Johnson Jabs At McKinney in Congressional Debate Runoff In a clash for the Democratic Nomination for Georgia`s Fourth Congressional District incumbent Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney squared off against opponent former Dekalb County Commissioner Hank Johnson. Ernie Suggs and Sonji Jacobs of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that these two hopefuls squared off before the Atlanta Press Club. Several dramatic salvos fell on the opponents turf- for example United States Congressional Representative from Georgia`s Fourth District Cynthia McKinney asked about Mr. Johnson`s past
financial problems ``including a bankruptcy and overdue taxes.`` In one stinging query Congresswoman McKinney inquired- `was it
sound judgment when you took money from
landfill developers at a time when landfill issues were before your commission.` She continued- `was it sound judgment when you didn`t pay Federal Taxes over several years, resulting in Federal Tax Liens? Was it sound judgment when you refused to pay multiple debts, resulting in lawsuits and garnishments against you? Responding to these bombshells Mr. Johnson admitted his past financial woes. He denied an allegation lobed by Congresswoman McKinney of accepting funds from landfill owners, however. He said- `This allegation was just simply a desperate attempt by a desperate candidate to try to inflict some personal damage on this candacy,` Mr. Johnson stated- `Quite frankly, it was the politics of personal destruction. And in addition to that, she`s been the candidate of polarization and divisiveness.` As examples of the support the candidates generated- Congresswoman McKinney touts endorsements by former Atlanta Congressman and Mayor Andrew Young, civil right activists the Reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. For his part, Mr. Johnson received financial support from former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes, a Democrat, and former Republican Georgia State Representative Emory Morsberger, Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus and former Republican Gubernatorial nominee Guy Milner. On Tuesday August 8, 2006- the voters in Dekalb`s Democratic Primary Runoff will select the person to represent their party in the November 8, 2006 General Election for the Fourth Congresssional District of Georgia.
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