Former Rep. Cynthia McKinney Pursues Lawsuit Against Georgia's Open Primary System

Interview with Cynthia McKinney, Georgia congresswoman, conducted by Scott Harris

When five-term Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney was defeated in her August 2002 Democratic primary, the House lost one of its most outspoken and energetic progressive legislators. McKinney, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, lost her 4th District congressional seat due to a combination of factors, including Georgia's open primary system which allowed tens of thousands of white Republicans to "crossover" to the Democratic party for the day and cast ballots against McKinney. McKinney's supporters in her former district have since filed a federal lawsuit contesting Georgia's rules on primaries, a challenge which could find support from an opinion rendered by Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in the 2000 California vs. Jones case.

McKinney's criticism of Israel's human rights violations had made some powerful enemies among U.S. supporters of right-wing Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon, who donated thousands of dollars to her opponent, former state judge Denise Majette. Further damage was done to McKinney's campaign when news outlets quoted her as saying that President Bush may have had advance knowledge about the Sept. 11 attacks but did nothing so his supporters could make money in a war. However, BBC investigative journalist Greg Palast could not find these statements in the public record, although they were prominently reported by NPR and the New York Times.

Cynthia McKinney, who is being mentioned as a possible Green Party candidate for president in 2004, has been speaking to activist groups across the country about the threat to civil liberties posed by the USA Patriot Act and her opposition to the Bush administration's war in Iraq. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Cynthia McKinney, who is now earning a doctorate at Tuft's Fletcher School of Diplomacy, about her challenge to Georgia's primary system, the state of the Democratic party and her future political plans.

Visit Cynthia McKinney's website at www.cynthia2002.com

Related links



Cynthia McKinney's lawsuit

" The Screwing of Cynthia McKinney," by Greg Palast, www.Alternet.org, June 18, 2003

"Goodbye To All That," by Cynthia McKinney, Sept. 18, 2002 transcript at the reception for the Congressional Black Caucus, Sept. 14, 2002

"Don't Blame the Jews for Cynthia McKinney's Defeat," by Stephen Zunes, www.commondreams.org, Aug. 25, 2002

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: http://www.btlonline.org

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