Dennis Kucinich

excerpts from the Iowa Daily Report

March 2003

… Bad news for the Dem aspirants if Hillary runs. The Quinnipiac poll says she would get 37% in the Democrat field with Gephardt a distant second 13%, Lieberman 12% and Kerry at 8%. Without Hillary, Lieberman gets 21%, Gephardt 17%, Kerry 12%, Edwards 8%. Moseley (No Hyphen) Braun 7%, Graham 6%, Sharpton 5%, Dean 4% and Kucinich 2%. (3/7/2003)

… Dean and Kucinich arrived yesterday and lost little time stressing their central – although misguided – themes. Both basically are single-issue candidates – against any Iraq military action. Quad-City Times report this morning says Dean’s efforts to comment on other issues were unsuccessful. (He’s painted himself into the one-issue, anti-war corner – starting to look like another McGovern. (3/8/2003)

… Dean and Kucinich told reporters North Korea is a greater threat than Iraq. Des Moines Register headline this morning: “Democrats: Korea poses more serious threat to the U. S.” – commenting on Dean and Kucinich visits to central Iowa. Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports Dean said the North Korea represents a nuclear threat that could become a “full-blown crisis.” Henderson report quotes Dean as saying Iraq is a “third-rate military power” that poses no threat to the U. S. (3/8/2003) 

… Quad-City Times reports today Kucinich, during central Iowa appearances yesterday, said he would challenge Americans to achieve full energy independence – calling for a “space race” commitment on the energy front. (3/8/2003) 

…Several media outlets indicate five Dem presidential candidates – the five low-rung candidates: Dean, Edwards, Kucinich, Moseley (no hyphen) Braun and Sharpton – will accept public campaign financing (taxpayer dollars) for their campaigns. John Kerry, the richest Dem prospect, will delay decision on public funding for a couple months – or possibly tap into wife Teresa Heinz Kerry’s fortune. 3/8/2003

… Political Plagiarism 101: Which Dem candidate is stealing ideas, issues and concepts from the other? On Friday, two candidates – Kerry in New Hampshire and Kucinich in Iowa – made similar statements about the nation’s energy policy: Both said the U. S. should have the same kind of commitment to energy independence that JFK (John F. Kennedy, not John F. Kerry) made in the 1960s to put an American on the moon. (Iowa Presidential Watch, 3/10/2003)

… Survey conducted by Research 2000 for KCCI-TV 3/10-3/12 indicates Gephardt (22%), Kerry (20%) and Lieberman (16%) are bunched together at head of Dem presidential pack. Edwards was fourth with 8%, followed by Dean (6%) and Sharpton (1%). KCCI said Graham, Clark, Moseley Braun and Kucinich all registered less than 1%. Twenty-seven percent were undecided.  (3/15/2003)

… Legislation approved by the House this week to limit jury awards in medical malpractice suits drew opposition from the usual Dem presidential suspects. Both House Dem wannabes – Gephardt and Kucinich – cast “no” votes  (3/15/2003)

… On Kucinich website,  Kucinich, one of 133 House members to vote against the resolution: “The President’s decision to push our nation, and the world, to the brink of war, in the face of intense international opposition, and without UN approval is a failure by this Administration to exercise world leadership and a grave mistake…Our international allies do not believe President Bush’s case for war. Iraq poses no imminent threat to our nation. The Administration has produced no credible evidence connecting Iraq and 9/11.” (3/19/2003)

… Another news release posted on Kucinich’s site – “Kucinich Re-Launches Website” – was more worthwhile and responsible. He said the new, redesigned website – www.house.gov/kucinich -- will be easier to use and also have information on his Ohio CD, including the popular link, “Polka, Bowling and Kielbasa.” (Iowa Presidential Watch, 3/19/2003)

… Where’s Dick? Gephardt’s string of missed votes got longer yesterday when the House approved legislation 400-7 (H. Res. 132) to condemn a federal appeals court ruling that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is unconstitutional. Gephardt was among 12 Congressman to miss the vote while another 15 voted present. Kucinich – and the five Iowa House members – supported the resolution. (3/21/2003)

… latest New Hampshire survey showing Dean’s virtually tied with Kerry in battle of regional favorite sons. American Research Survey poll, conducted 3/16-3/19, indicates Dean gained 6 points over past month – although Kerry still leads with 23% to Dean’s 22%. Gephardt third (15%), Lieberman fourth (12%), 20% still undecided. Other Dem candidates in low – very low – single digits with Edwards leading that group with 3%. (That’s right 3% -- but it’s better than the 0% received by Kucinich, Sharpton and Clark, who’s doubtlessly getting better numbers for his current gig as CNN military analyst.) Interesting sidebar: 99% of respondents were “aware” of Hart, but he received only 2% on the ballot support question. (Iowa Presidential Watch, 3/22/2003)

…When the House voted 215-212 early Friday (2:54 a. m. EST) for the $2.2 trillion budget that includes President Bush’s tax cut proposal -- $726 billion over the next decade – Gephardt and Kucinich were present and voting “nay. The vote on the budget resolution, however, wasn’t the only bad decision Kucinich made early yesterday morning. Eight minutes after the budget proposal vote, the House considered legislation to express “support and appreciation of the Nation for the President and the Members of the Armed Forces who are participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom.” Gephardt supported the appreciation resolution – which was approved 392-11 -- but Kucinich was one of 22 to vote “present.” (Iowa Presidential Watch,3/22/2003)

… In today’s roundup story about yesterday’s visits to DSM by Gephardt, Dean and Kucinich, Des Moines Register staff writer Thomas Beaumont focuses on Gephardt. The headline, “Gephardt to curb campaign for sake of troops…The 2004 presidential nomination candidate continues backing the war against Iraq.” Gephardt gets 12 paragraphs vs. three for Dean, two for Kucinich. Key quote: “Gephardt is widely viewed as the likely frontrunner in the race for the Iowa caucuses in January 2004.” (3/24/2003)

…From yesterday’s coverage of their appearances at the UAW conference in Des Moines –Des Moines Register staff writer Thomas Beaumont reports Gephardt “isn’t stepping back from his support of President Bush in the war on Iraq,” but will curtail his public campaigning during early stages of war. Report says Gephardt made decision to scale back “out of respect for the troops in Iraq.” Kucinich criticized the bombing of Baghdad and the campaign of “shock and awe,” saying he has a “patriotic duty” to speak out against war. Beaumont reports Dean “declined to say whether he supported the bombing of Baghdad, but renewed his criticism of the war…Dean said he will offer his support for American troops while criticizing Bush for attacking Iraq.” (3/24/2003)

…From Lowell Ponte – in column titled “Saddemocrats” – on GOPUSA yesterday: “With war only hours away, three Democrat “Progressive Caucus” members of Congress on Wednesday via television hookup addressed the European Union Parliament and shared Left-eyed views with their fellow socialists across the Atlantic. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D.-Ohio) predicted that President George W. Bush’s ‘case for war is a sham’ based on ‘untrue, unfounded and disproven allegations.’ This presidential aspirant, whose loony Leftist eccentricities this column recently documented, wants America disarmed and our Department of Defense renamed “the Department of Peace.” (3/25/2003)

… Dean and Kucinich continued their (increasingly dismal) campaign efforts in IA yesterday. Dean showed for a “live” interview on 5 p.m. WHO-TV newscast while Kucinich was reduced to videotape interview on 6 p.m. show. Standard stuff from both – although Dean rejected suggestions Democrats would be viewed as the anti-war party in 2004 (Iowa Presidential Watch, 3/25/2003)

… Gephardt was among the missing again yesterday as House Democrats sought to push through a Senate-approved version of Amber Alert legislation. On yesterday’s vote, Kucinich voted with the losing Democrats and Gephardt was recorded as “not voting.” (Iowa Presidential Watch, 3/27/200)

…Kucinich took time yesterday to voice a standard theme on Capitol Hill: His topic – the Iraq war with Kucinich saying, “We should get out. End it now.” (3/28/2003)

…Gephardt continues missing votes in Congress – including yesterday’s House approval of a resolution urging Iraq to abide by international laws for POW treatment and the House version of “Amber Alert” child crimes legislation. Kucinich supported both proposals. (Iowa Presidential Watch, 3/28/2003)

… Des Moines Register reports this morning four Dem aspirants – Dean, Edwards, Kerry, Gephardt – have spent the $65,000 each to secure Iowa Democratic Party’s voter information database. Also indicates Lieberman is “expected” to buy the list in April and Kucinich has “expressed interest” in getting the file. Moines Register’s Thomas Beaumont writes that Hart is expected to visit IA during April and he also has inquired about purchasing the state Dem party’s voter database. (3/29/2003)

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