WHILE HANK JOHNSON and Cynthia McKinney’s joust last night was no replay of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, it was certainly entertaining in its own right. Neither candidate delivered a knockout blow, so it’s down to the scorecards. Here’s a round-by-round analysis.
First Round: Each candidate gets one question from the panel with a 30 second rebuttal.
First question for Hank Johnson: The text of a McKinney advertisement was read, and Johnson was asked for his comment; the charges against the Georgia commissioner included a conflict of interest on landfill issues and personal tax problems the county commissioner had suffered.
Johnson dismissed the allegations of corruption, but admitted to financial problems “in the ’80s.” He called them a “humbling experience,” and added that since the mid-’90s his “affairs have been in order.” “Quite frankly, it was the politics of personal destruction.” McKinney rebutted by suggesting that Johnson had taken money from landfill operators, which Johnson denied. “I’ve never taken a contribution from a landfill operator . . . that’s just patently false.”
Second question, for McKinney: Did the incident in which you struck a Capitol police officer directly lead to this runoff?
McKinney, smiling like a kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar, reminds the audience that she “was never charged with anything.” She then ducked the question, saying that Congress.org has scored her “the highest legislative success record of any of the Democrats in the Georgia delegation.” While it’s unclear exactly what that means, I have a feeling we’ll be hearing about it again.
Score: First round to Johnson, by a nose. It’s not clear how his past financial history will be taken by his constituents, but he was contrite and apologetic. McKinney, on the other hand, clearly has no qualms about having allegedly assaulted a police officer. America is nothing if not the land of forgiveness; admit and apologize for your sins and everything will be wiped clean.
Second Round: Each candidate asks two questions of their opponent.
Johnson asks the first question, pointing out that McKinney has missed a number of votes, including environmental votes, the minimum wage hike, and the Voting Rights Act amendment. “If the Voting Rights Act was not important enough for you to show up, then what is important enough for you to show up?”
McKinney partially deflects the blow by stating that she has a 94 percent voting record in Congress. She then goes way off the reservation and criticizes the Voting Rights Act, saying that the only reason she’s in the runoff is because of Republican voting (implying that Johnson is a tool of the GOP). Johnson rebuts by reminding everyone that he is a lifelong Democrat.
McKinney’s first question is an attack on Johnson for his past financial difficulties and alleged improper dealings with landfill developers. Johnson again decries the politics of personal destruction and points out that this is a debate for a runoff for a seat in Congress, not an interview for a bank loan. (He doesn’t put it quite like that. But he should have.) He brings up the fact that McKinney’s record of delivering legislation is pathetic; she has “absolutely failed to deliver any meaningful legislation to this district; 64 measures introduced by this congresswoman over 12 years, only one passed. It was a measure to rename a post office. That’s a pitiful record.” Ouch.
McKinney rebuts with her point about Congress.org. I decided to check out the website and, among other things, I learned that McKinney is 408 out of 438 in the site’s Congressional power rankings, and that she didn’t bother to vote for any of the site’s “key votes.” Thanks for the pointer, congresswoman.
McKinney then tries to take the lead in the “values” debate by bringing up the fact that Republicans contributed to Johnson’s campaign and wonders if he shares their (obviously wicked) values. Then she returns to his personal economic problems.
Johnson uses this opening to tell the audience that that four of the top five zip codes donating to McKinney’s campaign are from outside of Georgia. “Her ad says that if I take money then someone controls me. The question is ‘Who controls you, Congresswoman McKinney, when you take money form LA, people in LV, people in NY. Who do you really represent?'” Ouch again.
Johnson returns to this point again, but asks his question in an incredibly lame, open-ended way: “Who do you really represent?”
McKinney pounces: “I represent the people, and I’m so glad you asked that question. I don’t have Republicans giving me votes, and I don’t have Republicans giving me money. I don’t have landfill operators or those who represent them giving me money. I don’t have developers who build, who you allow to build high density housing and then put our children in trailers. Those people are not the ones who are footing the bill for my campaign. My campaign is financed by the people.” Johnson again denies taking money from those dastardly landfill operators, but then defends developers. Probably not a safe bet.
Score: While Johnson nailed McKinney in questions two and three, she was able to spin the final question to her advantage, and deliver a solid body blow to Johnson. It’s a draw.
Third Round: Media panelists take turns asking questions.
The first two questions go to McKinney; asking why she skipped the first two debates and whether or not money and/or votes from Republicans are the reason for the runoff. The questioner points out that the former governor and Democrat Roy Barnes has also given Johnson money and that prominent Georgia Democrats like gubernatorial candidate Mark Taylor are refusing to endorse McKinney. Her terse response: “The bottom line is that Mark Taylor is running his race, and I’m running mine.” She then goes back to her point that just over 10 percent of Johnson’s money is coming from Republicans “who were challenging the extension of the Voting Rights Act.” Johnson rebuts by mentioning how many people have contributed to the campaign and that taking several donations from Republicans is unfair. He also defends one wealthy Republican supporter because he has done good for Georgia. And built an aquarium. While I’m sure Bernie Marcus (the founder of Home Depot) is a great guy, and I respect Johnson for sticking up for his allies, it’s probably not the best idea to defend a wealthy Republican businessman in a Democratic debate.
Johnson is then asked how his political positions are different from McKinney’s. Johnson says that he is able to play well with others: “The Republicans are in office now, so you simply must work with them to be effective.” Is Johnson trying to get tarred as a Republican in sheep’s clothing? And, sure enough, McKinney counters by saying that “he’s saying he supports the Republicans. He’s going to go up to Washington and be just like them! . . . I am a proud independent Democrat!”
Johnson makes some good points in the final few questions, but it’s more of the same: McKinney has missed votes, not passed any important legislation, etc.; but McKinney responds well by touting her creation of the National Youth Apprenticeship Collaboration “where people can earn and learn!” Johnson then makes another misstep by answering a question about improving education by calling for universal healthcare. The damage has been done.
Score: This round is clearly McKinney’s.
Johnson went first in the closing statements, noting that he would be effective in Congress and would not be divisive or someone who “polarizes people and then sits back and does nothing”; he touts a predatory lending law he passed as a commissioner.
McKinney’s closing statement is worth reprinting in full:
Johnson wins solely because his closing statement was coherent, which means he takes the fight, two rounds to one. Congratulations, Mr. Johnson. Let’s see if it helps you in the runoff.
Sonny Bunch is assistant editor at THE WEEKLY STANDARD.
