Exclusive audio: Kucinich considers GOP Ron Paul as his running mate

[Renew Deal]

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

After spotting numerous blog postings that question whether Democrat Dennis Kucinich in fact said he'd consider Republican Ron Paul as his running mate, The Plain Dealer is posting exclusive audio of the remarks Kucinich made on Sunday.

Audio Here: http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/11/kucinich.mp3

Read more: http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/11/exclusive_audio_kucinich_consi.html

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:wow:

[Javaman]

1. Being a from texas and knowing quite abit about ron paul...

if DK partners with him, he loses my vote.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[9119495]

6. I like public schools. They allow for some chance of upward mobility

for lower and middle classes. They are, despite propaganda to the contrary, America's greatest success story. Paul doesn't think the state should be involved in education.

[madrchsod]

8. he`s a far right libertarian

who is closer to the aryan nation for my taste.

[Javaman]

10. Oh you won't last long here, Have fun with that...

Paul is a loony toon.

Basically in a nut shell he wants to privatize everything and strip women of their basic rights.

He's the broken clock candidate, only right twice a day. So he wants out of the war, tell me which candidate on the Democratic side doesn't?

So he wants to legalize pot add that to being a republican and you get a libertarian. Have fun with that. because his platform screams libertarian regardless of what he says.

Enjoy your stay on here, with that opinion, you won't last long.

[gateley]

16. Out of curiosity (and I'm asking you because you're from Texas - I'm designating

you "expert" on this question :7)

When you say strip women of their basic rights, are you referring to his anti-abortion stance, or or there other instances as well?

Also, out of curiosity, has he tried to UN-legalize abortion in Texas? That may be a Governor's area of responsibility, so the question may not be valid - I don't know.

I can understand someone PERSONALLY not being in favor of abortion, but that personal belief has no place in determining others' rights to choose.

Thanks.

[Javaman]

21. Check out post #11 it will explain nut bag ron paul better than I ever could. nt

[gateley]

22. Okay - will do. Thanks. nt

[Justitia]

38. Hi, Texan here. Yes, he's done other stuff - he's against birth control too.

He's an OB/GYN and wouldn't accept Medicare or Medicaid when he was the only doctor who could deliver babies in Brazoria County.

He has introduced much legislation on the abortion and birth control issues, life begins at conception bullshit.

There's loads more, but going through all his hateful lunacy wears this female Texan the fuck out.

[tesla78]

23. It was an honest question

If what you claim is true, he doesn't support the Constitution in regards to privacy. Do you have any references I can look at?

[kenfrequed]

39. I agree Paul is a loon.

He is a libertarian wierdo. But he is right on the war. And he is right on the Patriot act.

I do find it a bit ironic that you have an Anarchy symbol up.

All this said I have to say that just because Kucinich agrees on the war and the patriot act, this does not make Kucinich 'crazy by association'

[mallard]

61. Re: nut case in a nutshell

This character assassination thing using the psych eval perjorative form of questioning the target's sanity, then turning it over to a fresh source of workplace and hair salon 'humor-cum-ridicule', is now as endemic to the cultural demise of our nation as it is a modern and newly-established trend.

Just come out swinging!

In short, the wrath in your thumbs down to Paul scares me and (hopefully) others more than he ever does or could.

America needs bigger change than another party-in-federal-borrowing shift to the Democrats.

Paul has enemies dedicated to highly divergent and not necessarily universal priorities (like war machine contractors), and not so much so among Americans with pre-1900 family roots - middle America & friends. Your attack is a bit too vicious to ever ring true.

Dennis and Dr Paul ?? - let's hear what they have to say!

[Maestro]

11. This is what is wrong with him.

He's no where near a friend to Democrats Don't let one or two semi-rational things he says override his looniness.

[gateley]

25. This is an EXCELLENT post on Kos -- thank you for the link. Very informative

and factual, linking to sources.

RP is scarier than I thought.

He and Kucinich -- seems like such an odd couple...

Thanks again! :hi:

[Maestro]

29. No problem

He's not for us even though for the moment he seems anti-war. He just can't be trusted.

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[skipos]

45. Thanks

Seriously, thanks for posting that. So many people here can't admit when they were wrong, or when their candidate is wrong. This Kucinich/Paul 08 story is case in point.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

51. Good post

A lot of DUers go starry eyed at Ron Paul, and really need to see what he's really about.

[gateley]

12. Hi, Tesla --

(Love your name, love Nikola, love the band, love the car!)

Good point about the Fed. That's something that hasn't been addressed during this campaign.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[ret5hd]

15. How do you feel about medicare? Or public schools? Or the EPA? Or the DOE?

Or availability of legal abortions? Or medicaid? Or WIC? Or section 8 housing?

[Renew Deal]

17. I think a discussion about the Fed is long overdue.

That's something we should be talking about. Other than that, the Dems are much better on the issues for me.

[sonias]

20. Well first there's the little problem of Paul being a republican

Then second there's the part about being a total right wing whacko on every social justice issue. Respect for the constitution? Where do you get your Ron Paul information from?

Maybe you should try to balance your research with some of this:

Ornicus blog
Ron Paul vs. the New World Order
(snip)
And to some extent it seems evident that they're succeeding. Mostly, they seem to be taking advantage of a combination of amnesia among those experienced enough to know better, and simple ignorance on the part of progressives who've never heard of, or paid any attention to, Ron Paul previously. They hear Paul's carefully crafted antiwar rhetoric and his critique of the Bush administration -- all of which elide or obscure his underlying beliefs -- and think it sounds pretty good, especially for a Republican.

As Sara has already explained, there's a real problem with that -- namely, for all of Paul's seeming "progressive" positions, he carries with him a whole raft of positions well to the right of even mainstream conservatives.

A more important point, though, that's overlooked in all this is that Ron Paul has made a career out of transmitting extremist beliefs, particularly far-right conspiracy theories about a looming "New World Order," into the mainstream of public discourse by reframing and repackaging them for wider consumption, mostly by studiously avoiding the more noxious and often racist elements of those beliefs. Along the way, he has built a long record of appearing before and lending the credibility of his office to a whole array of truly noxious organizations, and has a loyal following built in no small part on members of those groups.

Sonia

[Ilsa]

24. Dr. No is my congresscritter.

He is generally ineffective and doesn't have much sway with other politicians because he is so opinionated.

Dr. No would undo every social program and government work that isn't specifically authorized by the Constitution if he could become pres. He is terribly unreasonable. I have no idea why DK would say such a thing about adding him to the ticket.

[Chulanowa]

34. So you'll be voting Democratic in '08, then?

Because all our candidates fir your criteria.

Ron Paul however, does not care about the Constitution. Oh, he says he does, but that's how Republicans work. The thing is, like the rest of them, he butchers and tortures the constitution to fit his agenda, then misinterprets what's left, and THEN voices his support for it.

Ron Paul - and his horde of dumbfuck internet libertarian supporters - couldn't quote the constitution if they were reading from it.

For instance, did you know that YES, the Income Tax is perfectly legal? it's covered by Article I, Section 8 of the constitution, and further backed by the clarification of the 16th amendment.

Did you know that UN resolutions are American law? Article VI.

Did you know that Congress does in fact control our currency? The US mint is Legislative-controlled. The actual "money" itself is borrowed from the federal reserve - also a power granted to Congress. This keeps us from the ever-so-fun state of hyperinflation that would be caused by our economy being based purely on how many bills are printed.

Did you know that, flexing pure constitutionality while declaring that usury should be made illegal makes you look rather silly, as no concept exists in the Constitution?

[laconicsax]

44. Ron Paul is disgusting

The only votes he has that align with progressive values aren't because he shares progressive values. He consistently votes against anything that would expand the role of government unless its to legislate people's private lives.

He is anti-women.
He is anti-GLBT.
He is anti-minority.

He believes that the Federal Government and its laws are the cause of racism.
He believes that the ICC undermines our national independence.
He believes that abolishing the FDA will eliminate unsafe products reaching consumers.
He believes that deregulating the health-care industry will benefit everyone.
He believes that enforcing property rights will save the environment.
He believes that abolishing the Dept. of Education will improve the education system

but hey--he's against the war and the Fed. (only on constitutional grounds of course). That's all that really matters after all.

[onehandle]

2. Swell. nt

[balantz]

3. That's it.

Kucinich was my second choice. Now he's back there somewhere with Clinton. I can't see voting for Ron Paul.

[madrchsod]

5. oh well,i really thought he was intelligent

even considering ron paul is pretty much a deal breaker for me....shit i guess it`d back to edwards or obama.

[Maestro]

7. Not good. Kucinich is displaying his open-mindedness which

is good, but Ron Paul is bad. I'm from Texas and the crap he has said over the years is incredible.

[gateley]

9. Thank you for this - at least this will help put an end to the SPECULATION and

questions regarding Kucinich/Ron Paul.

I SO admire Dennis for being so forthright and honest. This could lose him a lot of support yet he's willing to take that chance because it's important for him to be truthful.

Much of what he says I agree with -- loved the wings of the eagle analogy, and they ARE the only two who have been consistently so strongly anti-war so vocal about loss of our civil rights.

Although I'm vehimently opposed to most of Ron Paul's social stances (I DID hear him say he'd be willing to compromise on some!), I trust Dennis's judgment. If he were my candidate, I'm pretty sure I would continue to support him wholeheartedly.

And to those Dennis supporters who may be devastated to hear this, remember -- it's not a done deal, so don't despair! He's a good man and continues to deserver your support if this isn't a deal breaker for you.

[ORDagnabbit]

13. The pairing would be a helluva lot better than the corpgov we have now!! n/t

[balantz]

14. I'm not settling for some quasi second best questionable thing

with Ron Paul on the ticket. If Kucinich goes there, like I posted above, he's not my second choice. The stakes are too high for us to fuck this up. I love what Kucinich has been doing on his own, but now I have to seriously question his judgement in general. In my mind this was a fatal announcement.

[Flabbergasted]

36. Like others have pointed out and...

I was finally forced to admit, he has consistently, during his entire career, made poor decisions on who he hires for positions. He seems to run purely on feeling and passion rather than balancing a little common sense in this area.

[balantz]

46. Just the statement alone is too reckless.

Ron Paul is no where near anything we progressives need. In fact he is beyond the opposite direction of the progressive agenda. There's no question that John Edwards would not make such a faulty choice.

[Freddie Stubbs]

62. I don't think that any sane Demcoratic candidate would make that choice

[Le Taz Hot]

63. Or the one we're about to get

with Hill/Hill shill.

[robbedvoter]

18. It's Gravel then for me.

[Renew Deal]

19. Gravel?

Is he even going to be on the ballot in NY? I doubt it.

[robbedvoter]

50. He's going to be on MY ballot!

[Emillereid]

26. Kucinich supporters, don't stray - Paul would only be the VP, but he would

pull in a lot of independent and traditional repubs. Paul is a strange animal - he has some absolutely dynamite positions (anti-war and anti-imperialist, anti-federal reserve, pro-health freedom, etc. ) and also some crazy positions (anti-abortion, anti-education department - though the way it's been used during Bush makes me wonder - anti- social security, etc.)

I have to admit the Bush administration has left me disdainful of big, central government.

[DeeDeeNY]

30. Paul is not someone I would want a heatbeat away

But if the Bush administration has left you disdainful of government, then Mission Accomplished. That's what they wanted.

[Emillereid]

35. Disdainful of big government. We do need to foster more participatory

democracy at the local level.

[LeftishBrit]

60. Quite possibly. But he's not just disdainful of big government...

He is disdainful of poor or ill people having the right to ANY government help. He has said in so many words that just because someone needs medical help doesn't mean they have the right to it. Anyone - especially a doctor - who takes that attitude is an evil monster in my book! Even Thatcher never went quite that far.

[Michael101]

27. I can't believe Kucinich supporters....

I thought we were all about tolerance and peace.

Why are you guys making such a big deal about Kucinich/ Paul?

Aren't we are all about playing "nice" with other countries that don't have the same faith, beliefs, and traditions as christians. Aren't we the progressive ones?

Now here we are not giving Dennis a chance to explain himself and jumping to conclusions.

I'm still 100% a Dennis Kucinich supporter because I believe in his decisions. He has not steered us wrong.

Wait maybe Ron Paul has some great things we don't know about, I mean they have been friends for more than 30 years.

[Renew Deal]

28. He explains himself in the audio.

Listen to it if you haven't already.

[Michael101]

33. Sounds okay to me.

He wants to bring balance and people together. What you don't have a republican friend? You only talk to democrats?

It's like in a work place, you have people of different cultures, genders, ethnicity working together. You may not agree with them but they each bring something unique to the work place.

Go Dennis Kucinich 2008!!

[CreekDog]

64. don't be so open-minded that your brains fall out

and maybe their friendship goes back to when they were both voting against abortion rights --for Kucinich this was only little more than a few years ago.

[skipos]

66. Sweet Jesus

I have Republican friends but I wouldn't want to be vice presidents.
Can you take a look at Ron Paul here
http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2007/11/ron-pauls-record-in-congress.html
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/6/5/193414/2787
and let me know what you think?

[hootinholler]

32. Listen to it. After the rustling papers he explains it's about keeping an open mind...

It's about politicians who have demonstrated integrity. Listen to the crowd and him laugh about Paul's domestic agenda, Clearly everyone there knew this thing will never happen.

It's about being open to ideas no matter where they come from, and that is a good thing in a leader!

-Hoot

[cali]

57. no it's not. not if they're fucked up ideas. why would someone

be "open minded" about racism? or pre-emptive war? why wouldn't you consider WHO an idea came from? not all ideas are worthy of consideration.

[Hardrada]

37. Ron Paul is sound on many issues and I would like to

hear more from him before I decide. It is only sensible to hear people out and glean the positive contributions they might have to offer. I think that's what DK does.

[Justitia]

42. Decide what? Decide to vote Republican? What do you mean? -eom

[skipos]

43. No progressive should support Ron Paul for anything

It is unfortunate that so many people only know about his anti-Iraq stance. Read more here, and tell me what you think:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/6/5/193414/2787

[Hardrada]

56. I'll check it out. Thanks for the info.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

52. many issues?

Two issues at a stretch, and the rest of his stances are just frighteningly right-wing.

[LeftishBrit]

59. Paul is not sound on many issues. He is sound on one (the war)

Other than that, he is pure evil, like all RW politicians.

I don't think Kucinich would really choose him as a running mate; but what worries me is that people here would give ANY credence to a monster like Paul. LePen and the BNP and other far-RW nationalists in Europe are against the war - should progressives make common cause with them?

[Hardrada]

67. Paul is more of an iconoclast than a monster. Anyway

don't we like to coax right-leaning people more into the progressive camp. Maybe listening to people like Ron Paul would help. It is better than going the other way. Wasn't Sir Oswald Mosley once a laborite??

[LeftishBrit]

69. The two aren't incompatible!

'Wasn't Sir Oswald Mosley once a laborite??'

YES!! THAT IS EXACTLY MY WHOLE POINT!!!!!!!!!! I was actually thinking about that!!!

When left-wing populism gets mixed with messages of right-wing intolerance, and the 'iconoclasm' of both gets combined, then one can end up with movements far more dangerous and hate-filled than even conventional conservativism.

My fear is that by 'coaxing right-leaning people into the progressive camp' and 'listening to people like Ron Paul', we may end up encouraging truly dangerous and ugly policies and attitudes, and making them appear alluring to some on the left as well as the right, thereby enhancing their danger.

[Justitia]

40. Wow and WTF? I listened to the audio, he's deadly serious, he's given it lots of thought.

Uh Dennis, Ron Paul is a rightwing republican freak!

Where is your better judgment on this?

I expect legions to circle the wagons on both Kucinich & RuPaul over this, but then you must ask yourself what the hell you are doing on Democratic Underground.

Sorry Dennis supporters, but I want him called on the carpet for this, the audio is devastating - he's a Democrat fer chrissakes!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

41. Exclusive:

Edwards moves up a notch.

[robcon]

47. I was never a Kucinich fan.

But this ends any idea of his viability as a Democratic nominee.

[Freddie Stubbs]

49. When the heck was he ever a viable candidate?

:shrug:

[davidinalameda]

48. oh my goodness

thank goodness that Kucinich won't make it past New Hampshire and Iowa

he continues to show himself as a first class loon

[boricua79]

53. I like DK

and I like that Ron Paul, at least had the guts to speak truth to power against the other Republicans. But Ron Paul has a LOT of skeletons in his closet, and I don't like him.

DK...pick someone better. How about Chris Dodd or Richardson, or anyone else!

[onehandle]

54. How come this thread hasn't been voted to the front page?

Kucinich threads always make it to the front page.

How come? Huh?

[Anarcho-Socialist]

55. If I hadn't listened to the audio

I would have thought this was a joke. I can barely believe how naïve Dennis Kucinich is for considering Ron Paul ("he has integrity"??? WTF) as his running mate.

[jonnyblitz]

58. I wish there was a candidate as "left" as me who wasn't batshit

fucking crazy, like Kucinich is proving to be. The UFO woo woo crap was bad enough but THIS is ALL I needed to hear.:crazy: Anybody that thinks it's ok for this idiot to even CONSIDER Ron Paul as the VP needs their fucking head examined. not only is he a FUCKING REPUBLICAN but he is a LOONY one. hell, the NAZI's at STORMFRONT are against the war, should we be nice to them and cut them slack for THAT reason alone? jesus fucking christ. :puke:

[BigDDem]

65. Again I ask....

Which party's nomination does he think he is going to get?

Hilarious.

[MrsT]

68. Ron Paul has passed on Dennis' proposal, so Dennis has ruled it out

There are new threads today that have audio clips from a radio show. It doesn't make me feel any better about it though.

[robcon]

70. It's not about Kucinich's VP. It's about Kucinich's judgment.

Kucinich has about the same chance of being nominated as I do. But as a politician, he's wearing out his credibility.

Paul is a crackpot, and Kucinich doesn't see it.