12/12/07:Ex-rep Stumps Here In Green Party Run- Wisconsin Green Party
Ex-rep Stumps Here In Green Party Run
The Capital Times :: METRO :: C1
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
By JUDITH DAVIDOFF
A former U.S. congresswoman from Georgia, perhaps best known for her scuffle with U.S. Capitol security guards, was in Madison on Tuesday stumping as a Green Party candidate for president.
Cynthia McKinney, who served in the Georgia Legislature and, until last year, the U.S. House of Representatives, stopped short of actually declaring herself a candidate, but promised some "exciting news" in the near future.
Entering the news conference at the State Capitol, McKinney worked the room, introducing herself to those who had come to hear her talk. Before she started her speech, she requested paper and pen, using it to write down the names, and media affiliations, of the reporters covering the press conference.
McKinney said she never thought she'd end up in public office. "Politics was never something I wanted to do," she said. However, despite pursuing two different Ph.D.s at various times in her life, she never finished her dissertations. "There was always something public that was calling me," she said.
McKinney served in the Georgia Legislature for five years and was a member of the House of Representatives for six nonconsecutive terms. After falling short in the 2006 Democratic primary, she lost her congressional seat and this fall filed paperwork to create an exploratory committee for a Green Party presidential campaign.
McKinney has been a frequent critic of the Iraq war and President Bush's leadership. When in Congress, she introduced measures to impeach Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. She has also been a critic of Pentagon spending and the agency's mismanagement of funds.
She said campaigning for president provided her with an "opportunity to spread the good news to people who are almost on the verge of despair. We can change the course of our country, and that is the good news."
McKinney made national news in March 2006 when she was accused of striking a U.S. Capitol police officer after the officer failed to recognize her and tried to stop her from entering a House office building when she did not show identification. McKinney, in turn, accused the officer of "inappropriate touching" and racial profiling in the incident.
GOING GREEN
Her press conference Tuesday drew about 30 people, including Green Party members and those who, as part of the "9/11 truth movement," question the official explanation for the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center.
She said she was "excoriated" and "vilified" by the mainstream media when she asked in Congress "What did the administration know and when did it know it?"
"To ask questions and to seek the truth is always a risky business, particularly in time of war, and particularly when challenging those in power," said Ron Hardy, co-chair of the Wisconsin Green Party in a statement. "Cynthia McKinney has dared to challenge those in power and the two-party system. We are proud of her courage, and are proud to have her as one of our candidates."
Other Green Party presidential candidates listed on the party's Web site are Jared Ball of the District of Columbia, Jesse Johnson of West Virginia, Kent Mesplay of California and Kat Swift of Texas. The Green Party will meet in July to choose a candidate, said Cindy Stimmler, co-chair of the Wisconsin Green Party.
McKinney said she stands for "justice, truth and peace." She said there is an "overwhelming need not just to address Iraq," but the "increasing militarization we find in both our domestic and foreign policy."
Former Madison City Council member Barbara Vedder said she found McKinney very "down to earth.
"It's really refreshing to have a candidate who is speaking truth to power and is so people-friendly," Vedder said.
A videotape of McKinney's press conference will air on WYOU/Channel 4 at 7 p.m. Thursday.
jdavidoff@madison.com
The Capital Times :: METRO :: C1
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
By JUDITH DAVIDOFF
A former U.S. congresswoman from Georgia, perhaps best known for her scuffle with U.S. Capitol security guards, was in Madison on Tuesday stumping as a Green Party candidate for president.
Cynthia McKinney, who served in the Georgia Legislature and, until last year, the U.S. House of Representatives, stopped short of actually declaring herself a candidate, but promised some "exciting news" in the near future.
Entering the news conference at the State Capitol, McKinney worked the room, introducing herself to those who had come to hear her talk. Before she started her speech, she requested paper and pen, using it to write down the names, and media affiliations, of the reporters covering the press conference.
McKinney said she never thought she'd end up in public office. "Politics was never something I wanted to do," she said. However, despite pursuing two different Ph.D.s at various times in her life, she never finished her dissertations. "There was always something public that was calling me," she said.
McKinney served in the Georgia Legislature for five years and was a member of the House of Representatives for six nonconsecutive terms. After falling short in the 2006 Democratic primary, she lost her congressional seat and this fall filed paperwork to create an exploratory committee for a Green Party presidential campaign.
McKinney has been a frequent critic of the Iraq war and President Bush's leadership. When in Congress, she introduced measures to impeach Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. She has also been a critic of Pentagon spending and the agency's mismanagement of funds.
She said campaigning for president provided her with an "opportunity to spread the good news to people who are almost on the verge of despair. We can change the course of our country, and that is the good news."
McKinney made national news in March 2006 when she was accused of striking a U.S. Capitol police officer after the officer failed to recognize her and tried to stop her from entering a House office building when she did not show identification. McKinney, in turn, accused the officer of "inappropriate touching" and racial profiling in the incident.
GOING GREEN
Her press conference Tuesday drew about 30 people, including Green Party members and those who, as part of the "9/11 truth movement," question the official explanation for the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center.
She said she was "excoriated" and "vilified" by the mainstream media when she asked in Congress "What did the administration know and when did it know it?"
"To ask questions and to seek the truth is always a risky business, particularly in time of war, and particularly when challenging those in power," said Ron Hardy, co-chair of the Wisconsin Green Party in a statement. "Cynthia McKinney has dared to challenge those in power and the two-party system. We are proud of her courage, and are proud to have her as one of our candidates."
Other Green Party presidential candidates listed on the party's Web site are Jared Ball of the District of Columbia, Jesse Johnson of West Virginia, Kent Mesplay of California and Kat Swift of Texas. The Green Party will meet in July to choose a candidate, said Cindy Stimmler, co-chair of the Wisconsin Green Party.
McKinney said she stands for "justice, truth and peace." She said there is an "overwhelming need not just to address Iraq," but the "increasing militarization we find in both our domestic and foreign policy."
Former Madison City Council member Barbara Vedder said she found McKinney very "down to earth.
"It's really refreshing to have a candidate who is speaking truth to power and is so people-friendly," Vedder said.
A videotape of McKinney's press conference will air on WYOU/Channel 4 at 7 p.m. Thursday.
jdavidoff@madison.com
Submitted by wnpj on Fri, 12/14/2007 - 3:55pm.