Too funny. This guy was just in Iraq sucking up to Saddam.
[b]Farrakhan coming to stump for McKinney[/b]
By BILL TORPY
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
The already fiery election campaign between Rep. Cynthia McKinney and Denise Majette is likely to get more heated: Louis Farrakhan is coming to town.
The controversial Nation of Islam leader has scheduled a 6 p.m. rally Saturday in DeKalb County to urge support for McKinney, who is in the tightest race in her 10 years in the U.S. House.
The site of the rally had not been announced Thursday. Steven Muhammad, a Nation of Islam member who heads the metro group Muslims Active Politically, would say only, "He's here to ensure that money does not interfere with a race, that the people's voice is heard in the 4th District, not the money of political lobbies."
According to the online version of Final Call, the Nation of Islam's newspaper, Farrakhan told McKinney during a July meeting, "We are going to fight like hell for you."
McKinney's campaign manager, Bill Banks, said he knew little about the visit or why Farrakhan is coming.
"We have a lot of people coming in. They saw what happened to [U.S. Rep. Earl] Hilliard in Alabama," Banks said, referring to a black congressman who was beaten in a Democratic primary by an opponent who raised more than $1 million, much of it from pro-Israel donors concerned about his relations with American Muslims.
Majette has raised more than $1.1 million, more than half of that in the past six weeks and much of it coming from out-of-state Jewish donors.
McKinney has raised about $640,000. More than half of McKinney's donors have Arabic names and live out of state.
McKinney has been vocal in her support of the Palestinian cause. And she has drawn fire for suggesting that the Bush administration had advance knowledge of the Sept. 11 attacks but did nothing so the president's friends could profit from a military buildup.
Jewish leaders have been upset that McKinney refused to distance herself from Farrakhan, whom they criticized for anti-Semitic remarks. Farrakhan said in 2000 he wanted to overcome his differences with Jews, saying he had been softened by a battle with cancer and prayers for his recovery by people of all faiths.
Majette's campaign said in a statement, "Regardless of who comes to town, the voters of the Fourth District want to talk about better jobs, lower taxes, better schools and affordable health care."
The race has drawn national interest and both sides have big-name support. Majette has gotten financial support from U.S. Sen. Zell Miller and former Braves great Henry Aaron.
McKinney has had a visit from the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Banks said she is getting radio ads from former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, basketball great Magic Johnson and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader.
[url]http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/metro/0802/16mckinney.html[/url]