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Cynthia McKinney on Principles & Values

Green Party nominee for President (Former Rep., D, GA-4)


Our winner-take-all electoral system pushes conformity

The Green Party participated in the coalition that led in Germany and in Ireland and in the Kenyan Parliament. The Green Party is international.

We have a winner-take-all system in the U.S. that pushes conformity. Regressive ballot access laws in Georgia [and other states] prevent candidates from getting on the ballot. The Green Party is a political entity that deserves to be built.

Source: IPS News interview by Matthew Cardinale Mar 22, 2008

Dissociated with Dems after Capitol guard assault incident

After gaining back her Congressional seat in 2005, McKinney was targeted again after another much-publicised incident in 2006 in which she physically protected herself after being assaulted by a Washington, DC police officer who did not recognise her as Congresswoman when she was entering the Capitol building. Democratic leaders dissociated themselves from McKinney and would not support her after the incident, in which she was never charged despite a full investigation.
Source: IPS News interview by Matthew Cardinale Mar 22, 2008

Address people who have withdraws from electoral process

Q: How did you go from Democratic Party to Green Party?

A: I've learned that there is a community of people who have found that life is possible outside of the two-party paradigm. That has sometimes meant that they would withdraw from the electoral process altogether. We have a whole huge swath of the potential electorate who don't even vote at all.

Some have said that 9/11-Truth is a tipping point for them. The failure of the Democratic Party to support impeachment, which is really the ultimate form of accountability in our system, is a tipping point for some. Hurricane Katrina was a tipping point for others.

And so, what we now want to do is to bring those people back in and to demonstrate to them that it is possible for us once again to have this community of conscience of people who are willing to participate in the process and to make that participation based on shared values.

Source: Democracy Now interview with Amy Goodman Feb 4, 2008

Ban malicious party-crossover voting in open primaries

Q: Explain what happened with you in Georgia.

A: In Georgia, we've got some pretty restrictive laws: the open primary, the second primary. And basically, by utilizing the open primary, people can go to the polls and they can pick up a ballot of a political party of which they have never before participated, and that's what's happened to me twice.

Q: Explain what happened exactly. You're saying that Republicans came and voted in the Democratic primary to get you out?

A: Yes, so their votes then determined who the Democratic nominee was going to be. Now, we've got some Supreme Court decisions, in 1990, California v. Jones, where the Supreme Court has said that malicious crossover in open primaries could be unconstitutional. And that is something that needs to be tested in the courts. It would, of course, be better if Georgia just changed its open primary statute, but that's not in the cards.

Source: Democracy Now interview with Amy Goodman Feb 4, 2008

Running to institutionalize Green Party & Ten Key Values

Q: How are you qualified to represent the Green party as presidential nominee?

A: I am entering this process because I believe a successful Green Party campaign can do the following:

I accept and endorse the Green Party's Ten Key Values. The Green Party has a platform that our country and our planet needs. Democracy will only be served if the voice of all people can be heard.
Source: Green Party 2008 Presidential Candidate Questionnaire Feb 3, 2008

Helped draft the Reconstruction Party Manifesto

Cynthia McKinney participated in drafting the Reconstruction Party Manifesto, and is seeking its election ballot line. The Manifesto has ten key points:

    In the context of what is perhaps the most important Presidential election in a generation, we feel compelled to add our voices to the deafening silence coming from both the Democratic & Republican parties on the real issues of concern to us. We reject "differences" that will not make a difference and "changes" that will not bring about any change The vision of the Reconstruction Party encompasses all communities in need of reconstruction.
  1. 1. We Want Freedom Now!
  2. We Want Full Employment Now!
  3. We Want Reparations Now!
  4. We Want Resources for Human Needs Now!
  5. We Want to Stop the War at Home Now!
  6. We Want an End to the War on Drugs Now!
  7. We Want to End Prisons for Profit Now!
  8. We Want an Environmental Protection Policy that Works Now!
  9. We Want an End to Militarism Now!
  10. We Want Peace Now!
Source: Manifesto for a Reconstruction Party Jan 26, 2008

Oct. 2007: Resigned Democratic Party & joined Green Party

Cynthia Ann McKinney (born March 17, 1955) served as a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003, and from 2005 to 2007, representing Georgia's fourth congressional district. McKinney was defeated in the 2006 Democratic primary, losing her Congressional seat for the second time. She quit the Democratic Party in September 2007 and on October 22, 2007, filed paperwork with the FEC creating an exploratory committee for a Green Party presidential campaign.
Source: Wikipedia article, "Cynthia McKinney" Dec 21, 2007

Lost 2002 primary; sued against "open primary" & lost

In 2002, McKinney was defeated in the Democratic primary by DeKalb County judge Denise Majette. It was stunning by itself that Majette, who had never run in a partisan contest before, was able to unseat the seemingly entrenched McKinney. However, Majette won by an overwhelming margin, garnering 58% of the vote to McKinney's 42%.

McKinney protested the result in court, claiming that thousands of Republicans, knowing they had no realistic chance of defeating her in the November general election, had voted in the Democratic primary against McKinney in revenge for her anti-Bush administration views and her allegations of possible voter fraud in Florida in the 2000 Presidential Election.

Like 20 other states, Georgia operates an open primary: voters do not align with a political party when they register to vote and may participate in whichever party's primary election they choose. McKinney claimed the open primary system was unconstitutional. The district court dismissed the case.

Source: Wikipedia article, "Cynthia McKinney" Dec 21, 2007

Apology on House floor for punching Capitol Police officer

On the morning of March 29, 2006, McKinney entered the House Office Building and proceeded past the security checkpoint, walking around the metal detector. Members of Congress have identifying lapel pins & are not required to pass through metal detectors The officers present failed to recognize McKinney as a member of Congress because she was not wearing the appropriate lapel pin. She was grabbed by US Capitol Police officer Paul McKenna, who states that he had been calling after her: "Ma'am, Ma'am!" Two days later, Officer McKenna filed a police report claiming that McKinney had struck "his chest with a closed fist."

In the midst of a media frenzy, McKinney made an apology on the floor of the House of Representatives on April 6, 2006, neither admitting to nor denying the charge, stating only that: "There should not have been any physical contact in this incident." McKinney was not indicted for criminal charges nor subjected to disciplinary action by the House.

Source: Wikipedia article, "Cynthia McKinney" Dec 21, 2007

Advocate of Hip-Hop movement for social justice

Cynthia McKinney is a strong advocate, mentor and supporter of the Hip-Hop community. Her unique popularity among the members of the Hip-Hop generation and young people across the US has made her a trusted voice on behalf of producers, retailers and consumers of Hip-Hop entertainment. She believes that the Hip-Hop community has the potential to evolve into one of the strongest movements on behalf of social justice and community development, & supports their efforts to run for office.
Source: Campaign website, www.cynthiaforcongress.com, "Issues" Dec 20, 2007

Republicans have deceived us; Democrats have failed us

I am a Green. I am proud to say that the Green Party is my new political home.

The Democrats do not speak for us. The Democrats are no different than their Republican counterparts. The Democrats eat out of the hands of corrupt lobbyists and feed at the same corporate trough.

The Republicans have deceived us. The Democrats have failed us. But we cannot deceive ourselves and we must not fail in our struggle for peace because the world still looks to America for leadership. Now, we must be those leaders.

I invite voters to embrace a new vision for this wonderfully beautiful and amazingly diverse country of ours. It is time for peace. It is time to break the vicious cycle where the poor go to war and veterans come home wounded and ignored.

Come home to the Green Party.

Source: Candidacy announcement speech Dec 19, 2007

Supported by Green Party for state Legislature & US Congress

The Green Party has always supported my candidacy, even when I was in the Georgia legislature, McKinney said. "Members of the Green Party were supportive of my efforts then, when nobody thought that I could run & win. Members of the Green Party were a part of the volunteers that put me into the state legislature, & when I ran for Congress, members of the Green Party would come to Georgia and volunteer in the campaign.

"The Green Party first asked me in 2000 and again in 2004 to become a part of their national drive. With the Democratic Party having left so many of its base supporters behind, the appeal of the Green Party was one that I could hear," explained McKinney.

"It will take more than 43,000 signatures for the Green Party to get a ballot line in the state of Georgia. I would love for Georgians to vote Green in support of the key values the party has always had--economic justice, environmental justice, public policy--for the good of the future, not just the term of election."

Source: By Daa'iya Sanusi, Amsterdam News Dec 7, 2007

Religious affiliation: Catholic.

McKinney : religious affiliation:

The Adherents.com website is an independent project and is not supported by or affiliated with any organization (academic, religious, or otherwise).

What’s an adherent?

The most common definition used in broad compilations of statistical data is somebody who claims to belong to or worship in a religion. This is the self-identification method of determining who is an adherent of what religion, and it is the method used in most national surveys and polls.

Such factors as religious service attendance, belief, practice, familiarity with doctrine, belief in certain creeds, etc., may be important to sociologists, religious leaders, and others. But these are measures of religiosity and are usually not used academically to define a person’s membership in a particular religion. It is important to recognize there are various levels of adherence, or membership within religious traditions or religious bodies. There’s no single definition, and sources of adherent statistics do not always make it clear what definition they are using.

Source: Adherents.com web site 00-ADH11 on Nov 7, 2000

Member of Congressional Black Caucus.

McKinney is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus:

On January 2, 1969, [three newly elected and six previously elected] African-American Members of Congress met as the Democratic Select Committee. On February 2, 1971 the group agreed to be known as the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).

The goals of the CBC are to positively influence the course of events pertinent to African-Americans and others of similar experience and situation, and to achieve greater equity for persons of African descent in the design and content of domestic and international programs and services. The Caucus has not only been at the forefont of issues affecting African-Americans, but has garnered international acclaim for advancing agendas aimed at protecting human rights and civil rights for all people. Today, the Congressional Black Caucus stands 38 members strong.

Upon her election as Chair of the CBC for the 107th Congress, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson expounded: “Whether the issue is popular or unpopular, simple or complex, the CBC has fought for thirty years to protect the fundamentals of democracy. The Caucus is committed to ensuring that the standard of living for minorities in America does not retrogress, but instead rises to meet the expectations of both our ancestors and our children. The Congressional Black Caucus is probably the closest group of legislators on the Hill. We work together almost incessantly, we are friends and, more importantly, a family of freedom fighters. Our diversity makes us stronger, and the expertise of all of our members has helped us be effective beyond our numbers.”

Source: Congressional Black Caucus web site 01-CBC0 on Jan 6, 2001

Reject Bush's Florida electors due to election fraud.

McKinney adopted the CBC press release:

There is overwhelming evidence of official misconduct, deliberate fraud and an attempt to suppress voter turnout by unlawful means that were used to produce George W. Bush’s false victory. The preponderance of the available evidence points to Vice President Al Gore as the actual winner of the most votes in Florida and he should have been awarded the state’s electoral votes.

Vice President Al Gore may have conceded his judicial contest, but that is irrelevant. There is not provision for the concession of candidates in the Constitution. There is, however, a process set out in law for Congress to consider challenges to electoral votes. The Congress, on behalf of all Americans, is the final judge of how much election fraud to accept.

The hearings held by the NAACP clearly showed that there were massive violations of the Voting Rights Act, and that tens of thousands of Floridians were denied due process when they were removed from the voter rolls without notice. Still others were intimidated by police checkpoints set up near polling places. In Miami-Dade and Broward, investigations by independent news organizations have found hundreds of ineligible persons who were allowed to vote. There clearly were significant inequities in assigning what turned out to be non-working voting machines to precincts that were heavily African-American in Miami-Dade. We would not tolerate any of these errors if they took place in some other country. Is our duty to our own country any less?

Millions of Americans have already expressed their public outrage at the myriad injustices which occurred in the making of George W. Bush’s mistaken victory. But public outrage is not enough. The laws of this country provide for the objection which we herein make on behalf of freedom, justice and democracy. We, Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, therefore wholeheartedly object to the acceptance of the presidential electors from Florida.

Source: Congressional Black Caucus press release 01-CBC4 on Jan 6, 2001

Member of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues.

McKinney is a member of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues:

On April 19, 1977, 15 Congresswomen held the first meeting of the Congresswomen’s Caucus. In 1981, the Congresswomen invited their male colleagues to join the Caucus and changed the organization’s name to the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues. 24 newly elected Congresswomen arrived on Capitol Hill in 1993, nearly doubling the number of women in the Caucus in what became the “Year of the Woman.” In 1995, the House of Representatives voted to eliminate funding for offices and staff of caucus organizations on Capitol Hill. The Congresswomen reorganized themselves into a Members’ organization by the same name. As a result, male Members no longer belong to the Caucus.

Bipartisanship is the key to the Caucus’ strength and success. The legacy of its first 20 years is one of Democratic and Republican Congresswomen committed to improving the lives of women and families, and willing to put their partisan differences aside to do it. Twenty-four years after the Caucus’ founding, its membership has grown from 15 to 62. The 107th Congress also marks the first time that all women Members of the House have joined the Caucus.

Source: Women's Caucus website, WomensPolicy.org/Caucus/ 01-WC0 on Jul 15, 2001

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

McKinney is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus:

The members of the Progressive Caucus share a common belief in the principles of social and economic justice, non-discrimination, and tolerance in America and in our relationships with other countries. We also seek to embody and give voice to national priorities which reflect the interests and needs of all the American people, not just the wealthy and the powerful. Our purpose is to present thoughtful, positive, practical solutions to the problems confronting America and the world. In the post-Cold War era, we believe our nation’s priorities must change with the times and reflect new realities. Accordingly, we support curbs on wasteful, inefficient government spending at the Pentagon and elsewhere, a more progressive tax system in which wealthier taxpayers and corporations pay their fair share, adequate funding for social programs that are designed to extend help to low and middle-income Americans in need, and trade policies that increase the exports of more American products and encourage the creation of jobs and investment in America.

Source: Congressional Progressive Caucus website 07-CPC0 on Nov 6, 2007

Other candidates on Principles & Values: Cynthia McKinney on other issues:
Nominees:
GOP: Sen.John McCain
Democrat: Sen.Barack Obama
Dem.V.P.: Sen.Joe Biden

GOP V.P. Possibilities:
Gov.Haley Barbour(MS)
Gov.Charlie Crist(FL)
Mayor Rudy Giuliani(NYC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Sen.Joe Lieberman(CT)
Gov.Tim Pawlenty(MN)
Gov.Mitt Romney(MA)
Gov.Mark Sanford(SC)

Third Parties:
Constitution: Chuck Baldwin
Libertarian: Rep.Bob Barr
Libertarian: Sen.Mike Gravel
Constitution: Amb.Alan Keyes
Liberation: Gloria La Riva
Green: Rep.Cynthia McKinney
Socialist: Brian Moore
Independent: Ralph Nader
Libertarian: Rep.Ron Paul
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Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families/Children
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Infrastructure/Technology
Jobs
Principles/Values
Social Security
Tax Reform
War/Iraq/Mideast
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Page last updated: Oct 01, 2008