ATLANTA, April 24, 2006, 11:30 a.m. - U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney says Republicans have "hyped" immigration in America into "the hate issue du jour."

    “I believe immigration issues are being hyped because these are people of color," said McKinney, who represents one of the most diverse congressional Districts in the country. "If you can hate up on people of color, gay, lesbian, homosexual, it widens the GOP base.”

    In a wide-ranging interview, McKinney also questioned government statistics on how many American soldiers have died in Iraq.

    She told Redding News Review, and a small group of journalists, the number of American soldiers killed in Iraq is closer to that of 6,000 dead - not the roughly 2,391 tallied by an Associated Press count.

    The Democrat said that the immigration issue - which has caused massive demonstrations across America - is being overplayed.

    McKinney said the lengthy process to receive citizenship, the readiness of employers to hire undocumented workers at substandard wages, and the unwillingness of the GOP to punish employers are all elements that do not serve effective immigration law.

    “Some industries cannot exist without immigrant employment,” she said.

Story continues below ↓

    Concentrating on the needs of the U.S. economy and seeing how the U.S. can fill those needs first, and then focusing on how migrants can supplement was part of the rationale offered by the congresswoman.

    “We grant asylum for people who should really be tried in court," she said. "We need a human a human rights creed at home and abroad. Once we look at [human rights] at home, that will lead to looking at the plight of people around the world because corporations need them.”

    When asked to comment on state Rep. Melvin Everson’s, a Republicans, statement regarding illegal immigration, saying “The last time I checked, America was the land of the English – not Spanish,” the congresswoman had an immediate response.

    “Some of the things that have been said are totally out of order, totally outrageous, except that they show how people feel and show us what has been hidden," she said. “It is a very important issue. Immigration is not a Latino issue. Haitians, Cubans have an immigration issue…. The disparate treatment that Cubans receive over Haitians [is an issue].”    

     The congresswoman - who is expected to file her paperwork to run for another term today before returning to Washington - has been involved in a number of community enrichment programs, including informing constituents about President Bush's prescription drug plan by holding six Medicare town hall meetings.

    She is concerned about cuts in the Medicare plan as well as increased spending on measures like the Iraq War.

    The War in Iraq and Military Recruitment

     “We not only have guns in butter, we have waste, fraud and abuse on top of corruption,” McKinney said, regarding the overall situation in Iraq. “The revolt of the generals is not new. It has been brewing for a long time.

    “High crimes and misdemeanors have been established by this administration,” she said. “People also feel more compelled to speak out due to the circumstances in Iran.”

    The congresswoman continued, and raised an issue that rarely gets attention. “I have repeatedly received phone calls from parents,” she said, “about [military] recruiters visiting their homes [for their children] over the weekend.”

    “I think this is wrong,” McKinney said she aims to supply more information about what military recruitment rights are.

    McKinney went on to say that the number of dead U.S. soldiers provided to the media are actually three times less than what has truly occurred. According to what McKinney referred to as “soon-to-be whistleblowers,” the total is closer to that of 6,000 dead.

    Of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, McKinney said, “Resignation would be a dream.” The congresswoman went on to say, however, that she is fully aware that it takes 218 votes to pass accomplish change in Congress.

    Hurricane Katrina and Voting Rights

    With the election in New Orleans still simmering, the progress and voting rights of those affected by Hurricane Katrina was also of great relevance to the congresswoman.

    McKinney cited electronic voting machines and electronic poll books lead to more voter disenfranchisement.

    “These pose a serious problem to the electorate,” said McKinney. “Why do the voting machines have a wireless capability built into them, and why do the American people not know about this?”

    “The same machines used in Georgia were also used in Maryland.” McKinney referred to the governor of Maryland as another to criticize this gross possibility of violating voter privacy.

    It was the Secretary of State’s decision to deploy these machines, McKinney said, “and they were deployed without being tested.”

    "American Blackout", the documentary featuring McKinney and her efforts against voter disenfranchisement is scheduled to be presented at the Atlanta Film Festival on June 10.  
 

Return to ReddingNewsReview.com
© RCI 2006. All Rights Reserved.