Kucinich seeks support here [he is in Texas; "No people are illegal"]

Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich showcased his undiluted anti-war message Wednesday in a campaign romp through Houston.

The Ohio congressman called the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq an illegal and misguided action and said American troops should withdraw immediately and be replaced with forces led by the United Nations.

"It was wrong to go in there and it is wrong to stay in," he told the Houston Chronicle editorial board.

He said the presence of U.S. military forces is destabilizing Iraq rather than calming it for self-rule.

Later, in a spirited gathering of about 90 supporters and potential supporters at local Democratic Party headquarters, Kucinich said the U.S. was "bombing our brothers and sisters" when it killed Iraqi civilians.

"I want to see the money come back to this country, instead of spending it on bombs, so we can have health care for all," he said.

For local Democrats, the visit may have been a reminder that former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is not the only presidential contender making waves with opposition to President Bush's decision to attack Saddam Hussein's regime.

Kucinich drew distinctions between himself and other Democratic candidates, saying he is the only one among them who voted in Congress against the war and against the U.S. Patriot Act, which gave new powers to law enforcement and intelligence agencies following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Kucinich opposed the legislation as an infringement on civil liberties.

But Kucinich's appeal to anti-war and liberal voters has not been enough to place him at Dean's level in voter preference polls or fund raising.

The latest poll for next month's Iowa caucuses shows Dean in the lead with 26 percent and Kucinich, the former mayor of Cleveland, among a pack of four candidates drawing no more than 2 percent.

Kucinich told the newspaper's editorial board that he has to do better than expected in Iowa if he is to make a splash in the primaries that follow.

At the Harris County party office, Kucinich was introduced by former Houston controller and former U.S. Immigration and Naturalization director Leonel Castillo. He compared Kucinich to former President Carter, saying both were motivated by what is right rather than what is politically advantageous.

Kucinich said the United States should have worked with the United Nations to root out the terrorists responsible for Sept. 11 instead of going virtually alone into Afghanistan and Iraq.

"This idea that we can set ourselves apart from the world comes from the 19th century," he said.

Kucinich also said he wants to scrap the North American Free Trade Agreement and end U.S. participation in the World Trade Organization. He said he would opt instead for agreements between the United States and individual nations that would guarantee decent wages and environmental protections.

He also promoted the idea of "Medicare For All," in which the U.S. government would pay for the health care of every resident, similar to the Canadian system.

The current health care system is rotting from greed because it relies on profit-bound insurance companies, he said. The nation could afford to provide health care for all by eliminating the profits and paperwork costs, he said.

Kucinich also called for a larger role for NASA in developing technology that can be harnessed by private industry for energy efficiency -- through alternative sources such as solar and wind power -- and other advancements.

Kucinich said he would cut the Pentagon's budget 15 percent without compromising the nation's ability to defend itself, decriminalize marijuana and eliminate the death penalty in federal court. He also advocated amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Kucinich had no campaign fund-raising events on his Houston schedule. Singer Willie Nelson is scheduled to host a fund-raising event for Kucinich in Austin in January.

FreeRepublic.com "A Conservative News Forum"

[ Browse | Search | Topics | Post Article | My Comments ]

Click to scroll to commentary.

Communist Party praises Kucinich

Posted on 03/09/2003 6:52 PM EST by Portfolio manager

Dennis Kucinich has been loudly supported by Rick Nagin for a long time. Kucinich is a Communist as is Nagin. But he wins in the Western suburbs of Cleveland, a labor basion, by "standing up for the little guy." I know of several very decent people who are Democrats but certainly not Communists who support Dennis. And in Cuyahoga county he has virtually no Republican opposition. There are few pubblies left in that dying county. They have all moved to the contiguous counties.The industrial base is nearly non-existent in Cuyahoga and in just the past year the "Cleveland Plain Dealer" has awakened to this fact. But as of now it is just a "quiet crisis." It is Dennis and his his anti-businessm, anti-capitalist minions who have helped to drive companies and the best and brightest young kids out of the area. Oh BTW.... never fear... there is no way Kucinich could even win election statewide in Ohio. But let him keep running for President. It will show the true colors of the RATs!

TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Ohio; Click to Add Topic
KEYWORDS: Click to Add Keyword

[ Report Abuse | Bookmark ]

1 posted on 03/09/2003 6:52 PM EST by Portfolio manager
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

To: Portfolio manager

You are correct. See him listed in the Democratic Socialist of America Congressional membership. He's a socialist from the git-go, and totally supported by the Clevelan ethnics and bluecollars at the auto plants. Likewise, NASA is in the District, and they need to follow the leader in the races.

His whole career is based on business bashing and government to solve everyone's problems and provide their existence....the worst kind of socialist and no visible means of defeating the Democrat candidates in Cuyahoga county. The East side of Cleveland has Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, and she is like a reincarnation of Sheila-Jackson Lee, or Maxine Waters. Not much hope to get her out, either, and we were lucky that Glenn and Metzenbaum are finally gone from the Senate races. Watch out for Kucinich to run in the Senate races when he is done getting face time on the Liberal networks, and throws his support behind the Hildebeast when she runs in 2004.

2 posted on 03/09/2003 7:04 PM EST by traditional1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

To: Portfolio manager

Any Democrat who claims not to be a socialist, if not a Communist, is either ignorant or a liar.

3 posted on 03/09/2003 7:12 PM EST by onedoug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

To: Portfolio manager

This seasoned citizen says it all!
(Photo taken at Glenn Beck’s Rally for America-Cleveland 02Mar03)

4 posted on 03/10/2003 5:35 AM EST by Las Vegas Dave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

[ Browse | Search | Topics | Post Article | My Comments ]

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.