I just thought everyone here should know that Dennis Kucinich voted for the tax bill

[bluestateguy]

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll647.xml#Y

I was shocked. But then again, maybe not, Dennis is a proven fighter, but also more pragamatic than his supporters or his enemies will acknowledge.

This is similar to him with HCR too: fight the good fight for a public option all the way up to the end...and then vote for the best and most passable bill possible.

[still_one]

1. He is wrong about this bill, and about the sham they say is hcr

[EFerrari]

2. For all his detractors portray him as ungrounded, he's not.

It's very difficult to be a liberal in this party and in this country today.

[cali]

25. That depends on your district

My reps don't find it hard, but then they're supported by their constituents.

[LibDemAlways]

3. Go along to get along. Over the

entrance to the Capitol Building there ought to be a sign that says, "Abandon principles, all ye who enter here." Whatever happened to having the courage of one's convictions?

[AlabamaLibrul]

4. Kucinich has been making some less-than-perfect votes lately, IMO

Kinda sucks to see it... eventually you have to wonder if they all manage to sell out eventually...

[mr_liberal]

5. More democrats voted for it than republicans.

I didnt expect that.

Im glad . i was for it. Im not sure what that means for the Democratic party, but its definitely good for Obama. This is a big first step to the center, something he had to do to have any chance of being reelected.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. Huh, he'd have to move left to reach the center

He's been a pure corporatist ever since the day he stepped into the White House.

[LibDemAlways]

12. Eventually he's going to have to answer to the people who

worked hard in 08 to get him elected. Who does he think is going to enthusiastically support him next time around? The average repuke thinks he's a socialist from Africa and the left considers him a Republican. That's an act of political contortion the likes of which is almost beyond imagining.

[AlabamaLibrul]

10. A step towards the center?

Whaaaaaaaaaaat?

[Lasher]

15. More Democrats voted for it by one vote.

Democratic ayes = 139
Republican ayes = 138

Democratic nays = 112
Republican nays = 36

Good talking point though. I'm sure this is not the last time we'll see it.

[sabrina 1]

22. Did you mean that seriously?

Do you really believe that people should put one politician's political career ahead of the interests of the American people? You do realize that he has lost support this week because of his flip-flop on the Bush tax? For some, this was the final straw. He lost the Independent vote after the HCR legislation. Who do you think is going to re-elect him? Republicans? That will never happen and if he loses Independents, the youth vote he had in 2008 and at least half the base, how do you think he is going to be reelected?

[onpatrol98]

29. I'm sorry...I had to reread this post, just to make sure I was on the right blog...

Carry on...

:wow:

[Doctor_J]

31. Looks like we might have a refugee from Glenbeckistan with us

Hello and goodbye!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

34. "Center"

[Jefferson23]

7. Very disappointing, felt the same way about HCR too. Would be

interesting to know what transpired between he and Obama on that plane ride back then.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

8. I would suspect that he has a lot of unemployed constituents

and was told in no uncertain terms that Obama was willing to give into the Republicans on the tax cuts, and as usual, the Progressives, not the Blue Dogs, would have to roll over and play dead to get what they wanted.

[MoonRiver]

21. At some point, for me at least,

winning elections would not be worth selling out my principles. But that's probably why I would rather eat cut glass than run for political office.

[OhioChick]

33. You're absolutely right....

His district has many, many unemployed people who wanted him to vote for this to extend their unemployment benefits.

[TheKentuckian]

9. Just because some folks are influenced heavily by certain personalities or popularity

doesn't mean everyone puts a lot of stock in such things.

I like Dennis because he tells the truth more often than most but he isn't a guiding star.

[Radical Activist]

11. Thanks Dennis!

We can't always get what we want. I appreciate him not allowing taxes to go up and unemployment to be cut off.

[ZombieHorde]

13. I know I would have a hard time denying people their unemployment benefits. nt

[Occam Bandage]

14. He has unemployed constituents.

He has middle-class constituents who don't want to see a tax increase. I'm glad to see he's representing his constituents, and not the liberal blogosphere.

[watrwefitinfor]

20. +1

[Ozymanithrax]

16. Thump...thump...thump...thump

That is the sound of Kucinich under the bus.

Clearly, he felt there was more good in this bill than bad, and that the compromise now would be much better than one after 5 January.

Or, if people like, his soul has been bought and sold by Corporations.

Take your pick.

[hlthe2b]

17. With all the unemployed in Ohio, I can't say I am surprised...

[Warren DeMontague]

18. Ruh Roh.

[Poll_Blind]

19. Same thing with Franken (who wrote a piece today)- he has a lot of unemployed constituents.

The Hardest Vote I've Taken

PB

[pnorman]

23. I stil have some cherished "Kucinich For President" memorabilia around my apartment.

I chatted with him briefly while in the crowd at an anti-Iraq war rally in Seattle, and later heard hims speak there. Later, I saw him greet one by one, striking hotel worker at a rally near Sea-Tac. I hold Dennis in the highest regard, and pay close attention to everything he says and does, and urge all hereon DU to do the same!

If I am reading him correctly, he's saying what I too have been saying here on DU. Far worse than any "sell-out on basic principles" (real or perceived: "The WORST thing that can happen to this nation, would be for the GOP to capture the White House in 2012! All thoughts and actions should be focused on THAT!

In a related WikiLeaks disclosure, the Dalai Lama regards irreversible Climate Change as`MORE important than local politics in Tibet! Give all this some serious thought!

[blindpig]

24. He puts party before principle

Speaking truth to power is worthless if ya always cave.

He lost me with that pathetic speech at the 2004 convention.

[Tatiana]

26. It doesn't suprise me. Sherrod Brown also eventually gave in.

They are facing tough upcoming elections in a state and district that just straight up went Repuke.

I understand why they voted the way they did.

[Owl]

27. Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2010, Part III ????

[Pisces]

28. Grab the pitchforks DU, hang him in effigy. Get outraged.

[MineralMan]

30. Oh, no! There go Kucinich's Presidential Hopes in 2012.

He won't have the "base" behind him now that he's "sold out."

Who's left for them to support now, I wonder?

[Scurrilous]

32. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Catherina]

35. Kucinich caved 6 years ago. Your shock is 6 years late. n/t

[mmonk]

36. I really don't care who did or didn't at this point. It's over and it's

a bad bill with a Republican Congress coming in. Period.

[FrenchieCat]

37. Oh boy! I thought I would read endless threads about this,

but this was one of the few that I located.

Interesting.