Listen to the Honorable Congresswoman from Georgia

[alarcojon]

Statement of Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney
on Capitol Hill Incident
March 29, 2006

(Washington, DC) - To the Members of the Capitol Hill Police:

Earlier today I had an unfortunate confrontation with a Capitol Hill Police Officer. It is traditional protocol that Capitol Hill Police Officers secure 535 Members of Congress, including 100 Senators. It is the expectation of most Members of Congress that Capitol Hill Police officers know who they are. I was urgently trying to get to an important meeting on time to fulfill my obligations to my constituents. Unfortunately, the Police Officer did not recognize me as a Member of Congress and a confrontation ensued. I did not have on my Congressional pin but showed the Police Officer my Congressional ID.

I know that Capitol Hill Police are securing our safety, that of
thousands of others, and I appreciate the work that they do. I deeply regret that the incident occurred. I have demonstrated my support for them in the past and I continue to support them now.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ga04_mckinney/incidentstmt.html

[bliss_eternal]

1. I don't know why I didn't pay more attention to this incident--

maybe knowing she was African American, intuitively I knew it would somehow become an issue. Maybe based on all of my time here on DU and the various incidents we've witnessed the fallout from. I don't know. Perhaps, it was a combination of all of the above. Something about it made me kind of toss it aside and not pay a lot of attention to it--maybe because I didn't want to get upset (yet again) over the inevitable issues that would eventually present themselves.

So, I was kind of taken off guard to come here today, Saturday and see so many threads (many of which were eventually locked) on the issue. It took me some time to refresh my memory on who and what this issue was about.

Maybe I'm just burnt out on message boards, but I just don't get why this incident has turned into such a huge discussion and argument on DU. I also don't understand the incessant need of so many here to dismiss the reality of race and sex in our society and the role it can play in such scenarios.

I don't know. I'm probably making little to no sense right now. Sorry, please forgive my babbling.

Thanks for posting alarcojon.:hi: It's nice to see Ms. McKinney's statement on the issue.

[Karenina]

2. Why? Two words...

Smear.Campaign.

[bliss_eternal]

3. (sigh)

I'm afraid you're right. It sucks. Why can't anything regarding a person of color happen on these boards without it suffering such ignorant attacks?

:(

[msgadget]

5. Same here, I was surprised

at how adamant some were that she be charged. She needs our support because, obviously, there's a truth she's speaking to that must be discredited. I LOATHE conspiracy theories (because the out-in-the-open facts are bad enough, thank you very much) but this is ridiculous!

Black voices other than Obama, Meeks and Davis have been pretty darn quiet - am I the only one who's noticed that? I checked Maxine Water's site a few weeks ago and she hadn't issued a press release since '05. I also read in an article about democratic strategists that certain people have been strong-armed into silence. These days the enemy isn't always the one you first suspect. The Democratic Party is being re-engineered and not through the voting process - not a good thing.

[bliss_eternal]

7. I wouldn't doubt it...

we are living in strange times. :hi:

You bring up some issues here that we really should watch as things develop with this Cynthia issue.

[msgadget]

9. Geez, check out this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2205121&mesg_id=2205121

[bliss_eternal]

10. Thanks for the link...

how silly! I'm glad to see several on the thread calling others on the fact that it's a pretty transparent attempt to smear her.

:banghead: Lots of trolls in force with this thing, too. Which doesn't help the fact that we have enough in our population that aren't capable apparently of seeing this situation for what it is. (sigh)

[msgadget]

11. No worries, girl

She'll be alright. The ones who disliked her all along won't change their minds and the ones that do will rally behind her that much more. And, yes, my fingers ARE crossed!

[qanda]

4. DU is representative of the attitudes of the majority of white people

And how little America has progressed in 40 years. I just wonder how this would have been viewed if it involved Hillary Clinton or Barbara Boxer.

[undergroundrailroad]

6. I very much agree and wonder myself. Let's say Barbara Boxer cuts and

darkens her hair. Would we not know her? Of course we would. It would be Barbara Boxer with a hair cut and a new shade of color.

Now we have Cynthia McKinney who normally wears braids but decided that should wanted to take her braids out to wear a nice new age fro. It's very pretty. Black women can wear their hair in many different styles, daily, by using hair extensions/weaves with colors (or without). I can't believe Wolf Blitzer (THE SITUATION ROOM/CNN) made such a big deal over her photo with the braids and her new pretty hairstyle.

There needs to be more respect for diversity.

Undergroundrailroad

[bliss_eternal]

8. I agree, I just don't know how to feel about it anymore..

when I found DU I was so thrilled to have a place where others were just as upset as I was w/*. A board where we could have a voice, w/out having to share time or space with the opposition. Yet, frequently we have the same opposition right here on DU. It's ridiculous.

I've gone through great sadness and anger after Katrina to absolute confusion and numbness with events like this. I guess I shouldn't, as it is true the feelings here mirror the world we live in in so many ways. As usual, I guess I just expect more from so-called progressives.

[Brewman_Jax]

12. GD and the MSM is a great example of

how far society hasn't come in 40+ years. Cheney shoots his hunting partner, the guy apologies, the story comes and goes. McKinney and a minor incident with a Capitol Hill officer and the story won't stop and the law and order cop lovers are screaming bloody murder. McKinney is an outspoken black female liberal--the people most white people love to hate.

[Karenina]

13. Alarcojon, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

(Only cuz I think you're SOOOO FINE!!!) :P :loveya:

Well kids, I'm outta here. Got tag teams baiting for a ban as I may done smacked too many upside da haid for racist B.S. Why bother? I cannot endure the OVERWHELMINGLY BLATANT bigotry that has become common currency on this site and I REALLY cannot BEAR TO WATCH da white folks take down a Sista who's worked so tirelessly, sticking her neck out BIG TIME, to do right by them. They will cheer *co chopping her head off and spit at it in the basket. Tom delay wants to file ethics charges, there's talk of a grand jury and a House resolution praising the police. It's enough now. I need a break.

[Swamp Rat]

14. ¡Sea mejor alarcojon!

:hug:

[alarcojon]

17. Gracias, amigo

[msgadget]

15. I caught the apology on MSNBC

and was glad to see she'd finally found people to stand with her.

[undergroundrailroad]

16. Before and after. Same beautiful hair, same beautiful smile.

[alarcojon]

18. Yeah, she's real hard to recognize with the new hairstyle

:sarcasm:

[bliss_eternal]

19. Just saw her tonight on Bill Maher--

I've seen her picture before, but none have done her justice. She's SO beautiful!

[politicasista]

20. I am glad she apologized too

I don't agree with what she did, but this is a distraction from Bush, and far more serious issues in this country. I like her hair do.