CYNTHIA MCKINNEY JUST APOLOGIZED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR

[MADem]

"I am sorry that it happened at all, I regret its' escalation, and I apologize."

Just happened, video coverage on MSNBC.

She's wisely trying to put this behind her. She indicated she would vote for that "PRAISE THE CAP POLICE" measure the GOP is putting up.

ON EDIT: A Proper Link-- http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060406/ap_on_go_co/mckinney_scuffle;_ylt=Ai0wmuwaUpRPwVesubPu8uUGw_IE;_ylu=X3oDMTA4NGRzMjRtBHNlYwMxNjk5

"There should not have been any physical contact in this incident," McKinney said in brief remarks on the House floor. "I am sorry that this misunderstanding happened at all and I regret its escalation and I apologize."

McKinney's comments came after the case had been referred to a federal grand jury for possible prosecution.

...The officer, whose name has not been made public, has said he asked McKinney three times to stop. She did not.....The incident has embarrassed Democrats, including fellow members of the Congressional Black Caucus, none of whom have publicly defended her behavior in the March 29 incident.......

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. Good. Case closed. We've got more important things to celebrate!

[paul_fromatlanta]

13. You really ought to see the tape before you say that

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

16. She just flatly apologized.

Case closed, let's move on.

[paul_fromatlanta]

17. Have you seen the tape?

[Nederland]

20. What tape?

Is there a tape of the incident?

[paul_fromatlanta]

22. There is an (unreleased) tape of the incident but I meant the "apology"

[MADem]

27. I watched it--she had the CBC around her, and Sheila Jackson Lee

was watching her like a HAWK. My sense is that she was given the word by the CBC and the Dem leadership that with all that is happening, it AIN'T ABOUT HER. Take one for the team, and GET OVER IT. That was my sense, others' mileage may vary.

I also heard that Terrence Gainer is still on the Hill, he hasn't left yet. He knows how to be diplomatic; I'm wondering if the whole Grand Jury business will just go away at this point, and the incident will be filed under "Misunderstanding; mutual regrets; NEVER MIND."

[paul_fromatlanta]

18. A fake apology where she still blames the cops is worse than none at all

[Orrex]

42. I agree

"I'm sorry that this misunderstanding happened at all and I regret its escalation, and I apologize. There should not have been any physical contact in this incident."

Does she apologize for (allegedly) striking the officer? No.
Does she take responsibility for any incorrect action? No.
Does she apologize for its escalation? No--she merely "regrets" it.

She does say "I apologize," but she doesn't identify the action for which she is apologizing. She's a smart woman and she knows what she's saying--she carefully and deliberately avoided an explicit and specific apology.

We hear that she's sorry that the "misunderstanding happened" and for "its escalation," as if the (alleged) striking of an officer is a misunderstanding and as if the subsequent frenzy would have occurred had she not (allegedly) struck him.

Her apology should have been a straightforward admission of and apology for her fault.

Instead, her apology was almost worthy of a Republican.

Imagine Delay saying of his massive corruption "I'm sorry that this misunderstanding occurred and I regret its multi-million dollar escalation. There should not have been any wrong-doing in this incident."

Would we forgive the esteemed Rep. Delay in the face of such sincere contrition?


A note before flaming: I am not equating McKinney's actions with Delay's. Instead, I am considering the likely response if he were to offer a similarly flaccid apology.

:popcorn:

[ProudDad]

74. I thought this was a "liberal" list

Does she apologize for striking the officer? Why the fuck should she?

Does she take responsibility for any incorrect action? Why should she, it's the rent-a-pig's job to KNOW who the congress people are!

Does she apologize for its escalation? Why the fuck should she? Of course she regrets losing control in the face of yet another act by a pig that could on the face of it be considered racist and sexist. Of course, being black and female in racist amerika she's expected to exercise 100 times more self control at all times than those of you who are white and male. Believe me, I'm sure the cop would have acted differently with a different "vibe" if she'd been white and male!

Did any of you "liberals" ever consider IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN HER "FAULT"????

Jeez, no wonder the dems have lost so many elections lately...turn on your own.

[ProudDad]

73. FTP

I'd take the word of one Cynthia over a 1000 pig-cops!

Damn!

[Orrex]

80. "Pig-cops"

It's clear that you have considered this issue with great clarity of vision and without clouding your judgment by frenzied passion.

Bravo to you for keeping your razor-keen wits about you.


on edit: :sarcasm:

[ProudDad]

81. I've just seen them in action

from the inside. I know what liers they can be...

Did you ever consider that SHE may have been in the right, a fellow progressive in the right, against a COP???



on edit: Your obvious grasp of the way the system works so surpasses mine :sarcasm:

[Orrex]

83. I've seen them in action, too

I'm sorry that you've had negative experiences. I've known cops who've taken a bullet for a civilian or who've reached into a burning car to save a child. I suppose these noble officers would be dismissed either as "rare exceptions" or "just doing their jobs." At least, in every other discussion I've had with advocates of the "all cops are bad" mentality, those are the disclaimers I hear most often.

Did I ever consider if McKinney was in the right? Well, ask the question this way:

"Was McKinney correct to strike an officer who sought to detain her from passing through security before being cleared?"

Certainly I do not. If any guy on the street had tried the same thing, had been physically detained, and had struck the detaining officer, I suspect that few people here would rise to his defense. The fact that McKinney is a member of congress really isn't central--if anything, she should obey the rules more stringently than the average citizen.

on edit: Your obvious grasp of the way the system works so surpasses mine

Maybe, maybe not. What is clear is that you have decided that cops are always in the wrong and that anyone who resists the cops is always in the right.

[ProudDad]

85. I didn't say that

I said that I take a cop's word with a grain of salt.

They are trained to twist the truth into a pretzel if necessary to "make a case". They do it very well when charging people or when trying to drag out a "confession".

I say that I'd take Cynthia McKinney's word of events over any cop, any day, unless there's significant proof otherwise. That's a built in 'liberal/radical' bias from a member of the movement reinforced often over the last few decades of struggle and observation!

From the accounts I've read, she didn't "strike the officer". From the accounts I've read he was calling out at her, she had NO reason to think that he was calling her since she belonged there and was proceeding along the SAME way other congresspeople do and suddenly she was grabbed from behind and she reacted with one hand that happened to contain a cell phone.

She was breaking NO laws. SHe was breaking no RULES. She was ELECTED to be there for dog's sake! The cop could have called out some more but grabbed instead.

The FIRST question an alleged "left-leaning Democrat" should ask is what supports the contention that it was an honest mistake on her part and not calling it a goddamn assault that merits criminal proceedings!

[Orrex]

86. "alleged left-leaning Democrat"

I am greatly pleased whenever that accusation is made against me, because my accuser has thereby declared outright that he or she has no argument and/or no means to support an argument. Instead, my "liberalness" is attacked in predictably juvenile fashion.

Should I spraypaint a police car for you? Should I moon a Conservative? Should I take a dump on the PNAC Manifesto? What, in your glowingly liberal mind, would qualify me as sufficiently liberal to hold a view differing from yours?

To be honest, I don't care. I've read enough of your posts on this and other subjects to comprehend that your view can be entirely summed up by the subject line you used elswhere this thread: FTP. That is the extent of your argument, and you've given no better articulation of it than that three-letter abbreviation.

If there is no rule requiring a person to stop when a cop calls out to him or her, then why are the cops there? Window-dressing? One would hope that the cops are empowered to take some action when a person ignores security protocols. There's a security guard in my office who knows everyone in the building by name, but if you don't show your ID badge, he can throw you out onto the pavement. Do you propose that the halls of congress should have more relaxed standards than a standard office building?

Incidentally, the first question anyone should ask is "Did she strike the officer?" Thereafter we can discuss the circumstances and whether or not she was justified.

[ProudDad]

88. You're right

the FIRST question should have been "did she strike the officer".

Everything I've read says "no". Everything I've read says coupled with my knowledge about the racist stew that this nation is coupled with the frustrating environment the Congress must be in the hands of the Fascists in charge, that what she did was at worst a reaction to just one more provocation while she's just minding her own business walking by the metal detectors as every other CongressPerson does.

I am also not stupid or as simplistic as you might hope I am. By FTP I don't mean spray paint their cars (that's a silly straw man you've created to try to discredit my actual arguments...naughty, naughty:)). I mean that any Progressive person who trusts the cops is crazy and bound to be disappointed when the rubber meets the road. The cops are the paramilitary, regressive force that's gonna round us all up for the concentration camps if the fascists now in power continue the way they're going.

You're among the only people I've read in these threads to make this obvious query though. That's very sad to me. It was the FIRST thing I thought upon hearing about this incident. Most of the anti-Cynthia posters seem to have a knee-jerk love for cops.

As for my "alleged left-leaning Democrat" remark, I guess it's because my experience of "left-leaning Democrats" over the last 4+ decades has been that they have uniformly had a distrust of the police -- for good reason.

[guinivere]

60. Right you are, Vash.

At last, time to move on.

[sojourner]

2. good girl.

but i love her spunk - and i know that she's doing this for the greater good NOT because she feels sorry. so the words have to have been hard for her to say. proud of her, i am.

[400Years]

3. yeah, yah, we know, but LIBBY JUST FINGERED BUSH

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x859781

[MADem]

6. She was smart to get this over with--we need to get back to our agenda

http://www.cnn.com/

CNN has it on their top banner. MSNBC just had video of the apology.

[AX10]

4. Good for her. Case closed.

This Libby news has just taken the heat off of her.

[etherealtruth]

5. This is "good news" indeed.

Regardless of what happened, this incident has been grossly blown out of proportion. This will hopefully be put to rest now.

[RufusEarl]

7. About time!

[Fridays Child]

8. You know that the GOP doesn't want it to end here.

Why do I think that Tweety will let the McKinney issue take up his whole show, never mind that Libby just tossed a political grenade into the Oval Office? :eyes:

[win_in_06]

38. and they won't allow it to end here. They will ride this pony all the way

to the rodeo.

[paul_fromatlanta]

9. And damn was it ever insincere and fake - she blamed the police

saying there should have been no contact in this case.

I've changed my mind. If she still doesn't get it after all this then I now support prosecution but only on a misdemeanor to teach her a lesson about hittin cops and obeying security rules.

[MADem]

14. Did you see Sheila Jackson Lee to her right???

Sheila was right there beside her, for "moral support," but Sheila also looked like she wasn't gonna have ANY MORE of this shit. It's all about the AGENDA!

SJL is one tough cookie--she knows how it's done. And she knows how to get it done, too.

[paul_fromatlanta]

15. No I missed that but I have it Tivoed ..Ill rewind

[Lostnote06]

21. I thought that she was twisting her arm...lol...n/t

[MADem]

25. That's my impression, too

I find a LOT to like about SJL--they say she is a TERROR to work for, but she gets it DONE. I think it's one of those cases where, if she were male, they'd say she was decisive...but being female, they use that B word. The staffers that stick with her are intensely loyal; the ones that can't cut it don't like the long hours and the hard work.

[MADem]

23. NO contact could just as easily mean she shouldn't have gone after

the cop with her cellphone.

I thought Terrence Gainer had already left the Hill, I found out today he is still there doing turnover. I have a feeling that, in addition to the Dem caucus insisting on getting past this, he worked with the CBC and others to get this thing wrapped up and over with from the Cap Police side--it's the sort of quiet diplomacy he excels at.

[Catrina]

44. This may be a completely foreign thought to you, but has the possibility

occurred to you that she did not admit to any wrongdoing on her part, because there was none?

As far as your wish to take out one our best Congresswomen when it comes to speaking the truth in Congress, I think you'll get it. She has been targeted and they need a distraction more than ever now that Libby has fingered Bush as the leaker.

I think outing a covert agent, who was working on tracking WMD that might make their way here, and whose work on behalf of our national security was stopped by the leaker (who we are now being told is the president himself) should evoke some of the same passion for prosecution directed at Ms. McKinney, for impeachment hearings to begin immediately.

Those same Dems who were 'embarrassed' by this little event, will surely be screaming for hearings to determine if the POTUS actually did commit this very serious crime, before the day is over! :sarcasm:

[ProudDad]

75. Thank you Catrina!

I thought all sanity had left the building for a while.

[radio4progressives]

46. Cynthia Should have Done a Dick Cheney on this one..

She should have shot him in the face with a hunting rifle, and then joked about it. then everyone here on DU would forgive her for her HORRIBLE CRIME of "assaulting" the security officer who came up from behind her and manhandled her.

[flashdebadge]

10. bout time....is it sincere? I doubt it. Only done for the grand jury.

[MADem]

19. If she can't get a fair hearing with a DC grand jury, she has woes

Because of the makeup of the population of the District, the GJs are predominantly composed of Americans of African ancestry, many females, many retired from civil service. The demographics favor her if she is going to claim racism or sexism.

I think Sheila Jackson Lee TOLD her to get her ass up to the mike and apologize, so that the Democrats can get back to the agenda, and not have to deal with this distraction. SJL was right there to her right, watching CAREFULLY...and truth to tell, the way her apology was worded, it really sounded like it was coming out of SJL's rather savvy and experienced staff.

[Ian David]

11. Call today: Resolution commedning Dick Cheney's Secret Service Detail

Call today: Resolution commedning Dick Cheney's Secret Service Detail

I just called Rep. Stephen Lynch to suggest a resolution to commend Dick Cheney's Secret Service detail for keeping local authorities from interviewing him for 16 hours after getting drunk and shooting a man in the face.

I suggest we all call our various Congress-critters and do the same:

Congress:

202-224-3121
888-818-6641
800-426-8073

Cynthia McKinney should have just gotten drunk and shot the guy in the face.

They would have given her 16 hours to sober-up before the cops could talk to her, and then the whole thing would have gone away.

She could have said she thought he was a quail.

And then the cop would have apologized.

And she would be making jokes about it at the Grid Iron Club.

Almost as funny as, "Those WMDs have gotta be somewhere..."

[radio4progressives]

47. "Cynthia McKinney should have just gotten drunk and shot the guy"..

Cynthia McKinney should have just gotten drunk and shot the guy in the face.

:rofl: You beat me to it, like minds :hi:

and all the racists dittoheads here who are obsessively "outraged" by Cynthia - notice I don't see any OUTRAGE from THEM over this administrations MURDEROUS policies, where REAL LIVES are in jeopardy.

all these dittoheads have infiltrated our message board and should go push their racists agenda somewhere else.

[Ian David]

48. She wasn't attacked for being black. She was attacked for being christian

[radio4progressives]

49. Right, .. Cynthia is a Poster Child Victim on the War against Christians.

[Lostnote06]

12. LMAO....xoxo Madaam Congress Lady....NOW kick their Ass...

....did the Dems stress the importance of avoiding trivial publicity OR was she a "plant" to in the end place her in the forefront of events now unfolding wrt Bush/Cheney/Iraq , bearing in mind that she "emotionally" (publically) backed up many of our disbelief re:2000/911 to now...I base all of my arguements upon her new hairstyle...of course I'm prejudiced because I think that she is a "hottie"....Truly a Jordanesqe event....God Bless You Barbara xoxoxo

[bowens43]

24. I hope this puts an end to it........

[DURHAM D]

26. I have a question about the House Police officers -

Is it still a patronage job? They used to be.

In other words, do the police owe their allegiance to the party that controls the House?

Maybe they have fixed this problem in the aftermath of 9/11 and national security.

[Lostnote06]

28. good question D.....I haven't a clue

[MADem]

29. I know a few of them, or used to

They are careerists, by and large. They watch the tides of D's and R's go in and out. You have to take a test to get in. It doesn't pay enormously, but it is steady work. http://www.fedquest.com/opmrefs/tei51.htm

[Lostnote06]

30. ...Have you ever held public office?

.....I thought about doing a Sinclair Lewis and apply for a roadkill pick up position however I didn't have the money to hire a consultant to cover up my unsavory past...I enjoyed the Studs Terkyll remark the other evening (John Stewart), something to the effect that Delay was returning to private service to serve the same people that he served in public service....Studs/Byrd....now thats the ticket...lol

[MADem]

31. No, but in the context of my work, years back, I'd go up to the Hill

periodically. Budget shit, mostly...

[Lostnote06]

32. ...are you familiar with financial bonding issues?.....

...the reason I ask, my State of mind (ky)is proceeding ahead with its largest bond in State history....Healthcare/Research are imo are at odds with each other....advice is being sought....lol

[MADem]

33. No, my area was HASC and SASC issues

For several years, if they dealt with it, I had to deal with it. Major pain in the ass!

[Lostnote06]

34. Thanks for the reply....Although I haven't a clue as to the meaning of

... the alphabetical titles..lol....my question, what is the offset between bond and Wall St dividend?....Rate of return so to speak...best wishes....btw are you a "big digger" or monorail kind of person...lol

[MADem]

35. House and Senate Armed Services Committees (HASC/SASC)

I'm a total dunce on high finance, my expertise was schmoozing for programs and bouncing numbers around to try to maximize what we could get...I was reasonably successful at it.

The wonderful thing is, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter! It was interesting work, it was hard work, and despite offers, I never caught Potomac Fever. I was never even tempted, really. When I decided I was done, I was DONE--you never get enough sleep doing that kind of crap, and you look at a calendar, and realize way too much time has gone by and your family is growing up, getting older, and living beats slaving. And ya can't get lost time back!

[Lostnote06]

36. Congressman Hal Rogers?...3 weeks ago went public with

......their plans to place a 300 million dollar Bio Med Research ctr in his home district....the kinda guy that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy....thanks for reply....I know I've gone off topic

[Freddie Stubbs]

41. They have a civil service system like any city police force

[beaconess]

43. No - Capitol Police are civil service, career jobs

Not political.

[Karenina]

59. ...

March 7, 2006

Gainer’s resignation could have ‘chilling effect’
By Jackie Kucinich

The sudden retirement of Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer, who stepped down Friday after allegations of nepotism surfaced, is raising numerous questions that remain unanswered.

Jim Pasco, executive director of the national Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), questioned the validity of the nepotism charge against Gainer, explaining that law enforcement has a “proud tradition” of having several members of a family serve on the same force.
“Generations go into the same department,” he said. “All federal agencies have fathers, sons, daughters serving together.”
He speculated that Gainer’s assertive leadership on national-security issues could have offended members of Congress and staff who might have reacted by trying to push him out.
“Gainer was an extraordinarily articulate chief and shortly became the go-to guy on national-security issues,” Pasco said. “There was a certain amount of jealousy of that.”

During the past few years, Gainer repeatedly clashed with some congressional appropriators over budget proposals, which many House members considered extravagant. Last year, House members of the Appropriations Committee stripped the Capitol Police of its mounted horse unit.

http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/030706/gainer.html

====

Capitol Police Chief Resigns
Gainer Appointed In 2002

POSTED: 11:22 pm EST March 3, 2006
UPDATED: 10:25 am EST March 4, 2006

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer said he has resigned after there were objections to the hiring of his son-in-law on the police force.

Gainer told a local radio station that he did not intend to break any law. But he said "the law was pretty clear: One of the two of us had to go." Gainer says his son-in-law is quitting the force as well.

The U.S. Capitol police force is in charge of protecting the 535 members of Congress as well as about 200 square blocks around the Capitol building.

(snip)

http://www.nbc4.com/news/7667663/detail.html

====

Kathy Patterson Needs to Deal With Terrance Gainer
David F. Power

(snip) However, there is at least one thing she can do immediately: start oversight of the MPD's unlawful activities relating to the Presidential Inauguration.

Executive Assistant Police Chief Terrance Gainer seems particularly out of control. Gainer's concept of how to police legal protests is confused. Gainer's approach is bound to cost D.C. taxpayers millions of dollars in damages, unless Ms. Patterson can quickly steer the MPD to get appropriate legal advice. For example, Gainer admitted that MPD has sent undercover casual clothes officers into private residences to attend and report on private meetings of D.C. citizens. When one of the private citizens objected publicly to the Post, Gainer told the Post, “It would seem to me that these so-called peaceful groups are doing counterintelligence work . . . . What nefarious things are they up to that they need to keep tabs on police?”

Gainer should have consulted legal counsel (if MPD has any) before sending police agents into private residences to listen and report on private conversations concerning lawful citizen activity protected and encouraged by the first amendment. Any law student who has covered the first and fourth amendments will recognize that Gainer admitted to a per se violation of civil rights. The FBI was forced to adopt specific rules against exactly what Gainer allowed his snitches to do: police and FBI have no lawful right to breach the privacy of a private residence or private conversations in a private residence without a warrant and without probable cause to believe that a criminal act is being committed. Sending police agents into private homes with instructions to remain unidentified specifically in order to breach the privacy of conversations about political activities is a blatant violation of the first and fourth amendments. Civil rights statutes permit and encourage private citizens to seek monetary damages from state or municipal police agents who engage in that conduct; Gainer's and MPD's actions during the World Bank protests already resulted in multiple lawsuits; the city will suffer substantial financial damage if Gainer is not stopped.

http://www.dcwatch.com/themail/2000/00-12-31.htm

====

[AtomicKitten]

37. done, done, and done

I had an associate's data researcher crunch some numbers of a trend I detected here at DU. I noticed many that supported BBM claimed Crash's theme of racism was "tired," "played out," "done to death," etc. And not to my surprise he found cross-posts of these same DU'ers that were outraged over the "rampant racism" in the McKinney case.

I was going to post the quite voluminous list but decided it I would take hits for being a big meanie in pointing out this widespread hypocrisy here at DU.

I will, however, summarize by saying this. An immoral issue such as racism must never be invoked capriciously by anyone including Ms. McKinney or DU'ers that seek to browbeat others by using it as a punctuation point.

Enough said.

Thank you, Ms. McKinney, for pulling up your socks and doing the right thing. Now we can focus on the smorgasbord of GOP crimes.

[Name removed]

71. Deleted message

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

[Moochy]

72. I agree with this sentence

And in the spirit of Comity I'll only quote that sentence I agree with.

"Now we can focus on the smorgasbord of GOP crimes."

Now you can get back to crunching numbers on DU posters.

creepy.

[laugle]

87. Amen.....I appreciate your thoughts and GREAT IMPULSE CONTROL!

[Janice325]

39. I just watched the tape via your link.

It was kinda funny because to me, it looked like she was surrounded.
I hope this new apology will end some of the "hysteria" so we can start worrying about the much more important ,IMO, things that are going on.
Thanks.

[wordpix2]

84. where's the video? CAn't find it here

[Zhade]

40. Well, the shoot-first-have-a-trial-later folks here will be pleased.

Just one question - still no tape?

[MADem]

45. The GJ hasn't even done their work yet, if there is any, we won't see it

until after that proceeding. If you mean tape of her statement, turn on cable--it is in rotation.

The interesting thing about this whole business is that the likely outcome will be INCREASED scruitiny of Congresspersons, with perhaps something like an RFID chip embedded in their pins, iris scans or fingerprint scans to access the area, or separate entrances or at least separate lines within entrances, as a result of this matter. The whole issue has exposed a security flaw in the system. See, not just the sitting members, the House and the Senate, have those pins, but FORMER reps and Senators also have free run of the joint. That's a shitload of people.

[radio4progressives]

50. Are You Unaware that Half of the Congress Members go around Security every

day? Did you happen to miss that factoid?

[MADem]

51. Uh, yeah, I have been on the Hill, I've seen the procedures

Read my post. The point I am making is that because of this event, the issue she inadvertently raised is that it really is impossible for the Security people to recognize every single face of every living rep or Senator with a pin who still lives and has EVER served. That number is well in excess of 535. Former members routinely visit the Cap, some just to schmooze old pals, some as businessmen, some as lobbyists after the no-contact period has expired. They all bypass Security with their magic pins.

What I am saying is that I expect security measures for sitting and former members to change as a result of this event. That is ALL I am saying.

[radio4progressives]

52. thanks, i'm clear now..

crytsal clear...

[LittleClarkie]

54. How many of them wear their pins do you think?

Why have pins, and indeed why have security, if they're not expected to do their job. I'm sorry she had a "Do you know who I am?!" moment, but when he asked her to stop three times, it probably wouldn't have killed her to stop. And her definition of innappropriate touching appears to be "any touching at all" even a hand on her shoulder.

There are more than 500 Congresspeople and Senators. Should we crucify the cop for not knowing one of them?

She is innocent til proven guilty. But then, so is the cop. It's a he said/she said situation at the mo' until the investigation is over.

Meanwhile, the Republicans are making hay. Thrillsville.

[radio4progressives]

56. This so much reminds me of Rape Cases.. He said/she said

of Course SHE's in the WRONG. of Course SHE is Lying.

That's a given from the begining, we don't need no stinkin facts that just might give more clarity on what really happened.

Naaaawww... we don't need no stinkin evidence.

He's an officer of the law and so therefore he's in the right, because officers of the law are never wrong, they never do wrong, they never unjustifiably harrass, intimidate and inappropriately manhandle citizens... nope, not here in amurika.

[LittleClarkie]

58. Conversely

He's just some pig white cop. Of course he's racist. Goes without saying.

Bah.

[radio4progressives]

63. conversely..

first, i don't think i said he was a racist..

but i'm saying all the reactionarism is deeply rooted in racism. It's been a lynch mob mentality... we never had the full set of facts, we had parsed out fragments here and there, NO VIDEO.. no actual charges even made.. yet people here actually ran with karl roves talking points, throwing every vicious, specious assertions with rabid ferver.

Even with her statement of apology, she didn't genuflect enough to satisfy some here.

It's possible Cynthia McKinney behaved like a ravaged lunatic, it is possible. But given what I've witnessed in the MSM over a miriad of situations and events, and given the punditry's obsessive salivating on this incident, I'm not going take their reporting at face value.. the same MSM who gleefully helped this president lie the American people into an unjustified war, this same msm who misrepresent Democratic responses on major issues, why are we to suddenly take their word, and their opinion about events which they admit to not being in possession of the full set of facts, in fact they have misreported that she had been arrested and charged for assaulting a police officer.

Well apparently she wasn't arrested and charged for any criminal misconduct. But you guys have her charged, convicted and damn near sentenced her to giving up her seat.

It's possible that the Cop was in the wrong..

It's possible that both people behaved "illegally" ..

it's possible that McKinney was set up..

We don't know anything yet. All we have are fragmented reports, not the full story.

We do know that the PTB have wanted her "out of the picture" for years, but currently with all the scandals of corruption that is being exposed, the PTB needed desperately to change the subject, and yes Cynthia Mckinney might have played right into their hands.

But why satisfy Karl Rove and Dick Cheney's agenda for them?

[AtomicKitten]

64. funny how the subject of racism in CRASH was deemed "tired"

by many of those here at DU now verklemped with indignity on Ms. McKinney's behalf.

Righteous indignation is on tap here at DU.

Others take the immorality of racism more seriously.

[LittleClarkie]

65. And how assuming the WHITE MALE cop was in the wrong

and the BLACK FEMALE Congressperson must be in the right, when neither have had their day in court yet, smacks of both reverse sexism and reverse racism.

Both are innocent til proven guilty, I say. BOTH OF THEM.

[AtomicKitten]

67. I think the whole thing was blown out of proportion by both parties

which happens when tempers flare and was probably no big thang.

I don't think there is any dispute that there is protocol, but what this incident has shown is that the protocol has some serious problems that need to be ironed out so there are no more incidents - security lapses and ruffled feathers.

A young Congressman Kennedy did pretty much the same thing and punched a security person at the airport. He was on TV within days apologizing and the issue died a quick death. He was re-elected easily.

And all was well in the kingdom.

[MADem]

77. I remember that--and the security person was a black female!

He DID get pretty shirty with her, too--he banged that doorlike metal detector in frustration so hard it shook, and shoved her as well. The tape did him in!

Being late for a flight, or being a redhead, it's NO excuse!

[MADem]

76. Do we actually KNOW that the cop was white? I thought he had not been

identified??? From comments made, we can infer that the cop was actually a HE, and not a SHE, but beyond that, it's all inference.

The Cap Police look very much like the District itself, demographically.

[radio4progressives]

53. The Shoot First Have a Trial Later People are Pissed that she Didn't

Bend far enough over... she didn't genuflect far enough to suit their sadistic pleasure. And don't you know, this has far more criminal implications than shooting someone in the face, she should have done that first - next time, maybe she'll pack a hunting rifle, that should please the rednecks who find her so "embarrassing" to her district and such a "disgrace" to the party.

[Zhade]

68. I don't know that I can accept your insinuations as fact.

I mean, I don't know why the SFHATL people are the way they are.

What I DO know is that until I've seen the evidence, and not the spin, I still believe in "innocent until proven guilty", and I think very highly of CM.

I just want to see the damn tape, because I simply do not trust the story so far.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

55. His "name has not been made public" indeed...

I just wanted to send him a letter to tell him what I think of a Capitol Police Officer, who didn't bother to do his job by familiarizing himself will ALL the Congresspeople, especially those that have held office for a while.

I also wanted to tell him how brave he is when it comes to roughing up women. I think he might be hiding out from letters like mine; another act of true heroism.

[tom22]

57. Congressperson McKinney

probably has a good defense (someone should tell her lawyer) under the immunity provisions of the Constitution that attach to members of the Congress. However, all she had to do was state in a forth right manner to the security person that she was a member of congress. The racism card is crap. She apologized because the Black congressional Caucus told her to do it. She needs a better lawyer and a lot more humility. This case is an embarassment to the Party.

[AtomicKitten]

61. Welcome to DU!

Keith Olbermann talked about that constitutional provision on Countdown last night. Sounds like a get out of jail free card to me! Sweet.

I agree invoking racism carelessly is disgraceful for anyone including Ms. McKinney and DU'ers who use it to punctuate their gross misunderstanding of this incident.

I'm just glad it's over and we can turn the conversation to the infinitely more important and interesting news hitting the fan.

[beaconess]

69. I think the immunity clause applies only to debates, not to behavior

[MADem]

78. You have to be going to a congressional SESSION I thought

So nefarious people cannot stop you from voting on behalf of your constituents...

[ProudDad]

82. According to the accounts I've seen

The cop ran up from behind and GRABBED her by the ARM!

How would you react if you're just minding your own business and someone comes up from behind and yanks on your arm?

How was she supposed to know it was even a cop?

What's the matter with you supposed "liberals" that you can embrace right-wing pro-cop talking points over one of the most powerful progressive friends you have?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

62. except that's not his job.

Nice try. :eyes:

[LittleClarkie]

70. If that is expected of them, why have the Congresspeople wear pins then

Shouldn't be necessary for them to wear pins if the security people are expected to remember over 500 people on sight.

[MADem]

79. It's more than 535--it's all the ex-critters, too, like Newt, like Joe

Scarborough, like Jesse Helms (he ain't visitin', nowadays), Bob Toricelli, Tom Daschle, etc., etc., and so forth....there's a whole passle of 'em.

This is why I say this entire incident will likely change procedures. They may go to prints or iris scans, or RFID implants in their pins or cards in order to bypass the checks. In most Federal Buildings, you have to swipe your card through a reader to get in. No card, you go through the full treatment and are accompanied by an escort from the office you are visiting.

[Clarkie1]

66. Good for her and good for Democrats.

I didn't see this before I posted my reaction on a OP.