What It Takes to Get Arrested in D.C.

U.S. Capital Police have requested an arrest warrant for Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.). In the old days, one could get away with with cane-beatings and duel challenges on the House floor; nowadays, merely hitting a House cop who tried to grab you when you wouldn't stop on his orders gets you threatened with the dock. America: a nation in decline.

Comments

[happyjuggler0]

How is not allowing the hitting of cops a sign of America in decline?

Not to say that we aren't in decline in various forms, and in ascent in others....

[zeiner]

I wonder how hard the congresswoman hit the cop. If was just one of those light punches that you give to a friend, then the cop should be mocked for being such a wuss. Sometimes, I think cops take this assault thing a little too serioulsy.

[J]

"She has our support unconditionally," Elligan said. "She is not a threat to the security of our country."

So...If I am not a threat to the security of our country, I can hit a cop?

[John]

"In the old days, one could get away with with cane-beatings and duel challenges on the House floor; nowadays, merely hitting a House cop who tried to grab you when you wouldn't stop on his orders gets you threatened with the dock. America: a nation in decline"

As if Southern thugs nearly beating abolitionist Senators to death on the Senate floor was some king of high point in American political discourse.

[Kip]

I think this may be another case of misread sarcasm

[Archie Bunker]

(CNN now reporting that the arrest warrant report was incorrect.)

How come if I punch a cop nobody's gonna jump on the next plane to defend me in front of press cameras? Darn black skin privilege...

[independent worm]

534 to go. OK, maybe only 525.

Had to laugh at this one, on cnn.com:

"McKinney framed the matter in terms of race. "The issue is racial profiling," McKinney, who is black, told CNN."

So she's saying that someone else hit the officer, and that the only reason she's being investigated is because she fits the racial profile of someone who'd slug a capitol policeman?

Or does the phrase "racial profiling" not have an actual meaning?

[Mk4Myday]

Ok, she's playing the race card now - I've lost interest...

[strat]

"In the old days, one could get away with with cane-beatings and duel challenges on the House floor; nowadays, merely hitting a House cop who tried to grab you when you wouldn't stop on his orders gets you threatened with the dock. America: a nation in decline"

As if Southern thugs nearly beating abolitionist Senators to death on the Senate floor was some king of high point in American political discourse.

I think it points to the wussification of our elected officials. Back when parties meant something, and senators/congressman weren't falling over each other to be better at {fighting crime | kind to the poor | fighting drugs | supporting our troops | fostering eminent domain}, there were honest personal differences between them.

Now the mutual admiration/incumbent protection society has evolved to the point that they're all more afraid of the Capitol Police than they are of either we the the citizenry or each other.

That's a bad state of affairs. Bring back the duels. It might do some good.

[Ruthless]

That Cynthia woman is a fine piece of pulchritude I've lusted after for years.
She could hit me, beat me, walk on my back with spurs... so long as she didn't stop.
Bring it on...

[heh2k]

I saw clips from the new conference. Surreal. Do any of those black leaders supporting her realize what they're doing to a once noble cause?

[Happy Jack]

That Cynthia woman is a fine piece of pulchritude I've lusted after for years.

Careful, she might sic Isaac Hayes on you.

[Brian Courts]

Hmmmm, wonder if the cops will serve the warrant with a no-knock SWAT raid on her office?

[Douglas Fletcher]

Ok, she's playing the race card now

I think that's been the basis of her whole political career, if I'm not mistaken.

[Phil]

So she's saying that someone else hit the officer, and that the only reason she's being investigated is because she fits the racial profile of someone who'd slug a capitol policeman

No, she's saying that if this had been, say, Bill Frist or Joe Lieberman, you'd have heard nary a word of it in the news. And she's probably correct.

[SmokingPenguin]

That Cynthia woman is a fine piece of pulchritude I've lusted after for years.
She could hit me, beat me, walk on my back with spurs... so long as she didn't stop. Bring it on...

Ruthless, you must have some interesting home movies.

[Mk4Myday]

"No, she's saying that if this had been, say, Bill Frist or Joe Lieberman, you'd have heard nary a word of it in the news. And she's probably correct."

Oh come on now Phil, if Bill Frist or Joe Lieberman hit a Capitol Police officer it would be on the front page of every newspaper in the county this morning.

[Patrick]

"No, she's saying that if this had been, say, Bill Frist or Joe Lieberman, you'd have heard nary a word of it in the news. And she's probably correct."

She's even more completely ridiculous than I thought, if she really believes that. She totally provokes the whole incident, assaults an officer, and has the temerity to blame the incident on racism?

What I want to know is, since she wasn't wearing her pin, bypassed the metal detector or whatever, ignored the officer's command to stop, and then struck the officer who was clearly only doing his job, why wasn't this moron arrested on the spot? I don't care who you are, you shouldn't be able to hit a police officer and walk on your merry way.

[Ed]

McKinney smiled as her supporters heaped praise on her leadership and her new look...a curly brown afro.

Ha ha ha!

[joe]

"So she's saying that someone else hit the officer, and that the only reason she's being investigated is because she fits the racial profile of someone who'd slug a capitol policeman."

I think she's saying that the officer failed to recognize her, barked and her, and put his hands on her because she is a black Representative, and would have recognized a white US Rep and not provoked* the incident.

*Haven't seen the tape, don't know who was out of line.

[keith]

Why is a series of press conferences the result? Why is McKinney acting like a screechy put-upon ditz? It seems to me that a people's representative should have the favor in the imbalance of power.

She has her own personal pork-barrel project now: McKinney ought to insert an amendment into any future bill that reduces capital police headcount budget by one. Make it clear through the back end that if badge #XYZ isn't the cut, the next amendment will reduce management headcount.

[post a comment]

Another unequal analogy. You are comparing congressmen fighting amongst themselves with a congresswoman fighting with a police officer.

The police enforce the law. Its their job. To do otherwise would be negligent of their duty.

Congressmen while they make laws and while doing so many times provide exceptions for themselves. For example, a congressman cannot be arrested while congress is in session.

[Mr. F. Le Mur]

"The issue is racial profiling," McKinney, who is black, told CNN."

McKinney claims to be a racist (and sexist), so she probably assumes that everyone else is, too.

[Guy Who Always Wants The Tape]

Haven't seen the tape, don't know who was out of line.

Yeah, why haven't we.

[sulla]

Is no one in the big media outlets going to call her bluff on the "how-dare-he-not-recognize-my-distinguished-personage" diva bullshit? If she's saying the cop is a racist oppressor who thinks all negros look alike, I hope they're going to require more evidence than just her say-so.
And last, but not least, would there be any question about simple assault versus assault on a police officer if someone less "distinguished" had done the shoving?

[R C Dean]

Why is McKinney acting like a screechy put-upon ditz?

I don't think she's acting.

[Adam]

Jesse Jackson's got his hands full...making the rounds on behalf of McKinney AND Barry Bonds? There by the grace of Gawwwd goes he.