Posted on 01/04/2004 7:58:02 AM PST by Pharmboy
DES MOINES, Jan. 3 — Senator John Kerry reached into the past on Saturday with an endorsement — and a 10-minute song of tribute — from Peter Yarrow, a member of the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary.
But the mini-celebrity moment took a turn when Mr. Yarrow, a peace activist since before the two men met protesting Vietnam, was asked if he was disturbed that Mr. Kerry voted in favor of war in Iraq.
"Absolutely!" Mr. Yarrow shouted to a questioner, and he raised his hands to try to command the attention of reporters and Kerry supporters at the police union hall here.
"Let me say this," Mr. Yarrow said. "I fought with John about this. I said, `This is crazy!' "
Asked if the war vote had hurt Mr. Kerry's candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination, Mr. Yarrow responded, "Oh sure, sure."
Mr. Yarrow said that Mr. Kerry told him had seen information that justified the war. "He said, `Peter, I'm on the intelligence committee,' " Mr. Yarrow said. "I know they have weaponry, nuclear weaponry, and I have the absolute assurance they'll go only with the United Nations. He was like everybody else — lied to by people who have no honor."
Mr. Kerry's advisers tried to end the scene, telling Mr. Yarrow that the senator was on the bus. Mr. Yarrow started for the door but did an about-face when he saw Mr. Kerry was still in the room.
"John is over there. John is not done talking," Mr. Yarrow said. "Don't try to move me when I'm still talking."
Mr. Yarrow returned and shared his favorite line in the Kerry song: "These bullies now in power echo fascists' great tradition: Keep us scared, create a war and stifle opposition."`
Mr. Kerry said he was not disturbed by the difference of opinion. "He understands my point of view, and I understand his," he said.
When you read Rodash or Horowitz, you can get great glimses into the fellow travelers' "living room." Finding out about a young Mary Travers' active libido was something of a surprise, though. These folkie folks have some issues, no?
I'm sure when Gen Xers replace the staff at the Times we'll be hearing from brain trusts such as Men Without Hats, Flock of Seagulls and Adam Ant (as well as myriad other has beens) on current events.
Gee, I wonder if they'll even hunt down the original VeeJays from Empty-Vee? Paging Nina Blackwood...
All the news that's fit to line cat boxes with!!!
A pic from April, 2000 with a Spanish fan...yikes!
It's good to know he's gotten over it.
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Kucinich ends two-day blitz in Austin
Democratic presidential hopeful rails against war
By Tony Plohetski
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Sunday, January 4, 2004
Greeted like a rock star at an anti-war rally, Democratic presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich told several hundred people at the state Capitol on Saturday that ending combat in Iraq is among his highest goals.
While many supporters sang and chanted for peace, others clamored for autographs and photos as Kucinich walked through the crowd, smiling and waving. Though his long-shot campaign is struggling to gain momentum with voters, that wasn't apparent Saturday.
"Peace is connected to the path for love in this world, for children and their future and for our aspirations for this country's future," Kucinich, an Ohio congressman and former Cleveland mayor, said at the rally, sponsored by several peace groups. "We are at a time when we are being called on to be witnesses for peace."
He received thunderous applause lasting 45 seconds upon leaving the stage.
Kucinich's two-day tour through Austin, which started Friday, included a videotaped forum Saturday at which he took questions from Central Texas youths and an evening fund-raising concert with Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt and other musicians at the Austin Music Hall downtown. The concert was a sellout; Kucinich spokeswoman Deda Divine said 1,600 tickets were sold.
Kucinich is among several Democratic presidential candidates to come calling in Austin for the 2004 race.
Libertarian presidential candidate Michael Badnarik, who opposes the Patriot Act because it gives the government greater authority to obtain information on U.S. citizens and who favors eliminating the Internal Revenue Service, also spoke briefly during the rally.
Kucinich said the United States should soon withdraw its troops and give control of Iraq's oil to the United Nations, which should help Iraq create a constitution. To restore the world's faltering faith in the United States, U.S. officials must denounce any interest in privatizing Iraq's economy, he said.
"And then we need to do a few more things," Kucinich said. "The U.S. must rebuild what we blew up in Iraq. We have a moral responsibility in this regard."
Kucinich said the United States will continue misspending its money the longer troops stay in Iraq and that the dollars should be used instead for programs to improve education and health care at home.
Many of the supporters wore pins with Kucinich's name and photo, while others held signs and banners above their heads.
"He's the only candidate who has taken a very principled stand against the use of violence in our U.S. policy," said Susan VanHaitsma, an Austin artist and house cleaner. She was also at the rally to represent an organization promoting career options for youths that don't include the military.
Scott and Paula Baltisberger, also of Austin, shook hands with Kucinich. >p> "He tells the truth," Scott Baltisberger said. "He takes the gloves off and doesn't try to hide behind nice ties."
Kucinich was then whisked to the Austin Music Network on Airport Boulevard, where he sat among 20 teens and answered questions about topics ranging from gay marriage to the environment.
Kucinich said he supports gay marriage and that the country needs a president who has "an open heart and doesn't judge people."
He also said his administration would have a more aggressive Environmental Protection Agency.
Javier Arista, a student at Austin Community College who took part in the forum, said it was important for young people to get involved in politics.
"Most of the time, young people don't do important things," Arista said. "We get used to the idea that government sort of happens without us."
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A lefty in favor of eliminating the IRS ?? With what??
A: Pay him for the pizza you ordered.
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