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Posted on 08/15/2002 2:47:31 AM PDT by mhking
[ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 8/15/02 ]
McKinney says Majette guilty of racial profiling
By BILL TORPY and RHONDA COOK
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writers U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney's camp has waged a racially charged campaign against primary opponent Denise Majette. But now McKinney is charging that Majette is the one engaged in racial profiling.
The accusation comes after someone leaked a Majette campaign memo to the McKinney campaign. According to the memo, the Majette campaign plans to use the remaining days until Tuesday's Democratic primary to "proactively go after her [McKinney's] base" in south DeKalb County through ads on black radio stations and by working the streets there.
"We can't allow McK to paint Denise as the white candidate, nor let her position us," Majette spokeswoman Elizabeth Wilson wrote in an e-mail to other staffers.
The memo, which the McKinney campaign sent to reporters, says that the Majette campaign must "Identify specific areas in: neighborhoods, precincts, grass roots, [be] street driven." It says the campaign must "work the streets in a posse, in t-shirts, probably no white folks if it is a black neighborhood."
McKinney used the e-mail in a forum Tuesday night. "Here's a campaign that's trying to racially profile," she said. About 10 T-shirted McKinney followers exploded in applause. Across the room sat several Majette supporters wearing T-shirts. Both groups included black and white members.
Clark Atlanta University political science professor William Boone said the latest charges and counter-charges are evidence of "high tensions of this campaign and the racial overtones. That is not unexpected."
He said McKinney's alleging that Majette was racially profiling was fair political game. But, he said, "one would expect Majette's people" to send black campaign workers into African-American neighborhoods. "It's legitimate."
But McKinney campaign manager Bill Banks said sending African-American campaign workers into black neighborhoods is wrong.
"I can't believe Majette's campaign looks at the color of your skin the minute you walk in her door," Banks responsded. "That's disgraceful, and that's not what Georgia is about."
The campaigns' focuses on race and the charges between the camps have become harsher as the primary race for the 4th Congressional District seat comes to a head.
Some McKinney supporters have called Majette "Tomette," a play on the pejorative term "Uncle Tom." A McKinney campaign ad states Majette "sold us out." Another McKinney ad compared Majette to a white police officer who punched a handcuffed black teen.
Majette has repeatedly called McKinney a "divider," using racial tactics to whip up her black core support in the district, which contains a sizable black population.
Wilson, the Majette staffer, confirmed she sent the memo. "Every campaign sends volunteers more likely to relate to the community where they are going. I wish that weren't true."
Majette is obviously frustrated by McKinney's racial rhetoric even though the 4th District race, according to a recent poll, is a dead heat.
At a Saturday event, she became animated when a questioner suggested that she is not concerned with the problems of African-Americans.
"I know what's going on," Majette said, and she repeated a defense she has offered at several campaign events and during a televised debate last week.
"I've lived in DeKalb County 20 years," Majette said. "My children are in the public schools in DeKalb County. I know what it's like to be a black woman in America, having a black husband in America, having teenage sons in America."
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If McKinney wins the black vote there, I will have to conclude that Georgia black voters are what? Smart? In a college town, no less. And how would that reflect on the local college? You have to believe your constituents are complete morons to put an ad out like that.
Anybody want to bet that if she loses the primary she'll cry foul or worse, racism?
I wouldn't be suprised that if/when she loses CNN will give her her very own talk show. Any bets on that one?
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That's funny, because my experience, and those of my white friends in the 4th District who have dealt with McKinney, is that she and her staff immediately check the color of your skin, and if it's melanin-impaired, thoroughly ignore you, if not show outright anti-white racism.
My take, and that of a lawyer friend who has worked with her in the courts, is that Majette will deal with all her constituents as people, not as blacks and whites, unlike McKinney. This will be an enormous improvement.
"I can't believe Majette's campaign looks at the color of your skin the minute you walk in her door," Banks responsded. "That's disgraceful, and that's not what Georgia is about."
I'd laugh my a** off, but these morons are just too pathetic to laugh at.
McKinney is purely and totally despicable. The very idea that this drooler has been walking the halls of the Capitol disgusts me.
I disagree with the wording here. it should be "long overdue" retirement
Regards, Ivan
OK, but this is utterly surreal. But then again the surreal, absurd and the downright daft is a left wing strong suit.
Regards, Ivan
"I will amaze and amuse you..."
... I am both amazed, and amused by this clownish spectacle Taliban Cindy is providing us in Georgia.
I just mass emailed a link to this story and about 6 others defaming Cindy, to the usual suspects on my list...
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