McKinney regains old seat

WASHINGTON - She has questioned the "Negro tolerance" of a Democratic vice president and alleged the Republican president had prior knowledge of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

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Any grudges against Cynthia McKinney? Nonsense, say some of her former friends and foes.

The Georgia Democrat might seem an obvious candidate to test any theories about the short-term memory of politicians when she returns to Congress in January after a two-year absence. But few are predicting a rough encore.

"It's a brand new day, a fresh start for everybody," said Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga. "It's a new year ... and as far as most of us are concerned, the slate is blank."

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, which strongly supported Ms. McKinney in past elections, indicated the transition should be smooth.

"I think she'll be welcomed back with open arms," said CBC Chairman Elijah Cummings, D-Md. "I don't know whether the way she addresses issues will be any different than the way it was before."

Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., said Ms. McKinney deserved to return to Congress because voters obviously want her there. She easily won back her old seat by beating political neophyte Catherine Davis.

"Her constituents have given her an invitation, and I don't think anyone else is in a position to question that," Mr. Bishop said. "She got there the way all the rest of us got there."

It was more her controversial remarks than her politics that landed Ms. McKinney in political trouble two years ago, when the 10-year congresswoman lost to Denise Majette in the Democratic primary. Ms. Majette left the seat after one term for an unsuccessful Senate bid, allowing Ms. McKinney to win it back.

--From the Thursday, November 4, 2004 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle