Dennis Kucinich on Principles & Values Democratic Representative (OH-10)

Excluded from debate by Nevada Supreme Court ruling

I’ve been right all along on Iraq, Iran, & healthcare

A: I wrestle with the question as to whether or not the president and the vice president should be held liable for crimes for taking us into a war based on lies. I mean, I’m ready to be president. I’ve been right all along on Iraq, on Iran, on not-for-profit health care and giving our children a chance for an education from age 3 all the way through to a degree.

Ran for city council seat before he was old enough to vote

Kucinich didn’t succeed in that first run for office, but just over 2 years later he did, joining the city council at the age of 23. If that span of 3 years shows the mark of an ambitious and unrelenting personality, it was only the beginning: Three years later, Kucinich ran for Congress.

He lost, but within two years the man who had defeated him retired. Kucinich then ran again for the seat. When he didn’t get the Democratic nomination, Kucinich ran as an independent.

He lost. Again. A few years passed, and then, readjusting his sights, Kucinich ran for mayor of Cleveland. Kucinich won, becoming, at age 31, the youngest big-city mayor in American history as the “Boy Mayor of Cleveland.”

Won House seat “Because he was right” as mayor

When Kucinich talks, today, as if he is convinced that he will be proven right eventually in every issue, and campaigns in New Hampshire and other battleground states as if ”Because he was right: Iraq edition“ will be a winning slogan at the presidential level, this experience can’t be far from his mind.

Met wife Elizabeth when she lobbied him on monetary policy

Kucinich, who had been single for twenty years, and who, in 2003, had told a N.H. political forum that his perfect soulmate would be “fearless in her desire for peace in the world and for universal, single-payer healthcare,” found himself awestruck. After the meeting he phoned a friend and exclaimed that he’d met his future wife.

Elizabeth also had a love at first sight moment. She later told an interviewer for The Tampa Tribune that upon meeting Kucinich, “I felt such hope for America. It made my heart sing.”

Planned as teenager to become Mayor of Cleveland

Nobody in my family ever went to college. I can’t even imagine it. [My teacher] Sister Estelle keeps telling me ‘You have to go to college to develop the skills God has given you.’ I think I will if I can ever get the money.“

While weighing possibilities against the odds, I was seized by an impulse, an intuition, to speak a strange thought. It had nothing to do with sports or college. I said it aloud as we continued our walk. “Dan. I can’t really tell you why I know this. But I just know it will happen. I’m going to be Mayor of Cleveland by the time I’m 30 years old!”

He did not disappoint me. He laughed. “Yeah, Dennis, you’re going to be Mayor of Cleveland, and I’m going to be John Glenn,” he guffawed.

I looked up at the stars, searching for more inspiration--as a star plummeted through the heavens. I made a wish. “I’m telling you, I know I’m going to be Mayor of Cleveland.”

RFK assassination persuaded him to fight to change the world

Robert Kennedy’s assassination of left me fed up with politics and the whole rotten system. I said so to [my colleague], the Cleveland Plain Dealer political editor.

The editor answered me in his political column: “Lost Hope? He Had More Cause.” The message was that Kennedy believed in change through the system and that he had endured all kinds of tragedy to pursue such change. There was no reason to lose hope, my colleague wrote, because as bad as the system was, Kennedy still believed it could be changed.

I didn’t like the system. But could I change the system by staying outside of it? I knew I had to find that place inside of me which had the courage to go on whatever disappointment, whatever the odds, if I really wanted to change the world.

Paid his own way through high school & college

"You're leaving us?" she asked.

"No. I intend to work 2 jobs. 80 hours a week."

"Now how are you going to do that?"

"I'll start work in surgery at 7:30 in the morning. Work ends at 4:00 pm. I'll start at 5:00 pm at the Plain Dealer. I'll work until 2:30 in the morning."

"You really think you can take it physically?" she asked.

I worked out every morning. I felt so good, if I had wings I could fly. Sure, I had stomach pains once in a while, when I'd feel fire lick its way through my intestines. I put it down to eating TV dinners 6 or 7 times a week. "Are you kidding? I'm in real good shape!"

Teenage elopement failed due to car breakdown

[The car broke down permanently in Freemont, Ohio; we spent our marriage license money on bus tickets home] Well, there went our money for the blood tests and for the marriage license applications.

Oh, that was a long bus ride home. She and I covered years of knowing each other. We went over every single aspect of our relationship. We talked about destiny. She felt that God was sending us a message: DON'T GET MARRIED! And that's why the car broke down on the Ohio Turnpike. Who's to say what God wants us to do?

Later on that week, we talked again and I learned something else had broken down on the Ohio Turnpike, in Fremont, Ohio: our love. "It's over," she told me. I was numb.

Took on machine politician for Cleveland City Council

Councilman Bilinski's tenure was remarkable for at least 3 reasons

1. he was supported by the strongest Democratic ward machine in the city.
2. he maintained a serene silence during all council meetings.
3. he was re-elected to the council, twice, after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of failing to file his federal income tax returns.

Look out Cleveland, here I come! [He lost the race to Bilinski by 500 votes.]

Entered public life on Page One at age 20

"To be a voice for the people."

"Do you think you have a chance to win?"

"Yes! I'm going to knock on every door."

"Isn't it a bit unusual for someone so young to want to be a councilman?"

"I think I can bring to council an energy and an enthusiasm which is not currently there."

[The interview made Page One.] I first saw a picture of a rather serious-looking young man. The headlines on the story in the bottom corner of the page:
PROTEST WITH A GUITAR? NOT THIS CANDIDATE, 20

1967 campaign lesson: You are alive when you reach out

A campaign that began almost impulsively became serious, and I began to change with each step, each knock, each person I met. I became even more resolute when I saw people wanting to believe that as a City Councilman I could perhaps make a difference in their lives. In the evenings, as I reflected on what I learned door-to-door, I began to understand the people's hopes and I was overwhelmed at their suffering. I came to believe that I MUST make a difference for them. I began the campaign wanting only their votes. Now I wanted to be their voice, to stand up and to speak out on their behalf.

In 4 months of going door-to-door, I met thousands of people and during that long walk I made the most important discovery of my life: You are alive when you reach out. It is in extending your hand that you affirm your existence.

1968: required surgery for Crohn's disease

[In the recovery room, I overheard nurses]. Critical condition? Jesus Christ. There must be some mistake. "Critical" is a polite way for doctors and nurses to say, "Hey, if he doesn't make it, don't say we didn't tell you so." I've got a birthday next month. I'm going to be 22! I'm too young to die. [He recovered after a long hospital stay.]

[The doctor reported], "I removed 5 feet of your small bowel and 2 feet of you colon. You have what is called Crohn's Disease. The disease was causing a progressive deterioration of the walls of your intestines. It must have been developing for years and years."

This debate is total flop for ignoring practical aspirations

Sighted a UFO in Washington State

A: I did. It was unidentified flying object, okay, it’s unidentified. I saw something. Now, to answer your question, I’m also going to move my campaign office to Roswell, New Mexico. You have to keep in mind that Jimmy Carter saw a UFO, and also that more people in this country have seen UFOs than, I think, approve of George Bush’s presidency.

Q: 14% of Americans say they have seen UFOs.

A: What was that percentage?

Q: Fourteen.

A: Thank you.

Decisive moment: living as child out of family car

A: I would say the decisive moment in my life was when my family was living in a car in the inner city and I thought about all the dreams that I could have as a child. And I decided, at an early age, that I was going to be someone. As president, the American people will have someone who remembers where he came from and has the compassion in his heart to lift up everyone to make sure everyone has a chance.

Elected to Congress on 5th try; only on 2nd presidential run

I am in the center of American people’s hopes and dreams

When you’re talking about standing for people’s rights to be who they are without fear of being attacked for being gay, you’re talking about something that is really essentially American. And so I’m at the center of all of those discussions.

My candidacy for president is not only transforming the race, but it will transform this nation when you have a president who cannot be bought or bossed, who has the willingness to stand up and speak out when others would be silent, who can challenge war, who can challenge corruption. Because my heart is clean, because I have the ability to see and pierce that veil of falsehood which covers so much of our country today.

Biggest mistake was firing police chief on Good Friday

A: You know, I know you set a time frame on this, but the thing that immediately comes to mind is when I was mayor of Cleveland, on Good Friday, I fired the police chief live on the 6:00 news.

I can move this country because I have no strings

• I’m the candidate who can move this country from war to peace;
• from insurance-run, for-profit health care to people-oriented, not-for-profit health care;
• from trade that’s run in the interest of global corporations to trade that has workers’ rights, human rights and environmental quality principles.

Day 1: Pull out of Iraq, NAFTA, and the WTO

A: If the US occupation of Iraq has not ended, I will go to the UN for a resolution to bring our troops home in 90 days, putting the UN in control of the oil, the contracting, and the cause of Iraqi self-governance. If this has happened, my first action will be to repeal the NAFTA, withdraw from the WTO, and replace them with bilateral trade agreements based on workers’ rights, human rights, and environmental quality principles.

Endorsed by Natural Law Party’s 2000 presidential nominee

Fairfield is not a typical Iowan town. The home of Maharishi University of Management and a center of the Global Country of World Peace, Fairfield and the surrounding area is home to 2,000 practitioners of Transcendental Meditation who began settling there in the early 1970’s. “The main appeal is that he has established himself vocally as a peace candidate,” said John Hagelin, a Fairfield resident and the founder of the New Age-oriented Natural Law Party, who himself has run for president several times. “This is a town dedicated to peace, to work for peace for the world and to radiate peace in the world.” Hagelin has endorsed Kucinich for President.

His campaign’s lack of media coverage becomes a media story

A: The media is now covering the story of the media not covering our campaign so I think we are about to get a surge of coverage. Meanwhile, even with little media coverage, we have been able to organize a grass roots campaign in 50 states. Just think of how fast we will take off when the media realizes that our campaign is on the verge of becoming the surprise of the 2004 primary election season.

Will run for House and President simultaneously

A: Senator Lieberman ran for re-election to the Senate and for Vice President at the same time. Ohio law permits me to run for both the House of Representatives and President. I expect to take an oath of office at the Capitol in January of 2005.

A Green Democrat, but will support Dem nominee over Green

A: Ralph Nader and I have been friends for nearly thirty years. When I needed help saving Cleveland’s municipal electric system 25 years ago, Ralph came forward to help. He and I share many ideals and goals. I have a great deal of respect for the Greens and I consider myself a Green Democrat. However, I want to make the Democratic Party more relevant. That is why I am running as a Democrat. I believe my presence in the campaign is already moving the entire party in a more progressive direction. Just think how progressive it will become when I am the nominee and when I take the oath of office. I will certainly support the Democratic nominee. It should be easy because I expect to be the Democratic nominee.

Favorite song: John Lennon, “Imagine”

This is for the Gen X crowd, and it’s very personal. What’s your favorite song?
• MOSELEY BRAUN: What’s my favorite song? “You Gotta Be.”
• SHARPTON: My favorite song is James Brown’s song on the Republican Party, “Talking Loud, Saying Nothing.”
• KERRY: Bruce Springsteen, “No Surrender.”
• DEAN: One you’ve never heard of, Wycliffe Jean, “Jaspora” [Creole for “Diaspora”]
• LIEBERMAN: Well, you know, like a good politician, I’m going to take two. Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow, remember that one? And the classic Frank Sinatra, “My Way.” We’re going to do it our way in 2004.
• KUCINICH: John Lennon, “Imagine,” as in imagine a new America.
• GEPHARDT: Bruce Springsteen, “Born In The USA.”
• GRAHAM: Jimmy Buffet, “Changes In Attitude, Changes In Latitudes.” We’re going to change some attitudes and latitudes.

Grew up poor, so is attuned to the concerns of the people

And so, when I became mayor of Cleveland, I was determined to unite the community, to unite whites and blacks and all people of color, and to create conditions where we truly address the social and economic needs of the people.

Because of my life experience and because of my public life experience, I have the ability to lead this nation and to bring all people together and to lift up the cause of this nation so that we once again become a nation that comes from the heart and reconnect with our optimism to really create a nation that we can all be proud of.

Sacrificed political career to save city utility ownership

Broccoli would be welcomed in first vegetarian White House

A: I don’t know. I should research that, but maybe.

Q: Former President Bush opposed broccoli.

A: Broccoli would be welcomed in my White House, and vegetarians would be welcomed in my White House.

Grass-roots campaign to take back America for the people

As president, I will cancel NAFTA and WTO. I’ll restore our manufacturing jobs. Save our family farms. Create full employment programs, create new jobs by rebuilding our cities and schools. As president, I will repeal the PATRIOT Act, to regain for all Americans the sacred right of privacy in our homes, our libraries, our schools.

This is a grass-roots campaign to take back America for the people. Join me, for your cities, your towns, your farms, and your campuses. Join me, and let’s take back America.

Declaration of human economic rights of the American people

• We have a right to a job.
• We have a right to quality health care.
• We have a right to a good education.
• We have a right to decent housing.
• We have a right to food fit to eat.
• We have a right to water fit to drink.
• We have a right to be free from fear.
• We have a right to be free from war.
• We have a right to be human.

Long list of legislative priorities in Congress

Religious affiliation: Catholic.

The Adherents.com website is an independent project and is not supported by or affiliated with any organization (academic, religious, or otherwise).

What’s an adherent?

Such factors as religious service attendance, belief, practice, familiarity with doctrine, belief in certain creeds, etc., may be important to sociologists, religious leaders, and others. But these are measures of religiosity and are usually not used academically to define a person’s membership in a particular religion. It is important to recognize there are various levels of adherence, or membership within religious traditions or religious bodies. There’s no single definition, and sources of adherent statistics do not always make it clear what definition they are using.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

The members of the Progressive Caucus share a common belief in the principles of social and economic justice, non-discrimination, and tolerance in America and in our relationships with other countries. We also seek to embody and give voice to national priorities which reflect the interests and needs of all the American people, not just the wealthy and the powerful. Our purpose is to present thoughtful, positive, practical solutions to the problems confronting America and the world. In the post-Cold War era, we believe our nation’s priorities must change with the times and reflect new realities. Accordingly, we support curbs on wasteful, inefficient government spending at the Pentagon and elsewhere, a more progressive tax system in which wealthier taxpayers and corporations pay their fair share, adequate funding for social programs that are designed to extend help to low and middle-income Americans in need, and trade policies that increase the exports of more American products and encourage the creation of jobs and investment in America.

Rated 92% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation.

OnTheIssues.org interprets the 2006 AU scores as follows:

• 0%- 20%: opposition to church-state separation (approx. 232 members)
• 21%- 79%: mixed record on church-state separation (approx. 79 members)
• 80%-100%: support of church-state separation (approx. 153 members)

Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom. AU is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to preserving the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure religious freedom for all Americans.

Americans United is a national organization with members in all 50 states. We are headquartered in Washington, D.C., and led by the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director. AU has more than 75,000 members from all over the country. They include people from all walks of life and from various faith communities, as well as those who profess no particular faith. We are funded by donations from our members and others who support church-state separation. We do not seek, nor would we accept, government funding.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

The members of the Progressive Caucus share a common belief in the principles of social and economic justice, non-discrimination, and tolerance in America and in our relationships with other countries. We also seek to embody and give voice to national priorities which reflect the interests and needs of all the American people, not just the wealthy and the powerful. Our purpose is to present thoughtful, positive, practical solutions to the problems confronting America and the world. In the post-Cold War era, we believe our nation’s priorities must change with the times and reflect new realities. Accordingly, we support curbs on wasteful, inefficient government spending at the Pentagon and elsewhere, a more progressive tax system in which wealthier taxpayers and corporations pay their fair share, adequate funding for social programs that are designed to extend help to low and middle-income Americans in need, and trade policies that increase the exports of more American products and encourage the creation of jobs and investment in America.