Kucinich Leaves Door Open To Consider HCR Vote - TPM

[dave29]

MOMENTS AGO
The White House pool reporter caught up with Rep. Dennish Kucinich on the tarmac before President Obama's health care speech to ask him whether he would, as promised, vote against the bill. Asked if he was reconsidering his vote, he said, "I'm looking forward to hearing what has to say." He said he was not commenting on his current position on the bill, according to the pool report.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/live/countdown-to-reform-wire/#324243

[jefferson_dem]

1. I will personally donate $20 to his campaign if he votes for reform.

If not, I will donate $40 to the next Democratic challenger to Kucinich.

[Go2Peace]

13. He will in the end. He is likely playing "bad cop" to counter pressure from the right

It surprises me how folks here have such a hard time understanding the part that Kucinich does. Sure it would be much easier on him if he just went along. HCR, from the beginning, had a strong pull from the right and we all know a lot was compromised. But nobody was standing on the left side trying to provide the counter to that. Dennis has done that now. I suspect when all is said and done he will do what he does time and again, shake things up and make things honest.

If it looks like HCR will die, Kucinich will vote yes. If it looks to pass anyway, he may keep his current stand to be on the record and state that the work is not done. People fret way too much and prematurely here.

There is way too much attention payed to Kucinich instead of the DLC, which pressure the bill to the **right** and also are holdups. Hell, there are people here who will spend time and money trying to get Kucinich unseated and will completely ignore the DLC candidates. That's shallow.

[mod mom]

2. IF he does go along w it you can bet he made a deal that will benefit the people over

corporate interest.

[Go2Peace]

15. Exactly,

The reactionaries have a hard time understanding the part Dennis plays, and it benefits *all* of us. They can critisize his tactics, but they show themselves as shallow when they claim he is not genuine.

[suzie]

26. You may bet that, like Nelson and Landrieu, he made a deal that will benefit his

Congressional District.

Because he never does anything to benefit "the people". Voting with the Republicans doesn't usually benefit "the people".

[mvd]

27. But he doesn't always vote with the Republicans

And Dennis has the people's best interests at heart. I wish they were all like Kucinich.

[suzie]

31. He does vote with the Republicans. People keep pointing that out--just because his

supporters like to think that he's not a closet Republican doesn't make it so.

I was looking at some legislation the other day--not one of the big things that have been reported this last year, where DK voted all the time with the Republicans.

And happened to come across some piece of legislation where DK voted with Ron Paul and a whole slew of other Republicans. Of course, his supporters will tell us that, unlike the self-confessed Republicans, DK had some "progressive" reason for voting Republican.

The man is simply a conservative.

[Ignis]

43. "Cuckoo! Cuckoo! DK is a GOP mole! Cuckoo!"

:eyes:

[mod mom]

33. you mean like how he followed the DLC types to vote for the IWR and all other

spineless votes to further bush's war?

:sarcasm: Dennis continually takes strong stands to vote his conscious rather than follow suit w others furthering the corporate stronghold on this nation.

In case you missed it here is Michael Moore from Countdown last night discussing DK:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=443399&mesg_id=443399

[suzie]

34. Perhaps if my senator hadn't been one of the leading voices against the Iraq War Resolution, I 'd be

be as impressed as his supporters seem to be that Kucinich stood up and did his usual grandstanding about it.

But since my senator at the time, Senator Graham, also tried mightily to influence his colleagues--and since he wasn't grandstander but a well-respected guy they at least took notice--I was less than awed by DK's behavior at that time.

Senator Graham would probably be termed a DLC type by DK supporters, although unlike Kucinich he compiled a long record of voting for women's reproductive rights, even before he decided to run for the presidency.

[mod mom]

35. Ah... If you are heralding Lindsey Graham over Dennis Kucinich then I think you're on the wrong site

not even worth a counter, there. :eyes:

[suzie]

39. You're joking, correct?

Kucinich supporters try to act as if he were the only Democrat in 2004 to stand against the IWR. Then they complain that the media won't give poor, mistreated Dennis Kucinich the proper amount of attention.

Senator BOB Graham also ran in 2004 and had exhorted his colleagues to read the NIE, which he had gotten declassified.

Bob Graham is as liked and respected by his colleagues as a politician as Kucinich is despised.

Bob Graham didn't spend his time in 2004 trying to screw over his Democratic colleagues and deliver a re-election victory for George Bush.

So, if it's about helping out Republicans like Lindsey Graham, then it's Dennis Kucinich's name which seems to be on the wrong site, since he works hard at assisting Republicans.

[Jennicut]

3. Hmmm, quite interesting. But I still doubt Dennis would be happy with any small changes.

And any big changes means the President might lose other members over a certain issue. Negotiation would not be my thing, I don't have the patience for it. Or so I am told, something about me being too stubborn.

[Lord Helmet]

4. I recall Pelosi saying there were 39 House members dead set against the PO.

She's having a bit of trouble herding cats.

[Jennicut]

11. So, we are two short if I have my math and the # of House Dems right.

It will come down to the wire.

[dave29]

14. came down to the wire last vote in the house as well. I remember watching the actual vote

uncertain of the outcome.

[Go2Peace]

16. two short...? And what if the President and Pelosi fought for those two votes?

That is the *difference*. Nobody is fighting for the PO, even when it is almost a done deal.

[Lord Helmet]

17. It's gonna be a nail-biter.

[kjackson227]

5. Hmmm. Sounds like he's reconsidering at least...

maybe President Obama gave him a little more information than what we have???

[katmondoo]

6. Why close all doors.

I think he should reconsider. Nothing is writen in stone.

[denimgirly]

7. Clearly Obama desparately wants DKs vote -- DK does not sell-out...doubt he will get it.

Even if O is in Ohio in DKs district specifically targeting its people to nag DK to vote with this weak bill i just dont see DK ever selling out to special itnerests. He is strong on wanting a solid PO or Single Payer and if he doesnt get it he will never vote with it. I respect that.

[dave29]

8. A lot more than Obama want Kucinich's vote. But it's his vote

he will do as he pleases

[kjackson227]

9. DK knows darn well that the President is doing all he can...

considering all the lobbyist money that he's going up against. If DK were president, he'd have the very same problem, or worse.

[Go2Peace]

19. Give me a F'ing break!

I am for this bill at this point (I am in the "better than nothing crowd"), but I think making the case that the President has done "everything he can" is bullshit. He hasn't even tried when it has come to getting a public option, and in fact he has weakened efforts to get it with his noncommital attitude. That is not "doing everything".

[jenmito]

20. Maybe "doing all he can" is WHY he didn't push trying to get the public option...

he knew that would kill any chances of getting a bill.

[Go2Peace]

32. Neither we, nor he, will ever know. Imagine if Olympians gave up before the competition began?

We had kind of the same approach.

[European Socialist]

10. Hope he talks O into the PO.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

21. It ain't Obama he has to convince.

It's either 60+ or 51+ Senators, depending on the option we're talking about.

[HughMoran]

36. Yes, because Obama is that critical 50th vote we need in the Senate

:P

[ChicagoSuz219]

12. I hope he changes his mind.

I'm sick to death of everyone drawing their lines in the sand. They need to do what's right for the American people.

[grantcart]

18. Would somebody please get the DU bus ready.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

22. "The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round...

The wheels on the bus go round and round, all with Dennis underneath!

[Cha]

25. I thought dennis could do no wrong?

as long as he keeps voting NO..but, a Yes might change it.

* After Rep. Dennis Kucinich's (D-Ohio) votes against health care, against the hate crimes bill, against the Democratic budget, against the cap-and-trade bill, and against financial regulation, Nate Silver considers the liberal lawmaker's value to the Democratic Party."

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/03/stats-say-kucinich-may-be-least.html

[DFLforever]

23. I don't think he'll vote for HCR

He's got his position as one of the leading Democratic dissenters to uphold.

But he's sharp enough to know he should look like he's carefully considered the bill before voting no.

[ericgtr]

24. He won't even vote for the public option

Unless Obama really wowed him I don't think he's going to change his mind either. We might as well be going for a GOP vote.

[mvd]

28. Good; maybe he got some assurances

I didn't think he'd be completely closed to the idea of voting for it. I don't think he'd want to be the vote that sinks any chance of HCR for a while.

[Dr.Phool]

29. A friend of mine just got off the phone with Dennis, at about 11:30pm

He's still a solid "NO" vote.

[saltpoint]

30. Is this "maybe" before or after his "firm no" ?

[dave29]

40. after

.

[saltpoint]

42. Okay. Thanks. It's been a bit confusing. Now I'll start wondering if

his "firm no" is stronger than his switch-to-yes press conference scheduled for tomorrow.

I may yet have to move to Bolivia.

[watercolors]

37. He's just another politician looking for headlines, much like

Lieberman!

[ProSense]

38. If he votes for the bill because of assurances that a public option will be addressed later

then he will have finally come around to the position many progressive Democrats have been advocating.

[vaberella]

41. I believe there is a notice that says he came out with a firm NO.

So meh...he's a waste.