Cynthia McKinney in Wikipedia.org political website
On Civil Rights:
Introduced MLK Records Act, to unseal assassination files
McKinney has submitted to Congress two different versions of the same bill, the “MLK Records Act” (one in 2003, the other in 2005), which, if signed into law, would release all currently sealed files concerning the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther
King, Jr. These records were sealed in 1978 and are not due to be declassified until the year 2028. The 2005 version of the MLK Records Act, HR 2554 had 67 co-sponsors by the time McKinney left office at the end of 2006.
Source: Wikipedia article, “Cynthia McKinney”
Dec 21, 2007
On Homeland Security:
Criticized excessive secrecy in 9/11 investigation
On July 22, 2005, the first anniversary of the release of the 9/11 Commission Report, McKinney held a well-attended Congressional briefing to address outstanding issues regarding the 9/11 attacks. The day-long briefing featured speakers who critiqued the
9/11 Commission account of 9/11, addressing omissions & a lack of historical & political analysis. An Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorial maintained that the purpose of the event was to discuss whether or not the Bush administration was involved in th
9/11 attacks, expressing surprise that McKinney was once again taking on the issue that was widely believed to have been the one that cost her her House seat. The 9/11 Commission has sealed all the transcripts of some 2,000 interviews, all the forensic
evidence, and all documents used in compiling its final report until January 2, 2009. McKinney’s interest in 9/11 relates specifically to her opposition to excessive government secrecy, which she has challenged with numerous pieces of legislation.
Source: Wikipedia article, “Cynthia McKinney”
Dec 21, 2007
On Principles & Values:
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
On Principles & Values:
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
On Principles & Values:
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
On War & Peace:
Introduced articles of impeachment at end of 2006 session
At the end of the 2006 legislative session, McKinney introduced articles of impeachment against President Bush, which makes three charges against Bush: manipulating intelligence and lying to justify the war in
Iraq, failing to uphold accountability and violating privacy laws with his domestic spying program. The second article also makes charges against Vice President
Cheney for helping to “fix” the intelligence in order to justify the Iraq War, and against Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for making false statements concerning Iraq’s alleged weapons of mass destruction program.
Because McKinney waited until the final day of voting before her term ended to introduce the resolution, the resolution was symbolic.
Source: Wikipedia article, “Cynthia McKinney”
Dec 21, 2007
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