Why does Randi Rhodes keep calling Denise Majette a Republican?

[dolstein]

Here's a little press release to remind us what the truth is:

Majette Endorses Kerry for President
Hails Kerry as the Candidate who will beat Bush

February 06, 2004

For Immediate Release
Decatur, GA —

Today, U.S. Representative Denise L. Majette (D-Stone Mountain) made he following statement announcing her support of Senator John Kerry for the Democratic nomination for President.

“John Kerry has his priorities straight. He understands that to ensure the long-term prosperity of our country, we must empower our children with a first-rate public education today. He understands that we need to restore America’s moral credibility across the globe and lead the nations of the world into an era of security, freedom and peace. And most importantly, he understands that fiscal prosperity and economic opportunity come when we balance our budget, cut taxes for the middle class and put Americans back to work.
“Unlike the Bush Administration’s hollow rhetoric on these important issues, John Kerry is a proven leader and determined fighter who has what it takes to turn this country around.

“The bottom line is that Americans simply cannot afford another four years of the Bush Administration’s failed policies. John Kerry is the best man to take back the White House and I am pleased to support him.

Majette represents Georgia’s 4th Congressional District, which includes much of DeKalb and part of Gwinnett counties, in the U.S. House of Representatives. Her district is one of the most Democratic districts in the state and Majette is the first Georgia delegate to the Democratic National Convention to endorse Kerry. Majette is president of the freshman class of House Democrats, an Assistant Democratic Whip and Chair of the Democratic Caucus’ Task Force on Jobs and the Economy.

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0206a.html

Does anybody know if Cynthia McKinney has endorsed Kerry?

The fact is, Majette has compiled a very liberal voting record in Congress. I think Rhodes and some DU'ers around here simply resent the fact that Majette has chosen to represent her constituents rather than assume the role of agent provocateur for the left-wing fringe.

[mitchtv]

1. left wing fringe- nostalgia

haven't heard that since Jacinto

[dolstein]

3. I noticed you didn't answer the question

Majette votes like a Democrat, has assumed a leadership position in the Congressional Democratic caucus and was an early supporter of John Kerry. That sure sounds like a Democrat to me.

The fact is, McKinney was far more popular among left-wingers outside her district than she was within her district. And while Rhodes drones on about the fact that thousands of Republicans crossed over to vote for Majette in the primary, she ignores the fact that Majette's overwhelming margin of victory cannot be attributed to Republican votes. The district is so lopsidedly Democrat that Majette had to have won among Democratic voters as well.

[xultar]

5. That isn't correct, the REPUBLICANS voted for Majette, it is an

open primary. The RW radio talkshow hosts broadcasted for republicans in the district to request a democratic ballot instead of a rethug ballot.

THAT IS A FACT. I live here and I heard that shit almost every day during the primary season.

[dolstein]

7. Sure, Republicans voted for Majette. But so did most Democrats.

Democrats outnumber Republicans in that district by about ten to one. Even if every single Republican cross over vote went for Majette, that wouldn't have been anywhere near enough to beat McKinney. And besides, it wasn't even close. Majette won with 60% of the vote. The only way should could have gotten that many votes was by winning among Democrats as well as Republicans.

[gttim]

9. Load of crap!

McKinney lost because her and her father are fruitcakes. McKinney was an incumbent in a district that was drawn for her, and she still lost. All research on the voting patterns in her district showed that at the most 3000 people crossed party lines.

McKinney was a poor congresswoman who did little for her district and brought little pork to it. Good riddance. I hope she gets beat again, and slinks back to her hole.

Majette has done a better job than McKinney ever has done.

[el_gato]

11. bullshit , she was targeted for speaking the truth

She had the guts to stand up to power and was eliminated
with the help of your right wing friends

Majette is a DINO

[dolstein]

14. Which truth would that be? The DU truth?

I would be a little careful about tossing the word "truth" around, particularly when you are calling Denise Majette a DINO. She has one of the most liberal voting records in Congress. Majette seems to have mastered the art of voting extremely liberal without pissing off nearly everyone around her. That's a lesson Cynthia McKinney never learned.

[AntiCoup2K4]

21. It's true. The Georgia Pukes and DLC cut a deal

"We'll take out Bob Barr if you take out McKinney"

And while such a thing would have been unthinkable in any previous administration, both of these two were sacrficed by the neocons in their party for the same reason. Daring to criticize the Bush Criminal Empire's agenda.

[UnityDem]

20. You couldn't be more wrong about Majette

She is no DINO!
Check her very liberal voting record
I live in her district
She won over McKinney with more DEM votes than McKinney....I know...I worked in the campaign....yes, Majette did also get SOME Repubs (primarily Jewish voters) who crossed over....however, all of the post election results showed that Majette would still have won without the repub votes....
I wish those who don't live in this district would stop bashing Majette just because she ousted McKinney.
Many of us voted against McKinney because of her abrasive personality and yearning for national attention (more than working for the people of her district)....plus, many of us were simply impressed w/Majette.
Majette is a good (and loyal) liberal democrat.
I hope she wins the U.S.Senate seat being vacated by a real DINO....Zig Zag Zell Miller.
Doubt it will happen....the repubs should win it (probably Johnny Isackson).............
McKinney now faces another challenge to reclaim her old seat from a caucasian open lesbian (Cathy Woolward - head of Atlanta city council)....don't know who I'm supporting yet....but, this seat will always have a liberal democrat holding it...no matter who wins.

[OKNancy]

35. Wrong

Look it up

[rinsd]

18. I have no doubts that Republicans voted for Majette

I do have doubts as to how large a factor it was on the election. The problem of course with seeking an answer is 2 fold. No exit polls and Georgia doesn't require party affiliation.

Let's look at some numbers from the GA SOS:

Dem Primary 2002:

MAJETTE MCKINNEY
68,612 49,058
58.3% 41.7%
County PR TP
DEKALB 185 185 66,467 48,798
GWINNETT 138 138 2,145 260

GOP Primary 2002:
DAVIS PEREIRA VAN AUKEN
1,910 1,515 2,169
34.1% 27.1% 38.8%
County PR TP
DEKALB 185 185 1,787 1,434 2,067
GWINNETT 138 138 123 81 102


Dem Primary 2000:

MCKINNEY
40,629
100.0%
County PR TP
DEKALB 168 168 40,036
GWINNETT 133 133 593

GOP Primary 2000:

PARKISON WARREN
2,814 5,875
32.4% 67.6%
County PR TP
DEKALB 168 168 2,211 4,619
GWINNETT 133 133 603 1,256

Dem Primary 1998:

MCKINNEY
42,648
100.0%
County PR TP
DEKALB 167 167 40,978
GWINNETT 129 129 1,670


GOP Primary 1998:
WARREN
21,636
100.0%
County PR TP
DEKALB 167 167 18,936
GWINNETT 129 129 2,700

Dem Primary 1996:

HUGHES MCKINNEY SLOTIN YATES
1,370 42,508 3,993 15,126
2.2% 67.5% 6.3% 24.0%
County PR TP
DEKALB 159 159 1,261 41,191 3,877 14,567
GWINNETT 128 128 109 1,317 116 559


GOP Primary 1996:

BROWN CROWLEY MITNICK
7,541 6,053 15,718
25.7% 20.7% 53.6%
County PR TP
DEKALB 159 159 6,212 5,071 13,786
GWINNETT 128 128 1,329 982 1,932

Now the general election numbers:

2002 general election:

MAJETTE VAN AUKEN
(D) (R)
118,045 35,202
77.0% 23.0%
County PR TP
DEKALB 186 186 116,003 33,198
GWINNETT 139 139 2,042 2,004

2000 general election:

MCKINNEY WARREN
(D) (R)
139,579 90,277
60.7% 39.3%
County PR TP
DEKALB 168 168 129,005 79,022
GWINNETT 133 133 10,574 11,255


1998 general election:

MCKINNEY WARREN
(D) (R)
100,622 64,146
61.1% 38.9%
County PR TP
DEKALB 167 167 94,000 56,154
GWINNETT 129 129 6,622 7,992


1996 general election:
MCKINNEY MITNICK
(D) (R)
127,157 92,985
57.8% 42.2%
County PR TP
DEKALB 159 159 117,009 79,797
GWINNETT 128 128 10,148 13,188

Now, without exit polls or party affiliation data its difficult to come to solid conclusions. But the above figures seem to trending towards the GOP being less and less of a factor in the 4th since 1996. Even before that they still lost.

[daveskilt]

2. If your constituency is the home of the KKK it shouldnt all be represented

stone mountain is where the klan was founded...perhaps majette could not represent those constituents.

[dolstein]

6. So the majority of Dems who voted for Majette are Klan members?

DU'ers would love to believe that a bunch of white racist Republicans frustrated the will of Democratic voters who preferred McKinney over Majette. But the truth isn't so convenient. The district is one of the most heavily Democratic districts in the entire country. There aren't enough Republican voters there to hijack a Democratic primary even if they wanted to. More Democrats voted for Majette in that primary than voted for McKinney.

[daveskilt]

10. did I say that? I dont think I did.

just saying representing ALL of her constituents isnt neccessarily a great thing...always respect dems who can represent a majority of their constituents (like bill orton did in utahs 3rd) but some constituents need to be ignored.

never heard your theory that you think I was espousing. I will be glad to leave Georgia soon because minority or not the nutjobs are out in full force in this part of the world.

[Classical_Liberal]

41. Face it, alot of them just didn't bother to change their party

affiliation when the dixiecrats died.

[xultar]

4. Nope I live here in GA Majette WAS a republican who changed

parties to run for her seat.

The district she ran in has a high Black Population ergo democrat

that is the only way Majette could win.

I remember all the RW radio talkshow hosts were broadcasting to ALL OF ATLANTA to REPUBLICANS to ask for a DEMOCRATIC BALLOT to SCREW with the election.

THAT IS A FACT!

[dontstopthere]

8. i've got some facts

Majette is doing an awesome job.
McKinney is a nut.

[el_gato]

12. you have nothing

Majette is a republican in dem clothing
Maybe that's why you like her

By the way if all you can do is spout personal insults you've already lost the arguement.

[dolstein]

15. You obviously never looked at Majette's voting record

Or her activities for the Democratic Party since being elected. Come to think of it, I wonder whether you even managed to read past the headline of my post.

Anyone who is familiar with Majette's voting record in Congress and the leadership role she has assumed within the Democratic caucus would know better than to claim that Majette is a Republican in Dem clothing.

[fujiyama]

33. Many don't bother

to check out voting records.

That's why Kerry is considering a DINO to so many, even though he has one of the most liberal voting records in congress.

BTW, I agree about McKinney. She lost because she was crazy. After losing, she blamed her loss on Jews and Indian Americans. Sure, some will claim she never blamed Jews, but it was implicit on her part, and made VERY explicit by her father.

While I think she brought some interesting points to the table (questioning the administration on 9/11 was necessary), I'm sure other capable congresspeople can do it as well.

[Classical_Liberal]

42. What was her vote on the Syria accountability act

? McKinney wouldn't have voted for this neocon tripe of a bill, that is designed only to make Syria the next invasion target. If McKinney hadn't been politically assasinated by the same neocons the dems wouldn't have voted for it so universally.

I have very good reasons for disliking Majette. She is part of the stanglehold the neocons and the Israeli lobby have placed on Congress and it is killing our young men right now in Iraq.

[NewJerseyDem]

17. Where's the evidence she switched parties?

There's no evidence of that that I've heard. Majette has had a solidly democratic voting record. She has voting in democratic primaries for years. However, in 2000 she decided to vote for Alan Keyes in the republican primary. It doesn't mean that she wanted him to be president. She said she wanted to vote for a black person for president. That is a pretty stupid reason to vote for Keyes but it doesn't make her a republican. There was no real democratic contest and in the open primary in Georgia she decided to vote in the republican primary. Majette's voting record is what counts and it has been very liberal.

[rinsd]

19. Bingo!

"Majette's voting record is what counts and it has been very liberal."

[IndianaGreen]

44. McKinney Scares Denise Majette Out of House Seat Taken in 2002

McKinney Scares Denise Majette Out of House Seat Taken in 2002

Answers Questions About Her Campaign
-- in which 9/11 Will Not be Forgotten

by

Wayne Madsen

© Copyright 2004, From The Wilderness Publications, www.copvcia.com. All Rights Reserved. May be reprinted, distributed or posted on an Internet web site for non-profit purposes only.

April 5, 2004, 1800 PDT (FTW) -- Cynthia McKinney, the lightning rod former five-term representative from Georgia's 4th District, is making a political comeback after being defeated by Republican-turned-Democrat Denise Majette in the 2002 Democratic primary. Majette's win, as documented by records filed by McKinney in an ongoing Georgia court case was secured as an estimated 43,000 Republican voters crossed over to vote (illegally – as alleged by McKinney) as Democrats. As documented by the Washington Post and the Atlanta Journal Constitution, much of the funding for the effort was provided by the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee or AIPAC, which had long opposed McKinney for her criticism of Israeli policy regarding Palestinians in the occupied territories.

On March 29, McKinney announced that she would run for her old seat. The following day Majette, a one-term congresswoman with no legislative record, announced that she would run for the US Senate seat being vacated by Georgia's Zell Miller who is retiring. The local papers and experienced politicians quickly realized that Majette, who must vacate her House seat to do this, had a “zero” probability of winning. It appeared to all that Majette was running from a newly energized McKinney and a 4th District constituency who had some “bones to pick”. In fact, local TV accounts of Majette's press conference showed Majette “losing it” when asked if she was running away from McKinney.

A well-known champion of human and civil rights in the United States and abroad, McKinney shook political Washington in April 2002 when she suggested that the Bush administration knew much more about pre-911 intelligence than it was letting on. She was immediately pounced upon by Republicans and Democrats alike, with many calling her "loony" and "unpatriotic." By the time of the August 2002 primary, Denise Majette – Republican loyalist, supporter of Alan Keyes, and Georgia state judge – had switched parties. She successfully took on McKinney in the Democratic primary with the help of the GOP cross-over votes and large amounts of out-of-state money. Majette eventually won the general election in a district which has never sent a Republican to the House.

Fourth District voters cried foul and challenged the election in court.

http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/040504_mckinney_announcement.html

[OKNancy]

36. I bet the Republicans are kicking themselves now

since she is the most liberal of all the Georgia House members.

[el_gato]

13. Cynthia McKinney is a true patriot

[dolstein]

16. If being a politically suicidal nutcase is what it takes to be a patriot

Then the definition of "patriot" need to be seriously reexamined.

Sure, her conspiracy tinged rants helped a lot of left-wing fanboys get their political rocks off, and provided a seemingly endless supply of cannon fodder for Republicans. But what did McKinney really accomplish?

[IndianaGreen]

39. Cynthia's crime is that she said that Bush knew of the impending 9/11

Cynthia's crime is that she said that Bush knew of the impending 9/11 terrorist attack against our country. Cynthia has been proven right. Her critics have been unmasked as apologists for Zell Miller and the ultra-Zionist rabble that backed Majette.

[tinanator]

40. ultra-Zionist rabble! cool

hi dolstein!

[corporatewhore]

22. My respect for Rhodes has gone up for statingthe obvious

[dolstein]

23. The only obvious thing is that Rhodes doesn't know squat

If you want proof, here are Majette's interest group ratings:

2003 On the votes that the National Abortion Reproductive Rights Action League considered to be the most important in 2003, Representative Majette voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.

2003 On the votes that the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State considered to be the most important in 2003, Representative Majette voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.

2003 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered to be the most important in 2003, Representative Majette voted their preferred position 95 percent of the time.

2003 On the votes that the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights considered to be the most important in 2003, Representative Majette voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.

2003 On the votes that the Sierra Club considered to be the most important in 2003, Representative Majette voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.

2003 On the vote that the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence considered to be the most important in 2003 , Representative Majette voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.

2003 On the votes that the AFL-CIO considered to be the most important in 2003, Representative Majette voted their preferred position 87 percent of the time.

2003 On the votes that the Americans for Democratic Action considered to be the most important in 2003, Representative Majette voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.

2003 According to the National Journal - Composite Liberal Score's calculations, in 2003, Representative Majette voted more liberal on economic, defense and foreign policy issues than 82 percent of the Representatives.

2003 On the votes that the Alliance for Retired Americans considered to be the most important in 2003, Representative Majette voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.

[ulysses]

24. heh

Surely you were among the cheering throng a couple of weeks ago when Randi slapped Nader around some. Should I take any kind of pleasure in redirecting some of the rebukes I received then in your direction?

[dolstein]

27. Nope, you're wrong

I actually criticized Rhodes for her treatment of Nader. I don't like Nader, but I thought what Rhodes did was completely obnoxious.

[ulysses]

32. well, call me a fringe leftist.

Fair enough, then.

Majette has been a lot better than I expected that she would be, and I don't think that she deserves the "Republican" label. Then, I don't think that McKinney deserves to be called "suicidal", "crazy" or an "anti-Semite", and I appreciate having a louder progressive voice in Congress than Majette, especially one vindicated by recent events.

[Doomsayer13]

37. so you'll be voting for her in the senate race?

nt

[Feanorcurufinwe]

25. Because Rhodes is a classic "knee-jerk liberal" ?

Honestly, I thought that pejorative was bullshit until I started on DU and discovered that there really is such a thing. :evilgrin:

[dolstein]

26. She's a knee-jerk Majette Basher

Sorry, but Randi Rhodes is stunnigly ingorant about Denise Majette. She continues to call Majette a Republican, even though Majette has compiled an overwhelmingly liberal voting record during her short stay in the House, is a member of the Democratic leadership in the House and has endorsed John Kerry, which, as far as I've been able to tell, is something Cynthia McKinney hasn't done.

Much like her right-wing counterpart, Rush Limbaugh, Randi Rhodes isn't what you'd call a deep thinker. She's got her script and she's sticking to it. Apparently, she has never forgiven Majette for having the temerity to challenge McKinney's divine right to represent Georgia's 4th district in Congress.

[Dr Fate]

28. Because she won the primaries because of Talk Radio support...

...all the RW radio hosts told their listeners to vote Majette in the primaries.

[rinsd]

29. Which is now a LW Radio talking point.....regardless of facts (nt)

[Dr Fate]

31. Hey- I dont have a huge problem w/ her voting record...

...but you have to at least recognize that there is still some bad blood- she joined Bush & the media in trashing a good Liberal- who was ON to Bush and his war lies far before all the other DEMS were...

She also repeatedly DEFENDED Bush.

Having said that- we certainly dont want Majette replaced with a Republican.

I hear ya w/ the left wing radio comment- but call be back when Al Franken successfully causes open-primary mischief the same way Boortz & co did...

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

30. Can't you advocate your position without antagonizing? Fuck!

Look, Majette actually has pleasantly surprised me with her votes, but calling anyone who supported McKinney fringe is being deliberately antagonistic. McKinney did do some great work for her district and also did the job she was SUPPOSED to do on the committees on which she sat...some of which strayed outside her district.

Her work on investigating the atrocities committed by contractors in Columbia was valuable.

[OKNancy]

34. Not just a "very liberal" voting record

a 100% voting record. Higher than any Rep. in Georgia. Higher than John Lewis ( 90%)her closest rival in "liberalness"

[IndianaGreen]

38. Majette is a puppet of the Sharon/AIPAC faction in America

Luckily she is now running for the Senate, leaving the pukes that voted for her the last time no choice but to return to their GOP roots.

The best part of this story is that Cynthia McKinney, who was among the first to publicly say that Bush KNEW about Al-Qaeda's threat to America PRIOR to 9/11 (LIHOP for short!), will now be able to get her Congressional seat back.

Majette is a protege of Zell Miller. It was Zell who supported Majette against McKinney. Those McKinney critics that defended Majette and Zell no longer brag of their support for Majette and Zell now that Zell leads the Democrats for Bush.

[Spirochete]

43. From what little I've read

Majette has been doing an excellent job as a Rep. I hope she wins Smelly Zelly's Senate seat, and McKinney gets her old seat back.