Apologized? Democrats Never Apologize to Their Victims

McKinney Apologizes Over Scuffle With Officer

By Sue Anne Pressley and Charles Babington
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, April 7, 2006; Page A01

Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.), long a lightning rod for Republican attacks, yielded to pressure from her party's colleagues yesterday and apologized to the House for her role in an altercation with a Capitol Police officer.

Flanked by several fellow members of the Congressional Black Caucus and a few white colleagues in the House chamber, McKinney tried to put the March 29 episode behind her even as a grand jury began reviewing allegations that she hit the officer in the chest with her cellphone. She said she wanted to "express again my sincere regret. . . . There should not have been any physical contact. . . . I am sorry that this misunderstanding happened at all, and I regret its escalation. And I apologize."

The incident has put McKinney, 51, a six-term member of Congress, into familiar territory: the middle of controversy. Outspoken, with a style described as either fearless or in-your-face, McKinney has a turbulent history. In 2002, for example, she declared that President Bush had advance knowledge of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks but did nothing to prevent them. She also wrote in 2000 that Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore's "Negro tolerance level has never been high."

This latest commotion, which McKinney dubbed "much ado about a hairdo" -- a hairstyle change may have made it harder for police to recognize her -- has filled Republicans with partisan glee and left Democrats dodging questions about her behavior. Entering the Longworth House Office Building last week, McKinney sidestepped a metal detector, as House and Senate members are allowed to do. But she was not wearing her lapel pin identifying her as a member, and a white police officer -- who did not recognize her -- grabbed her after she ignored his commands to stop.

That was when she allegedly popped him. Last week, with entertainers Harry Belafonte and Danny Glover at her side, McKinney held a news conference at Howard University accusing the officer of triggering all the trouble.

Republicans pounced on McKinney's repeated claims that she was a victim of racial profiling and disrespect. McKinney also accused the officer of inappropriately touching her. The GOP suggested that she reflected Democrats' views on law enforcement and homeland security, angering Democratic leaders who felt the episode was detracting attention from GOP problems, including ethics charges and Iraqi war policy.

Wednesday night, members of the Congressional Black Caucus privately urged McKinney to do something to counter the GOP, and several colleagues renewed the effort yesterday morning. Shortly after noon, McKinney made her brief floor statement.

Apologized? You're joking right? ATL's Miss Piggy didn't apologize to the Capitol Hill Policeman she accosted. She didn't apologize for being an arrogant jerk. Ms. McKinney apologized that "this misunderstanding happened at all." She expressed her regret that the encounter occurred. She continues to deny culpability. Her statement that "There should not have been any physical contact in this incident," reveals that she still doesn't believe that she did anything wrong. She still refuses to acknowledge that what she did in refusing to stop when she was called upon to was wrong. She should be greatful that she was not tackled. The guard was right to grab her arm when she refused to stop and she was wrong.

Why can't Democrats simply say I'm sorry? Why didn't Ms. McKinney say I was wrong to strike the officer, I was wrong to bring racism into this, I was wrong, and I am sorry for what I did?

The answer is clear. They are incapable of believing themselves wrong in anything. They are incapable of seeing their own parts in any wrong. They believe they are the ruling class.

Full Story: McKinney Taking the Blame for Nothing

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