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Proviso Probe

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

ETHNICITY, Capitol Police mistreat Black Congresswoman; Republicans cheer

A member of the U.S. Capitol Police (Congress's security force) failed to correctly identify Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. Rather than identify her and continue about business, the police officer lost control of the situation and either caused or allowed it to escalate to a hostile confrontation. See Cynthia's Interests coverage of the initial incident.

The cop screwed up. Absent the member of Congress being on drugs or doing something flagrantly illegal the Capitol Police are there to serve and protect members of Congress.

But the Republicans couldn't help themselves. They voted to support the Capitol Police officer. Again see Cynthia's Interests.

posted by Carl Nyberg at 12:52 PM

11 Comments:

  • This seems pretty damned disgraceful, but not, well, surprising. And it surely should be surprising.

    By Blogger RetiredPastorNancy, at 4:12 PM, April 05, 2006  

  • From what I read in the Tribune today she was not wearing her lapel pin that Identifies congress persons to the security. Additionally, according to the Tribune article, she was asked to stop more than once (She admits to not stopping when told by the Cop). She also admits to refusing to produce ID for the Cop. She then struck the Cop saying "Do you know who I am?". She admits to stricking the COp as well. There are well over 500 Congressmen and she wants to think she should be identifed by face and let through the Security.
    Come on! The COp was doing his job. He didn't stike her or punch her or Taser her. He prevented her from entering a "Secure Area" until he identified her. Why does the Cop become the bad guy in this? Because the Congresswoman is playing the Race Card and attempting to deflect attention away from the fact she assaulted the Cop.
    Another great example of a person who refuses to accept responsibility for his/her actions and admit they are wrong.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:24 AM, April 06, 2006  

  • re: bbones

    Amen!

    Someone of her stature should have had the common sense to parse the dynamics of the situation. Probably was a case of misjudged time and commitments. The result of such carelessness was the useless expending of social capital, meaning she drew attention to herself in the kind of way a wiser individual would have avoided.

    What an arrogant and "wimpish" defense for an elected official. Those who, as the result of misplaced loyalties, feel forced to defend her now risk having their own judgement called into question. Hence, she stands alone and abandoned by the more reasoned members of her own block.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:48 AM, April 06, 2006  

  • As McKinney has pointed out, it's fairly common for members of the House to got without their pins.

    Senators don't even have pins and are explicitly supposed to be visually recognized.

    The Cap Chief of Police said he'd drop things if McKinney apologized. Sounds to me like the Chief of Police has a beef with McKinney not showing respect to the security guard.

    By Blogger Carl Nyberg, at 11:19 AM, April 06, 2006  

  • Whoa Carl!

    That's the ole "He did it! Why can't I" whine I hear at school when youngsters think they're being unfairly penalized while others get away. One can forgive high schoolers, but...?

    And if that don't work, say "It's because I'm Black". Well I'm Black, and this B.S. really irks the crap out of me.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:38 AM, April 06, 2006  

  • "WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Cynthia McKinney apologized on the House floor Thursday for a confrontation with a Capitol Police officer last week."

    Smart move, else she would got fried on this one. Maybe over time she can make up for the damage already done.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:47 AM, April 06, 2006  

  • Police Officer says,
    The Congresswoman should play by the same rules as everyone in a civilize demacratic society does and stop hidding behind her authority.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:02 PM, April 06, 2006  

  • What say you now Carl? Where the Republicans wrong, or was this Congress woman wrong?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:04 PM, April 06, 2006  

  • I got this "Open Letter to Cynthia McKinney" http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/opinion/14281937.htm

    excerpt:

    "You've become a poster girl for kookiness and ineptitude. The more enlightened among us realize that your shenanigans have nothing to do with your sex or the color of your skin, but there are a lot of people in America who won't see it that way.

    I know you probably like to think of yourself as someone who is breaking down the walls of discrimination, but what you're actually doing is handing bricks and mortar to those who want to see those walls stand forever."

    "You believe that the world revolves around you, that the rules don't apply to you, and that anyone who dares to suggest that you should act more like an adult and less like a spoiled child is part of a racist plot to bring you down.

    It should be telling to you that even members of your own party are refusing to stand behind you this time. It seems that we've all tired of your act. It stopped being funny a long time ago."

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:07 AM, April 07, 2006  

  • McKinney apologized, so I assume McKinney feels she behaved inappropriately.

    McKinney still has more guts than 98% of the members of the House of Reps.

    By Blogger Carl Nyberg, at 10:59 AM, April 07, 2006  

  • Ahh yes, she had the guts to wear her hair that way!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:40 PM, April 07, 2006  

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