- was Majette thought she could defeat Sen. Johnny Isakson state-wide...(mis-s-s-s-take)...
Johnson is a solid guy... sooo much more than the Cop-puncher....
Maybe I will send him $75... it's a good investment for the REST of the country... and indeed will do YOU a favor by taking out the trash...
FYI The 4th --It's gonna be a DIM until the demographic... or minds-&-hearts --or district lines change... (none of these likely this time around!)
Have a great day!
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