Delay to File Ethics Complaint Against Cynthia McKinney

That paragon of Republican virtue, Tom DeLay, who is leaving politics via the back door because he knows he has no chance in hell of winning his seat again told Human Events Online that he will file an ethics complaint over the recent Cynthia McKinney/Capitol Hill Police incident. That's rich - coming from a politician who has repeatedly been smacked down for his own ethics violations.

What's really behind DeLay's charges against McKinney? Via CNN:

"Cynthia McKinney is a racist," DeLay told Fox News Channel, according to The Associated Press. "She has a long history of racism. Everything is racism with her. This is incredible arrogance that sometimes hits these members of Congress but especially Cynthia McKinney."

Since DeLay announced his retirement, he's been busy making the rounds - giving interviews to everybody and their dog about how hard done by he is because of the Vast Left Wing Conspiracy(TM) to get rid of him. His fall from grace has absolutely nothing to do with anything he's done, after all, or the fact that his party has disowned him because he's as toxic as sludge. It's those damn libruls who keep fabricating all of these stories about him - like this fake stuff.

So now, DeLay just can't resist the chance to take one last stab at a Democrat who is embroiled in a scandal in order to seek some kind of perverted justice - as if McKinney's alleged wrongs will wipe out all of DeLay's sins. Make no mistake about it: DeLay is a thoroughly vindictive man and, even though he's leaving politics, there is no doubt that he'll continue his vile ways in the name of his so-called Christianity when he moves on.

As for McKinney and all of the angst thrown her way, including the attacks from so-called "progressives" at Daily Kos via posts and some 800+ comments like this one by Delaware Dem that proclaims "Cynthia McKinney is an Embarrassment", what many of her critics fail to take note of is the the fact that we don't even know the exact circumstances of the situation yet. Left-wingers jumping on the bandwagon to bash McKinney without knowing the facts are just as bad as DeLay taking this opportunity to stroke his own ego by filing an ethics complaint against her.

Here's what we do know:
- McKinney didn't wear her "pin" that would have identified her as a member of congress when she went through the security checkpoint. However, congresspeople are not required to do so and, reportedly, often sidestep the checkpoint.
- something happened that made McKinney react. She was apparently grabbed by a Capitol Hill police officer and, if she "hit" him, there is a plausible case to be made for self-defense. She simply could have reacted to what she thought was a threat to her personal security.
- this whole "different hair-style" thing is just a canard. McKinney has been a member of congress for years. Surely officers are taught to recognize faces - not just hairdos. Is she the only congressperson to ever change her hairstyle? I would be remiss if I didn't mention that it's possible the officer involved didn't know McKinney, but we don't know that yet.
- McKinney has received this type of treatment before:

McKinney has complained before of not being recognized as a member of Congress, both on Capitol Hill and at the White House. In 1998, she demanded and received an apology from the Clinton administration after White House guards stopped her.

In response to this whole affair, "House Republicans pushed a resolution Tuesday commending the Capitol police force for professionalism after a confrontation between an officer and Democratic Rep. Cynthia McKinney." McKinney herself acknowledged the important work of the Capitol Police in the statement she released on March 29, 2006.

The most contentious point in all of this is McKinney's claim that the incident was an issue of "racial profiling" and that is, rightfully, up for debate. However, until this entire incident is properly laid out in court documents - if, in fact that will be included as part of her defense - swift reactions ought to be tempered. It's quite possible that her team of lawyers can provide evidence of such a claim. If not, then that statement can honestly be disputed.

In the meantime, cooler heads need to prevail on the left. There is a disturbing trend on "progressive" sites like Daily Kos to jump to conclusions without all of the facts. What results is a herd mentality that discourages rational discussion while those who prefer to take an objective view of situations are drowned out by strong emotional reactions. That type of behaviour serves nobody and only props up the misleading arguments of the right. And they certainly don't need any help from us when it comes to bashing Dems.