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Chapter 6 – Section 1

How Congress is Organized

Cynthia McKinney: A whole traffic jam of opportunity.

Randall Pinkston: Cynthia McKinney,the only African-American woman ever elected to Congress from Georgia is in a fight for her political life, not against Republicans but against fellow Democrats.

Cynthia McKinney: I have never enjoyed their support and it has not stopped us in terms of our ability to get elected and being outside of that clique, that good ol' boy networkis what endears me to the people.

Male Speaker #1: Gentlewoman from Georgia is recognized for one minute.

Randall Pinkston: In her first two terms,McKinney didn’t need party support.Winning easily in a district with a sixty percent black majority, but the Supreme Court rule that districts like McKinney’s where race dictated boundaries are unconstitutional.

Male Speaker #2: Good luck.

Cynthia McKinney: Thank you.

Randall Pinkston: Now she is running in a new district with sixty percent white voters forcing her to broaden her appeal.

What have you done for the white voters in Georgia?

Cynthia McKinney: Every vote that I take in WashingtonDC is a vote for all of Americait’snot just a vote for black folks.

Randall Pinkston: Her challengers are white males.

Comer Yates: I’m Comer Yates; I’m running for Congress in the Fourth Congressional District.

Randall Pinkston: McKinney’s chief rival is Comer Yates, a lawyer with support from key state party leaders; Yates insists the campaign isn’t about race.

Comer Yates: I hope that all of us are trying to draw upon the strengths and qualities of what I see is the new south with people working together.

Merle Black: Normally in Democratic Partypower politics the incumbent is not challenged.McKinney is viewed as a very liberal black politician, who would not be seen as representing a lot of the interest of these white democrats.

Randall Pinkston: The Fourth Congressional District contest presents a very difficult problem for Georgia Democrats; observers say a victory by McKinney could alienate white voters. While a victory by one of her opponents could alienate African-American voters.And that could leave the Republican candidate to take advantage of a polarizedDemocratic Party in the November General Election.

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