Dennis The Menace Strikes Again: Kucinich Seizes On Guns In Ohio Guv Primary

[DonViejo]

By Cameron Joseph | April 3, 2018 6:00 am

Former Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) has seized on gun control to propel his underdog gubernatorial campaign, worrying state Democrats that he has a real chance to win the primary — and damage his party’s chances in a key race.

Kucinich, a former presidential gadfly candidate who’s been one of Russia’s more prominent left-wing apologists in recent years, is giving a spirited challenge to former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray (D), the candidate strongly preferred by most party leaders.

Kucinich has put Cordray on the defensive for his past “A” rating from the National Rifle Association and ongoing refusal to support an assault weapons ban.

While establishment Democrats think Cordray will likely prevail, they say not to count out Kucinich, who’s been running and often winning elections in the state’s biggest media market for more than four decades.

more
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/dennis-kucinich-seizes-on-gun-control-to-propel-his-underdog-gubernatorial-campaign

[zipplewrath]

1. It will be good for Cordray

He needs to look at this as an opportunity. Kucinich has more problems right now than Cordray has. Cordray needs to go out a sell himself to those that might give Dennis a second look. He can succeed. And in the process he can work out how he is going to deal with his A rating from the NRA. Better now than in the general election.

[Sherman A1]

2. Perhaps Mr Cordray

Needs to clarify his NRA rating and position on guns. I don’t see that as a problem, unless he cannot do so.

[Iliyah]

3. Cordray will be ok.

I think he can win the Ohio governorship.

[vi5]

4. Guys, it's o.k. Kucinich has a D after his name.

That's the main concern, right?

Or is there some other standard? I can't really keep up any more so if you guys could let me know I'd appreciate it.

[LanternWaste]

6. Embracing the party platform.

"Or is there some other standard?"

Embracing the party platform, and working to see it enacted.

[vi5]

9. So....if part of the Democratic party platform is gun control...

...and the other candidate has a bad record on that front.....then wouldn't Kucinich be the favorite of the establishment?

See on a lot of other threads on a lot of other subjects on here I'm told it's less about the party platform and more about "who can win".

[karynnj]

7. His history is chaotic - he was, of course, a Democrat, but he has been

over the entire range. In 2004, 2008, when most people learned of him, he was for every "left" position - attacking everyone else from the left. However, he had at earlier points been less pro choice than many people who are bashed here for that. In the Trump years, he has defended Trump and spoken of the "deep state"!

However, here is where he has been in the Trump era:

"Kucinich has praised and defended President Donald Trump in Fox News appearances.[71] Kucinich praised Trump's inaugural speech, saying it was "GREAT" and a "message of unity"; others had characterized the speech as dark.[88][89][90][86]

According to The Washington Post, Kucinich "was a rare left-wing voice attacking “the deep state” for undermining the president."[71] On Sean Hannity's show, Kucinich said that he believed that there was a deep state intelligence community working against President Trump and that it was "very dangerous to America", "a threat to our republic" and "a clear and present danger to our way of life."[86] In February 2017, Kucinich defended Michael Flynn, saying that he was treated unfairly by the intelligence community; in December 2017, Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.[91][89] Kucinich defended Trump's claims that he was being wiretapped; Kucinich claimed that he himself had been wiretapped.[92]

Kucinich has defended Trump's efforts to improve relations with Russia.[89]

Kucinich, who attempted to impeach Bush and Cheney, and said that Barack Obama had done impeachable offenses, criticized some House Democrats for attempting to start impeachment proceedings against President Trump.[87] He said, "The Democratic Party had best be identified with something more than impeachment."[87] He said that efforts to assess Trump’s mental and physical fitness to be president was "destroying the party as an effective opposition."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Kucinich

A Democrat who defends Michael Flynn and speaks of the "deep State" opposing Trump ???????

[vi5]

10. Doesn't sound all that drastically different....

..than some of the stuff we hear from the likes of Joe Manchin. Maybe some differences around the edges or the devil in the details, but not exponentially different than the guy we're told we have to support and defend because.......reasons? He has a D after his name?

My point isn't who is or is not more of a pure or true Democrat. My problem is the ever moving goal line about who can and cannot criticize the Democratic party, who the party establishment supports, how they get involved in primaries, etc. It's inconsistent and ever-changing as to what gets one lectured on DU.

[NCTraveler]

13. lectured on DU

This lecture seems to be all yours.

[karynnj]

15. I would say totally different --

Manchin is a very conservative Democrat in a state that is very red. He matches his state very well.

I should first state that I was giving my opinion on Kuchinich. In every primary, people have stated what they like or dislike in the potential candidates in the Democratic field. My point is that Kuchinich has been erratic and his most recent positions are troubling to me. I think his opponent did a great job as the one in charge of the Consumer Bureau.

Has there ever been a candidate who was NOT criticized on DU if he/she has an opponent in the primaries?

Kuchinich is like some of the JPR posters who were here - he was on the far left ... and he fell off the cliff into conspiracy theories. Do we really want someone who defends Flynn and Trump and who thinks the entire Russian interference is just the deep state CIA/State Department?

Du has historically been more liberal/progressive than the Democratic party as a whole - often very much so. In 2004, there were polls where Kuchinich beat not just John Kerry, but Howard Dean! He NEVER had the kind of success when voting happened.

I think the concern from the OP article is that Kuchinich could get the nomination. However, it also seems that he would be the far weaker candidate in the general election -- which is still a race that likely leans R.

[Fullduplexxx]

8. It's not the general yet is it?

[NewJeffCT]

11. Kucinich

has become the left wing equivalent of Alex Jones - he has been fawning in his praise of Trump, defending Assad in Syria and criticizing the "Deep State" for conspiring against Mike Flynn

http://www.cleveland.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/01/dennis_kucinich_cheers_preside.html

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/02/ex-rep_dennis_kucinich_says_in.html

[NCTraveler]

12. What does this have to do with anything?

You missed the mark with that little narrative. Or you simply respect the A rating.

[MineralMan]

5. Kucinich's history of statewide primary successes isn't promising.

I predict another fizzle for him. He's something of a wackadoodle.

[NewJeffCT]

14. as I stated above

Kucinich has also become something of a "left wing" equivalent of Alex Jones - complaining about Deep State conspiring against Michael Flynn, praising Trump's apocalyptic inaugural speech, supporting Assad in Syria, etc.