McKinney Apologizes

To date I have not commented on the incident in the U.S. Capitol Building involving Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) and an officer of the Capitol Police force. I have not commented because I wanted to hear more of the facts. Well today Rep. McKinney apologized, sort of. In fact while she apologized for the escalation of the event, she did not apologize for breaking the law in the first place, labeling this as a misunderstanding.

Had McKinney not attacked an officer of the law, I could understand calling this a simple misunderstanding. But her actions show a growing problem in this country, not just among blacks but, I fear, growing in our population in general: a lack of respect for the law and for the officers we charge with enforcing the law. Even if this officer was completely wrong, Rep. McKinney was wrong for attacking an officer of the law, and should have been arrested on the spot.

Now the case is before a grand jury. I hope the system works as it should and that the facts of this case are fairly examined. Both McKinney and the officer are innocent until proven guilty. But if one or the other is found guilty of a crime, I hope capital politics will not stand in the way of enforcing the laws of the land. And I hope McKinney and all of our government officials learn that they are not above the law.

Update 4/7/06: Independent Conservative points out that a member of congress cannot be arrested while congress is in session. While I stand corrected on my statement that McKinney should have been arrested on the spot, this does not change the intent of my post.

As I said before, I hope the facts of this case receive a fair hearing according to the Constitution and not according to politics.

IC also posts concerning McKinney's apology, or should I say lack of an apology. There are also comments on Andrew Young's misplaced defense of McKinney and the issue of McKinney's bodyguard getting into a tussle with a reporter.