Thursday, March 30, 2006
Rep. McKinney Not Doing Herself, or Anybody, Any Favors With Her Behavior
I hate to appear to speak ill of a fellow Democrat, but I must say that I am disappointed by Rep. Cynthia McKinney of Georgia.
Rep. McKinney seems to have a big chip on her shoulder, and always seems to be looking for a fight. Unfortunately, her fights usually seem to have racial overtones.
Rep. McKinney once complained in a letter to President Clinton when White House security staff didn't recognize her when she visited, accusing them of racism. She seemed to think that since she was a Member of Congress, everyone in the world, or at least every White House security officer, should know who she is.
The latest incident ocurred yesterday when she bypassed the House office building metal detectors, as Members may do. She was not wearing her Congressional pin, which would have identified her as a Member. When the security officer stopped her, she allegedly hit him with her cell phone.
Rep. McKinney issued a statement yesterday. She didn't apologize, but said "I deeply regret that the incident occurred."
I fully understand that racism is a fact of life in America. And I fully understand that blacks have felt the pain of racism, and may be particularly sensitive regarding police, given the well-documented history of incidents involving racist police officers.
But I don't think Rep. McKinnney is doing herself or anybody else any favors by her actions, which sometimes seem designed to force confrontation.
I don't know exactly what happened yesterday at the security checkpoint. But given her past behavior, and her history of complaints about what she sees as differential treatment of black Members of Congress, it would not be surprising to discover that she did in fact attempt to blow by the guard and became upset when he did his job and stopped her. I don't know the security officer, but I would assume he would have stopped anyone he didn't immediately recognize as a Member of Congress who attempted to pass him without going through the metal detector.
Unfortunately, conservative Republican-leaning Fox News is now running the story.
Rep. McKinney is right to say that racism exists, and right to fight it, but sometimes her attitude and her tactics don't help the cause.
Rep. McKinney seems to have a big chip on her shoulder, and always seems to be looking for a fight. Unfortunately, her fights usually seem to have racial overtones.
Rep. McKinney once complained in a letter to President Clinton when White House security staff didn't recognize her when she visited, accusing them of racism. She seemed to think that since she was a Member of Congress, everyone in the world, or at least every White House security officer, should know who she is.
The latest incident ocurred yesterday when she bypassed the House office building metal detectors, as Members may do. She was not wearing her Congressional pin, which would have identified her as a Member. When the security officer stopped her, she allegedly hit him with her cell phone.
Rep. McKinney issued a statement yesterday. She didn't apologize, but said "I deeply regret that the incident occurred."
I fully understand that racism is a fact of life in America. And I fully understand that blacks have felt the pain of racism, and may be particularly sensitive regarding police, given the well-documented history of incidents involving racist police officers.
But I don't think Rep. McKinnney is doing herself or anybody else any favors by her actions, which sometimes seem designed to force confrontation.
I don't know exactly what happened yesterday at the security checkpoint. But given her past behavior, and her history of complaints about what she sees as differential treatment of black Members of Congress, it would not be surprising to discover that she did in fact attempt to blow by the guard and became upset when he did his job and stopped her. I don't know the security officer, but I would assume he would have stopped anyone he didn't immediately recognize as a Member of Congress who attempted to pass him without going through the metal detector.
Unfortunately, conservative Republican-leaning Fox News is now running the story.
Rep. McKinney is right to say that racism exists, and right to fight it, but sometimes her attitude and her tactics don't help the cause.
Comments:
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It is a shame that a lawmaker acts as if they are above the law. Regardless of the reason, when a police officer tells you to stop, you listen. We need to decide do we want to be protected or coddled.
# posted by 
: 10:48 AM
: 10:48 AM
How much does she have to proove who she is? She showed her congressional ID! I am sorry but when I visit the capital building I am only asked to show one ID. Perhaps she could have shown a little more retraint but how many other members of Congress get stopped like this? Don't the security guards have a book with pictures of the members of Congress? Every lobbyist is Washington has one.
There is no excuse for the lack of civility in the representatives actions. Conducting herself appropriately in such situations would go a long way to reduce stereotypes of our race, which her actions have done a disservice.
# posted by : 11:59 AM
: 11:59 AM
First of all, Congress members should hae to be screened also. Second, why don't all the other black women congress members have these so-called racism issues with security officers?
McKinney is the issue here. She's the racist.
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McKinney is the issue here. She's the racist.
# posted by : 3:32 AM
: 3:32 AM << Home
