Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.), known for her harsh criticisms of Israel and her controversial charge that President Bush knew in advance about the Sept. 11 terror attacks, was soundly defeated in Tuesday’s primary by Democrat Denise Majette, a former state judge.
The race attracted national attention because of Majette’s strong support from out-of-state pro-Israel campaign contributors and heavy backing for McKinney by Arab and Muslim groups and individuals, some of whom, according to an exposé by an Atlanta newspaper, are under investigation for possible terror ties.
McKinney also had help from Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who came to her suburban Atlanta district to back her candidacy in the waning days of the campaign.
But when the votes were counted, Majette had defeated the five-term incumbent by a 58-42 percent margin.
Financial support from pro-Israel campaign contributors “gave Majette the nest egg she need to put herself before voters,” said Kean University political scientist Gilbert Kahn. “It helped her get her message out.”
But on Election Day, a heavy crossover voting by Republicans eager to oust the incumbent in the overwhelmingly Democratic district propelled Majette to victory. Recently, Georgia GOP leaders circulated a letter urging Republicans to “vote in the Democratic primary — at least this one time.”
In her concession statement, McKinney blamed GOP voters for her defeat.
“It looks like the Republicans wanted to beat me more than the Democrats wanted to keep me,” she said.
Republican John Linder, who beat Bob Barr in the GOP primary, will face off against Majette for the Georgia seat in the Nov. 5 general election.
McKinney’s comments about the September terror bombing and her letter to a Saudi prince objecting to New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s spurning of his $10 million check for the city’s terror victims were significant factors in the election, said Deborah Lauter, Southeast regional director for the Anti-Defamation League.
“In the broader community, I think people viewed her as anti-American in the post-9/11 environment,” she said. “Her outrageous statements alienated even those who tried to give her the benefit of the doubt over the years. People just had enough of her fringe positions.”
The district is about half African-American. Previously, about 8 percent of its voters were Jewish, but that proportion declined after this year’s congressional redistricting.
McKinney’s defeat came only two months after Rep. Earl Hilliard (D-Ala.), another black incumbent who had been critical of Israel, was defeated in a primary runoff.
Hilliard’s defeat at the hands of an African-American challenger fueled black-Jewish strains on Capitol Hill as Black Caucus leaders questioned the role of pro-Israel money in the incumbent’s defeat, and wondered aloud why Jewish givers targeted Hilliard, while ignoring several white incumbents who had been just as critical of Israel.
Several weeks before the election the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote that “McKinney’s re-election campaign has accepted contributions from several people who have come under federal investigation for suspected links to terrorists or have voiced support for extremist groups.”
Jewish leaders insist that the role of pro-Israel funders in unseating McKinney will not exacerbate black-Jewish strains in Washington, especially since her opponent is also African-American.
Political scientist Gilbert Kahn said the election could have an impact on the emerging political battle between Jews and the fast-growing Muslim community.
“The Arab community has always had this myth that the Jews control Congress,” he said. “They will look at this race, and Hilliard’s, and say ‘I told you so.'”
The McKinney and Hilliard defeats, he said, may energize Arab-American and Muslim voters and funders.