I'm confused about the hating on Dennis Kucinich...

[Bicoastal]

Is it mostly Kucinich supporters who are steamed, or people supporting Edwards and/or Clinton?

People have (or had, rather) so much respect for Dennis's opinions--why trash him for endorsing the front-runner he seems to appreciate the most? And it's only in Iowa, for crying out loud!

If you like Edwards or Clinton better than Obama, just say so--don't blast Kucinich as an idiot for doing what he obviously feels is right.

[IndianaJones]

1. karma. nt.

[senseandsensibility]

2. I've been thinking that it's the war

although I don't really agree with his decision. I wish he would just state his reasons. But I'm not hating on Dennis. Not even close.

[ingac70]

3. Most of those unhappy...

Have been Kucinich supporters from what I've seen.

[maximusveritas]

4. It's just sour grapes

Mostly from Edwards supporters as far as I can tell.

[mitchtv]

he bailed on progressives

went with "Joementum" Obama

[Tejanocrat]

13. I intend to return the favor

[NorthernSpy]

20. first, he made overtures to Ron Paul...

I felt betrayed by that.

[DefenseLawyer]

5. I'm not sure what the fuss is about

If all the DK supporters in Iowa swing to Obama, that's at least 4 or 5 more votes for Obama on Thursday. Unless there is a really good rerun of Star Trek on that night, then all bets are off.

[Bicoastal]

6. Zing! n/t

[Tejanocrat]

7. I sent Dennis money I can ill afford and now he's endorsed a candidate who espouses the opposite

views on so many issues beyond impeachment and funding the war and inviting homophobic "recovering gays" to campaign with him:

HEALTH CARE

Kucinich offers the gold standard: public single-payer universal health care.

Obama's plan to leave 15 million uninsured is the worst plan of any major Democratic candidate.

MIDDLE CLASS ISSUES

Kucinich gets an "A" on the Drum Major Institute's score for protecting the middle class.

Obama gets a "C" on the Drum Major Institute's score for protecting the middle class.

IMMIGRATION

Kucinich is the most pro-immigration candidate in the race.

Obama voted to build a wall on the US-Mexico border.

PUSHING THE B*SH MEME ON TERRORISM

Kucinich is by far the most pro-peace candidate in the race.

Obama has said he would unilaterally attack Pakistan if General Musharraf did not doing enough to "take out" the "terrorists."

CONSISTENCY

Kucinich's position on abortion has evolved over time, but he has been remarkably consistent on almost every other important issue.

Obama Obama has moved well to the center since joining the Senate.

[Bicoastal]

But the question is, how does this assessment compare to Edwards and Clinton?

Remember, this is only for IOWA--Kucinich knows he won't get too many votes in that state.

[Tejanocrat]

10. Here's a start:

HEALTH CARE

Edwards offers a universal care plan which would create non-profit health care markets to set for-profit insurance companies in direct competition against a non-profit public health care option based on Medicare (which would evolve into public single payer universal care once the for-profits found they could not compete against the public non-profits).

Hillary offers universal coverage in a plan that doesn’t have non-profit health care markets to force for-profit insurance companies to compete against public health care but includes a public care option.

Obama's plan to leave 15 million uninsured is the worst plan of any major Democratic candidate.

MIDDLE CLASS ISSUES

Edwards has made protecting the embattled middle class a key focus of his campaign.

Hillary gets an "A" on the Drum Major Institute's score for protecting the middle class.

Obama gets a "C" on the Drum Major Institute's score for protecting the middle class.

[babylonsister]

8. It's Obama 'hate', not Kucinich imo. I respect them both. nt

[Tejanocrat]

12. No, it's anger at Kucinich. Obama is a centrist moderate who talks progressive but that's no crime.

Kucinich took my campaign contributions and then endorsed a candidate who holds the OPPOSITE view from Dennis on embracing "recovering gays" as campaign ambasadors, on impeachment, on continued funding for the war as well as:


HEALTH CARE

Kucinich offers the gold standard: public single-payer universal health care.

Obama's plan to leave 15 million uninsured is the worst plan of any major Democratic candidate.

MIDDLE CLASS ISSUES

Kucinich gets an "A" on the Drum Major Institute's score for protecting the middle class.

Obama gets a "C" on the Drum Major Institute's score for protecting the middle class.

IMMIGRATION

Kucinich is the most pro-immigration candidate in the race.

Obama voted to build a wall on the US-Mexico border.

PUSHING THE B*SH MEME ON TERRORISM

Kucinich is by far the most pro-peace candidate in the race.

Obama has said he would unilaterally attack Pakistan if General Musharraf did not doing enough to "take out" the "terrorists."

CONSISTENCY

Kucinich's position on abortion has evolved over time, but he has been remarkably consistent on almost every other important issue.

Obama Obama has moved well to the center since joining the Senate.

[scarletwoman]

9. I'm not hating on him, but I am definitely questioning his motives.

I was a Kucinich delegate to my state convention in 2004. I've been a DK supporter for many years now, ever since I read his "Prayer for America" that he wrote after 9/11. In other words, long before he ran for president in 2004.

I find Obama nearly as odious as Clinton. I'm okay with Edwards, mainly because I've seen him as the best chance to keep the nomination from going to HRC. I definitely don't want Obama, either.

So, I don't know what DK is up to, but he's lost me on this one. I say that with deep sorrow, not hate.

sw

[stevedeshazer]

11. I think I can explain it

CAMPAIGN FRENZY.

My state's primary election isn't until May, so I feel pretty much detached.

But, I am and remain a Kucinich supporter who knows that if progressives keep saying Kucinich is unelectable, then he's unelectable. If your own supporters won't even support you, it follows that American politics are so strange that even so-called rational voters will vote against their own interests because their opponents have convinced them that their candidate is a loser before a single vote is cast.

Knowing this, many DK supporters casted about for a more mainstream candidate who, by "conventional wisdom", could win; a second choice that you'd believe could win despite your loyalty to your favorite "unelectable" first choice candidate whom you now believe, swallowing hook, line, and sinker your opponents argument, cannot win so you cannot support him.

For most of us, it was John Edwards. I still support him.

Personally, I'm not surprised Dennis Kucinich gave Obama his "second-choice" endorsement. Dennis and Barack are all about change.

I think there are a lot of pissed-off Kucinich supporters. I'm not one of them.

It's all good.

[babylonsister]

15. Hi, Steve! I started as a Kucinich supporter, but bit the bullet

when I realized he might not have the necessary support or $ required. The money issue sucks but it's true.
I ambled around, and I also came up with Senator Obama. I just like him and have faith that he might just be what our country needs. I know Clinton doesn't inspire that in me at all.

[stevedeshazer]

16. If it's Obama, I'm cool.

I'll vote for any Democrat.

:hi:

[Horse with no Name]

17. I'm with you--Dennis would have been my obvious choice

but I went with Edwards because HE was the closest to Dennis that there was.
I feel very disappointed in DK.:(

[parasim]

14. All I know is that I respect the opinion of Dennis...

over the opinions of anonymous posters on a political messageboard.

The trashing of candidates that goes on here to me is politics as usual. When a politician that I actually respect says something, it carries a bit more weight than JoeShmoeforHillary or JohnEdwardsFanForLife or some such.

[candymarl]

18. Let him back who he chooses

That's democracy. Messy and loud. Kinda like a barroom brawl w/o the actual chair throwing. Most of the time.

[madrchsod]

19. i`m not steamed

i`ll make up my mind when the time comes when he says he`s not running. if it is before i get to vote then i`ll decide if i will vote for barrack or john.