Kucinich supporters: Want to Win? Go with Edwards. [View All]

[Armstead]

(Putting on my asbestos suit....)

I'm proud to call myself a Kucinich Democrat. No one admires Kucinich more than I do. And no one agrees with almost every one of his positions more. Every "political compass" test I've taken lines me up with Kucinich as the candidate who best reflects my positions. I also admire his personal integrity, in terms of sticking to his beliefs no matter what.

In my opinion, Kucinich's basic message and positions are also exactly what the Democratic Party needs to return to, for electoral and political success too. Below his New Age rhetoric is a traditional liberal Democratic populist in the mold that improved the country and made the party successful for so long.

Even better, he also got it right in terms of seeing the folly of a totally foolish militaristic foray into a foreign nation for no good reason. On the Iraq War, most of the country today is where Kucinich was five years ago.

However, while Kucinich is right up there in my own list of Heroes, what is really important are the very same beliefs and policies and values he represents. Those are what is really at stake in this election.

And, alas, Kucinich is not the guy who is going to give those values and that message the mainstream credibility and clout to actually make a difference.

We need to send a messaage and move the Democratic Party back towards the True Center, and diminsh the grip of the so-called "centrists" of Elite Corporate Conservatism who have taken the Democratic Party way too far to the right. This primary is a chance to do that.

And the best way to send a message is to gather enough votes for a candidate who represents that message to either be a strong contender or -- even better -- might actually WIN.

Kucinich is not the best candidate or messenger to do that. Some of the reasons are beyond his control. A narrow-minded media. The grip of Corporate Democrats who marginalize anything to the left of Hillary Clinton as "too far left." Etc.

But some of it is his own personality and characteristics. Frankly, he doesn't have that mysterious "aura" that is required of successful presidential candidates. He doesn;t have the basic organizing sense to have established an official presence in a state like Iowa. His total unfiltered honesty can be a libility, when he thinks out loud about maybe allying with Ron Paul.

Thus, in terms of the presidential race, he is doomed to be considered a marginal candidate. A symbol, but an ineffective candidate.

It's time to give him the applause he's due, but move on in terms of trying to have an impact in the real Democratic primary process.

The goal at this point is to make it absolutely clear, that the liberal/progressive/populist instinct is not merely a fringe group, but actually is a a major mainstream force in Democratic Politics, and in the country.

IMO, we have a chance to do that with a "top tier" candidate -- John Edwards.

While he is not perfect, Edwards has the message closest to Kucinich among the candidates who actually have a chance to either win or come in a strong second or third.

Since the early primaries seem so close at the moment, if Edwards could garner the votes of Kucinich supporters, it COULD actually give Edwards the margin to win. That 5 or 10 percent could push Edwards over the top.

And, even if Edwards isn't the ultimate nominee, a string second or third finish in the primaries would still be sending a very strong message, and would force the ultimate nominee and the Democratic leadership to take that more seriously.