FEATURED JOBS
Kooky politicians never fade away … they just run for president.
That’s my response after learning that Cynthia McKinney of Georgia is the Green Party nominee for president, as announced today. For sure, unlike year 2000 party candidate Ralph Nader, Ms. McKinney will not come remotely close to influencing the election. That’s because if she ever gained traction, the vast majority of Americans would see her as an increasing number of Georgians did over the years – a divisive, angry and out-of-whack politician.
I speak from personal experience. Back in the 1990s, I was editor of the Atlanta Jewish Times when she was a congresswoman. Her district was majority black, but had a healthy chunk of the Jewish community. Jewish leaders repeatedly tried to be friendly toward her; she repeatedly said in so many words, “I don’t need you so go stick your love somewhere.”
That was even before her father, long-time state representative Billy McKinney, began claiming that his daughter’s Jewish Republican opponent was being funded by national Jewish groups.
When that happened, Ms. McKinney slowly, with great reticence, ever-so-slightly distanced herself from her father’s comments. (For the record, no one was asking her to denounce her dad, just what he said.) I went up to her at a political event a day later, identified myself and said to her, “I’m glad you said what you said and look forward to now covering the issues of the campaign.” She gave me a glare and walked away. Her Jewish advisor was mortified. I told him, “Now we’re learning a lot about what she really thinks.”
Breaking tradition for the Atlanta Jewish Times, I refused to endorse the Democratic candidate in that race. Based on the history of Atlanta’s Jewish community – remember Jimmy Carter?—I was not ready to endorse Republican challenger John Mitnick. Looking back, I was wrong.
Back then I wrote that on the one hand Ms. McKinney, a black and single mom, was the type of person who should be in the U.S. House of Representatives because she truly represented a disenfranchised portion of the electorate. On the other hand, her behavior and beliefs were so outrageous that they raised serious questions.
Since then, she went on to win and lose her seat several times, finally being knocked out for good in 2006. Now she is calling for a new investigation of the 9/11 attacks – which would undoubtedly delve into the idiotic theory that Israel and/or American Jews are responsible. She also has said that peace in the Middle East could come “based on self-determination, respect for human rights and justice.” My guess is that she does not realize that Jewish settlers and their supporters might agree: justice for them comes in the right to self-determination and human rights in their ancient homeland.
That’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Ms. McKinney is such a contrast to the great Georgian African-American political leaders of past and present, including John Lewis – one of my heroes.
Well, at least we now know what Ms. McKinney is up to – at least until early November.
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