Kucinich on Democracy Now

[eridani]

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/03/22/1536217

AMY GOODMAN: There are no debates planned right up through the Democratic convention.

REP. DENNIS KUCINICH: Not to my knowledge, but the -- each primary, each caucus represents an opportunity. For example, you know, there was a caucus in Alaska over the weekend and it looks like we may have picked up as many as five delegates out of 14. And so, you know, there's still people out there who want to see a voice in a Democratic party, provide an alternative view and again, you know, Amy, maybe John Kerry can count to 47%, 48%, but the pivotal difference in this election is going to be -- who is going to be able to reach out to those democrats who might otherwise say, what does this party stand for and why should we participate. That's what my campaign is about. My -- this campaign has the potential to make the critical difference in this election. That's why I’m staying in, and people who will go to our website at kucinich.us will see laid out all of the reasons why it's important for this campaign to continue.

AMY GOODMAN: What do you think of Ralph Nader running?

REP. DENNIS KUCINICH: I think that Ralph Nader’s candidacy points out the urgency of having that message inside the Democratic Party. If there's no one with the message in the Democratic Party, then people will feel there's nothing there among Democrats. As long as I’m inside, then I can point the way that the Democrats can have some responsiveness and recognition of the concerns that people have about corporate accountability and the scandals on Wall Street. About the fact that we need to protect Social Security and getting out of Iraq and bringing in U.N. peacekeepers and there's a larger issue of creating a sustainable structure of international law where we confirm the importance of the non-proliferation treaty, where we sign the biological weapons convention and chemical weapons convention, the small arms and landmine treaty, join the international court and sign the Kyoto claimant change treaty. This is the moment where the United States ought to be thinking about rejoining the world and it's urgent that the Democratic Party have a strong platform that points us in the direction of doing that.

[Desertrose]

1. Exactly why people should be THANKING Dennis and not condemming him!

"I think that Ralph Nader’s candidacy points out the urgency of having that message inside the Democratic Party. If there's no one with the message in the Democratic Party, then people will feel there's nothing there among Democrats. As long as I’m inside, then I can point the way that the Democrats can have some responsiveness and recognition of the concerns that people have about corporate accountability and the scandals on Wall Street...."

This is unity folks....right here...DK...trying his best to incluse us all.

*base* DEMS...pay attention

thanks fro posting this Eridani :hug:

Peace
DR

[LWolf]

2. I'm glad there's a transcript.

It was even better live, but here is the record. Dennis is working to for progress for the party and from within the party. Dennis is all about unity. For the party, for the nation, and for the planet.

DR, let me thank you again, more than a year later, for introducing me to Congressman Kucinich, who I'd never heard of before. What an experience it has been, to find such a well of hope, courage, integrity, and steadfast committment in a politician.

[Desertrose]

5. no problem LWolf...glad to help...

kinda thought the two of you might hit it off...:evilgrin: wink wink

:hug: :loveya:
DR

[RichM]

3. Much as I love Dennis, I disagree with him on this point. If he is not the

nominee, I don't think there's the slightest reason to stay within the framework of the Democratic Party. He cannot be an effective advocate for the things he personally stands for, if the party shoves him rudely to the margins.

In fact, the very way that he's been treated by the party is an excellent reason to leave the party - rather than continue to support it. Let's be very clear: the Democratic Party does NOT embrace Dennis's progressive values & positions. It rejects them. He is everything they should be - but are not.

[Desertrose]

4. All the more reason he stays.....

I totally know what you are saying Rich & do agree....but I think it shows mega class and a true willingness to work with people on DK's part to stay put...I know there are so many just waiting for Dennis to go third party and they will say- see, told ya..he's too "__________"(fill in the blank).

The fact he sticks in & keeps fighting within the party speaks volumes of the kind of man he is...and rather the party include him, I pray he can have the party come to him....he has repeatedly said he is in this for the long haul and I mst admit I hoped it would be quicker that it appears to be...but I am with him too...whether or not I am (stay) a Dem I will always support Dennis and if he feels the best way is to gain ground or whatever, is to stay within the party and show people the difference between the different *types* of dems, then I concur.

The sign of true classs in my book is to ignore the sticks and stones and keep your eye focused on the final outcome...don't lose heart or get mired in the muck...Dennis has shown me that he can do that...and if he can do that, I should be able to as well....

(but yeah, his treatment by the party sucks pretty bad)

His inner strength and hope and vision is contagious!
with hope....DR

[no name no slogan]

6. I know it's tough RichM...

but what a lot of us are doing now is getting involved in the machinery of our local Democratic party, so we can steer it back towards liberal issues and values.

In MN, where we got 17% in the straw poll balloting for national delegates, we have already elected numerous DK supporters to the state party's central committee, and into other leadership positions, too. Even though we're only allowed 17% of the state delegates to national, we will easily have at least 25% (maybe even 30%) of the delegates at the Congressional District and State conventions, simply because we stuck it out and continued participating in the party.

And, believe it or not, we have a lot of sympathy, too! Some "old school" DFLers are very impressed by our "amateur" efforts, and have come on board to help us along the way. For most of us, Dennis's campaign is just the start of something much bigger that will influence state (and national) politics into the future.

Sure, this year is a bit of a disappointment. But the REAL battle begins November 3, the day after the election.

[lams712]

8. Don't forget the Wellstone influence....

....many DK supporters were old Wellstone supporters. After the caucuses, the Star Tribune had an article saying how DK's good performance was the result of the legacy of the late Paul Wellstone.
Many DK supporters saw many similarities between DK and Wellstone. Hopefully, DK's campaign will be the continuation of Paul Wellstone's syle of politics for decades to come.

[redqueen]

7. It's truly an awful situation

Things are looking up, though, right? We have Air America starting up, and a couple (few?) progressive think tanks... things should be changing for the better, right?

We can hope. I can't help looking at what's happened to the right... where they wanted certain things but even with all their think tanks and media help, even after all their electoral victories and with all that they control, the people that elect them still get sold out to the same corporations we get sold out to.

So... it's really up to us, I think.

Seems to me that our government is nothing more than the sum total of our actions as citizens. That being the case, I hope many more Americans realize that voting and donating is the very LEAST you can do.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Wish Dennis was the frontrunner