Feminists for Kucinich -- woo hoo!!!!

[scarletwoman]

(came in my email -- and I know this was already posted in DR's Kucinich thread, but I think it deserves its own thread :D )

The Kucinich for President Campaign takes a big step forward today with the announcement of "Feminists for Kucinich." Eight diverse feminist writers and organizers have initiated a statement in support of Kucinich, which will be widely circulated to attract new supporters.

The original signers are:

BARBARA EHRENREICH, political essayist and author ("Nickel and Dimed");

ANGELA GILLIAM, professor and expert on Black feminist anthropology;

YNESTRA KING, writer and activist on environmental, feminist, and disability issues;

GAIL LERNER, organizer in the global women's movement and with U.N. agencies;

GRACE PALEY, peace activist and author ("Enormous Changes at the Last Minute");

ROSALIND PETCHESKY, international feminist activist and political science professor;

DIGNA SANCHEZ, Latina community activist in New York;

MEREDITH TAX, novelist, essayist and international organizer of feminist writers.

Although the statement has just started to circulate, it has already attracted signatures from such prominent feminists as Blanche Weisen Cook, biographer of Eleanor Roosevelt; Marilyn French, author of "The Women's Room"; actress and singer Ronnie Gilbert; Jewish activist and poet Irena Klepfisz; and political scientist Zillah Eisenstein.

Here's a summary of the statement. For the full statement, and to sign on: http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/feminists_4_kucinich/

FEMINISTS FOR KUCINICH
Rather than waiting to hear what all the Democratic candidates have to say, then jumping on the bandwagon of the least offensive, we decided to make our own list of priorities and see who agrees with us.

1) We want a candidate who will stop the war on the poor.

2) We want a candidate who stands for peace, respects international treaties and institutions such as the U.N. and the International Criminal Court, and tries to resolve problems through negotiation.

3) We want a candidate who will defend the separation of church and state, and the individual rights guaranteed us by the Constitution.

4) We want a candidate who opposes discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and who stands for women's reproductive rights and recognizes that these rights depend on universal health insurance.

5) We want a candidate who will address questions of global economic imbalance and stand up for the rights of immigrants.

6) We want a candidate who will challenge racism domestically and internationally.

Dennis Kucinich is the only candidate who not only agrees with all these points but has developed policies to support them: starting a cabinet-level Department of Peace; supporting unions and the right to organize; cutting the bloated military budget; restoring environmental regulations and launching a "Global Green Deal" to benefit developing countries; withdrawing from NAFTA and the WTO and challenging IMF/World Bank policies; repealing the "Patriot Act"; upholding Roe v. Wade; working for universal health insurance; and abolishing the racially and economically biased death penalty.

Because we feel that he comes closest to representing our priorities, we have decided to support Dennis Kucinich for President.
--
JULY 4 WITH WILLIE: A special thank you to Willie and Annie Nelson for their gracious hospitality at the July 4th "picnic" for tens of thousands of gleeful concertgoers in Texas. Willie introduced Dennis to the crowd -- and Willie and Annie met privately with Dennis to discuss how they can support the campaign and raise the Kucinich profile among voters. (Dennis flew to Texas after marching in July 4th parades with constituents in Ohio, and before flying on to California for various meetings, including with ILWU dockworkers and with California residents from India.)

CAN KUCINICH BEAT BUSH?: You bet he can. Go to
http://kucinich.us/electable.htm and circulate.

PLEASE DONATE: Our campaign draws the biggest crowds and biggest audience response, but we are not YET the top campaign in funding. Please contribute. If you're maxed out, please get your friends, fellow activists or rich relations to donate. Help us show that our fundraising surge at the end of June was no fluke.
https://www.kucinich.us/contribute.php

[Jonathan]

1. Kucinich is the best candidate

Meet him in person. He is genuine.

[scarletwoman]

2. I TOTALLY agree!

It's time for a change of consciousness, Dennis is the only one tuned into what our best future could be!

sw

[Tinoire]

3. Oh this is WONDERFUL news!

Dennis, YOU GO BOY! :loveya:

Dennis Kucinich is the only candidate who not only agrees with all these points but has developed policies to support them.

Woohoo- this is exciting news!

Stop the war on the poor!

Stand for peace, respect international treaties and institutions such as the U.N. and the International Criminal Court!

Defend the separation of church and state, and the individual rights guaranteed us by the Constitution!

Oppose discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and stand for women's reproductive rights and recognize that these rights depend on universal health insurance.

Address questions of global economic imbalance and stand up for the rights of immigrants!

Challenge racism domestically and internationally!

[TheBigGuy]

4. Grace Paley...shes a writer.

And Ive heard of Barb. Ehrenriech. But the others dont sound familiar to me.

[Desertrose]

23. She's also from VT!

Another Vermonter for Kucinich!!

http://timesargus.nybor.com/Story/68418.html

In February, Paley joined several other noted poets with Vermont roots at a poetry reading in Manchester protesting the war and first lady Laura Bush’s decision to cancel a White House poetry symposium earlier that month over concerns that participants would make it a forum for anti-war sentiment.

Jeff Cohen, communications director for the Kucinich campaign, said Paley was one of several prominent Vermonters to endorse his bid, including former ice cream moguls Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield of Ben & Jerry’s fame.

“I think it says a lot that people who want a new direction for the Democratic Party, a progressive direction, believe Congressman Kucinich offers that and that their former governor does not,” Jeff Cohen said. "

Peace
DR

[ott]

5. 'nough said

Kucinich makes sense.

I still can't get over the Willie Nelson endorsement. It's great though, heartland country music singer endorsing the "fringe liberal." The son of an ice cream maker and two ice cream makers endorsing the vegan candidate. Now prominent feminists stepping up despite all the fake outrage cropping up over Kucinich's two year old NARAL scorecard.

His message cuts through like a knife. That's vital in giving the 50% of Americans that usually stay home on election day something to get out and vote for.

[Pocho]

6. CHECK THE EDITORIAL ON THE HOME PAGE

[]

[veganwitch]

7. Marilyn French

wow. shes hard core!!! i love her and i love kucinich

[AnAmerican]

8. This should put an end.....

to all the accusations of flip-flopping regarding DK's HONEST explanation of his stance on reproductive rights.



AnAmerican

[Terwilliger]

9. Allright!

Well, chalk up another segment for Kucinich! We may have a grassroots revolution on our hands!

[Desertrose]

10. thanks, sw...I agree..this news is deserving of its own thread

Even tho you can't tell by DU... :evilgrin: DK 's campaign is steadily gaining more & more folks....

And now the feminists choose Dennis...yup, this should take care of a lot (if not just about all ) the reproductive rights questions!!!

Please donate...Dennis Kucinich DOES NOT ACCEPT CORPORATE DONATIONS!!
Please think about that as well...no big corp money...he's the only candidate I'm aware of who is going this route....pretty darn amazing IMHO!!

Peace
DR

:hi: sw

edit for typo

[Larkspur]

11. This feminist doesn't support Kucinich

We'll see how he does at the National NOW convention this weekend.

[Augspies]

12. Lark, Why not?

If it is because of his former stance on abortion, could you tell me if you think Robert Byrd still believes in the positions advocated by the KKK?

Jeremy

[Larkspur]

13. The primary reasons why I won't support Kucinich

in the primaries are

1. His sudden converstion to supporting reproductive rights
   
2. It's Kucinich, who is more like McGovern, than Dean. Kucinich said that he'd cut the Pentagon budget. While I may like that, Karl Rove would rip Kucinich to pieces with it because there is a War on Terrorism going on right now.
   
   but most importantly
   
3. Dean and Trippi have created a campaign strategy that literally invites voters, especially alienated and formerly apathetic, voters to participate in our primary process. His Meetup campaign strategy is brilliant. It's like a Political Science 101 Workshop that helps neophytes to the political process become part of the Dean Team, and by instilling camraderie in his base via Meetups, Dean is building a cohesive movement that will shake the foundation of our current political process. It's purpose is to rejuvenate participatory democracy. TV created the passive audience type voter. The Internet is cracking that up by taking the New England Town Hall style meeting to the nation. Dean's Internet campaign is literally resurrecting the interactive political process that our Founding Fathers and Mothers knew.
   
   Kucinich is mimicing Dean's campaign strategy, but he doesn't seem to fully understand Dean's mission, and he also started later than Dean. Kucinich may be able to keep Dean from winning the MoveOn.org poll for a while, but Dean is racking up real funds at an exponential rate.
   

[Desertrose]

14. I see your thinking but can' t say I agree, Larkspur

1) Are you sure it was sudden?? How do you know it wasn't a slow evolution? The man promises to uphold Roe v Wade & has consistently in his most recent votes. He also promises to use Roe v Wade as the litmus test in possible SCOTUS justice candidates. He has always kept his word...

2) People are beginning to see through all bush/rove's lies. The lies will come undone. The war on terrorism is a deliberately created fear job and is kept pumped up by those who have something to gain. I'm not so sure it will be the biggest issue come Nov 04.

3)I think you are missing a very important part about DK campaign....there is tremendous grassroots building going on that will emerge fully formed & people will sit up & say- gee, when did that happen? IDean has had a year to build things....Dennis has only decided to run ( after being repeatly asked & urged to run four months ago. There is tremendous growth in thte Kucinich campaign by comparison. Not to mention the endorsements DK is getting.
To say DK doesn't understand Deans mission...hmmmm. The only mission I see is that Dean wants to be the "winner".....and DK wants to be in a position to help the American people....

Dean may be racking up funds...yeah, its called corporate donations. DK is doing pretty well considering he DOES NOT ACCEPT CORPORATE MONEY. His campaign is truly grassroots and is all about the people. Have you read or heard any of his speeches? he actually says something- thye are not just empty words to Dennis.

I've seen & heard DK speak- he is the real deal...i can't say I feel that way about Dean. If there is a big change to come about ...i very much doubt it'll be Dean doing it...but I have a feeling it will be the one candidate who stands out from the rest by speaking truth at every opportunity....by having a vision of the best of this country...and by caring for the people....Dennis Kucinich.

I guess sooner or later we will all have to go along with the final choice...but til then its great to be able to dialogue & discuss our candidates differences....

Peace
DR

[Larkspur]

17. Dean raising corporate donations?

His 2nd quarter fundraising drive was primaryly funded by 48,000 new contributors, who gave in low $20-50 amounts. Bush is raking in the corporate cash, not Dean.

I've heard Dennis speak and like some of his ideas, but his persona does not convey the strength that I want in a President. Dean has the aura of one who is a good governor, that is one who wants to govern based on resolving the problems of the day with good judgment, not ideological purity. His campaign strategy shows me that he 1) has listened to what bugs Democrats and is voicing our concerns but also devising practical solutions to our problems, and 2) he has the intelligence to design a campaign to harness the voters' anger and the wisdom to channel that anger into nonviolent political action to change this country. Kucinich's campaign strategy is a copycat of Dean's. Dean is the leader and it shows.

[Desertrose]

22. Copycat....? Are you sure about that??

"Kucinich's campaign strategy is a copycat of Dean's. Dean is the leader and it shows."

Do you have anything to back this up?? copycat?? leader??? I would imagine that there are certain things about internet campaigns that are similar...but it is the men themselves that are different and bring that different perspective to thier campaigns....

"he (Dean) has the intelligence to design a campaign to harness the voters'
anger and the wisdom to channel that anger into nonviolent political action to change this country"

That sums up Dean's campaign for me- in a nutshell-uses people's anger. I feel his anger is a bit uncontrolled and will ultimately be his downfall . I like everything Kucinich offers- anger free....simply because it is time to change and move beyond anger to practical positive changes based on right actions rather than emtional ploys. I see HD appealing more to emotions of his supporters and I'm not sure that is any different than any other politican.

Again...a difference of viewpoints

Peace
DR

[Larkspur]

25. Kucinich is copying Dean because

he entered the race late. Dean, knowing he had name recognition problem, started campaigning last year. His campaign is intentionally geared to ATTRACT alienated voters and make them a part of the political process again. All those Meetups are Political Science 101 do-it-yourself type courses. They allow angry voters to channel their energy into positive action.

Dean is a doctor. He knows that anger can not be sustained for long periods without doing internal damamge. Actually, our country is bleeding internally because of frustration at weak or corrupt leadership and feeling powerless to change that. The Democratic Party is dying because of poor leadership. Howard Dean is not relying on anger alone, like John McCain, Bill Bradley, and Ross Perot did. Like a caring and competent doctor, Howard Dean has diagnosed the problem and has developed a plan to restore the Democratic Party to health along with curing the nation of corrupt and incompetent leadership. In short, he is wisely transforming Democratic and progressive anger via his Meetups into good old fashion participatory democracy. How many Meetup members does Kucinich have? Last I looked, it was under 1,000.

Kucinich, like trailing race cars, is trying to draft on Dean's success and hoping to slow Dean down enough so that he can pass him, but Dean is way ahead of Kucinich in campaign funds and media attention and Dean is smart enough to keep the pressure on Bush, which will translate into higher poll ratings, new members and contributors, and more media attention to his campaign.

It's the system that Dean has developed to support his message that is making him the most viable candidate with a chance to unseat Bush.

[Desertrose]

26. No, Kucinich is NOT copying Dean...

....Dennis Kucinich certainly does not need to "copy" Howard Dean... These men are very diffferent- as are their campaigns.

You may be impressed that Dean is an MD- quite frankly that is a strike against him in my book...I trust doctors about as much as I trust politicians ...and to combine the two....well it sure makes him a big part of the established pharma-corps...doesn't it?? Ask yourself if he has always he voted for the people or has he usually voted for big money??

....and the idea that Dennis Kucinich has to copycat Deans campaign? really...I think you are putting way too much onto this whole whole meetup thing. I don't think meetup was a Dean creation, was it? Seems to me he just basically took advantage of it. I have found some (not all) Dean supporters to really get so excited about the number of members and the number of dollars raised... I always thought it was supposed to be about the issues & the message more than the fundraising.

Just because people are not signed onto the meetup thing doesn't really indicate how many supporters a candidate has. You have no idea of how many groups are gathering for DK. He is gaining supporters in so many different walks of life...he is giving people a clear choice and giving them a reason to vote. To me the meetup is a very narrow group of people...it is important to reach everyone..even those who are not online! Perhaps it is possible the Kucinich campaign is beyond the meetup stage......??

And as far as pressure on Bush?! Have you checked DK's record of the things he has spoken out on...he has been speaking up for the people before Dean decided to run...that is part of his job-as Congressman & the chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (which is the largest congressional caucus). Kucinich has promoted a national health care system, preservation of Social Security, increased Unemployment Insurance benefits....here a link to his 10 key issues
http://www.kucinich.us/issues/issue_10key.htm

seems to me Dennis Kucinich is a little too busy calling Bush on his lies to be worried about trying to "slow Dean down"...seems to me Dean is the one who speaks out after DK does......... hmmm, wonder who is copying who?

We need a very clear choice to unseat Bush...and that choice- the only choice is Dennis Kucinich.

Peace
DR

...and about Dean's mostly small donors as in your previous post...
I wouldn't exactly call a fundraising dinner of $250-$500-$1000-$2000 per plate "small average donors", would you?? Dean is not the change so many hope he is....

edit-typos

[curse10]

15. As a feminist I can't support Kucinich

I just cannot trust someone who voted with the National Right to Life Foundation 95% of the time until just recently.

It's a deal breaker for me. :shrug:

[Teacher4dean04]

16. Why does DK...

...sound like an unrehearsed preacher during the debates? I align myself to his stances almost 100%, but don't think he can get elected based on his lack of charisma and his...well, his goofiness. It's too bad, really, because I like what he (says he) stands for.

Dean has the charisma along with the record to get Bush out of office. I'll support whichever candidate wins the primaries, but IMHO Dean is the only candidate who can motivate those who normally don't vote to become active in large enough numbers to send Bush packing.

[rbnyc]

18. Thanks for posting this.

I've been kind of out of it for a few days. So much going on in my personal life. I would have missed this if not for your post.

[scarletwoman]

19. You're welcome!

And this gives me a chance to kick this back up to the top! :D

sw

[Desertrose]

20. and why not another kick...

OK...here we go...

:dem:

Peace
DR

[Rich Hunt]

21. wrote my check today

I've signed on, offered to volunteer, and made my donation!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[LWolf]

24. An understatement!

Wedding, baby,.....what else are you doing with all of that free time?

May all of your goings-on be joyful.

27. Kucinich kicks ass

If there is anyone who can actually go head to head against Bush and the political establishment and win it's Kucinich. I think that underestimating Kucinich will turn out to be one of his greatest strengths. The fact of the matter is that most people agree with his program. The only reason it doesn't sound politically viable is that politicians aren't about what the people want and so we rarely get to hear about our needs and desires. Today's politicians tell us what is important, and their issues are almost always hollow. Even when they're not meaningless follow-through is something that is rarely seen. Stupid things talked about in campaigns range from the debt to beating up on wellfare mothers. These are illusions. That is why no one votes anymore, because the politicians don't speak to the people they speak at them, about nothing. Kucinich is different. Like RFK or Jackson's campaign Kucinich speaks the truth to power and that is what americans want from a politician not more platitudes.

Dean is not about bringing in dissenfranchised voters, he's about reinvigorating the base of the democratic party and thereby winning the nomination. Dean is another politician who is constantly hedging. The only reason anyone could see him as fresh and interesting is that democratic politics have been so right for so long that when someone comes out and talks to the base people get excited. If he was to win the nomination he would move right back to the center or worse. If he was elected he would sell-out.

Kucinich on the other hand is speaking past party politics to the people, all the people. He is the one speaking to the disenfranchised. I think his goofiness and supposedly bad looks should also be seen as representative of a real human being, a real american, not some premanufactured political machine with bleached teeth and blowdried hair. He is human where Dean comes off as a politician. The biggest reason I think that Kucinich can win is that people all over know that something has to give. No one likes where we're heading and everyone recognizes that it is the system that is running the show. People want a change. Kucinich is the antithesis of the slick lying politician and his politics are all about challenging the system.

oh yeah, and Willie Nelson endorsed him

[Name removed]

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