Kucinich Undermines Black Voices, Supports Fox (HuffPo)

[oberliner]

Dennis Kucinich has demonstrated that he, like Reps Bennie Thompson and Carolyn Kilpatrick, is out of touch with Black America. I've just lost a lot of respect for him -- because I can't believe it's simply a matter of being misinformed. At every level it looks like he's using race-baiting for personal, political gain.

Kucinich sent a press release Tuesday saying he'll participate in the Fox News / Congressional Black Caucus presidential debate. Despite a significant outcry in the Black community and committed activism in the Black netroots, Kucinich actually tries to position himself as standing up for Black voters.

<snip>

Kucinich is sidestepping the real issue here -- that Fox is a propoganda outlet that attacks Black folks on a regular basis, and that a leading Black political brand such as that of the CBC should not be lent to validate Fox as a forum for real political discourse.

Kucinich needs to know that it's not okay to act like he's "down" while supporting a propaganda network that privileges the most bigoted voices on race and racism and regularly launches attacks on Black people.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-rucker/kucinich-undermines-black_b_50077.html

[w4rma]

1. I'm happy with Kucinich accepting this. Fox will be forced into a Kucinich/Gravel debate which they

don't want.

[AnOhioan]

2. The fact is the CBC is sponsoring this debate.....

So Mr. Rucker's argument that Dennis is undermining blacks by apperaing is nonsensical. The very fact that the the CBC is the sponsor should annoy Mr. Rucker more than Dennis' appearance at the debate.

He is free to think what he wants of Dennis, I am free to ignore his commentary.

[Ethelk2044]

7. I do not agree with the CBC

They should try TVOne or BET. Anyone but Fox

[cyclezealot]

3. The record shows otherwise.

He represents the poorest COngressional District in the US for heaven's sake. His voting record below as listed by Civil Rights groups.

Civil Rights
(Back to top)


2005 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 96 percent in 2005.

2005 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 100 percent in 2005.

2004 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Arab American Institute 100 percent in 2004.

2004 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the National Council of La Raza 100 percent in 2004.

2003-2004 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Human Rights Campaign 100 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 100 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the League of United Latin American Citizens 100 percent in 2003-2004.

2003 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Arab American Institute 100 percent in 2003.

2003 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 100 percent in 2003.

2001-2002 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Human Rights Campaign 100 percent in 2001-2002.

2001-2002 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 100 percent in 2001-2002.

2001-2002 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 89 percent in 2001-2002.

2001-2002 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the League of United Latin American Citizens 83 percent in 2001-2002.

2001-2002 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Arab American Institute 100 percent in 2001-2002.

2001 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 86 percent in 2001.

2001 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Human Rights Campaign 100 percent in 2001.

2001 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the League of United Latin American Citizens 91 percent in 2001.

2000 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the League of United Latin American Citizens 100 percent in 2000.

2000 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 93 percent in 2000.

1999-2000 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Human Rights Campaign 100 percent in 1999-2000.

1999-2000 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 100 percent in 1999-2000.

1997-1998 On the votes that the Campaign for a Color Blind America considered to be the most important in 1997-1998, Representative Kucinich voted their preferred position 0 percent of the time

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=BC032003&type=category&category=Civil%20Rights

[dsc]

9. That district isn't the poorest in the US

that is unadulterated hooey. Thompson might represent the poorest district in the US but Dennis represents the western suburbs and west side of Cleveland. Not even close to the poorest in Ohio let alone the US.

[cyclezealot]

13. Been toooo many news stories to say otherwise.

Probably Cleveland's other district. Represented by Rep. Tubbs is it?

[dsc]

17. neither one

I was a little surprised not to see Strickland's old district or Ryan's current district on the list the other person provided but in any case neither Cleveland area district is on the list. Tubbs Jones has a lot of poor people but she also has some exceptionally rich ones in her district. She represents the east side of Cleveland, East Cleveland, and Euclid all of which are poor to working class but she also represents Beachwood, Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights, and other suburbs which are quite wealthy.

[ISUGRADIA]

26. Tubb's district is much worse off economically than Kucinich's

CD 10 Kucinich
Percent unemployed 7.4
Median household income (dollars) 41,776

CD 11 Tubbs
Percent unemployed 13.9
Median household income (dollars) 29,442

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/Profiles/Single/2003/ACS/OH.htm

[ISUGRADIA]

11. Where did you get that idea from, the poorest district?

By what measure? By median household income he's not even in the bottom 20:

http://proximityone.com/cd.htm

418 New York 12 $29,195
419 Texas 28 $29,127
420 South Carolina 06 $28,967
421 Arkansas 01 $28,940
422 North Carolina 01 $28,410
423 Pennsylvania 01 $28,295
424 New York 15 $27,934
425 Oklahoma 02 $27,885
426 Missouri 08 $27,865
427 Texas 15 $27,530
428 Louisiana 02 $27,514
429 Louisiana 05 $27,453
430 Mississippi 02 $26,894
431 California 20 $26,800
432 Alabama 07 $26,672
433 California 31 $26,093
434 West Virginia 03 $25,630
435 Kentucky 05 $21,915
436 New York 16 $19,311
437 Puerto Rico $14,412

[dsc]

18. The city I live in is mostly in the 16th poorest district

I am a little surprised.

[dave_p]

4. Wow, this is the pits

Desperate stuff. Some people just want to trash progressives for not being carbon-copies of their own point of view.

If he says "I'm Dennis Kucinich and I approve Fox's message" the guy might have something to holler about. I'm inclined to wait & see.

Nice to see non-Kucinich types giving the piece the treatment it deserves.

[Vickers]

5. I agree with all you've said.

Well put. This truly is "desperate stuff."

[cyclezealot]

14. Someone told me Rep. Sharpton

endorsed Dennis Kucinich. Is that true.?

[Ethelk2044]

6. Is one of the Reasons why they will not

support him. I was shocked when he said the dems should debate on Fox after what they were saying about Obama. I thought he must have lost his mind.

[slipslidingaway]

8. Good for Dennis, from the press release

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-29-2007/0004596926&EDATE=

snip>>

"Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich said Sunday he would definitely participate in a September debate sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus and scheduled
to be broadcast on the Fox Television Network. Kucinich said for Sens.
Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, and Barack Obama to skip the debate simply
because it was to be broadcast on Fox was a snub of the Congressional Black
Caucus.

"This is particularly troublesome because the concerns of African
Americans should take precedent over what network is broadcasting the
debate," Kucinich said. "There are matters relating to employment, health
care, education, jobs, rebuilding our cities, environment and civil rights
that all presidential candidates have an obligation to address and debate.
Those candidates planning to skip this debate clearly are trying to avoid a
forum where there will be hard-hitting questions from people who may not
agree with them. But taking questions from all sides is part of politics,
and part of being President. I'm running to be President for all people in
this country."


"First Sens. Clinton and Edwards were tricked by George Bush into
voting for the war. Then they and Sen. Obama voted most of the time to
support funding the war. All three have said all options are on the table
with Iran, meaning they are ready to go to war against Iran. This raises
questions about their judgment, about who they are, who they represent?
African-Americans - and Fox viewers - have a right to know."

[cyclezealot]

15. It's just a tactical approach to Faux

No biggie.

[LWolf]

20. Great points made by DK.

*not snubbing the CBC

*not avoiding tough questions, taking questions from all sides

*importance of addressing the concerns of African Americans

[slipslidingaway]

25. Yes :) n/t

[Ethelk2044]

30. See if the points he made get him votes in the

African American community. I doubt if, especially if he continues pressing the debate with Fox

[LWolf]

32. I wonder:

is there a single entity that is the "African American Community?"

In both my personal lifetime, and my professional, dealing with people from most spectrums of whatever community I happen to be working in, I have found that African Americans can't (and, in my opinion, shouldn't, be lumped together into one group as if they all have the same point of view and speak with the same voice.

I believe you when you tell me that some are not happy with the CBC or the choice over whether or not to debate on Fox. I believe you when you suggest that some might use this as a single issue in deciding their vote.

I also notice that African Americans are unified behind any other candidate, and that they don't all have the same political perspective on every issue.

I'm sure there are some African Americans who would, and some who would not, vote for Dennis Kucinich, for Obama, for HC, and for Edwards.

Not being African American, I'm not qualified to speak for them as a group, as several sub-groups, or as individuals. I would like to think that choosing a candidate would be made by choosing the candidate who best represents people on the issues. If so, I'm sure that Congressman Kucinich can hold his own.

[zulchzulu]

10. I'm glad he's participating in the debate

He needs to have his voice heard.

[some guy]

16. Agreed.

It may help even more if the 'top tier candidates' skip the debate; leaves more time for those who do participate to voice their ideas, than they would get in an 8-way debate.

[MasonJar]

12. I have no knowledge about Dennis. But why did the CBC accept Fox?

[Red Knight]

19. Yeah-right

When I see the actual ISSUES that Dennis has supported that work against black interests I'll believe it. This is all a style issue and if getting a vote requires only skipping a Fox debate while putting forth proposals that don't particularly help black voters, it's a sad day.

If they are going to contend with a straight face that Kucinich works against black voters we've reached a new low.

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

21. Because CNN/MSNBC are so much more on our side than FOX

:sarcasm:

[LBJDemocrat]

22. FOX News is no worse than MSNBC

Especially now that an employee of GE/NBC named Fred Thompson is throwing his hat into the race.

Just because you have Keith Olberman giving you a pacifier doesn't mean they're the good guys. Don't be a fool.

[Ethelk2044]

31. MSNBC is much better than Faux

[Forkboy]

23. HuffPo must be bored picking on Hillary.

[Sparkly]

24. That is just silly.

Supporting the CBC is supporting racism? :eyes:

[eridani]

27. Kucinich is wrong

--and I'm saying it as a committed supporter. However, being right 99 times out of 100 ain't half bad.

[LoZoccolo]

28. I am not a Kucinich fan, but this is a very unfair attack.

He's not "supporting" Fox News by going on there. The advertising dollars would stream in despite him being there or not. After the 2004 presidential general election debates, I heard about conservatives who were actually surprised that John Kerry was not who they had heard about on right-wing talk radio; that's the benefit of giving someone a direct outlet to speak uninterrupted and unedited, whether it be Fox News or anywhere else. I understand the argument that says that if enough people refuse to appear to be on Fox News, it will illegitimize them. But I also understand that it's a tough call to decide which approach to Fox News will yield the best results, and Kucinich might have a different take. That does not make him a person who undermines black voices.

[cyclezealot]

29. Kucinich in debate takes no prisoners.

Hope O'Reilly does the MC bit. With DK, he will regret and forever recall having to be humbled by someone knowledgeable and a relentless debater. DK will well get the best of them. With few other Dem's showing up, it will give DK all the time he needs to humble the Faux empire. There is more than one way to embarass them. I say it is more effective to be a shining light for your cause.

[bamacrat]

33. Hes the only one not affraid of the Faux news people.

Clinton and Obama are too scripted.