Condi Rice vs. Cynthia McKinney

http://www.copvcia.com/free/ww3/121604_rice_mckinney.shtml

Why Do the Dems Want to Deny Her Seniority?
Condi Rice vs. Cynthia McKinney

By MARK DONHAM
December 9, 2004
http://www.counterpunch.org/donham12092004.html

George Bush has nominated Condoleezza Rice to be his next Secretary of State and Cynthia McKinney has been reelected to the U.S. House of Representatives. For one, I'd love to see Rice go head to head on US foreign policy with Congresswoman-elect Cynthia McKinney. But the only way any of us can see that happen is for Cynthia to regain her service and seniority on the House International Relations Committee (HIRC), which has jurisdiction over the State Department and our country's foreign policy. I can't think of any reason why the Democratic leadership wouldn't want this.

And McKinney is perfectly suited to the task. She served on the International Relations Committee for ten years and the Armed Services Committee for four years. She studied International Relations at the University of Southern California and at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. She has been accepted into the Berkeley Ph.D. program. McKinney is perfectly positioned by experience and education to raise serious security issues that are on the minds of all Americans today.

In a recent article "Many Rice Defenders Hypocritical," (Madison, WI "Capitol Times") John Nichols points out that "right-wing political operatives and their allies in major media--as well as conservative Democrats" battered McKinney to election defeat in 2002 because she dared to ask tough questions about what was known by the Bush Administration prior to the attacks of September 11th. However, January 4, 2005, McKinney will return to Congress, having overcome this opposition with impressive grassroots support, and showing that a successful campaign can be run with little money and lots of heart. With her seniority intact, McKinney will be able to challenge important Bush initiatives because she would resume her seat among the top-tiered Democrats on the HIRC and as the Democrats' highest ranking member on an important HIRC subcommittee. McKinney would also be able to continue her important service on the Armed Services Committee where she questioned select Pentagon contracts with the Carlyle Group, Halliburton, and DynPort; $2.3 trillion in lost Pentagon cash; and the breath-taking Bush Doctrine of preemptive war. This would provide a critical counterbalance to the overly heavy influence of those neo-conservatives that dragged us into the unwise war with Iraq.

The response to McKinney's return to Congress from her district, progressives across the country, individual Members and Congressional staffers has been overwhelmingly positive and encouraging. The failure of Pelosi and other Democratic leaders to quickly restore McKinney's seniority suggests that they are out of touch with their constituents, and are bucking history. When Congressional leadership wants to help a congressperson who has reclaimed a lost seat, or even switched parties, they certainly can and have done so. Take these examples.

..more..

(FTW invites readers to contact Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi with questions about Congresswoman McKinney's seniority. sf.nancy@mail.house.gov )



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From:
http://www.cynthiaforcongress.com/index.html

Cynthia McKinney's
Victory Speech Text
November 2, 2004
http://www.cynthiaforcongress.com/news/statements/11-02-2004.html



Has Cynthia McKinney been misrepresented
in the media?
Read this important article by respected independent journalist Greg Palast.
The Truth About Cynthia McKinney 06/18/2003
http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=229&row=1

(wonder how long till somone brings up her father?)

In yet another example of the Democrat's complete lack of courage, it seems that the House is not going to grant Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney the seniority and leadership position she deserves. If my memory serves me correctly, Ms. McKinney was one lonely voice calling for investigations into a myriad of issues, all deriving from the impressive military/intelligence/govt/corporate complex that the right wing has built.

Please understand the following message clearly: Ms. McKinney represents the views of the liberals in this country FAR more than the "typical" Democrat. Over the past few years we have become sadly aware that the Democratic party lives off the same dollars, from the same corporations that Republicans live off. Ms. McKinney is one of the few who has done it on her own. In fact, I recall that the Democratic party helped defeat Ms. McKinney in 2002. Does it not strike you that the position of most DEmocrats was aligned with Zell Miller against Ms. McKinney? And now that her position has been completely vindicated, the Democratic party still cannot find the courage to support someone who is willing to take on the forces that are destroying America.

Take heed Ms. Pelosi, we are watching. We are closely watching what you do and say on Jan 6, 2004. We will closely monitor which of you challenges the results of the 2004 election. We will watch how you treat Ms. McKinney. Your Democratic party is two elections away from complete oblivion. Be thoughtful. You can choose to be part of the solution, or you can stay home.

Sincerely,

let us know if you get a response. I haven't yet..

thanks

with pistols at ten paces :)