Kucinich defends continued campaign, criticizes Kerry

[Tinoire]

Kucinich defends continued campaign, criticizes Kerry

By DEEPTI HAJELA, Associated Press

NEW YORK (February 9, 3:51 p.m. PST) - Democrat Dennis Kucinich on Monday criticized presidential front-runner John Kerry as being too similar to President Bush on Iraq and said voters must be given a "clear and convincing choice."

Kucinich, a congressman from Ohio, pointed to his third-place finishes in Democratic caucuses over the weekend as signs that his campaign was starting to resonate with voters.

Speaking at a National Association of Hispanic Journalists' forum, Kucinich said the Iraq war will be the instrumental issue in the November election. He criticized Bush for starting it and took aim at Kerry, a Massachusetts senator who voted for the congressional resolution authorizing the war.

"Senator Kerry voted for the war. Senator Kerry supports the occupation. Senator Kerry supports sending another 40,000 troops to Iraq," Kucinich said. "I'm wondering if the people of this country are ready to trade a Republican war for a Democratic war, because that's exactly where we're headed right now."

<snip>

"He still maintains an enormous amount of support among the American people, and it's not going to be that easy to dislodge him," Kucinich said. "Only if there's a clear and convincing choice given to the American people on critical issues ... are we going to able to be assured that this president will be defeated."

http://www.tribnet.com/24hour/politics/story/1143967p-7967443c.html

[corporatewhore]

1. DK tellin' like it is!!!

[mac2]

2. Health care

Well..I'm more for Kucinich universal health care and department of peace. Not WTO or globalization.

Kerry says, he won't support war but who knows..he did in the past. He's for WTO controlled (who will be able to do that). His health care like he has in Congress...what does that cost?

Not many stood up to Bush...Kucinich did. We all did..we knew why didn't they?

When I read about space weapons and biological warefare, it scares the heck out of me. I want peace and a better world for all of us. We can try.

I will support Kerry if he wins in Boston but not before.

[charlie]

5. "Kerry says, he won't support war but who knows"

That's one of my biggest worries about Kerry. The oldest trick in the book is to accuse Democrats of being "soft on" something -- crime, Communism, drug use, whatever -- and watch them flail and flounder. LBJ is probably the toughest, most hard-bitten sumbitch the Democrats ever got into office, and even he got suckered into a military morass that he knew was neither right or wise. It sparked a low-grade civil war, wrecked the economy, and scarred the American psyche with a cynical distrust of our institutions that we've never recovered from. I don't know if Kerry has the sand to resist the pressures he'll be under to accede to the new imperialism and ratchet up domestic restrictions in the name of "security."

[vision]

3. My thoughts also

Dennis speaking Truth to Power :smoke:

[DannyRed]

4. Hoooray, Dennis!

I support Dean, and cringe every time there is a dustup between Dean and Kucinich.

Dean has ignored Kucinich a bit too much, and discounted Dennis' voice too many times, and each time, I write the campaign and give them hell about it.

At the caucus I just attended, I caucused with the Kucinich group, and when, despite my efforts, they were not viable at the end, because of our shared beliefs and ideals, we all went over to Dean.

THAT is how it should be.

Here is my take, and here is why I support Dean over Kucinich:

Kucinich is more progressive on the issues, and better on many aspects.

Dean is not so shabby, but has some weak spots on his record.

HOWEVER, I feel that Dean is better at articulating the core principles of many of those positions to a wider group.

Kucinich has a hard time, for the moment, and mostly for corporate media reasons, reaching out beyond his committed, solid core.

I think Dean is a good lead in to Kucinich....a hook.

That is why I support Dean over Kucinich.

Neither is perfect - for example, Dennis has a spottty record when it comes to the Right to Choose. He has changed his stance, but I am unhappy with his past votes. Dean has a bad tendency to lean right on economic issues, and has supported some really bad policies in the past...he, likewise has shown a willingness to change, grow, learn, but I am unhappy with some of his past issues.

Therefore, my choice was based on the ability of each candidate to reach out to beyond the committed base.

I think they should be allies, as should their supporters. We share a lot.

I hope such an alliance happens.

If Dean, Kucinich, and Clark were to join camps, we could, together, beat Kerry.

Frankly, I care not if we come together behind Dean, Kucinich or Clark....

[genius]

6. Dennis is the clearest alternative to Bush.

I think the voters are just a little scared. But Dennis is picking up. He's guaranteed my vote too.