Letter to His Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed bin Talal

October 16, 2001 12:36 PM

Letter to His Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed bin Talal A Congresswoman, er, Congressperson at work: If Mayor Giuliani doesn't want the money, she'll take it and give it to others that need it. "I believe we can guide your generosity to help improve the state of Black America and build better lives."
posted by chainring (29 comments total)

Her apology is paraphrased here:
Seems they forgot to mention she wanted the money for her own cause.
posted by chainring at 12:44 PM on October 16, 2001

Funny, I did a search for "opportunistic whore" and Cynthia McKinney's Congressional page came up.

The net is an amazing thing. :)
posted by ebarker at 12:49 PM on October 16, 2001

She's not buying a swimming pool for her kids. And she's right. He wasn't paying to express his opinion. He certainly can do that anyway. And if he was offering 10 million bucks to placate and generate sympathy for the Palestinian cause, good for him. Guiliani didn't accept it because he's got an Israeli lobby that generates exponentially more money, but it doesn't make a brutal Israeli occupation just. At least the Prince went public and was frank with his "special interest" offer. I hope he does donate the 10 million to help restore black institutions and a better way of life for oppressed minorities and people in need, regardless of who they are.
posted by aLienated at 1:06 PM on October 16, 2001

Perhaps it would be good for HRH Alwaleed to donate the money to other causes. That still doesn't answer to the brashness of the "Cutest Little Communist" in Congress (moniker supplied by those on Capitol Hill that work with her regularly). There are tons of service organizations that could have taken the money - Red Cross, United Way, UN relief efforts.... but, no. CC (CongressCritter) McKinney wanted it for herself to use on causes she felt would be worthwhile.

This is the woman that regularly holds seminars in her home district on how to apply for "your fair share of the government aid" in order to get her constituency hooked on taxpayer money, thus keeping her in her job. Her record, and her views, are so distressing that I have chosen to live in a higher cost area than to have her as a possibility for my representative.

Not that I'll ever see a Libertarian in this district, either.
posted by dwivian at 1:15 PM on October 16, 2001

I love the mixture of crawling and ignorance of basic etiquette. How many times can you write "Your Royal Highness" without getting dizzy? I would think $10 mil would be worth a little homework.
posted by Catch at 1:17 PM on October 16, 2001

What's the word for "Chutzpah" in Arabic?
posted by matteo at 1:24 PM on October 16, 2001

Guiliani didn't accept it because he's got an Israeli lobby that generates exponentially more money, but it doesn't make a brutal Israeli occupation just. At least the Prince went public and was frank with his "special interest" offer.

Giuliani doesn't exactly have a reputation for pandering to special interests or mincing words. He didn't accept the money because it would have meant accepting the prince's notion that the terrorists acts were directly connected to, and therefore justified by, the U.S. position on the Palestinian Question. Guiliani's point was that terrorism is never justified under any circumstances, and had he accepted the money it would have undermined the U.S. stance on that principle.
posted by lizs at 1:30 PM on October 16, 2001

I think it's only fair to point out that her letter offers to point him to charities to which he may wish to give; that they are charities working to improve living conditions for black people is no big deal.

on my wishlist I point people to charities that feed and house people, since those are my pet causes.

sure, she's making a point, but I see nothing wrong with her letter.
posted by rebeccablood at 1:38 PM on October 16, 2001

I very much agree with her assessment of Israel/Palestine. And why not try & get the $?
I aggree with you, aLienated...
posted by thekorruptor at 1:39 PM on October 16, 2001

Prince Talal pays NYC nearly $90 million in New York City taxes every year. Whatever PR value his original $10 million 'gift' had, won't be diminished by much if he decides to give it to Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney.
posted by tamim at 1:47 PM on October 16, 2001

Perhaps the good Prince ought first to consider the needs of his own people and the support his royal family has for a long time been giving terror groups, esp. Bin Laden, for which see:
http://www.newyorker.com/PRINTABLE/?FACT/011022fa_FACT1
posted by Postroad at 2:01 PM on October 16, 2001

Here's a commentary. I agree with this guy: "Why is that more than forty years of political and social gains have not yet been sufficient for this one segment of American society?"
posted by chainring at 2:03 PM on October 16, 2001

Cynthia McKinney has always been an embarrassment to the people of Georgia. During State of the Union addresses, she'll plunk her behind down in the house chamber for 8 hours before the speech to make sure she's on the aisle and gets camera time shaking the Prez's hand as he walks down the aisle.

Her other claims to fame include siding with military dictators in African nations and threatening poll workers during last year's elections.

A real "class act". But who knew she was this low...
posted by darren at 2:04 PM on October 16, 2001

I find it interesting that she doesn't mention any of the white people (or any other colour for that matter) who are also living in her district. Although what she is doing is understandable, we elect these people to serve the needs of their district, not to act for the good of a race (that's what senators and lobbyists are for).
posted by schlaager at 2:21 PM on October 16, 2001

Zell Miller responds, and says it far more diplomatically than I could.
posted by spilon at 2:23 PM on October 16, 2001

Chainring: Lovely commentary. I disagree with it, but you apparently agree. My question is: how right does this white SOB have to be before he isn't an asshole for calling McKinney a "disgrace to her race"?

Maybe if I had the stomach to read more of this racist right wing punk's writing, I could find out which Blacks he thinks might be considered a credit to their race.

Whatchathink?
posted by Wood at 2:24 PM on October 16, 2001

"He didn't accept the money because it would have meant accepting the prince's notion that the terrorists acts were directly connected to, and therefore justified by, the U.S. position on the Palestinian Question."

I see your point but i don't think we can make the leap that the Prince thought the attack was "justified." I think he recognizes the need for our country to re-examine our foreign policies which are not aligned with the moral principles which our country claims to adhere to as far as the middle east is concerned. We have little practical support for the human rights of the Palestinian people and we continue to offer unfair and uncritical financial and political support for an extremely oppressive and de-humanizing occupation. Of course it doesn't justify an attack on our civilians but it does bring to light the fact that our policy and support for Israel with regard to this issue must change immediately if we expect to provide security for ourselves and our allies.

Of course, there was no way Giuliani could accept the money and not face endless scrutiny, but I don't think it's responsible to demonize the Prince's intent and claim that he was in some way justifying the attack.
posted by aLienated at 2:29 PM on October 16, 2001

Guiliani didn't accept the money because a WTC/Palestinian linkage is outrageous, disgusting unacceptable and can only be the work of barbarians--and their lobbyists. A second reason, I suspect is the Mayor's belief that given their current behavior, the Palestinians don't deserve their own state since (1) they continually deny Israeli's right to exist on any terms; (2) the PA's relationship to terrorists is not obviously dissimilar to that of the Taliban and OBL's crew; and (3) neither the world, nor Israel needs another Syria.

So, basically, this woman is an example of the downside to democracy: stupidity, ignorance and misdirected anger ruling in a Congressional district. Thankfully, this is the small exception to the rule. But really, what an a-hole.
posted by ParisParamus at 2:38 PM on October 16, 2001

This is supposedly a country of free speech. This ego grandstanding wouldn't exist if politicos could admit things like "I support his right to express his view but I disagree and think the money could help the victims." Instead the PR win for Rudy is worth so much more to someone in his position and to him I guess he can rationalize it away by assuming the victims have gotten enough aid already. Good job Rudy, your career over the people of NY in the midst of a terrorist attack.

Expect more opportunists after Rudy dropped the ball.
posted by skallas at 2:41 PM on October 16, 2001

"A second reason, I suspect is the Mayor's belief that given their current behavior, the Palestinians don't deserve their own state since..... "

Compelling and compassionate, as always, Paris. Glad you and Giuliani met up and discussed his beliefs. Funny, he asked that you give a press conference on MeFi. If you could provide a direct quote from the mayor, I think we'd very much appreciate it......
posted by aLienated at 2:53 PM on October 16, 2001

aLienated: Compassion doesn't always travel the path of least resistance, which is what NYC discovered with its current Mayor. I suppose you find him a horrible man.
posted by ParisParamus at 3:05 PM on October 16, 2001

I guess he can rationalize it away by assuming the victims have gotten enough aid already.

Actually, the Mayor's act will inspire volunteerism, as well as additional money which will surpass $10 million of tainted funds. Easily. It's tragic that some of you value principle so little. A understand the Middle East so little.

Now, if only he wasn't a Yankee fan : (
posted by ParisParamus at 3:16 PM on October 16, 2001

A understand the Middle East so little.

HAHAHAHAHA. That was awesome!
posted by buddha9090 at 3:17 PM on October 16, 2001

(A = And)
posted by ParisParamus at 3:23 PM on October 16, 2001

It is in moments like these in a nation's history in which you learn who the men and women of principle are. And, few are to be found now amongst the luminaries and parasites of the Civil Rights Movement.
posted by Real9 at 4:25 PM on October 16, 2001

Do you mean ParisSites? I've contributed to that travel book....
posted by ParisParamus at 5:38 PM on October 16, 2001

A black baby boy born in Harlem today has less chance of reaching age 65 than a baby born in Bangladesh ... Is that true? Are you comfortable with it? If so, carry on kicking the messenger.
posted by grahamwell at 8:15 AM on October 17, 2001

It's not true. It's more crap from Cynthia.
Morbidity and mortality rates in Bangladesh are 12 times that of any section of NYC. Check the stats from the Dept of HHS.

For more laughs, check out her cartoon network website.
posted by darren at 8:26 AM on October 17, 2001

Oh, and two others I forgot until I read this article.

During last year's presidential campaign, McKinney's office faxed news organizations a statement accusing Al Gore of having a low ``Negro tolerance level.''

During her 1996 re-election campaign, McKinney's father and then-campaign manager, state Rep. Billy McKinney, called her Republican opponent a ``racist Jew.''

Gotta love her. One radio personality refers to her as "the cutest little Communist in Congress."
posted by darren at 8:40 AM on October 17, 2001