Ousted Georgia lawmaker to run for president

ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- Former Democratic Rep. Cynthia McKinney, who was ousted from office last year after a headline-grabbing scuffle with a Capitol Hill police officer, has decided to seek the presidency -- as a Green Party candidate.

Former Rep. Cynthia McKinney plans to run for president as Green Party candidate.

In a video posted on the Internet on Tuesday, McKinney criticized the war in Iraq and complained about Democrats and Republicans, saying both parties are beholden to corrupt corporate interests. She called the Green Party "my new political home."

McKinney, 52, registered to vote in California after a group called Run! Cynthia! Run! began drafting her as the Green Party's candidate there. Since then, she had made campaign appearances in Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

"The Democrats do not speak for us," she said. "The Democrats are no different than their Republican counterparts."

McKinney served six terms representing a suburban Atlanta district but was defeated in 2006 by DeKalb County Commissioner Hank Johnson. She had been the first black woman elected to Congress from Georgia.

One of her final acts in Congress was to introduce a bill to impeach President Bush, saying he misled Congress into approving the war in Iraq and violated the law by secretly spying on citizens. She once claimed Bush had been warned of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

McKinney is one of at least seven Green Party candidates for president. The party will select its presidential nominee at its July 10 convention in Chicago.

She is Lou Dobbs independent candidate now all you independents have someone to vote for.

Patsy said: MrT, do you really think those moonbats need encouragement to vote for a fellow lunatic?

Your right Patsy, they don't need any encouragement. Hopefully a bunch of moonbat nut cases will run under all sorts of wacko green, pink, rainbow, socialist parties and take votes away from the dem's nominee.

Another example of what's wrong with America's political system.  She doesn't have a snowball's .....etc.  But, idiots will donate money, and she'll get an ego boost, and live high on the hog!  What a joke!

And Green Party -- what kind of symbolism is that?

Patsy said: Yeah...green party....isn't that what Nader runs on?  Is he sitting it out this year?

McKinney - Paul ticket.  Doesn't quite roll off your tongue now does it?

Main article: March 29, 2006 Capitol Hill Police Incident

On the morning of March 29, 2006, McKinney entered the Longworth House Office Building's southeast entrance and proceeded past the security checkpoint, walking around the metal detector. Members of Congress have identifying lapel pins and 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.^[39] She proceeded westward down the ground floor hallway and about halfway down the hallway was grabbed by United States 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^[40] 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." Minutes before making the Congresswoman's apology, McKinney's security officer made contact with a TV correspondent outside of the U.S. Capitol.^[41]

Though not indicted for criminal charges or subjected to disciplinary action by the House, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police has advocated the filing of a civil suit by Officer McKenna.^[

Allegations have been made that McKinney is an anti-Semite, though she herself denies this. Several pundits have accused her of making anti-Semitic statements, although without citing any specific quotations.^[43][44] Others have accused her more generally of holding anti-Semitic beliefs^[45] and/or running anti-Semitic campaigns for office.^[46][47] Controversy erupted when one of her supporters, a member of the New Black Panther Party, said, "Why do you think she lost? You wanna know what led to the loss? Israel. The Zionists. You. Put on your yarmulke and celebrate."^[48] McKinney responded that she opposes anti-Semitism. She added: "The people who made those remarks were not associated with my campaign in any formal way, and I want to make clear from this hour that any informal ties between me and my campaign and anyone holding or espousing such views are cut and renounced." She also said: "Anyone who makes blanket denunciations of Jews or 'the Jew' is certainly not a supporter of mine, not a staff member, not a consultant to, nor is welcome to be a volunteer in my campaign."^[49]

[edit] On-air criticism of aide

In the wake of the March 2006 incident with the Capitol Police officer, Rep. McKinney was still very much "in the news" and her office invited the media to attend one of her monthly "District Days," where she spends one full day meeting with constituents to discuss issues of concern. At her April 23, 2006 "District Days" event, Rep. McKinney was being interviewed by WGCL's Renee Starzyk, who rather than asking questions about District Days as McKinney would have liked, repeatedly questioned her about the March 29 scuffle with a Capitol police officer. Frustrated, McKinney stood up and forgot she was still wearing the microphone. Her offscreen comments were captured on tape. She was heard saying, "Oh, crap, now you know what ... they lied to Coz and Coz is a fool."^[50] She was referring to one of her aides, Coz Carson. McKinney realized the embarrassing mistake and returned on screen with the microphone, this time with instructions on what parts of the interview CBS 46 was allowed to use, "anything that is captured by your audio ... that is captured while I'm not seated in this chair is off the record and is not permissible to be used ... is that understood?"^[51] Her comments were immediately aired on CBS and eventually across the nation: CNN video Link to video: McKinney Caught On-Air Blasting Aide.

[edit] Letter to Saudi Prince Al-Waleed

On October 12, 2001 (approximately the one-month anniversary of the September 11 attacks), McKinney sent a letter to Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. Al-Waleed's $10 million donation to 9-11 relief had been accompanied by remarks highly critical of U.S. Middle Eastern policy and in particular of U.S. policy toward the state of Israel, and the donation had thus been rejected by New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.^[52] McKinney's letter was more supportive of Prince Al-Waleed's ideas and contained a suggestion that his intended donation be redirected toward charities, of which McKinney suggested several.

McKinney - Paul ticket.  Doesn't quite roll off your tongue now does it?

Yes, doesn't it? Even in reverse, Paul McKinney.  Oh and look....there's a person with that name....check the bio!!  Moonshine, cigars, and women!!  Paul McKinney - Professional Poker Player Profile