Kucinich: 'A firm no'

[ProSense]

Kucinich: 'A firm no'

With President Obama today campaigning for health reform in Dennis Kucinich's congressional district, Kucinich's office reiterated to First Read that "he is a firm no," according to spokesman Nathan White.

The health bill isn't progressive enough for Kucinich, who voted against even the House-passed bill, which included a public option.

<...>

Everyone expects the RW of the Democratic Party to act like assholes. The fact that conservative Dems want to kill the bill too is not an excuse. Kucinich has made it clear that he is willing to be the vote that kills reform. That means, if the RW of the party is one vote short, Kucinich is willing to provide it.

[NJmaverick]

1. Dennis needs to join the Republicans on the scrap heap of history

[rainy]

6. Why, because he stands on principle? At least he is not saying no

because he is worried about re-election Most of the dems who are saying no right now are cowards worried about their re-election and money from big pharma and insurance doners. At least Dennis is standing on principle for the progressives.
He is doing the right thing.

[NJmaverick]

7. Because he hasn't done a single thing to help Americans in his long

Congressional career

[denimgirly]

27. Dennis doesnt sell-out...Big Difference..He wants to help Americans -- its the OTHERS who dont.

Selling out to big corporations daily is a common occurence by most of the law makers. THere job isnt to help the people, it is to continue to provide welfare for the corporations. Dennis refuses to play that way. What he stands for is CLEARLY in line with what the people want but it is the other lawmakers who have sold their vote that is the problem, not Dennis. Denis doesnt compromise and wants the best for the people.

[suzie]

38. Dennis sells everyone out--it's all he does.

He has no other function in the Congress. He talks the progressive talk and then votes Republican.

And in the midst of that, his words are great for the conservative news media to use to bash other Democrats, and legislation that might be helpful.

He is far worse than most of the Blue Dogs, who are pretty unknown outside their districts, and to the public at large.

Not so, Dennis Kucinich, he's always there, doing his Oppositional Defiant Personality Disordered best.

[Cha]

40. There was something about a museum that he got through.

Just bc he voted against the hate crimes bill.

"* 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.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/03/stats-say-kucinich-may-be-least.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com /

[azmouse]

2. 46,000 dead Americans is a small price to pay for principles, I guess.

[NJmaverick]

8. So it would seem

[slipslidingaway]

11. The people that did that study think this bill is the wrong solution and

since this bill will not cover everyone there will still be tens of thousands of deaths.

We need to subsidies for insurance companies, they start losing the boomers as customers in the next year or two.

Hard to imagine how any saving in the Medicare program can be used to finance this bill when Medicare enrollees will increase from 46 million to 79 million.

:shrug:

[HughMoran]

16. involuntary manslaughter is not a crime

...if your principals are good. :eyes:

[denimgirly]

28. No Public Option / No Single Payer / All Profits for Companies -- Am i missing something?

[Zavulon]

36. I don't think you are.

Forced at gunpoint to enrich the very people who are the problem, not allowed to see the bill, actually told by Pelosi that we have to pass it to find out what's in it? This bill is as Republican as it gets and yet so many people here are supporting it. Why? I truly believe THEY'RE the ones missing something.

[grantcart]

47. Well the CBO estimates that 26 million will be using exchanges

where the plans will be regulated by OPM and they must include non profit plans, and presumably would include state public option plans if any state passed one.

So I would have to say that you missed a great deal of the most important part of it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x225498

[jefferson_dem]

3. If that's the case.

Fuck him.

[slipslidingaway]

4. Kucinich - outlining his position. He said, in part .....

"President Barack Obama is in northern Ohio on Monday to campaign for his health care plan, and I will be here to welcome him. I have met with the president three times to discuss how we can work together to address the serious deficiencies in our health care system. Even at this late date, I am hopeful that the White House will be able to reinstate key reforms that passed the Education and Labor Committee on which I serve.

"Unfortunately, the president's plan, as it currently stands, leaves patients financially vulnerable to insurance companies. It requires all Americans to buy private health insurance policies, while failing to ensure those policies do what they are supposed to do -- protect people from financial catastrophe caused by injury or illness. ...

"Absent a strong public option or legal protection for states that wish to pursue single payer, the bill that the president is proposing is a step in the wrong direction. Even with the few modest improvements in the bill, the insurance companies will still have dozens of loopholes to deny care and continue to find ways to leave Americans with the unpayable bill."

[Festivito]

26. Since WE CANNOT SEE the bill and Dennis can, I go with Dennis.

Bill not released yet:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x222780

We've fought over 50 years for decent health care in this country, we don't need to drop the fight because you need it this week.

[slipslidingaway]

31. Me too and you are so right about the 50 year fight, for what?

Millions of people left out and another transfer of wealth from workers to the corporations.

:(

[Festivito]

42. Which then gets to go belly up. Oooooh, how wonderful.

Or, it goes the way of Blue Cross Blue Shield and declares itself for-profit and then drops the mandates of taking everyone.

Left with nothing once again, down the road, ready for another bank boom bust cycle and then we can try it again after another several millions of unnecessary deaths.

Whoopty scooty.

[slipslidingaway]

45. Yes and still so many people left behind ...

hope everyone is saving their pennies.

:(

[grantcart]

30. The Senate bill mandates that everyone have access to a non profit plan

[Festivito]

43. Which then gets to go belly up. Oooooh, how wonderful.

Or, it goes the way of Blue Cross Blue Shield and declares itself for-profit and then drops the mandates of taking everyone.

Left with nothing once again, down the road, ready for another bank boom bust cycle and then we can try it again after another several millions of unnecessary deaths.

Whoopty scooty.

(Opps. Maybe I shouldn't post from a bar.)

[flpoljunkie]

5. Dennis, if it's good enough for Bernie Sanders, it's good enough for Dennis Kucinich.

Vote Yes. Pass. the. damn. bill.

[Lord Helmet]

24. +1

[zulchzulu]

9. Look Dennis! It's a UFO! Get on it, pinhead!

I'm sure people know that Dennis Kucinich is on record saying that he saw a UFO once by Shirley MacLaine's house. I kid you not.

:crazy:

[VMI Dem]

10. Good for him.

I support DK.

[denimgirly]

29. +10,000

[O is 44]

12. Will Kucinich be a no show at the President's

town hall today? If he is so convinced this is a bad bill he should show up and tell the President why in front of his constituents. It looks to me that someone never got over his presidential run. He's no Bernie Sanders.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Raine1967]

14. Kucinich Flew on AF1 with POTUS to Cleveland

Let's hope the President can change that firm No.

@chucktodd Kucinich, a "no" vote on #hcr is flying with the POTUS on AF1 to Cleveland area. We'll see if his arms are tired from the twisting.

(I cannot stand Chucky's stupid snark... btw)

[O is 44]

15. Ok, thanks for the info.. I was not sure if he would go.

Yes and Chuck Todd is an ass, I can't stand the guy he's such a useless tool.

[Yeahyeah]

17. Video of Kucinich getting off Air Force One with new pal Obama.

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/political/president-is-making-a-stop-in-strongsville-to-push-his-healthcare-reform-agenda-on-monday

DK!

http://media2.newsnet5.com.nyud.net:8080//photo/2010/03/15/Pres_Obama_arrives_in_69757663-3f46-4a8e-a311-5a9ce64d53630001_20100315122507_320_240.JPG

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

18. Does this mean that Obama's treating a progressive holdout in the same way he did Lieberman/Nelson?

Because that's a common source of poutrage around here...

[Jennicut]

20. Yes, pretty much. He is trying to convince members to vote the way he wants to.

I want a ride on Air Force One but not happening anytime soon...

[politicasista]

48. Politically smart of Obama

OTOH, the media, not so much.

[SlingBlade]

19. Good for Kucinich

[fadedrose]

21. It'll take a damn miracle for the thing to pass -

Kucinich's vote may not be enough, but he'll at least keep his progressive friends.

It was not easy to get this far - money is a formidable opponent.

[ProSense]

22. Then it looks like

Pelosi is ready to perform a miracle.

[Teaser]

23. Kucinich: a tremendous fail

.

[Phx_Dem]

25. I've grown to hate this man.

If we have to lost a Democratic seat this Fall, I pray it's Dennis'.

:mad:

[impik]

32. Stupid juvenile, he couldn't be further than "progressive"

[Cha]

41. He's an

agressive regressive.

[IndianaGreen]

33. Did Obama mention that it takes 4 years before people with pre-existing conditions are covered?

Did Obama also mention that 20 million Americans won't ever be covered under this bill? Did Obama mention that insurance companies can still deny coverage by having high co-pays and premiums?

Michael Moore is making those points on Olbermann.

[LWolf]

34. k & r for the best Democrat standing, bar none. nt

[high density]

35. I'm a firm don't give a fuck what Dennis thinks.

DGAFWDT.

[Zavulon]

37. Good for him.

A bad bill is worse than none at all. We're told insurance companies are the problem, so the solution is to force us to send them money and cut Medicare while we're doing it?

When I'm told we have to pass a bill to find out what's in it, I don't want anything to do with it. I'd have expected this bill from Republicans and I hope it goes down in flames. I don't care how long it takes, I want a GOOD bill, not a piece of shit. If this bill were any good, why can't we see it?

[4lbs]

39. Why can't Kucinich do the same thing that Grayson and Sanders are doing?

Both Grayson and Sanders acknowledge that this isn't a perfect bill.

They also realize that waiting for the 'perfect' bill will only wind up in not doing anything and result in many more people becoming uninsured and dying as a result.

So, what do they do? Say they'll vote NO on this bill? Nope.

Both Sanders and Grayson will vote YEA on this bill.

HOWEVER, they won't stop there.

Grayson plans on introducing a public option style "Medicare for all" amendment in the House.

Sanders plans on introducing single-payer in the Senate.

So, why can't Kucinich do the same? Vote YEA and work with both Grayson and Sanders on their respective bills to further improve the HCR bill?

[Cha]

49. Because they actually care more about

the people who would be helped than he does.

[politicasista]

50. Bingo n/t

[ShortnFiery]

55. Grayson and Sanders caved into coercion. They will regret their gutlessness. eom

[4lbs]

56. Looks like Kucinich did too...

;)

[watercolors]

44. He's such a very little TURD!!!

[suzie]

51. +1

[quiller4]

46. Not any more he isn't. As of March 16th he was saying he was undecided

and would announce his decision at a press conference on Wednesday morning. Rumor is that Joe Rugola, President of the Ohio Central Labor Council and others have been successful in getting Kucinich to "yes"

[suzie]

52. But it's a principled undecided.

[mkultra]

53. lol, you made milk come out my nose.

[liquid diamond]

54. Oooops!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4309237

[Orsino]

57. Reality overtakes the OP...

...and Rep. Kucinich, presumably.

[PVnRT]

58. Keeping this kicked for posterity