- WASHINGTON -- First, right-wing
American Jews went afterUS Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. Now they've
set their sights onher father, 30-year Georgia state representative Billy
McKinney, astheir next target.McKinney, 75, has become the focus of the
Atlanta-area Jewishcommunity after his most recent criticism of Jews, which
resulted inskyrocketing donations for his challenger's campaign.The problem?
When he was asked about his daughter's disappointingcampaign the day before
her defeat in the Aug. 20 primary, McKinneytold a television interviewer:
"Jews have bought everybody."
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- Whenasked to further explain his daughter's political
difficulties, hesaid: "Jews. J-E-W-S."McKinney, a senior Democrat
in the Georgia state house and well-knowncivil-rights leader, has held
his seat for 30 years with littledifficulty.But he was forced into a Sept.
10 runoff after failing to obtain therequired majority. McKinney picked
up 48 percent of the vote on Aug.20, to his challenger's, John Noel's,
46 percent.
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- The winner willgain the seat, as there is no Republican
challenger.Billy McKinney's race follows two US congressional battles in
whichIsrael supporters helped finance the defeats of Georgia's CynthiaMcKinney,
and Alabama's Earl Hilliard, both of whom had receivedcampaign donations
from Arab Americans, and were viewed by someJewish lobbies as being too
pro-Palestinian.The Jewish targeting of these black politicians has ignited
black-Jewish tensions. Several African-American political figures believeJews
are attempting to choose their black leaders.
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- "I definitely have some feelings about any outside
group exertingthis kind of influence in a race, and I've been receiving
angry callsfrom black voters all day, saying they should rally against
Jewishcandidates," Texas Congressman Eddie Bernice Johnson said last
weekin an interview with the New York Times."To have non-African-Americans
from around the country puttingmillions into a race to unseat one of our
leaders for expressing herright of free speech is definitely a problem,"
said Johnson, who isthe Democratic Chairwoman of the Congressional Black
Caucus.And Billy McKinney's opponent has admitted Jewish support in hiscampaign:
"The number of Jewish folks who have called me and offeredfinancial
support has been nothing short of outstanding," Noel toldForward magazine
"I wasn't even going to make it a campaign issue,but it has become
one," Noel, who is white, told reporters.Noel, a self-employed lighting
contractor, said he has received callsfrom many Jewish voters in his district
asking him how they can helphim defeat Mr. McKinney."(Billy McKinney)
has gotten out of control with his anti-Semitism,"said Sherry Frank,
southeast director for the American JewishCommittee. She told the Washington
Times that the Jewish communitymakes up about 5 percent of the district
in metropolitan Atlanta."
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- So Jews have reasons to want him out. Individual Jews
are urgingfolks to give (Noel) money, just as blacks are urging to get
out thevote for Billy. The question is whether (the Jewish bloc) willsucceed,"
said Frank.Jewish activists are working hard indeed to succeed. They createda
"goodbyecyntihia.com" website and last week introduceda "goodbyebilly.com"
site in preparation for the runoff. The sitesfeature anti-McKinney messages
and requests contributions andvolunteers."We are trying for daddy
now," said William Head, an Atlanta criminaldefense attorney who organized
the effort to remove Mrs. McKinney.Head spent about $10,000 of his own
money to defeat Mrs. McKinney.
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