Four challengers battle Kucinich for 10th Congressional district spot

[Algorem]

Fhttp://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/02/four_challengers_battle_kucini.html

Posted by Molly Kavanaugh February 16, 2008 12:53PM


Dennis Kucinich (D)
Age: 61
Residence: Cleveland
Occupation: U.S. representative
Education: Master's degree, Case Western Reserve University
Previous elective office: U.S. representative, 1997-present; state senator, 1994-96; Cleveland councilman 1981-82; Cleveland mayor 1977-79; Cleveland Municipal Court clerk 1976-77; Cleveland councilman 1970-75
Web site: kucinich.us


Dennis Kucinich has represented the 10th Congressional district since 1996, when he fought off incumbent Martin Hoke. Since then, the city's political maverick hardly has had to campaign to keep the seat.

Until now.

The six-term congressman, wannabe president and former Cleveland mayor faces four candidates in next month's Democrat primary. His best-known opponent - and presumably the biggest threat - is Cleveland Councilman Joe Cimperman...






YEAH, HE'S SHORT, BUT HE'S NOT THAT HARD TO SPOT

http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/41/not-the-boss-of-us

"You are sooo fired," announces the voice-over in Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman's TV ad attacking Congressman Dennis Kucinich. The ad, part of Cimperman's campaign to challenge Kucinich in the March 4 Democratic primary, focuses on Kucinich's running for president while drawing a paycheck for serving in Congress (but neglecting to note that Cimperman is drawing a paycheck for serving on council while running for Congress).

The ad emphasizes Kucinich's poor record of showing up for votes, insisting that he missed 300-plus votes in an unspecified time frame, "more votes than almost any other congressman." The commercial ends, "I'm Joe Cimperman and I approve this message, because now is not the time for a part-time Congressman."...



He's missed 346 votes since beginning his tenure in Congress in January 1997 - out of 7,034. That's 5 percent absenteeism, about average. His record worsens if you only look at the current Congress (since January 2007) in which he's missed 139 of 1,205 votes, or 12.1 percent. That's worse than all but a few dozen other congresspeople, but better than every member of the House or Senate who is or has been a presidential candidate, including Duncan Hunter, Sam Brownback, Tom Tancredo, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and the vote-shirking leader, John McCain, who's missed a whopping 56.6 percent of his votes in the current Congress.

In fact, Kucinich is an extremely diligent congressman most of the time. Of the 45 quarters Kucinich has served, he's missed less than 1 percent of votes in 29 of them. A single bad quarter - the first three months of 2004, in which he missed 67.3 percent of votes - skews his percentage. But mostly, his percentage of missed votes increases only when he's running for president. And he's not now, so based on his track record, Congress will be seeing a lot more of Kucinich. - Anastasia Pantsios


http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/41/stark-raving-mad

As a committed Dennis Kucinich supporter here in Southern California, I wanted to heartily agree with the recent letters ( http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/40/free-voting-advice-from-strangers )encouraging 10th District voters to re-elect Dennis Kucinich. I truly feel that what happens in Ohio's 10th has relevance for all Americans. What people want in the 10th District is I'm sure what all Americans want - jobs, healthcare, a clean environment, and something more for their children than to grow up and be cannon fodder.

Victoria Wolf

http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/40/free-voting-advice-from-strangers

As an out-of-towner, let me say that I am aghast at the failure of people in Dennis Kucinich's home town to appreciate a man who not only has done them proud for a very long time but who has also put his district on the map as being the home district of a statesman with the courage of a lion and the heart of a saint ("Five's a Crowd," Jan. 30, 2008). It's an ugly facet of human nature that fails to have us share the good things we are lucky enough to have. As president, Dennis Kucinich would make the whole country an exponentially better place, as he has done for the 10th Congressional District repeatedly and for many years. How in the world can the voters there turn their backs on him for the grievous sin of running for president of the United States?

For his own neighbors not to be proud of such an act, particularly in the aftermath of his younger brother's death and his own savaging by Big Media, Big Politics and Big Business, is appalling to those of us who would give our eyeteeth to have him represent us in Washington, D.C. If you elect a sharp-dressed guy who is tight with the developers; an elderly and disloyal lady who tries oh-so-unsuccessfully to ape Dennis's longstanding positions; another lady who would be great on the school board but for God's sake couldn't hope to compete with Dennis in the halls of Congress; or the upwardly mobile mayor dude - then you deserve what you get.

The best thing about Dennis is that he cannot be stopped or even swayed by the kind of sad provincialism you locals are demonstrating. For all the best reasons, it just makes him work harder. And it didn't take me six fruitful terms in Congress to learn that about him. Shame on you, District 10.


Belva McKann

Austin, Texas

I wish Florida and the rest of the country had a congressman like Dennis Kucinich. How many people has the Ohio National Guard lost because half of the country at one time thought that Iraq had something to do with 9/11? How many jobs has Cleveland lost because other countries have national health insurance and we don't? Dennis tackles the issues that affect Cleveland, Florida and the rest of the nation. Someone had to try to hold Dick Cheney accountable for lying us into war, someone has to try to bring about single-payer "not getting gouged by the insurance industry medicare for all" and someone has to try to get us out of Iraq. If Cimperman, Obama and Hillary won't do these things, then I give thanks to Dennis Kucinich for at least trying...



Ron Kuhler

Lutz, Florida



...Kucinich told the crowd, "I've campaigned alongside Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Both are worthy candidates and both are ready to serve," clearly indicating he doesn't expect those who supported his own recently ended presidential campaign to sit home and pout...

http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/40/the-new-math

[fenriswolf]

1. awsome heres another thread which spells out

how and why kucinich is being kicked in the pants by corporatist and establishment opponents.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2872529

[fenriswolf]

2. kick for DK

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. kick and a reminder

that you can donate to the Kucinich campaign at

http://www.kucinich.us

Since my conman is a repuke with a safe seat, I've decided that Dennis IS my congressman, and have donated to his campaign. Hope others will as well.

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. Kick and nominated