Video exploring critical thinking and how it leads to great citizen involvement

Cynthia McKinney

Green Party Presidential Nominee
Former US House Representative (D-GA)
Positions & Statements
on the Issues
Videos
Speeches
Finances
VP Selection: Rosa Clemente


Cynthia McKinney's Positions & Statements on the Issues
Positions are categorized as Pro, Con, Not Clearly Pro or Con, or None Found.
Abortion: "Should abortion remain a legal option in America?"

Pro: "In 1999, I voted NO on barring the interstate transportation of minors to get an abortion. I supported funding contraception and UN family planning. I voted NO to oppose banning partial-birth abortions. In 2001, I voted NO on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad and NO on a new federal crime for harming a fetus while committing other crimes. In 2005, I voted NO on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions."
"Presidential Candidate Questionnaire," National Green Party website, May 1, 2007

Abortion: "Should parental consent be required for pregnant minors to have abortions?"

Con: "No."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008
 

Character: "Is competence more important than honesty in a President?"

Not Clearly Pro or Con: "Not as long as there is transparency and oversight. Usually one accompanies the other. "
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

China: "Is China a threat to the US?"

Not Clearly Pro or Con: "No country is a threat to us if we change the focus of our foreign policy to joining and supporting the world community instead of attacking and manipulating it for the corporate agendas of profit, cheap labor and access to resources not ours." 
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

China: "Should the US impose economic sanctions on China as an incentive to improve its human rights policies?"

Not Clearly Pro or Con: "I voted to oppose Most Favored Nation status for China; and to condition trade with China on an improved human rights record."
"Presidential Candidate Questionnaire," National Green Party website, May 1, 2007

Criminal Justice: "Should felons, who have completed their jail time and probation and paid all their fines, be allowed to vote in elections?"

Pro: "In Georgia, where I represent the Fourth Congressional District, a convicted felon loses the right to vote until his or her sentence has been completed and that convicted felon must no longer be serving probation or parole, owe no fines. It should come as no surprise that Georgia has a disproportionate number of black males incarcerated for felony convictions.

In a state with traditionally low voter turn out and where one in four registered voters is black, it is evident that every possible vote counts and every black voter can make a tremendous difference in who gets elected. Between August 1, 1997, and July 31, 1998, 6,765 persons lost the right to vote because of felony convictions. Of this number, 3,087 -- half -- were black males. Georgia, in my view, is practicing vote dilution and vote denial....

I must point out, that in the United States between 1985 and 1995 the number of prisoners with sentences of more than 1 year rose by over 600,000. The number of black males in prison increased by 143 percent and the number of black females in prison increased by 204 percent. On December 31, 1995, an estimated 3.2 percent of all black males were in prison, compared with less than half of 1 percent of all white males. In 1995, black males were seven times more likely to be in prison than white males...

To sum it up, in my view, the United States is practicing vote dilution and vote denial."

"Hip-Hop Fridays: Davey D's Exclusive Interview With Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney," BlackElectorate.com, Aug. 9, 2002

Criminal Justice: "Should the US develop programs that focus more on rehabilitation than punishment in order to reduce its rate of incarceration?"

Pro: "U.S. prosecution of 'the drug war' is pitiful. The victims are thrown into prisons, while the wealthy users and the big drug dealers get off scot-free. The rich who own stock in the prison-industrial complex, or the corporations that hire prison labor, are reaping hefty sums while everyone else is impoverished or families are ripped apart by imprisonment.

This situation is intolerable and must be turned around! We need money for detoxification, rehabilitation, education -- not incarceration."

"Reconstruction Renaissance: An Interview with Cynthia McKinney," All Things Cynthia McKinney website, Jan. 8, 2008

Cuba: "Should the US continue to support an embargo against Cuba?"

Con: Voted Yes on H.R.2662 "To Lift the Trade Embargo on Cuba, and for Other Purposes":

"Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and other specified Federal law to repeal the embargo placed upon all trade with Cuba."

"To Lift the Trade Embargo on Cuba, and for Other Purposes" (H.R.2662), Library of Congress: THOMAS website, July 26, 2001

Darfur: "Should the US send any American forces, with or without the UN, to the Darfur region of Sudan to stop the genocide?"

Con:"No, military intervention is not the answer and the creation of Africom should be halted." 
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

Death Penalty: "Should the death penalty remain a legal option in America?"

Con: "In 1994, I voted to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment in the Federal Criminal Statutes. In 1995 I voted in opposition to making federal death penalty appeals more difficult. In 1996, I voted to maintain the right of habeus corpus in Death Penalty Appeals. In 2001, I voted to support a moratorium on the death penalty; and for funding for DNA testing; as well as to require DNA testing prior to any federal executions."
"Presidential Candidate Questionnaire," National Green Party website, May 1, 2007

Defense: "Should the US build its missile defense shield in former Soviet states despite objections from Russia?"

Con: "While in Congress I voted against every iteration of so-called missile defense--star wars--that was authorized or appropriated. I want you to know that I deeply understand the dangers that will come from a decision to accept the U.S. Star Wars radar in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland. There is no doubt that a new cold war is underway here that could once again bring Europe back into the middle of another U.S.-Russia conflict."
"Statement on Hunger Strike to Oppose US Star War Deployment in Czech Republic, Poland," All Things Cynthia McKinney website, May 30, 2008

District of Columbia: "Should the District of Columbia become the 51st US state?"

Pro: "The Green Party is the only national party that supports granting DC statehood status in its platform, a change that would free a community of color, with a majority of African Americans from being a colony, and provide real democracy and civil rights for those living there."
"DC's '2nd Party' Challenges Washington Post to give Statehood Green Candidates Fair Coverage," DC Statehood Green Party Press Release, July 31, 2008

Economy: "Is outsourcing jobs to other countries good for America?"

Con: "My first encounter with people whose lives were impacted by what we call globalization came as I sought to represent Georgia's old 11th District that swept through Georgia's poor and rural black belt. Those most up in arms at the time were our farmers who were agitated about NAFTA. Those not up in arms, but who bore the brunt of NAFTA, were in one case, the women of Sparta, Georgia--Hancock County. There, single mothers held families together with their low-wage jobs in the textile plants. There, single mothers lost their jobs when the plants moved away. I watched desperate families endure desperate times. 'All things being equal' didn't take the women of Sparta, Georgia into account. As a caring single mother, who also happened to be an elected official, I had to. That's when I drafted legislation to take away tax breaks for corporations that locate their plants overseas. It wasn't a sexy subject at that time, but it was definitely a problem that I saw firsthand, affecting real lives and real people.

Now, more people are paying attention to globalization because at first it was just 'them,' now, it's a whole lot of us. Globalization used to be perceived as something that happened to poor workers or the environment in faraway places like China. Now globalization has come home.

So the first effect that I would like to mention is the effect that these economic policies have on careers, creating uncertainty for real people as they watch more and more jobs being sent off shore."

"All Things Are Not Equal: The Perils of Globalization," Speech at the Georgia Tech Globalization Forum, Apr. 22, 2004

Economy: "Should the US include mandatory regulations for labor rights in free trade agreements?"

Pro: "Cynthia McKinney: Supports fair trade, not corporate globalization..

Has consistently opposed so-called 'free trade' agreements...that undermine labor and environmental rights and cause the loss of living-wage jobs...;

Authored the...Corporate Responsibility Act [H.R. 1340], to force US corporations operating overseas to abide by US environmental and labor standards."
Campaign statement submitted to "The Voter Guide," chicagotribune.com (accessed Oct. 2, 2008)
 

Economy: "Has the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) had an overall benefit for the US?"

Con: "We have to put a stop to these 'free trade' agreements, and quickly.

After 14 years of NAFTA it is absolutely clear that unemployment in the United States has risen as a result of this treaty. We are losing jobs -- especially jobs with living wages and benefits -- to all these 'free trade' agreements, be it NAFTA, CAFTA [Central America Free Trade Agreement], the Caribbean FTA [Free Trade Agreement], the US-Peru FTA, you name it. The American workers are not benefiting from these agreements. Their jobs and communities are being destroyed. Nor are working people in the rest of the world benefiting from these agreements. Quite the contrary: Their working conditions and living standards, which were already bad, are deteriorating exponentially. Only the transnational corporations are benefiting. They are reaping super-profits. This new 'globalization' has become a race to the bottom. And now the American workers have joined in this race."

"Reconstruction Renaissance: An Interview with Cynthia McKinney," All Things Cynthia McKinney website, Jan. 8, 2008

Economy: "Should the federal government bail out failing US private corporations like it did with Bear Stearns or Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac at taxpayers expense?"

Con:"No." 
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 2, 2008

Economy: "Do labor unions provide an overall benefit to workers in the US?"

Pro: "Yes. The rights of workers to organize and form unions is an important right essential to protecting adequate wages, worker safety and health, and job security. Through proposed legislation that would undercut job training and apprenticeship, remove rights to organize and collectively bargain, and restrict union speech activities, efforts continue to rescind and restrict traditional rights of workers. I oppose these and other efforts to roll back the existing rights of workers, and I will continue to protect the necessary ability of workers to organize and strive towards better wages, benefits, working conditions and training."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Oct. 30 2008
Education: "Has the No Child Left Behind Act been effective at improving public education?"

Con:"No -- cumulative budgets from the Bush administration have fallen billions of dollars short of the necessary funding, creating an unfunded mandate as state and local governments struggle to fulfill the requirements of the Act." 
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008
 

Education: "Is the increasing cost of college and university tuition pricing America's middle class out of higher education?"

Pro: "Yes. I support government funding for higher education. Ending the war in Iraq and eliminating tax cuts for the wealthy will provide the necessary funding." 
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

Education: "Should the federal government fund school voucher programs?"

Con: "In Congress, she consistently supported improved education funding, [and] opposed voucher schemes aimed at undermining our public schools."
Campaign statement submitted to "The Voter Guide," chicagotribune.com (accessed Oct. 2, 2008)

Education: "Should sex education in our schools be based on abstinence only?"

Con: "Teaching human sexuality is a parental and school responsibility. Young people should be provided with education regarding their own and others' sexuality at the earliest appropriate time. This includes age-appropriate education about AIDS/HIV, appropriate methods of prevention, and the distribution of condoms in schools. Parental responsibility should be encouraged by supporting parenting, as more families confront economic conditions that demand more time be spent away from home."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Sep. 16, 2008
 

Election Reform: "Should voter verified paper audit trails (VVPAT) be mandatory in elections?"

Pro: Cosponsored the "Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2005" (H.R.550):

"To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require a voter-verified permanent paper record or hard copy under title III of such Act, and for other purposes."

"Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2005" (H.R.550), Library of Congress: THOMAS website, Feb. 2, 2005

Election Reform: "Should there be restrictions on campaign contributions?"

Pro: "Yes - corporations should not be allowed to donate or bundle."  
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008
 

Election Reform: "Should the election campaigns of candidates for public office be publicly financed?"

Pro: "I have long been a supporter of publicly financed elections."
"Presidential Candidate Questionnaire," National Green Party website, May 1, 2007

Eminent Domain: "Should federal or state government be allowed to use eminent domain laws to take private property for non-public use?"

Not Clearly Pro or Con: "If there are critical environmental or social benefits involved, but only with full transparency, public input or referendum and fair compensation. Eminent domain should never be used solely for the benefit of private interests." 
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

Energy: "Should drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) be allowed?"

Con: "Most notably has been your Administration's push to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for oil exploration. I agree with your statement when you noted that we need to decrease our dependency on foreign oil supplies in order to guarantee our energy security. However, I vehemently disagree that drilling in ANWR is the solution to this problem. The US Geological Survey estimates that oil recovered from the Arctic Refuge would amount to less than a six-month supply for American consumers and would not be available for another 10 years."
Excerpt of a letter to President George W. Bush, Dec. 4, 2001

Energy: "Should the US tap into its emergency oil reserves to help bring down the price of gasoline?"

Con: "No - we need to get off oil and on to alternative, renewable fuels." 
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008
 

Energy: "Should the US permit more offshore drilling to increase domestic energy supplies?"

Con: "No. 'Leave the oil in the soil,' with the goal of a carbon-free and nuclear-free U.S. economy." 
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 2, 2008
Energy: "Should the US build additional nuclear plants?"

Con: "No. Existing plants should be closed." 
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 2, 2008

Energy: "Should the private ethanol industry be subsidized by the federal government?"

Con: "No. Ethanol should not be the main focus of alternative energy because it will lessen the food supply." 
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 2, 2008

Environment: "Should the US ratify an international environmental agreement (such as the Kyoto Protocol) that mandates reductions in carbon emissions?"

Pro: "In 2000, I voted to begin implementation of the Kyoto Protocol."
"Presidential Candidate Questionnaire," National Green Party website, May 1, 2007

Environment: "Should the federal government mandate an increase in fuel efficiency standards for automobiles?"

Pro:  "Since I first arrived in Congress, I have sought to protect our environment, both nationally and locally...I voted...for stronger fuel-economy standards for trucks and SUVs."
"Environment," www.ratical.org, May 25, 2000

Environment: "Are humans substantially responsible for global climate change today?"

Pro:  "Yes." 
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008
 

Gun Control: "Are more federal regulations on guns and ammunition needed?"

Con:  "No, what is needed is commitment to nonviolence, building safe and healthy communities, and an end to militarization and systemic brutalization and spread of weapons in the culture." 
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008
 

Health Care: "Should all Americans have a right to government or employer subsidized basic health care?"

Pro: "In Congress, I was a cosponsor of every bill to create a national system for universal access to health care under a single payer model."
"Presidential Candidate Questionnaire," National Green Party website, May 1, 2007

Health Care: "Should Americans be allowed to purchase their prescription drugs from other countries?"

Pro:  "Yes." 
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008
 

Health Care: "Are fast food companies responsible in any way for America's obesity problems?"

Pro: "Yes."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Sep. 16, 2008
 

Immigration: "Are illegal immigrants a net gain to the US economy?"

Pro:  "Yes." 
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

Immigration: "Should illegal aliens receive any of the rights or benefits that lawful permanent residents enjoy?"

Pro:  "Yes -- due process and habeus corpus, for starters. They should be given amnesty and a chance to fully immigrate if that is their wish. The U.S. should end NAFTA [North American Free Trade Agreement], CAFTA [Central America Free Trade Agreement] and other agreements that are pushing them to migrate in the first place." 
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008
 

Immigration: "Should the US build a physical barrier, such as a fence, along the US-Mexico border?"

Con: Voted No on the "Secure Fence Act of 2006" (H.R.6061):

"SEC. 3. CONSTRUCTION OF FENCING AND SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS IN BORDER AREA FROM PACIFIC OCEAN TO GULF OF MEXICO...

(1) SECURITY FEATURES.-

(A) REINFORCED FENCING.-In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide for least 2 layers of reinforced fencing, the installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors..."

"Secure Fence Act of 2006" (H.R.6061), Library of Congress: THOMAS website, Sep. 29, 2006

Iran: "Should the US use military force against Iran if Iran does not dismantle its nuclear program?"

Con: "No." 
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008
 

Iran: "Should the US be involved in direct negotiations with Iran?"

Pro: "Yes."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 2, 2008

Iraq: "Was it a mistake to attack Iraq in 2003?"

Pro: "Two years ago we gathered all across America to say no to war. We were joined by people all over the planet who know that there is an alternative to war. But war is about the only option available when the real motive is to steal natural resources that belong to someone else...

The American people, and our children over there fighting, still haven't been told the real reason the US is at war with the Iraqi people. And against the people the US war machine has turned. Thousands of Iraqis, especially children, have been killed by our sanctions and our bombs. This is an immoral and illegal war and we need to bring our troops home now."

"Issues: War in Iraq," Cynthia for Congress website (accessed Apr. 10, 2008)

Iraq: "Has the war in Iraq made America safer?"

Con: "No."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

Iraq: "Should the US set a timetable for troop withdrawal in Iraq?"

Pro: "Not only do we need an immediate, orderly withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, we need an end to the militarism that has placed US troops on the soil of over 100 countries."
"A Conscientious Objection," truthdig website, Mar. 23, 2008

Israel: "Should Israel continue to receive the current level of military and economic aid from the US?"

Con: "No. [based on past statements and votes]"
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008
 

Israel-Palestinian Conflict: "Should the US allow Hamas to join future Israeli-Palestinian negotiations?"

Not Clearly Pro or Con: "The US should play a much less aggressive role in such negotiations, and stop funding Israel's military and supporting attacks on Palestinians. It should work for real peace and cooperation and step out of the process."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

Israeli Palestinian Conflict: "Should there be an independent Palestinian state?"

Pro: "Yes."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008
 

Kosovo: "Should the US have supported Kosovo's independence?"

Not Clearly Pro or Con: "The US should respect the sovereignty and independence, the self determination of any people toward democracy and human rights. The U.S. should not be funding and arming groups like the KLA [Kosovo Liberation Army] with profits from drug sales or covert funds against existing governments regardless of their alleged legitimacy."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

Marriage: "Should there be a Constitutional amendment or federal law defining marriage as only between a man and a woman?"

Con:  "Supports the right of all individuals to freely choose their partners regardless of sex or sexual orientation and to the equal rights of all to the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage. Every religion is free to define "'marriage' as it sees fit, but 'marriage' under the law must not discriminate. As Rev. Al Sharpton once observed, we should be less concerned with who people go to bed with at night, and more concerned with whether either partner has a job to go to in the morning.The only kind of 'marriage' that needs a constitutional ban is the marriage between corporations and government."
Campaign statement submitted to "The Voter Guide," chicagotribune.com (accessed Oct. 2, 2008)

Marriage: "Should an affair outside of marriage disqualify a candidate for public office?"

Not Clearly Pro or Con: "People in public office should be trustworthy and hold to ethical standards, but some aspects of their personal lives are beyond such scrutiny."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

Media: "Should journalists be shielded from prosecution for protecting their sources?"

Pro:  "Yes."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

Medical Marijuana: "Should marijuana be a medical option?"

Pro: "In 1999, I voted to oppose prohibiting needle exchange and medical marijuana in the District of Columbia."
"Presidential Candidate Questionnaire," National Green Party website, May 1, 2007

Medical Marijuana: "Should the federal government stop raids against people for using medical marijuana in states where medical marijuana use is legal?"


Pro:  "Yes."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

National ID: "Should there be a national identification card?"

Con: "No."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

National Service: "Should the US institute a military draft?"

Con: Cosponsored "H.Con.Res.368":

"Expresses the sense of Congress that reinstating the military draft or implementing any other form of compulsory military service in the United States would be detrimental to US long-term interests, violative of individual liberties protected by the Constitution, and inconsistent with the values underlying a free society as expressed in the Declaration of Independence."

"H.Con.Res.368," Library of Congress: THOMAS website, Mar. 20, 2002

National Service: "Should openly gay people be allowed to serve in the US military?"

Pro: Cosponsored "Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2005" (H.R. 1059):

"To amend title 10, United States Code, to enhance the readiness of the Armed Forces by replacing the current policy concerning homosexuality in the Armed Forces, referred to as 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', with a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation."

"Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2005" (H.R. 1059), Library of Congress: THOMAS website, Mar. 2, 2005

National Service: "Should the US mandate military service or civil service like the Peace Corps?"

Con: "No, neither should be mandated. Civil service should be properly rewarded and compensated and its benefits should at least match that of military service."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

Presidential Power: "Should the US President's powers be expanded to include a line item veto?"

Con: Voted No on "H.R.4890":

"Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to authorize the President to propose the cancellation (line item veto) of any dollar amount of discretionary budget authority, item of direct spending, or targeted tax benefit within 45 days after its enactment."

"H.R.4890," Library of Congress: THOMAS website, June 22, 2006

Presidential Power: "Should the unitary executive theory apply to the US President?"

Con: "George Walker Bush has subverted the very nature of his office by seeking to add to his office extraordinary and unconstitutional powers and privileges...

In taking his oath of office, the President swore to 'preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States' to the best of his ability, which includes the duty not to abuse his powers or transgress their limits, the duty not to violate the rights of citizens, including those guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and not to act in derogation of powers vested elsewhere by the Constitution, George Walker Bush, in his conduct while President of the United States has not only failed in this regard, but has demonstrated a pattern of disregard or contempt for the Constitution itself, as he clearly demonstrated in November 2005 when he shouted at a group of Republican lawmakers, 'Stop throwing the Constitution in my face. It's just a [expletive] piece of paper!'...

George Walker Bush has sought to arrogate unprecedented power to his executive office and to undermine the system of check and balances established by the Founders, by using war and national emergency as the basis for his claims in support of a unitary presidency."

Excerpt of speech made at the US House of Representatives and entered into the Congressional Record, Dec. 27, 2006

Presidential Powers: "Should the Vice-President of the US be considered part of the Executive Branch and thus be subject to the laws and rules governing that branch?"

Pro: "Yes."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 2, 2008
 

Religion: "Should federal funds be given to faith-based (religious) organizations and initiatives?"

Con: "No -- there needs to be a separation between church and state."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

Religion: "Should a candidate's religion matter to voters?"

Not Clearly Pro or Con: "Freedom of religious belief is a key principle of this country, however, if religious beliefs are marked by intolerance, extremism, and prejudice they may speak more to the character of the candidate."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

Science: "Should the government continue to fund the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)?"

Con: "There are two issues of great concern regarding NASA. The first is the role of NASA in furthering the arms race in space. The second is the use of nuclear fuels to power NASA spacecraft. I am against both and therefore do not support funding for NASA for these purposes."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 2, 2008

Science: "Should Intelligent Design be taught as science in schools?"

Con: "No."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 2, 2008

Social Security: "Should Social Security be privatized?"

Con: "Opposes efforts to privatize Social Security. Claims about the insolvency of the system have been deliberately concocted and the facts distorted in order to push privatization schemes. Social Security was a gain of the progressive movements of the past that must be guarded from encroachment. If there are any future solvency issues, they should be dealt with by improving the funding stream as needed, not sacrificing the integrity of the program. She supported the Social Security Lockbox bill [S.302 "Social Security Lock-Box Act of 2007] to require that any budget surplus cannot be spent until the solvency of Social Security and Medicare is guaranteed."
Campaign statement submitted to "The Voter Guide," chicagotribune.com (accessed Oct. 2, 2008)

Stem Cells: "Should the federal government fund embryonic stem cell research?"

Pro: "In May 2005 I voted [on the "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005" (H.R.810)] to support human embryonic stem cell research."
"Presidential Candidate Questionnaire," National Green Party website, May 1, 2007

Taxes: "Should the Bush tax cuts be made permanent?"

Con: "I spent my birthday last year protesting in front of the Pentagon. At that rally, I stated that upon winning a majority of the seats in the Congress, the Democratic representatives should have repealed the Bush tax cuts, repealed the Patriot Act, the Secret Evidence Act, and the Military Tribunals Act."
"Wikinews Interviews US Green Party Presidential Candidate Cynthia McKinney," Wikinews website, Mar. 7, 2008

Taxes: "Should any federal taxes be increased?"

Not Clearly Pro or Con: "I support closing all tax loopholes, repealing the Bush tax cuts for the top 1% of income earners, fairly taxing corporations, denying federal subsidies to those who relocate jobs overseas, and repealing NAFTA [North American Free Trade Agreement], CAFTA  [Central America Free Trade Agreement] and other 'free trade' agreements that undermine labor and environmental rights and cause the loss of living-wage jobs."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 2, 2008

Turkey: "Should Turkey be able to enter Iraq or other countries unilaterally in search of its enemies?"

Not Clearly Pro or Con: "The principles of the UN Charter allow immediate actions in self defense until the matter can be brought to the Security Council for some resolution. The actions of other countries are not the purview of the United States as a final arbiter. All countries should be guided by the same principles against wars of aggression. Enemies need to be defined carefully in this international context, as should war."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

US Constitution: "Should the US Constitution and Bill of Rights be altered or updated in any way?"

Pro:  "By the people in every generation Thomas Jefferson said. The Bill of Rights should always be expanded. The Constitution should be honored when it protects rights, civil liberties and balances of power. All forms of governance can be improved as history changes conditions and technology involved."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

War on Terror: "Should interrogation techniques that some consider torture, such as waterboarding, be a legal option?"

Con:  "No."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

War on Terror: "Should the military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba be closed?"

Pro:  "Yes."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

War on Terror: "Has the USA PATRIOT Act had an overall benefit for the US?"

Con: "...[T]he environment created by the Patriot Act exacerbates the already-existent problem of injustice and a lack of civil liberties for black America. The situation before the Patriot Act was bad for black America. The Patriot Act and its sister, the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY2004, only expand the opportunities for bad things to happen."
"Speech: Cynthia McKinney Calls for Unity, Concerted Activism, Black Ballot Power," The Black Commentator website, Feb. 9, 2004

War on Terror: "Should telecommunication companies receive immunity for allowing the government to conduct past warrantless wiretaps?"

Con:  "No, nor should the government conduct such surveillance."
Email to ProCon.org from Cynthia McKinney's Press Secretary, John Judge, on Nov. 1, 2008

 TOP



Cynthia McKinney's Biography
Title(s): Former US House Representative (D-GA)
Personal Information:
Full Name: Cynthia Ann McKinney
Marital Status: Divorced
Birthdate: Mar. 17, 1955
Children: 1
Birthplace: Atlanta, GA
Religion: Roman Catholic
Involvement:
  • Presidential Candidate, 2008
  • US House Representative (D-GA), 1993-2003, 2005-2007
  • Member, House Armed Services Committee, US House of Representatives
  • Member, House International Relations Committee, highest-ranking Democrat on the Human Rights Subcommittee
  • Faculty Member, Clark Atlanta University and Agnes Scott College
Education:
  • MA, Law and Diplomacy, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University
  • BA, International Relations, University of Southern California, 1978
Affiliations and Memberships:
  • Green Party
Other:

Select Publications:

  • Ain't Nothin' Like Freedom, 2008
  • Cowritten with David Ray Griffin, Barrie Zwicker, and Webster Tarpley, Global Outlook # 10, 2005
Contact Information:
Campaign:
Phone: None found
Fax: None found
E-Mail: None found
Web Site: www.runcynthiarun.org
DONATE - Donate to ProCon.org - DONATE
Visit the ProCon.org community on:
Reprinting Policy | How to Cite ProCon.org | Media & Press | Donate to ProCon.org | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy

© 2020 ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. | 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 | Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA | Tel: 312.347.7491