Kucinich Gets Poor Reviews In Ohio (second item)

[JABBS]

Click here for more.

<snip>

It's easy to see the spin Kucinich's rivals -- Democrat or Republican -- might offer: If those who know Kucinich best don't like him, why should the rest of us?

[rox63]

1. If his constituents didn't like him, why would they keep electing him to Congress?

There's definitely a place for people like Kucinich in Congress. He's just not my first choice for President.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. I read the piece this morning

when you first posted it, and really felt it was simply a hit piece by a newspaper that doesn't like him. Remember Kucinich ticked off a lot of bankers when he was mayor-I think the big business types don't like him.

[JABBS]

4. possible

but it was two papers (cleveland and toledo) not one isolated columnist. and there's also the question raised about Kucinich's standing within the party.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. I think many believe

that the important thing is to get a Democrat elected to the White House. They say since Dennis is unelectable, there's no reason to waste time on him or his ideas.

So I fear we'll wind up getting more of the same old same old--someone who will say they are for the people but who really work for corporate interests, like Bill Clinton did with NAFTA.

[bobbolink]

12. Question for you...

Why do *you* have such deep misgivings about Dennis Kucinich?

What is this about for *you*?

[frylock]

3. lots of negative press about dk lately..

the establishment is scared SHITLESS by Kucinich.

[cyclezealot]

7. DU'ers really disappoint me. I thought they were indepedent thinkers.

To base one's ideas on distortions coming from the Cleveland Plain Dealer is truly showing lack of critical thinking. The Plain Dealer was a force countering Dennis as Mayor in his fight against private interests stealing public property, and all other Democrats for all that. Of course they are scared of Kucinich. He is not beholden to the forces bringing us increased media concentration or outsourcing business interests like Nafta, Cafta. His district just re-elected him by 70%. What could be a better review. Also, the same old hack story about his fight for MUNY power. When, we all should realize it is a profile in courage. Dennis is actually, the only candidate to get excitted about. link below about his herorism he displayed as Mayor. Please read instead of relying on the forces that fought Dennis' herorism.


http://www.truthdig.com/interview/item/20061212_rep_kucinich_running_president/

TRUTHDIG: Twenty-eight years ago, you were the “Boy Mayor” of Cleveland—the youngest-ever mayor of any major U.S. city. And you were also the first mayor to put a city into default since the Great Depression. What happened there?

KUCINICH: When people find out the nature of the default, they’re pretty shocked. Because what happened is that Cleveland went into default because I refused a bank’s demand to sell Cleveland’s municipal electric system as the price of renewal of the city’s credit.

TRUTHDIG: What happened to your political aspirations because of that episode?

KUCINICH: Corporations aren’t used to public officials who say no. So I couldn’t get a job in Cleveland. I was not able to make a living in this city. It was very tough to win any elected office. But an interesting thing happened: I saved the municipal electric system because I refused to accept this Faustian bargain that was offered me by the city’s lead bank, which was: You sell the city’s electric system, and the bank will give you—the city—$50 million worth of new credit. But if you don’t sell, we’re going to put the city of Cleveland into default. And so this was a moment when I had to determine who I was, what I was made of. Was I ready to take a stand on behalf of the people, or was I just about to become like anyone else who caves in and goes along to get along

[JABBS]

13. well, isn't that a he-said/he-said?

Kucinich is obviously going to defend himself and his actions.

But it's not one paper cited in the linked article, it's two. It's the Plain Dealer, and the Toledo Blade. And it's not just about Kucinich's work as the Cleveland mayor, it's about the question of bad blood between him and the Democratic Party establishment because of how long he stayed in the race in 2004.

[Selatius]

15. No, because Cleveland gave him awards for saving the city hundreds of millions of dollars

There's a reason why he won 70 percent of the vote in the last race. Saving the city from bankers wanting to privatize the power utility was one of them, even though it led to him being voted out immediately after the bankers forced the city into default.

[cyclezealot]

18. the media is owned by corporate interests.

I pretty much ignore most US media. The problem for Kucinich is he is a threat to corporate media ownership. I used to live in Ann Arbor , Mich. read the Blade it is a rag. I will check out the ownership of the Blade. Who makes the US media worth one's time in our decision making. Nah, Scheer is a damn harsh critic. In the news report I provided. He thought Kucinich a scam , he'd be on the Scheer **** list, like so many other polls.
Kucinich stayed in the race until the last day, because of the war. We his supporters demanded his fight to the end. Then when he asked his supporters to vote we Kerry , we didn't . But, Kucinich worked like hell to get the Cleveland vote out for Kerry in the end. No reason to suspect Kucinich of not being a loyal Democrat. All ask, don't need to dis Kucinich, let him have his chance, instead of doing the media's work for them. In the end, Kucinich will bring in the Green's , etc into the party. And bring about a platform in your own interests. Don't need to denegrate his ideas. That's a way to encourage a whole element of voters who don't vote to stay apathetic.

[cali]

21. What is it about Kucinich that YOU don't like?

Don't let 2 papers speak for you. Someone upthread asked you the question, more or less. So what is it about Kucinich that bugs you?

[JABBS]

25. i'm not pro-kucinich or anti-kucinich

I just think DUers should know what's being said about him -- not by Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity, but two Ohio newspapers.

My blog is about spin, and the use of it by the right-wing. If newspapers are writing this stuff about DK, it stands to reason that the right-wing could use it to either spin against him, or to spin against the primary field.

[roody]

31. I'm mad at him for getting out of it and giving away his delegates.

[NashVegas]

5. Kucinich Has No Rivals

He does not stand a chance of capturing the nomination and general election.

[The Sushi Bandit]

8. My Norton is blocking your website!!!

must be something bad there!

[The Sushi Bandit]

9. They are Jealous cause Dennis's wife is a babe!

[Vidar]

10. I'm shocked, shocked I tell you that a media whore like the

Cleveland Plain Dealer would go after Kucinich.

[OhioChick]

30. You're right....

The Cleveland Plain Dealer is a right-wing rag.

[eridani]

11. The elite thugs who want to privatize everything obviously hate Kucinich

Why would anybody expect otherwise?

[cyclezealot]

22. I think the real goal of the Kucinich haters in the media

Is not that they are afraid that he will win. Winning is only half of Kucinich's goals. The media knows their cash cow in the form of TV spot ads, will prohibit the election of a people's populist. What the likes of Chris Matthews would really like to do is censor his arguments. Some ideas are treason to the privatizers. So, that is the reason Kucinich must run. Taboo arguments the 2% of the countries' land gentry want to ban, someone need present to the American people ; before America is totally sold out from under itself.

[sandnsea]

14. *sigh*

If we wanted to read hit pieces, we all know where to find them. I don't know why this lame bullshit gets posted here.

[JABBS]

16. excuse me

If you want to only read propaganda, fine. But I don't think a review of two local papers dissing Kucinich is a "hit piece." It's meant to spur conversation, nothing more.

I know it's hard to believe that not everyone agrees with DU's opinion of the world, but it's true. Better to know what's out there than to cover your ears and eyes. Let the conservatives live in their bubble.

[sandnsea]

17. bla bla bla

I've heard that ridiculous line for the last several years. "Better to know what's out there". We can read what's out there without helping the right spread their right wing attacks. A little trumped up controversy just isn't worth it.

[JABBS]

24. it isn't a right-wing attack

it's two mainstream newspapers. check the source of the information before you blast away.

[sandnsea]

26. Media NEVER carries right wing water

Nooooo, that never happens. :eyes:

[JABBS]

27. don't patronize me

my whole blog is devoted to right-wing spin, and in part how such spin is picked up by the MSM.

but is there evidence that the two editorials are a) right-wing or b) wrong? Is there proof that Kucinich did not upset the Democratic Party leadership in 2004 by staying in the race? Is there proof that Kucinich didn't have problems as Cleveland mayor (besides what Kucinich himself has said).

It's very simplistic to just paint anything against the Democrats as right-wing, just as it's simplistic of the right-wing to constantly yammer about the "liberal media."

[sandnsea]

28. Oh nonsense

Up above you said your blog was about the right wing picking up spin from the media, and that's why you posted it. Again, controversy for the sake of controversy, well I don't think much of it.

[JABBS]

29. you just don't want to have a discussion

you want to name-call.

My point above was that I write about conservative spin, and how it makes its way into the MSM and the national mindset.

But quoting two newspapers doesn't not mean that I've quoted right-wing spin. Don't you see the difference? Are you honestly trying to suggest that anyone who says anything the least bit negative about Kucinich must be a right-winger? Isn't that a little simplistic?

Meanwhile, I've seen no one on DU find any objective reference point disputing the claims made by the two Ohio newspapers. The closest anyone has come is to cite an interview Kucinich gave, which is hardly objective.

[fujiyama]

19. Editorial reviews

mean little to me.

But the proof that he has no chance to get elected is that he did incredibly poorly in his own state's primary.

And of course he has also never attempted a run at a statewide office. That indicates to me, he has no confidence in winning such an office...and hence, is not really a serious candidate.

But his running is good. He brings important issues to the table and his inability to win a statewide office doesn't detract from the fact that his judgment on many of the important issues of the day has been spot on (especially regarding Iraq).

[cyclezealot]

23. Ohio is a hard nut to crack.

For over 10 years, few Democrats dreamed of running for statewide office. Recall, Sherrod Brown was even afraid to. So the National leadership of the party had that akward incident with booting out the former marine( forget his name.) who the national leadership felt too brash, after he had put his hat into the ring. For over 10 years it was impossible to recruit hardly any Democrat ever since the departure of John Glenn. Kucinich not running for senator no big thing to me. It took a real push to get Sherrod Brown to run. Ohio has been as red as Texas up until recently. Besides, I'd not encourage Dennis to run . He has a good loft in his present committee asignments.
I had felt the same way about Sen. Bernie Sanders, up until the demographics of Vermeont changed so dramatically.

[cyclezealot]

32. one does poorly in money race. the deck is stacked.

COnsidering Kucinich's parahia status with the Murdock like press, Kucinich's $9 M. was pretty good. No one gets far in the money fuled horse race without the special interests funding a campaign. Kucinich's fussiness about accepting special interest money is plenty cause to support him. Ever try to donate to Kucinich, his forms make it impossible, if you are trying to influence him.

[tritsofme]

20. Get out of the way of the Kucinich TRAIN!

The reason for this press must be because everyone is so scared of him, they know he is just going to SWEEP to the White House if there isn't a concerted effort to make sure no one has any idea who he is besides that weird little guy that's running for president again.