Dennis Kucinich

excerpts from the Iowa Daily Report

October 1-15, 2003

… Candidate Dennis Kucinich is turning to hip hop for help with his presidential campaign. On his schedule for next week (October 7^th, 6 p.m. at the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington D.C.) is a “Democracy Rising Rally” in Washington D.C. featuring Kucinich, Ralph Nader and local hip hopper Head-Roc and Noyeek the Grizzly Bear. No word yet on whether Kucinich will offer up a rap for the crowd. (10/04/2003)

… The Democratic National Committee meeting in Washington D.C. proved to be easy ground for the 2004 presidential candidates. According to an article in the Des Moines Register, by Jane Norman, candidates Wesley Clark, John Kerry, Joe Lieberman, Howard Dean, Dennis Kucinich and Carol Moseley Braun took aim at President Bush – and also each other…Wesley Clark said he is pro-affirmative action, pro-choice, pro-environment, pro-education and pro-health care. "If that ain't a Democrat, I must be at the wrong meeting," he said. "There was only one place for me, and I want to tell you, it is great to be home." Sen. John Kerry said that his opposition to Bush "is not a commitment I made in the last few weeks or last year, or that I stumbled across in the course of this campaign" and that he "stood against" both presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. Kerry also said he and the "Democratic wing of the Democratic Party" opposed the Contract With America and former GOP Speaker Newt Gingrich in 1994, appropriating a phrase often used by Dean. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut said Republicans once were the party of Abraham Lincoln and Dwight Eisenhower, but "today they are the party of Rush Limbaugh and Arnold Schwarzenegger." "That's the party of values?" said Lieberman. Howard Dean said he wants a president "who's going to appeal to the very best in us and not the very worst," and that "we have been silent too long." Democrats are out of power in the White House and Congress because "we didn't stand up for what we believed in," Dean said. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio said he led opposition to the war among House Democrats, in defiance of a leadership that includes Gephardt. "I believe we truly represented the feelings of millions of Americans," Kucinich said. "It is time to bring the troops home." Former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun said the voters "are ready to embrace a clear alternative to George Bush."  (10/04/2003)

… And from Planet Kucinich -- On an offshoot link from the Kucinich official campaign website, proof is presented why Kucinich can beat George Bush in the 2004 presidential contest. Excerpts: “If any Democrat has a history of attracting swing voters and "Reagan Democrats" in winning elections against better-funded Republican opponents, it is Dennis Kucinich. He has repeatedly defeated entrenched incumbents. … Kucinich is a winner because he builds Wellstone-like grassroots campaigns against bigger-spending opponents. … He is an unabashed progressive who wins because swing voters who don't agree with him on every issue still see him as a fighter for their interests… No Democrat is better positioned in 2004 to attract 'Reagan Democrats' and swing voters with a frontal attack on how Bush policies hurt them and favor the rich. …no other candidate can attract disaffected voters, 3rd party voters and Ralph Nader supporters to the Democratic column like Kucinich. … No candidate can better tap into and mobilize the anger of the Democratic base than Kucinich… Kucinich's best efforts couldn't win Ohio for Gore in 2000, but Kucinich can win Ohio himself if he is the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate. And in presidential politics, as Bush-strategist Karl Rove knows well: As Ohio goes, so goes the nation.” (10/06/2003)

… Birthday boy: Today is Dennis Kucinich’s birthday. If you’d like to send him a birthday ‘note’ (or ‘not’, as the case may be…) you can do so by visiting campaign website. As for Kucinich’s “Democracy Rising” hip hop, Ralph Nader extravaganza scheduled for last night in Washington DC? Let’s just say the news stories are not abounding. After much searching, including K’s website, IPW has abandoned the quest. Anyone finding a story – send it to IPW.  (10/08/2003)

… Kid glove treatment was clearly over regarding newcomer candidate Wesley Clark.  Knocked off the newcomer pedestal when Joe Lieberman said he was “very disappointed” by Clark’s changing positions on Iraq (the flip-flops of which began the very day Clark entered the race), Clark responded by saying, “I think it’s really embarrassing that a group of candidates up here are working on changing the leadership in this country and can’t get their own story straight.” Wasn’t that what Lieberman’s point? -- that Clark was not getting his story straight? Political veteran Lieberman flashed Clark a ‘Lieberman grin’ and replied, “Wesley Clark… welcome to the Democratic presidential race. None of us are above questioning. That’s what this is all about.” Clark’s inability to discern the negative from the valid was evident, as he put in yet another amateur performance. Clark has no prior experience running for any political office. News articles abound today, covering the debate from various angles. Here is a hefty helping of them. Click away!

·        Des Moines Register (written by AP writer Nedra Pickler)

·        NationalReview (written by Byron York)

·        BostonGlobe (written by Patrick Healy and Glen Johnson)

·        WashingtonPost (a long article, written by Dan Balz),

·        WashingtonTimes (by Stephen Dinan)

·        New York Times (this is a rather dry, excerpts only article – missing a lot of comments)

·        New York Times, again (written by Katharine Seelye and Jodi Wilgoren)

·        New Hampshire’s The UnionLeader (using the AP story by Ron Fournier)

·        CNN (who broadcasted the debate)

·        FoxNews (an early in the evening AP story)

·        and for those who really want to know… the complete transcript of the debate

(10/10/2003)

… Lowest-tiered in the polls, Dennis Kucinich doggedly presses on today, formally announcing his candidacy for president. BostonGlobe.com carries the Associated Press story. Excerpts: “…Kucinich, who has been campaigning for months, planned to make the announcement Monday in his hometown of Cleveland, the first stop of a 12-state tour that will include Michigan, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Iowa. … The kickoff speech at Cleveland's City Hall serves as a reminder of Kucinich's political triumphs and bitter disappointments. … He raised $1.7 million during a three-month period ending June 30 and hopes to show an additional $1.5 million when campaign finance reports are filed Wednesday. "I don't think he's in the race because he thinks he has a chance to win it," said Dave Rohde, a Michigan State University political science professor. "He's in the race, at the very least, to give public vent to some of his concerns."  (10/13/2003)

… Dennis Kucinich begins his three-day, eleven-state Tour, beginning today in hometown Cleveland, Ohio. According to CNN News, Kucinich formally announces his 2004 bid at City Hall at noon, and takes time for a reception at the Cleveland Sheraton Hotel before dashing off to Detroit (Michigan), Manchester (New Hampshire), Madison (Wisconsin) and Albuquerque (New Mexico). Tomorrow’s roster? Albuquerque, Austin (Texas), Oklahoma City, Minneapolis (Minnesota), Chicago (Illinois, and St. Louis (Missouri). Wednesday Kucinich will appear at St. Louis events and then attend the AARP Forum in Des Moines, Iowa. (10/13/2003)

… Dennis Kucinich, the controversial former mayor of Cleveland turned come-back politician, made his intentions official yesterday in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. An Associated Press article online (Cleveland.com – The Plain Dealer) covered the Kucinich’s formal announcement. Kucinich is making a 3-day, 12-state campaign tour this week. Another article – this one in the New York Times – gives this news from Planet Kucinich: “I am running for president of the United States to enable the goddess of peace to encircle within her arms all the children of this country and all the children of the world," Mr. Kucinich said. "As president I will work with leaders of the world to make war a thing of the past, to abolish nuclear weapons." He said he would return to bilateral trade by revoking United States participation in Nafta and the World Trade Organization, repeal the antiterrorism legislation called the USA Patriot Act, create a universal health care system, establish universal pre-kindergarten schooling and create a cabinet-level Department of Peace that would bring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s principles of nonviolence into government. …The Cleveland event had a tailored multicultural appeal, starting out with prayers from a rabbi, an imam and a Baptist preacher. The speakers were racially diverse, and Mr. Kucinich took a moment to acknowledge the American Indian communities on Columbus Day. He also called for a study into whether reparations should be paid for slavery, noting that he has co-sponsored legislation to this effect with Representative John Conyers Jr., Democrat of Michigan.  (10/14/2003)

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