Still Talking: Kucinich Supporters are Mad as hell . . .

[goodhue]

http://www.opednews.com/welch0104_kucinich_supporters.htm

Still Talking: Kucinich Supporters are Mad as hell and they won't take it anymore
by Daniel Patrick Welch
OpEdNews.Com

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Reaching out to the untapped left electorate is our key to success, not the mushy middle the Republicans would trap us into. The last election was a center-left election, and there's potential that this one will be as well. Kucinich could easily be where Dean is now if misplaced fear didn't keep progressive activists clinging to his alleged 'coattails.' You have us mistaken as pie-eyed idealists and your own crowd as tough pragmatists. Nothing could be further from the truth. It's not that we refuse to suck it up and get on board with "someone who can win." We're sick of being bullied and patronized in that way. While you are entitled to your characterizations, we have our own. We think you are misreading history, misrepresenting Dean, and missing the greatest opportunity in a generation. We don't think Dean has a chance because he's running as something he's not-and enough people will see through it to skew the election. Shape-shifters play a dangerous game, and by definition have no coattails--where would you pin them?

[vi5]

1. I feel bad for Kucinich supporters....

Personally I'm a personal liberal with a pragmatic centrist edge. So Kucinich doesn't appeal to me personally as a primary candidate. Especially given his pro-life voting record.

But the fact is that given the swell of support for anti-war candidates it seems to this undecided fellow that he's gotten the shaft. Especially now with Mosley-Braun out of the race it's a shame that the only guy who actually had to put his money where his mouth is and vote AGAINST the war would be more appealing to anti-war voters than other candidates who simply say they are against the war and act as if their hypothetical vote is the same as an actual vote.

Personally the IWR is only one of many issues I personally will decide on. But given the number of people who want to vote for an anti-war candidate it would seem that they would want one who actually did have to weight that decision and put his career on the line.

[diamondsoul]

2. It's not the supporters you should feel bad for,

though. Seriously, we're proud of what we're doing and content knowing we're doing the right thing. The people to feel sorry for are all the ones who are too scared of Bush to join us, too riddled with fear to back the most honest and decent public servant this Nation has had in decades.

I honestly DO feel pity for those people who say "I like Kucinich best, but...." and we ALL know what follows the "but". The only reason he's "unelectable" is because people are too scared to even try to elect a man like him. When did America become a nation full of cowards who run from the good fight instead of fighting it despite the odds? That really just blows my mind.

[JohnKleeb]

3. You said it Di

Ive heard that so many times, not just on DU but all around. The I like Kucinich best etc. Its quite a shame really. I say fear could be why too, I dont mean to be a jerk but if people just had hope, I think we would be doing better, we're missing an oppertunity I say. Anyhow, 2 days to Iowa, I am nervous and still supporting Kucinich and of the big 4 they talk about I prefer Kerry. We got a longroad ahead of us, we all do not just DK supporters.

"This time like all times is a good one, if we but know what to with it"
Emerson

[Th1onein]

6. Voting for Kucinich

I think Kucinich is going to shock a lot of people, during the primaries. I have voluteered for his campaign and I'm going to act on my convictions that he is the best man for the job.

[LWolf]

9. Bless you, Diamondsoul.

You have expressed it so well for all of us. We're proud of our candidate, and confident that we are doing the right thing in supporting him. We know that it is our support that brought Dennis to the race, and is keeping him in it. We know that every individual who hears him is helping to move our country in a better direction.

We're the winners here.

[meg]

4. That and his record on women's issues

I will never support him against a candidate with a decent record on women's rights.

[MercutioATC]

5. It's not about "misrepresentation" for most of us.

I know where Dean stands on issues and I agree with the majority of his positions.

I know where Kucinich stands on issues and I disagree with quite a bit of what he says.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. Yes, I do run into people who genuinely disagree with Dennis

and that's their (and your) privilege.

But I meet far more who love everything he stands for but are voting for someone else because they think that he's more "electable." In other words, there are a whole bunch of people out there who really prefer Dennis but aren't aware that anyone else does and are therefore second-guessing the electorate.

[bread_and_roses]

8. "missing the greatest opportunity...

...in a generation." Yes. It is that that has me gritting my teeth in this primary. I honestly think people are ready to hear the truth: that the multinationals are eating us alive, and plan on our children for breakfast tomorrow. That a global economy has to mean global protections for workers and for human rights or we are cooked. That the hatred for the US around the world (and the fuel for terrorism) arises from years of US foreign policy that supports torturing dictators to benefit corporate profits. That racism is a tool to keep poor/working people at each others throats and divert attention from the oppressors of us all.

Most especially, people are ready to hear the truth about the "pocketbook issues" and progressive reform on those would set the stage for progress in other areas.

If all of our candidates were out there shouting the truth, there would be enough exposure of the real issues to bring back the democratic base and many "Reagan democrats." Or at least, I believe so. As it is, different candidates tell a bit of the truth here and there, except for DK, who being the only one to present just about the whole damn package like it is, becomes easy to marginalize.