Support Security - Deck a Cop!

New:  The Cynthia McKinney Tonsorial Field Guide^TM

According to Sean Spicer, Communications Director for the House Republican Conference, Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) "hit a Capitol police officer today", the day when her party unveiled their derivative, hollow, self-contradictory "plan" for "real security".

McKinney reportedly struck the cop in frustration for being made to wait while he screened people entering the Capitol.

The latest reports indicate the cop was pursuing McKinney down a Capitol hallway just past security, not realizing she was a Member (because she wasn't wearing her ID pin) and therefore not subject to security screening.  According to reports, when he caught up and grabbed her, she tore free and belted him.

Just can't be bothered with that pesky security, eh Cynthia?

"The essential element of politics is timing."
- Pierre Elliott Trudeau

[Lest you assume the comically apropos image above is photoshopped, check out McKinney's campaign website.]

National Journal:

The officer called out "Ma'am, Ma'am," in an attempt to stop her.

When the officer caught up to McKinney, he grabbed her by the arm.

McKinney pulled her arm away, swung around, cell phone in hand, and punched the officer square in the chest, according to the witness.

Drudge:

The entire incident is on tape. The cop is pressing charges and the USCP are waiting until Congress adjourns to arrest her, a source claims...

AP:

Members of Congress do not have to walk through metal detectors as they enter buildings on the Capitol complex. They wear lapel pins identifying them as members.

McKinney routinely doesn't wear her pin and is recognized by many officers, [Capitol Police spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider] said, adding that she wasn't wearing it when she entered a House office building early Wednesday.

John Hawkins:

Sounds like a clear cut case of assault. Wonder if Cynthia will 1) give a heartfelt apology, 2) give a cheap non-apology apology, 3) blame the cop for "making her" hit him, or 4) play the race card?

Elsewhere:  Right Wing News, Iowa Voice, Expose the Left (with news video), RedState, GOP Bloggers, Wizbang, Right Winged, Ed Driscoll, Captain's Quarters, Michelle Malkin

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Update:  McKinney is flush with race cards (HT: Drudge)

A statement attributed to McKinney has been released on the Internet, where she allegedly claims to have been harassed by Capitol Hill Police.

The statement's writer says that she has been harassed by white police officers she says do not recognize her due to her recently changed hairstyle.

"Do I have to contact the police every time I change my hairstyle? How do we account for the fact that when I wore my braids every day for 11 years, I still faced this problem, primarily from certain white police officers," the statement says.

The writer details the incident, saying, "I was rushing to my meeting when a white police officer yelled to me. He approached me, bodyblocked me, physically touching me. I used my arm to get him off of me. I told him not to touch me several times. He asked for my ID and I showed it to him. He then let me go and I proceeded to my meeting and I assume that the Police Officer resumed his duties. I have counseled with the Sergeant-at-Arms and Acting Assistant Chief Thompson several times before and counseled with them again on today's incident. I offered also to counsel with the offending police officer."