The Fool on the Hill

Rep. Cynthia McKinney held a press conference yesterday to blame the Capitol Police for competently doing their job. If you don't remember, she walked around the metal detectors at Congress while not wearing her required identifying lapel pin and then did not stop for an officer's repeated verbal requests. He grabbed her arm to stop her and she spun around and smacked him. Here's her lame-ass defense:

"Let me be clear," Ms. McKinney said, surrounded by supporters at the historically black university. "This whole incident was instigated by the inappropriate touching and stopping of me, a female black congresswoman. I deeply regret this incident occurred, and I am certain that after a full review of the facts, I will be exonerated." [emphasis added]

Her "counsel" pulls more race card:

One of her lawyers, James Myart, said the case typified a pattern of police harassment of black Americans. "My belief is this is no different than that: 'they all look alike,' " he said.

She also goes on to say that she wouldn't discuss the incident in detail because it was under investigation. Rep McKinney, this is what it looks like to not discuss an incident under investigation:

A Capitol Police spokeswoman said Friday that the agency had no comment on the case or on Ms. McKinney's accusations. "We are still investigating now," said the spokeswoman, Sgt. Kimberly Schneider.

Sgt. Schneider was able to make her statement while not surrounded by lawyers, Danny Glover, Harry Belafonte, NOW, and the NAACP. Good for you, Sgt. Schneider, being so brave and all.

Look, Rep. McKinney, knock it off. Admit you were wrong. You were wrong to not wear your required lapel pin. You were wrong to not stop after several verbal requests. You were wrong to immediately hit an officer of the law who grabbed your arm. You were wrong to discuss this at a politically, racially, and sexually charged news conference. You were wrong to make this a racial incident. You were wrong to make this a sexual incident. You were wrong to say you were touched inappropriately. You were wrong to blame this on a new (horrific) hairdo. Quit acting like a corrupt Republican with his/her hand caught in the cookie jar.

Speaking of corrupt Republicans, they are making hay over this one. Good job McKinney. The week the Dems finally introduce a comprehensive security initiative (or at least the beginning of one), you give them this. At least they've been able to stop talking about Nancy Pelosi holding the report upside-down.

With all the concerns of security violations in our ports, dirty bombs getting across our borders, airline screeners not being effective, etc., Rep McKinney, you should be glad at least one division in our government is still trying to keep somewhere safe, regardless of your skin color or gender.

NOW & NAACP, seriously, what were you guys thinking? Don't you have legitimate stuff to do? Is this where my hard earned money goes? At least wait until the investigation is complete and then, if there is injustice, unleash your wrath. It weakens your impact and stunts your message if you show up every time somebody cries wolf solely because the crier is a woman and/or black. John hit the nail on the head.

Rep. McKinney should be ashamed of herself and should know that grassroots Dems are ashamed of her actions. Her actions on Wednesday and subsequent attempts to justify them are an embarrassment to anybody who truly believes racism and sexism need to be addressed competently and immediately. Atlanta, get rid of this fool.