April 04, 2006

How can Democratic leaders steal the "limelight" away from the disgraceful hooliganism of Rep. Cynthia McKinney and place it back on the American people's agenda? Democratic leaders have a choice: 1) they can sit back and engage in the "eye-rolling" strategy and wonder why the media doesn't enjoy boring policy agenda press conferences, or 2) they can hold press conferences distancing themselves from Rep. McKinney's preposterous behavior and then talk about the issues that matter.

Now, with McKinney facing a possible arrest warrant, the media frenzy is set only to escalate. The U.S. Capitol Police referred the issue to the U.S. District Attorney’s office for prosecution yesterday.

All of the attention has some Democrats concerned that McKinney is drawing the limelight away from their policy goals and Republicans’ ethical missteps to focus on a momentary, disputed encounter in a Capitol Hill hallway.

“There’s been a lot of eye-rolling,” said an aide to a moderate Democrat who spoke on condition of anonymity. “The national attention it’s been getting has been unfortunate. It’s becoming a distraction.”
[McKinney is distraction, say the Dems - The Hill - 04-04-06]