Just when I think NY has all the stupid democrats...
Posted on 08/06/2002 8:24:34 PM PDT by mhking
McKinney undecided on whether to attend TV debate with Majette
By RHONDA COOK
The incumbent McKinney and fellow Democrat Majette have been invited to debate on Georgia Public Television. Majette agreed. But McKinney had not decided Tuesday whether to participate, a spokesman for her campaign said. Friday's 7:30 p.m. debate in the 4th District race is part of a series organized by the Atlanta Press Club and aired live on GPTV. The races are the ballot-toppers in Georgia's Aug. 20 primaries. McKinney is the only major candidate who has not accepted an invitation, said Kristina Field of the press club. If she doesn't, the debate will go on with Majette answering questions alongside an empty podium, Field said. That could be disastrous for McKinney, said Emory University political scientist Merle Black. "The message is, the opponent is afraid to show up," he said. The debate has itself now become a point of contention in the tight and increasingly bitter race. On Tuesday, Majette's campaign turned up the heat, sending the congresswoman a letter challenging her to debate "in the spirit of democracy." That sparked an unrelated attack by McKinney's camp. Before McKinney agrees to a debate, campaign manager Bill Banks said, Majette must answer questions about her conduct in a case she oversaw as a DeKalb County state court judge. The McKinney campaign alleged Tuesday that there is a "smoking gun" document proving that Majette lied. The case in question involves a 1998 traffic citation against Linda Hamilton, who was charged with driving 17 mph over the speed limit. Hamilton demanded a jury trial and, representing herself, was found guilty. Majette sentenced her to two days in jail. An appeals court eventually overturned the conviction, citing the lack of transcribed testimony from the trial held Jan. 16, 1998, showing whether Majette had done enough to protect Hamilton's rights. McKinney claims that Majette tried to hide the transcript. Her campaign said Tuesday a handwritten note from court reporter Sharon Jones, who was later fired, proved that Majette lied about the existence of transcripts of testimony from the trial. "I was instructed by Judge Majette that 'There is no transcript in this case,' " Jones wrote. Jones could not be found to comment for this article. Majette has denied hiding records. Majette spokeswoman Elizabeth Wilson said Tuesday that Majette would answer McKinney's questions -- but only in a debate. "This is one of thousands of cases," Wilson said. "They're taking one little thing and blowing it way out of proportion and it's not relevant. Her experience as a judge speaks for itself."
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer There will definitely be a debate in the Cynthia McKinney/Denise Majette congressional race Friday night. But it may pit Majette against an empty podium.
And if she wins, I have zero hope for the voters in her district -- and eventually, for America.
Get Cynthia! Suddenly, lying bothers her.
Former state court judge Denise Majette sent Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga) an invitation for a debate in the Democratic primary race for Georgia’s 4th Distric.
A Majette campaign representative delivered a letter to McKinney’s headquarters Tuesday. The McKinney campaign refused to respond to the debate challenge unless Majette answered to allegations that she lied about hiding trial transcripts during a case that she presided over.
Additionally, McKinney’s father, State Representative Billy McKinney, said his daughter does not need to debate a woman he called an unknown in the primary race.
“No one in DeKalb County knows Majette. Everyone across the country knows Cynthia McKinney, why should she debate a nobody in this race?” he said.
In the same way everyone across the country has known a particularly irritating rash a time or two.
| The McKinney Files.... | ||||||
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BTW, I've heard variants of "I don't know much about her..." and get the feeling I'm hearing the spawn of a push-poll or focus group-type survey.... just a gut feeling. |
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Just when I think NY has all the stupid democrats...
I hope she doesn't show. Majette can debate an empty chair & get loads of publicity.
I certainly agree about the no hope for voters in her district. But the eventually for America remark is totally off base. That district, or any one district, has no bearing on the overall thought or quality of people in America. That's a real stretch.
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