Posted on 08/03/2008 10:41:13 AM PDT by Ol' Sparky
BIRMINGHAM -- Freedom.
That's the main thrust of the campaign Jack Kevorkian says he is pushing in his bid to unseat incumbent U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Hills. Kevorkian held a community roundtable Friday night at the Birmingham Community House on Bates Street. Kevorkian, who is running as an independent, faces Knollenberg and Democrat Gary Peters in the November election.
Famous for his legal battles involving assisted suicide, Kevorkian spoke to a small group of people, quoting Thomas Jefferson, Bernard Shaw and Benjamin Franklin.
"I'm not doing this for personal gain É I'm here to educate and inform the public," he said, likening the electorate to sheep who have been denied their rights.
Senior citizens, baby boomers and teens all came to ask questions about his political platform. A crew for an upcoming HBO documentary was filming the entire event. Kevorkian, 80, says his health isn't an issue, saying he believes he is fit to serve in the U.S. Congress. The U.S. government, he told the audience, has lulled the citizens into a sense of security, slowly stripping away their rights.
Flanking him as he took the stage were several posterboards with quotes from past political leaders and philosophers.
One poster, which Kevorkian brought up through his speech, carried the words of the Ninth Amendment: "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."
"The Ninth Amendment of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, which was forgotten purposely, made obscure," he said. "Never been used by our cowardly Supreme Court.
"It's the people's rights and they've forgotten it."
Kevorkian, a Pontiac native, spent eight years in prison for second-degree murder.
Kevorkian was sentenced to 10 to 25 years for second-degree murder April 13, 1999, for the assisted suicide death of Thomas Youk, which he filmed and which was broadcast on national TV.
He was released June 1 last year and remains on parole until June 1, 2009, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Audience members were also invited to ask him questions about what his stances on issues were.
Their concerns ranged from the crumbling housing market to health care.
Kevorkian said one issue he has a plan for is the health care system.
His idea would involve people being issued a debit-style card, which would access a federally funded account, to help offset the costs.
A person would be issued a new card every year and the amount of money in that account would be determined by their age and the typical health issues a person may face.
People with diseases that cause them to seek medical attention frequently would be given more aid.
Kevorkian admitted the program hasn't been fully worked out and invited the audience to give their opinions on the plan.
But, he said, this plan would save far more than what the government has in place now.
A college student, who didn't provide his name, said he decided to attend the event after reading about it on the Internet.
"I thought it would be an interesting experience," he said. "I haven't heard too much about his views on policies, so I haven't made a determination yet."
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