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

Houston Chronicle ^ | Dec. 3, 2003 | ALAN BERNSTEIN

[yonif]

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.

"No people are illegal," the congressman said.

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.

[Theo]

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.

And what would that "look" like? Would US troops be under "UN" control? Would the UN leadership desert after a bit of hostilities? Would UN members in favor of terrorism be involved in managing the activities in Iraq?

I'd like to ask Kucinich to provide a definition to me of "The UN." I think he's throwing that term around like so many throw around the term "government" -- meaning, in their minds, Mommy.

What boggles me is that so many people don't just recognize these democrat canditates as absolute goofballs. Absolute small people with little foresight.

[GeronL]

Go away Kuci!!

[yonif]

The funny thing is around 90 people were there, per this article.

[RandallFlagg]

I say we use his theory and scream back, "OK, THEN NO GUNS ARE ILLEGAL, RIGHT??"

[yonif]

This guy thinks the UN is some world government.

[GeronL]

So ALL of his texas supporters were there??

[yonif]

Maybe they travel with him to every city he goes to, to make it look like he isn't the only one supporting himself.

[DoughtyOne]

I'd imagine some of those seventy were just curious. LOL

[BigSkyFreeper]

Except his wife and kids

[yonif]

He probably paid them.

[armymarinemom]

"No people are illegal," the congressman said. I bet that would go over as well as passing gas in church with most Texans. Did any of you guys hear Congresman Ford from TN today talking about getting involvement from China and Russia in Iraq? Sheppard Smith asked if he was kidding and he said "How do we know if they would send troops or not, we havent' asked".

[JoJo Gunn]

[jagrmeister]

Kucinich is great! He makes me laugh- he says the most ridiculous things and looks ridiculous as well. His ideas are so naive and silly, it's almost like his campaign will admit on Election Day that his candidacy was a prank pulled on the American public. I also like his "endorsement" by a fictional character, Grandfather Twilight, on his website. In the "press release", Grandfather Twilight is urging other animals to vote for Kucinich. I'm not making this up folks. Me and my Republican friends laugh about Kucinich regularly- I hope he stays in the race for our amusement.

>"No people are illegal," the congressman said.

True, no PERSON is illegal. However, the actions that people take (ie: entering a country without a visa or citizenship) can be illegal. It's such a simple distinction, you might be even find it in a children's book...say, by Grandfather Twilight!!

[yonif]

[Clock King]

How do these people LIVE? How can anybody be so leftist that they fail to see that ALL of these policies have failed and are failing across the globe? I guess some people are just so emotion-driven that they lack higher reasoning. I don't know what we can do for such people.

[TLI]

"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.

If he wants to see money stay in this country, cut off the wire transfers of mexicos #1 source of cash, criminal allens in the u.S. sending money back to mexico.

health care.. the hypnotic mantra of the communist dems . . .

TLI

[Clock King]

Did any of you guys hear Congresman Ford from TN today talking about getting involvement from China and Russia in Iraq? Sheppard Smith asked if he was kidding and he said "How do we know if they would send troops or not, we havent' asked".

Yes I did, what were your thoughts? I'm not sure of his statement. Has the US asked for help, or are we being cautious? Generally, I like Rep. Ford, too bad he's a loyal Democrat.

[APFel]

How do these people LIVE? How can anybody be so leftist that they fail to see that ALL of these policies have failed and are failing across the globe? I guess some people are just so emotion-driven that they lack higher reasoning. I don't know what we can do for such people.


Euthanasia.

:D

[usadave]

He (Kucinich) also advocated amnesty for illegal immigrants.

No people are illegal," the congressman said.

Kucinich is a moron.