McKinney Skips Another Debate

[seriousstan]

ATLANTA (AP) -- U.S. Representative Cynthia McKinney let an empty podium speak for her again on Saturday as she skipped the second of two televised debates in the race for the 4th District.

Organizers of the debate say they received no response from McKinney’s campaign about whether she would attend, despite numerous attempts to contact her to confirm.

Still, media panelists opened the hour-long debate with three McKinney-related questions before quizzing candidates John Coyne III and Hank Johnson Jr. about issues including the Iraq war, education, health care and immigration.

Both candidates were quick to contrast McKinney’s style to their own, vowing to be consensus builders who would avoid controversy and taking advantage of her absence. Organizers of a debate sponsored by the Atlanta Press Club on Friday say McKinney never answered their invitation, either.


http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=81713

[Sammy Pepys]

1. McKinney is a mess management-wise

I would imagine she's tough to work for.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

2. Guess Our Side Has It's Share Of Screw-Ups

Don't care what the reason, not showing up, or even replying to confirm, when you're scheduled for a debate to hold your seat, is just poor judgement and disrespectful. Shows lack of care for your constituency as well.

If this had been someone like Lieberman, these boards would be ripping into him. Why should she get a pass? Things like this lower my opinions of our representatives, regardless of their party.

[Strawman]

25. Lieberman wouldn't debate if he didn't have to

I'm not necessarily a McKinney fan, but is this race even close? Lots of incumbents/front runners choose not to debate challengers when they have nothing to gain. I suspect if Ned Lamont wasn't polling so well, Lieberman wouldn't bother debating him either.

[wordpix2]

66. Lamont stated at a party I attended a few days ago that he would debate

Lieberman again anytime but Lieberman's not jumping at the chance, obviously.

[goodhue]

72. You are exactly right.

Most incumbents don't bother debating primary challengers unless the race is somewhat close.

[bemildred]

3. Maybe this has something to do with it:

"On her congressional Web site, she listed today as the date for one of her District Days, scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday's debate was scheduled for 1 p.m."

[David__77]

4. McKinney is my favorite representative.

She genuinely is a progressive. "Democracy" is a farce in this country. Why should she play nice?

[Mz Pip]

5. Play nice?

Sounds like she's refusing to play at all.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[MADem]

57. I think it's not a good idea to not show up, not acknowledge, not even

give a reason for not attending. It just seems as if she's either terribly disorganized, kept out of the loop and didn't get the word, or she doesn't give a shit.

Now, none of those reasons may be the actual reason, but that's how it plays!!! It makes a voter feel a bit insulted.

[Spinoza]

6. Damn good point.

Dems from now on don't show up to any debates, or give any notice that you won't show up. No more Mr (or Ms) Nice Guy. That will sure show those fascist fuckers who actually show up for debates. Revolution Now!

[Squatch]

54. Yep...seeing as how this country is a REPRESENTATIVE republic

and NOT a democracy.

[ScreamingWhisper]

82. "play nice"?!

How about she shows up and puts her ball on the table? If she want to keep her seat, she's gotta make a stand and show what she's about. It has nothing to do with playing nice....she has to put her soap-box in front of the people and say: "I'm the one you want. What I think will affect your life for the better." To not show up for not one, two, but three debates tells me alot about Senator McKinney. Is she:
A) above the discourse from her opponents B) unwilling to secondarily answer questions about the security issue or 3) a coward?
Option #1 shows "aloofness", option #2 shows complacency and avoidance and option #3 a coward to her own constituency
We cannot allow the repukes the control the media and the "kitchen table" (remember that phrase) issues

[pokercat999]

88. Ah, I thought she was a Represenative not a Senator?

[ScreamingWhisper]

89. You are correct.

In the passion of typing, wasn't thinking, just wanted to get it posted as my laptop battery was nearly dead...lol

[pberq]

7. Cynthia is a great spokesperson for progressive issues

Why she chose to skip this debate is hard to understand.

[SoCalDem]

9. Perhaps she's just tired of all the phony events that pass of "debate"

and maybe she was just busy.. Perhaps they scheduled the debate that way purposely..:shrug:

[Captain Hilts]

35. No, she ticks off more people than she wins over. nt

[JNelson6563]

8. Very stupid move.

McKinney could be the greatest rep ever. If she doesn't bother with the things she needs to do to get re-elected than she will be powerless to be of any help to the cause.

[goodhue]

68. But she doesn't need to debate Coyne or Johnson to get re-elected

[Sven77]

10. McKinney is a real politician for the people

i dont know why anyone wouldnt support her.

[peaches2003]

47. Because

her behavior and mouth turn off everyone but the most die-hard supporters. She hurts the Democratic Party in the long run all over the country. Sorry, but my opinion and see a heck of a lot of her in Atlanta.

[DaveinMD]

85. completely true

she doesn't attract anyone new to the party.

[Pastiche423]

11. The smearing of Cynthia McKinney part deaux has begun in earnest

I so wish I could vote for her.

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. How exactly is this a smear?

Are you suggesting that she actually did attend the debate, and that the story is false?

[Pastiche423]

13. No, I am suggesting no such thing

The MSM will not miss a chance to put her down, just like they did in 2002.

[Cocoa]

14. you clearly WERE suggesting exactly that thing

She didn't show. Deal with it.

Almost as bad as media bias is bogus claims of media bias.

[Pastiche423]

18. lol

Please show mw how I WAS suggesting exactly that thing.

Btw, do you believe everything the MSM reports?

[Cocoa]

22. you responded to the post about McKinney not being at the debate

by saying "the smearing of Cynthia McKinney has begun in earnest."

That's how you were suggesting it.

I don't believe everything the MSM reports, but I do believe that Cynthia McKinney was not at the debate in question.

[Pastiche423]

24. Did I state in any of my comments on this thread

that Cynthia was or wasn't at the debate?

[Cocoa]

26. no

I was answering your question about believing everything the MSM reports.

You earlier referred to the smearing of Cynthia McKinney.

We are discussing the honesty of the above article. You raised questions about it.

If you're not questioning the factualness of the report, what are you questioning?

[ScreamingWhisper]

83. Uhhh She didn't show for 3 debates....

That is fact that is observed and noted by all OTHERS attending
DUH!

[Freddie Stubbs]

16. Should the media have not reported on this?

:shrug:

[Pastiche423]

20. Please tell me why they should

As the article states, she did not confirm that she would be attending. How do we know she was really invited? Because the MSM tells us so?

[Cocoa]

23. it's reasonable to believe the AP report that she was invited

and if Cynthia McKinney denies it, then the AP should explain and retract.

Has McKinney denied she was invited?

[Pastiche423]

27. You go ahead and believe the "reasonableness" of the AP

I prefer to remain in reality.

If you had read the entire article, you would already know that Cynthia neither denied, nor confirmed she had been invited.

[illumn8d]

29. Actually she never answered either way, nor did she have a press comment

So your statement is as vague and leading as the APs...

Is this on purpose to suggest that the group sponsoring the debate did not invite her? Or is it just to say we shouldn't question it either way?

Regardless this article states that she e-mailed a comment to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution regarding why she didn't attend.

http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/dekalb/stories/0708metfourth.html

EDIT: I think she never planned on attending because she's in the lead and doesn't really need to attend.

[Cocoa]

30. she was asked for comment

and she declined to comment: McKinney did not immediately return calls seeking comment Saturday afternoon.

There are two possibilities, that she was invited to the event or that she wasn't invited to the event.

I believe she was invited, and the idea that she wasn't invited to me seems very very improbable.

How do you feel about the possibility that she was not invited to the debate? Do you think that's a reasonable possibility?

[Zhade]

79. "did not immediately return calls" does not equal "denied comment".

NT!

[RatRacer]

39. Heh. "Reality"

Tinfoil hat reality. Look, miss one debate and I'd give your explanation consideration. Miss two and this is just Cynthia being Cynthia. MSM or no MSM, she creates her own drama.

[goodhue]

70. story states that organizers received no response from McKinney

Was it reasonable to expect her attendance?

[RangerSmith]

33. This is

taking "apologist" to levels heretofore unknown.

[ToeBot]

80. Did you hear about Chris Cannon (R - UT) skipping out on a debate....

last election? Didn't think so.

[Judi Lynn]

81. Really! Obviously, the first many of us have heard of it!

Might as well throw a fit and call him every kind of name, make all kinds of filthy insinuations and character attacks, to be consistent, right?

Just apply all the snotty slams pitched at Cynthia McKinney on this thread to Chris Cannon, by all means. I'm ordering a round of these slurs for good ol' Congressman Cannon. Let's not forget he was one of the Congressional impeachment prosecutors, as well. Pull out all the stops. Let him have it.

Thank you, ToeBot. It's nice to get a little perspective from time to time.



Chris Cannon

[peaches2003]

48. And she creates the opportunities herself

[tkmorris]

17. But she never agreed to be there in the first place

I don't know what the background is on this story, but what is clear is that someone scheduled a debate involving her but never got her to agree to be there. I don't know if she is ducking the invitation or if she is willing to debate but not under their terms or what but the fact that she wasn't there is no surprise.

If I send you an email stating that I will be debating you next Tuesday and you don't show up, does that mean you have done something wrong?

[Cocoa]

21. so what's wrong with reporting she wasn't there?

[goodhue]

69. Staging empty podium knowing full well she won't be there is a stunt

And a non-story

[Captain Hilts]

37. Why does she give them so much material to work with? nt

[Lars39]

15. Isn't anyone going to actually read the article?

Sheez.

[jseankil]

19. She's snubbing the debates.

What's up with that? If you can't attend just let them know.

[surratt616]

28. Homey Don't Play that !

What's up is they make the rules, give out the assignments and expect other people to show up and do the work.
Maybe she would like to be in on the organizing, not just told when and where to show up. I don't see where she had any obligation to acknowledge these people at all.

[jseankil]

31. It's a political debate

Simply let them know if you are planning on attending or not and if you have an issue with the debate setup bring it up and work it out.

Subbing the debates is disrespectful to the public that she has the honor to serve.

[RangerSmith]

34. I just can't

see giving bush the same pass under the exact same circumstances....

[Judi Lynn]

32. There are always some posters you can guarantee you will see

posting articles when a Democrat does something which can be seen as questionable, and you can be 100% sure you will see posting articles which show a Democrat who is black if he or she is involved in anything which seems questionable.

You notice that if they don't get to the article first themselves, they will surely be there to try to tear him/her down. at the very least. You notice the very same names appear every time.

Eventually you understand who they are and how this happens.

Nothing to add. It's completely clear.

[Pastiche423]

36. And nary a one from her district

Imagine that!

[RangerSmith]

38. How about posters

who always reach for the race card?

Notice any of that as well?

[Judi Lynn]

40. I'm a Democrat. I support Democratic candidates.

I've been here long enough to recognize the ones who often are not heard from at all UNLESS there is something which can be seen as derogatory about a Democrat, and inevitably appear if it involves a black Democrat, and wild horses won't keep them away if it involves a black female Democrat.

You can apply your race card where you feel it will do you the most good.

[onenote]

41. isn't one of her opponents a black Democrat?

Hank Johnson?

[illumn8d]

42. Nothing to add...

If you are going to imply that this is a topic of discussion ONLY because of McKinney's race, have the guts to call them out. This is passive-aggressive BS.

[Laughing Mirror]

45. The poster implied nothing

The poster came right and said very clearly that it is because she is a black DEMOCRAT.

So who's being passive aggressive? And who's the one bullshitting here?

[illumn8d]

46. Call the posters out then (EOM)

NT

[Laughing Mirror]

49. Read their posts

They call themselves out.

[illumn8d]

50. So am I one of them?

If you don't specifically state who they are then anyone who might be critical of McKinney is painted with the same broad brush.

[hezekkia]

58. wwwwaaaah!

that Cynthia McKinney is a self-absorbed, self-aggrandizing nutso has nothing to do with the fact that she is Black, that she is a woman, or that she is a Democrat.

:nopity:

[goclark]

86. And she has been out in front against the War

and Civil Rights for a long long time.

She has stood alone in many battles.


GW is self absorbed and a nutso. She is NOT, she is always standing up for the right causes.

[Psephos]

77. DU has its enforcers, just as Scientology does

Lord of the Flies mentality is the hallmark of those who tolerate no opinions deviating from the approved ideology.

You see the same names appear over and over in the role of purity purgers. Eventually you understand what their motivation is.

Peace.

[Laughing Mirror]

43. What would be the point of her showing up?

She'd win the damn thing hands down anyway. This way, she's being humble and generous, sparing the losers the humiliation.

Did anyone happen to catch the debate between her and Majette a few years ago, which I am told was held in a shopping mall? The hopeless squirming Majette next to the grand and powerful and accurate and truthful and wonderful McKinney was so unequal that I was squirming in embarrassment like Majette just watching it. Cynthia McKinney cleaned up, wiped the floor with that worhtless rag!

And you see where it got her.

[mvd]

44. I defended her on the whole officer thing, but..

I can't really excuse not showing up. But it does sound like she might not have agreed to the debate.

[enough already]

53. Why show up?

Debates are almost always about the media preening for cameras and making asses of themselves. I applaude McKinney for flipping off the media.

[mvd]

56. It's just a matter of respect

I personally wouldn't want someone to duck a debate - it looks bad, too. I'm not up-and-arms about it though, because as I said, she might not have agreed to the debate.

[goodhue]

75. She most certainly did not agree to the debate

A basic fact which appears to be lost on some who would fault her.

[dailykoff]

51. Ducking debates is SOP for House incumbents.

If she's got a lead, why risk blowing it? Most don't.

[surratt616]

52. Look at the headline

Why is she expected to fall for the set-up. The first 3 questions asked by the media were directed at her. I'm sure they knew she was not in attendance. She decided not to even get close enough to fall or be pushed in that brier patch. Other politicians are not expected use self defeating strategies. Why is she?
No where in the article did I read that she agreed to these debates. Give me a break!

[dailykoff]

55. Yes, that's what I mean

Incumbent reps do it all the time and don't get raked over the coals. This is an orchestrated gotcha.

SOP = standard operation procedure

[BayCityProgressive]

59. hm I agree with

some of the stands Cynthia Takes but she really seems to be out there and do some rather strange things.

[Show_Me _The_Truth]

61. How is this an orchestrated gotcha?

You make it sound like the Natl media is out to get her, this is a story published by a LOCAL news outlet about a LOCAL/National election.

Why should they not report on the actions of the candidates in their area?

AJC has the same story line and the AJC is not a Rightie Rag by any stretch.

[Name removed]

62. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[goodhue]

71. the empty podium was orchestrated

[fujiyama]

60. Agreed - standard incumbent arrogance

McKinney doesn't seem to be too worried this time.

[dailykoff]

63. They'd have a lot worse to say if she'd shown up

and given them fresh ammunition. There's not much to gain for incumbent Reps in these situations except maybe a concussion.

[The Straight Story]

64. The gain is for US voters

Part of wanting to keep your job is to show why others are not more qualified to do it.

It is a chance for the people to interview the range of candidates all at once.

[dailykoff]

73. There are better ways to communicate with constituents

than getting railroaded in a media circus.

[Marie26]

78. What

I don't get is why she didn't respond to the requests. Why not just decline the offer & end the speculation? Also, I don't understand why they included a 3rd podium & questions for her when she'd never agreed to attend the debate.

[INDIA]

65. Pretty. Stupid. Move. n/t

[goodhue]

67. Pretty routine for incumbents to not debate primary challengers

Unless like Lieberman they are in real trouble. I don't see why McKinney should be faulted for not showing up. As usual she is being held to to higher standard than most. The empty podium is a cheap stunt.

[Tom Joad]

74. 'Consensus builders.' like lieberman and clinton, no doubt

[billbuckhead]

76. It's her way of fighting the corporate media.

Why let them ambush her on TV to get some unfair sound bites. She'll win easily as she should. I live a quarter mile from her district and have John Lewis as my Congressman.

[ScreamingWhisper]

84. Oh...sorry

Didn't realize debate was also "ambush"
Hmmmmmwhy ever have to discuss any issue? Just put a picture up on the touchscreen and vote for who's the most pretty?
Debate is what makes this country the strongest...say your peace, people listen, agree and vote. If you're a jerk, --NO VOTES FOR YOU!

[rman]

87. Looks like she already had other plans for that day,

and her scedule is public information.

So it wouldn't be hard for anyone who wants to make her look bad to invite her for a debate at a time and date when she's occupied.

[God Almighty]

90. McKinney's running against two Republicans for the Democatic nomination

Her opponents are counting on a Republican raid. She's counting on a good Democratic turnout in the Democratic primary. Why shoud she debate lying Republicans. I've seen the information on her opponents for the nomination. Right wing Republican groups are backing both of them. I hate open primaries.