Iowa View: Kucinich backers aren't kidding [View All]

[LWolf]

http://desmoinesregister.com/opinion/stories/c5917686/21780912.html

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"I haven't seen anything like this campaign since Robert Kennedy."

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* Pundits track who's raised the most money. If the presidency is simply a race to the bank it's no contest. President Bush can raise more in an evening than a Democrat can in a year. He wants $200 million. It's the least the corporate rich owe him. Conventional wisdom says candidates should avoid controversy. Don't risk alienating anyone, even Republicans. There are Democratic candidates whose Senate votes are scarcely distinguishable from Republicans. Some are reluctant to criticize a popular president. When they have positions they seem confusing, just tweaking the status quo.

Kucinich supporters argue this won't cut it in 2004. Conventional politics, compromises and corporate contributions can't win. Why would voters choose an imitation Republican when they can vote for Bush, the real thing?

They emphasize each Kucinich victory - mayor of Cleveland, state senator and congressman - involved an "unbeatable" Republican. He took a 34 percent Democratic district and won with 49 percent, was re-elected with 65 and now 74 percent. Clearly he has a record of winning - and winning over - with Republicans and Democrats alike.

Unlike the others, Kucinich's positions are a stark contrast to Bush. He is the only one advocating defense-spending cuts, single-payer health care for all, public education pre-K through college, public funding of campaigns, signing Kyoto and other treaties, and repeal of the death penalty, NAFTA and the Patriot Act. He organized the two-thirds House Democratic opposition to the Iraq war resolution Congressman Dick Gephardt drafted and most of his Senate competitors supported.

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What if they're right, and thinking outside the box is the only way to get inside the White House? Those trying to trivialize and marginalize Kucinich do the Democrats no favor.