Dennis Kucinich is a smarmy Pro-Life opportunist
Last week at the Barack Obama event at the Agganis, I got in to an argument with one of the Dennis Kucinich supporters. My friends thought I was an idiot for even engaging the guy, but I had to. He approached me as I stood in line with thousands of college students, energized by a candidate with a real chance of winning that represents a new breed of politics.
“Support Dennis Kucinich for President,” he said as handing me some photocopied sheet of paper.
“Sorry, I don’t support pro-lifers,” I responded.
“Dennis Kucinich is NOT pro-life,” he almost screamed back.
“Eh, yes he is. Check out vote-smart.org. 95% approval rating from the National Right to Life Coalition.”
Like he hadn’t even heard me or, didn’t want to respond to the actual fact I had presented him, the guy just started getting angrier and angrier, yelling about he “KNOWS Dennis Kucinich and KNOWS he supports choice.”
Well, folks, Vote-Smart.org, the independent, non-partisan think-tank devoted to tracking and cataloging all federal elected official’s and candidate’s positions on the major issues in American politics agrees with me, somewhat”
2001-2002 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 71 percent in 2001-2002.
2001 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 10 percent in 2001.
2001 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 0 percent in 2001.
2000 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 0 percent in 2000.
1999-2000 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 95 percent in 1999-2000.
By 2003, Dennis Kucinich’s voting record in Congress begins to paint a different picture, but by no means one of an unwavering pro-choice advocate like Obama or Clinton.
In 2003, Congressman Kucinich had a 50% approval from the Democrats for Life. That same year, the National Right to Life coalition gave him a 22% approval rating — while no longer the 95% of 1999 to 200, far from the 0% for Obama and Clinton. By 2005, Kucinich was pulling a 100% approval from NARAL Pro-Choice America, and 0% from the pro-lifers.
I grant you that one can not simply look at approval ratings alone — there are hundreds of votes a congressperson makes each year and specific reasons for each decision. However, I ind it hard to believe that it was any true intellectual realization which made Dennis Kucinich change his position on abortion rights in just one year.
Kucinich is a political opportunist, who in order to gain some sort of cult following outside his Cleveland congressional district, sought to position himself as a leftist crusader. Today that means, among others: strong opposition to the war, universal health care and of course strong support for choice. The Dennis Kucinich of the late ’90s could never be the lefty champion he is today.
Dennis Kucinich talks on his website about wanting to “inspire America to take a new path, a different direction.” To me, a new path or direction in American politics would entail an honest dialogue with voters, or at least your most stalwart supporters. While Kucinich talks on his website about family planning, reducing the number of abortions, and of Republicans using it as a wedge issue — he makes absolutely no mention of his previous alliance with the anti-choice right.
Even with his lefty cult following, even with his veganism and proposal for a “Department of Peace,” Dennis Kucinich represents an old path in American politics. That is one of dishonesty and distortion of the issues or of one’s own voting record in order to gain political notoriety or fame.
Luckily, we don’t actually have to worry about Dennis Kucinich bringing this to the White House.
April 26th, 2007 at 9:09 am
Using old facts in an argument doesn’t make you a winner, it just makes you look like a lame spinmeister.
Kucinich did rethink his position on choice. Imagine that - a politician brave enough to rethink his position! *GASP* What a terrible thing that is! Why, a good politician has one belief system, and sticks to it - stays the course, in fact - isn’t that right?
What a bunch of silly gooberage. If Barak Obama is the shining light you claim, why do you feel compelled to manufacture a bogus argument about one of his fellow candidates?
This kind of divisive commentary is what is old school, is what the voters are tired of. The people are tired of this kind of tired, mean spirited, rightwing talk radio style commentary. You’re a real credit to your candidate.
April 26th, 2007 at 9:40 am
I don’t view Obama as the new wave of change you do, but he’s far and away a better choice than Kucinich - and I agree with everything you have to say about that awful man. Not only was he pro-life until the day he decided to run for President, but his only experience with executive office was a disaster - he was one of the worst mayors ever (literally).
April 26th, 2007 at 10:29 am
Ryan, care to literally back up the claim that he was one of the worst mayors ever?
April 27th, 2007 at 12:16 am
Oh fun! Read it and weep. LOL
“Next, and seventh, is Cleveland’s Dennis Kucinich (1977-79). Only thirty-one years old when elected, Cleveland’s “boy” mayor had failings that were not the sins of venality or graft for personal gain, but rather matters of style, temperament, and bad judgment in office. Kucinich earned seventh place the hard way: by his abrasive, intemperate, and confrontational populist political style, which led to a disorderly and chaotic administration. He barely survived a recall vote just ten months into office, then disappeared for five weeks, reportedly recuperating from an ulcer. When he got back into the political fray, his demagogic rhetoric and slash-and-burn political style got him into serious trouble when he stubbornly refused to compromise and led Cleveland into financial default in late 1978—the first major city to default since the Great Depression. That led also to Kucinich’s defeat and exit from executive office. Out of office, he dabbled in a Hollywoodesque spirit world and once believed he had met actress Shirley MacLaine in a previous life, seemingly confirming his critics’ charges that he was a “nut-cake.” After that, he experienced downward mobility, losing races for several other offices and finally ending up with a council seat; but more recently, he climbed back up to a seat in Congress. Bad judgment, demagoguery, and default also spelled political failure in the eyes of twenty-five of our experts, who ranked Dennis, whom the press called “the Menace,” as seventh-worst.”
The 7th Worst Mayor EVER shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near the Oval Office. Luckily, he won’t be.
April 27th, 2007 at 8:23 am
What strikes me about Kucinich supporters is how nasty they are. I had an experience similar to the one described by Ryan. I was walking to a rally before the MTV debates at Faneuil Hall carrying a Howard Dean sign and two men started yelling that I was stupid for supporting Dean and that Kucinich was the only candidate against the war. It was on a back street in Boston and I was actually a bit frightened by their unwarranted viciousness. Don’t his supporters realize that peace begins at home?
I find Dennis Kucinich robotic and insincere. The pro-choice switch prior to his first run for president is just a symptom of his hypocrisy. In the 2004 Iowa primary, he told his (very few) delegates to vote for Edwards rather than Kerry, Dean or Gephardt. It seems to me that if he were ideologically against the war, he would have selected Dean - the only other anti-Iraq war candidate.
Kucinch is a giant joke. The Democrats’ version of Alan Keyes. His job is to make the left look looney and the right-leaning candidates to look sensibly moderate. I wish he would go back to Cleveland and open up a New Age Bookstore or falafel stand.
April 27th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Ryan — that little tale you spin about Kucinich as mayor leaves out the most important part. His decision not to sell Muny Power (now Cleveland Public Power) has long since been vindicated. Thanks to him, Cleveland Public Power is an asset to the city - an asset that has saved consumers millions of dollars, and preserved hundreds of union jobs.
By all means criticize - but do it honestly.
April 27th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Dennis is a great politician who’s not afraid to speak truth to Power . If you want to learn more about him please visit www.kucinich.us or his youtube channel at www.youtube.com/denniskucinich - Dennis did change his mind in regards to the abortion issue over the last few years. Dennis, however, is not pro abortion, he is pro choice. He believes that abortions should remain legal, however, women should be told of all the options available to them so that the number of abortions preformed each year in the U.S. will be lowered as much as possible.
April 28th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Thank you Robert R for clarifying that Dennis is not pro-abortion. I would be overjoyed if you could find me a single person in the world who would argue that they are not pro-choice, but rather pro-abortion. That will be the day….
What I think is disingenous about Kucinich is that his website doesn’t mention his former pro-life record except to say that “The fact is that most Americans, including myself, are uncomfortable with abortions and feel there are too many of them.” I am also uncomfortable that his “plan” (where is it?) to reduce abortions include “abstinance training.” So far, abstinance education has only been shown to lead to increases in unprotected sex among teenagers.
April 29th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
I support Dennis as a candidate. His presence in the debates is of utmost importance because he is the only candidate to tell the whole truth about the state of our nation and the occupation of Iraq to the American people.
Dennis was the first candidate to even say the word transgender on television last year during the CNN debate.
Kucinich is pro-choice. He may have been pro-life years ago, but now he has formulated a more enlightened opinion on the matter. People do change and change their minds.
I am disapointed at your name-calling and low blows to Kucinich - good for him for being a vegan - it is the best way to save your health and the environment.
It doesn’t matter if he has a chance of winning or not - his voice in this campaign season will be an important one.
April 29th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
I don’t give a damn what Kusinich feels deep in his heart, if he votes the right way it’s good enough for me. Am I supposed to applaud people who cast crappy votes because they’re “sincere” wingnuts?
But you’re off base if you think Kusinich’s supporters are likely to gravitate to Obama. Obama isn’t Patrick, he’s a lot more conservative. I honestly don’t see much difference between Obama and Hillary. Hillary is rightfully derided as too DLC, and Obama differs how? Because he gives a good speech? He’d be the first one to tell you he isn’t a progressive as far as I can tell. Yay, that’s honest, but I’d rather look for a candidate who represents my views instead of runs away screaming. Let me constantly tell you about my religion. Let’s expand the military. No, we can’t take the nuclear option off the table, Iran is coming to get us. Awesome.
I don’t think it’s an accident that Obama is so buddy buddy with Lieberman and is always talking about how it’s so “divisive” in politics, how we should all just get along and refuse to filibuster Supreme Court nominees and all the rest of it. He even sounds like Lieberman. Run to the middle, triangulate. He’s quoted in New York magazine as saying he doesn’t go to daily kos because it’s such a hotbed of boring, heard it all before ultraliberalism (yeah, I want a Democratic nominee who thinks dkos represents the left of the left, if he thinks that and met an actual Democrat he’s probably have a heart attack). But Republicans have wonderful, new and exciting ideas. Faith based ideas! Why can’t we just listen? Democrats are shrill and demanding and mean, while Republicans are sweet and well meaning and love running through fields of flowers with puppies. We could all just get along if only you’d stop making such a FUSS about everything! Words like bigots are just as bad as being one, worse even. Great strategy, always works so well. What’s he going to do when he gets swiftboated, thank them for brining his flaws to his attention?
He may sincerely believe everything he says, but I sincerely think that he’s not really helping by repeating all these right wing frames, except demonizing Democrats and driving discourse ever further to the right.
December 16th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Dennis Kucinich has shifted his position from pro-life to pro-choice.
He admits this himself. There are so many issues that he’s on the right
side of now that I’m willing to forgive his past position so long as he’s
willing to vote pro-choice now!
He’s the only candidate that stands for a fully “not for profit” health care system
and green sustainable energy alternatives as a replacement for petroleum and coal.
We need someone who stands for what Kucinich stands for!
December 19th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
I’m 42 and from Cleveland Heights and no, Dennis was not perfect but the establishment sure did a number on him. My undergrad thesis was on his struggles, most notably his correct decision not to sell Muny Light to CEI. That then led into the whole default issue when the banks got involved and it was bullsh*t.
Jury’s still out on the abortion issue I will need to research that a bit more before a declarative comment.
As to Senator Obama: I have worked for Jesse Jackson back in the day. I worked for Dick Gephart in the last election and I looked to work for Barack Obama but never heard back despite using the same basic resume as used for Gephardt. There are some pressing First Amendment/Right-toKnow/FOIA Education issues on which Barack has aligned himself with an oppressive institution in NH whose model policy unlawfully restricts speech.
http://christopher-king.blogspot.com/2007/03/christopher-kings-open-letter-to-nh-ag_09.html
A local Alderman and I have prevailed on this very same issue in the town of Nashua and will take it to the state level.
There is room to criticize all of the candidates, not just Dennis.
January 15th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
If he were still pro-life I’d feel like I’d come home. Pro-universal health care, against capital punishment, supporter of equal rights for gays, anti-war (especially this illegal one) , pro constitutional rights and pro impeachment of Bush I am deprived of my very own sterotype. So with the same brilliant logic applied to Mr. Kucinich (by those for whom there is only slogan, faction and ’side’) I am held suspect by both right and left. This man’s stand for what was right re. Muny cost him his career. Being ‘pro-life’ (all life and decent quality of life), is a seamless garment not a smorgasbord from which cowards pick and choose according to the dogma and political correctness of their chosen socio-tribal ‘badge’. Dennis is not a coward and that is a rare and precious thing. The Tao says that in a nation of liars honesty is prized; when injustice is normal the just are revered - and a nation where heroes appear is a nation in trouble. Dennis Kucinich looks like a hero to me, in a nation of take the soft option, mouth your opinion as loud you as you can and look the other way while your neighbor struggles for survivival, justice, freedom - so long as I’ve got mine (for now) - jellyfish. i.e. A nation in trouble.