Why did Kucinich vote against health care for children?

[jsamuel]

We only need 19 votes in the house to override a veto and he is one of the people who voted against it, to my surprise. Does anyone know why? Will he vote for it to override the veto?

[rusty quoin]

1. Wasn't it about immigrants already here in this country?

[mike_c]

2. not too difficult to find the answer....

The google is your friend....

http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=75275

[Kiouni]

7. Thanks

[jsamuel]

15. It doesn't say if he will vote to override.

any news on that front?

[Lucinda]

3. There was a thread earlier today

If I remember someone said he vetoed because it didn't cover immigrant children in some way or another. I'll try and find it.

And speculation, the last time I saw the thread, seemed to think he would vote to override.

[silverojo]

8. Be honest for a change, Dennis

Truth is, you'd rather let American kids suffer, than not give ILLEGAL immigrants' kids health care, right?

When you don't vote to override a Bush veto, you're part of the problem.

Period.

[riqster]

14. The override vote hasn't happened yet.

It was a safe "no" vote to make a point, because everyone knew the bill would pass the House. He was setting up for conference, to get immigrant kids covered later on.

If he does NOT vote to override, I'll be in his face. But I think he'll do the right thing.

[Trisket-Bisket]

4. Dumpy is a loser.

A blowhard loser. A demigod. He makes promises he can never keep.

[Steve_in_California]

5. Kucinich is a little man with a gigantic ego.

He estimation of himself is in direct inverse proportion to the public's indifference to his lunacy.

[knight_of_the_star]

6. The reason he gave I could care less for

He honestly needs to swallow his pride and do the right thing.

[cyclezealot]

9. The key word was "legal ' immigrants.

He did the right thing. Besides, this is all band aid feel good crap. Only makes the overall American health care system more expensive for all.With only a piecemeal approach, making all more jealsous over what some get and they don't. Not really a solution. Why should LEGAL immigrants suffer. It's just racism.

[redqueen]

17. Yeah, but read the writing on the wall...

even the left is ready to sell out and do less before the fight even starts.

Half-measures are all "we" even try for, these days.

[LWolf]

10. It doesn't cover all children. Simple enough.

It doesn't cover LEGAL immigrant children. Why would we want to support a bill that claims to help children, but only SOME children?

Do you really want the U.S. government deciding which child is worthy of support, and which not?

Is it not inherently bigoted to value some children's health over others?

[cali]

11. Why? Because the pefect is the enemy of the good, and

SCHIP is good legislation. Not perfect, mind you, but good. And as children of all races and creeds are being covered by it, no, I don't think it's bigoted. You know, or should know, that the dems wanted to include legal immigrant children, but didn't have the votes for it. Politics isn't wave your wand, and that may account for Dennis' poor record re legislation. Politics is the art of the possible. A cliche, but one that's true.

I do think Dennis is an honorable guy though, and I expect he'll vote to override the veto.

[Dawgs]

12. Thanks. You said it brilliantly.

[slick8790]

16. Great post. I was coming to say something exactly of that sort.

[LWolf]

18. I hear what you are saying.

I also know that the "didn't have the votes for it" is the perpetual excuse for not even attempting the best. That's how I think we should operate. Keep the ideal, the highest good, at the forefront, and keep it there as we move forward. Continually bring the best, the highest, to the floor. We may not reach the ideal, but we'll get farther than if we don't try at all, or set our sites low.

I don't know if dems wanted to include immigrant children; I didn't hear the discussion in Congress. I hope some democrats (in addition to DK) spoke up for all children, of course.

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. Because grandstanding is more important than providing healthcare to children