Alan Grayson describes mob hit aimed at Dennis Kucinich

[Scuba]

in my email.....


Please note the the link provided by Grayson links Cleveland Free Times article hosted at Free Republic.

Dear Scuba:

Yesterday, I told you how Dennis Kucinich single-handedly saved Cleveland’s public utility from a takeover by the banks. Even though it cost him a job he loved, being Mayor of Cleveland.

But I neglected to mention that Dennis’s courage could have cost him more than his job. It almost cost him his life.

When Dennis Kucinich refused to turn over Cleveland Public Power to the One Percent, they decided to kill Dennis. Not kill Dennis’s political career. Kill Dennis.

You don’t have to take my word for it. You can read the chilling account in the Cleveland Free Times cover story, which includes quotes from the police interview with the hit man.

http://grayson.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=mbwffGn1zhKsk07nX5TKnsStnAhhgPCq

The plan was to shoot Dennis in the head, during the Columbus Day Parade. The Cleveland Cosa Nostra brought in a professional hit man from Maryland to do the hit. The hit man bought an untraceable rifle, and came to Cleveland.

Why didn’t the hit man kill Dennis? Because on Columbus Day, an ulcer in Dennis’s stomach burst. Dennis spent that day in the hospital, not in the parade. Or the morgue.

The hit man then staked out Tony’s Diner, an old rail car converted into a greasy spoon restaurant, on the corner of Lorain Avenue and West 117th. Dennis liked to eat breakfast there.

But then the banks found that they could force the City of Cleveland into bankruptcy, and force Dennis Kucinich out of office. So the hit was called off.

(By the way, of the thousands of people who have served as mayor in the United States, only three have been assassinated. Mayor Carter Harrison of Chicago, the hero of the Haymarket Riots, was killed by a disgruntled office seeker. Mayor Anton Cermak, also of Chicago, was killed by a bullet intended for FDR. And, as you may recall, San Francisco Supervisor Dan White killed Mayor George Moscone, and Harvey Milk.)

In order to save Cleveland’s municipal power company, Dennis Kucinich stuck his neck out so far that the banks and the Mafia tried to kill him. For the people of Cleveland, Dennis put his life on the line.

If the One Percent is so angry at you that they want to take you out, and they’re willing to enlist the Mafia to do it, then you are doing one heckuva good job for The People.

So I’m asking you again, as I did yesterday. Please do whatever you can do to help Dennis Kucinich, before the absentee ballots get mailed out in his district next Tuesday. And click here to do it.

http://grayson.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=v3AhZW6Z%2B50YkuB1OrbUIsStnAhhgPCq

Because Dennis Kucinich is a hero. A real-life hero.

Courage,

Alan Grayson

[Skinner]

1. And in this DU Post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12515841

[Scuba]

2. Thanks for linking.

[valerief]

3. Thanks for reminding me to contribute! nt

[gopiscrap]

4. I love Kucinich

I brought him to speak at the church I work at last April...standing room only crowd!!! He's great guy...would LOVE to see him as our president!!!!

[countryjake]

5. For those who'd rather not dirty their computers...

going to a link at Free Republic, here's another link to the whole Mafia story on the hit against Dennis Kucinich:

The Mafia Plot To Kill Dennis Kucinich

http://www.mafia-news.com/the-mafia-plot-to-kill-dennis-kucinich/

The meeting went down at Burke Lakefront Airport in 1978. A small prop-engine plane owned by the Maryland State Police was parked on the tarmac. Inside was a sergeant from Maryland and “The Old Man,” a professional hitman-turned-rat who was working with Maryland police in sting operations. Cleveland Police detective Ed Kovacic climbed into the plane and sat next to The Old Man.

Kovacic showed him a photo spread of suspects. The Old Man pointed to number four, Thomas Sinito. “This is Tommy,” he said.

“Is that the man who hired you to hit Dennis Kucinich?” the Maryland officer asked.

“Yes.”

“How much was he going to pay you?”

“Twenty-five thousand.”



As someone who actually lived in Cleveland during Mayor Kucinich's fight for Power to the People, to save Muny Light, this story was not such a shocker when it eventually came out several years later.

While many claimed it was his wrangling with the garbage business that sparked it, his struggles against the banks and omnipotent private interests made many from the 1% wish that he could be "disappeared" somehow; that he stood for principles and defied pressure from those who sought "power" was a truly amazing feat.

I will always respect the man for that stance he took as a politician, risking his entire career (and his life), to keep Cleveland Public Power in the hands of its people!

[leveymg]

6. If Dennis or Alan ran for President, I might start knocking doors again

Wow.

[dmr]

7. Thanks for posting this

I've always donated to Dennis. I want his voice heard loud & clear. I will definitely give to both Dennis, Alan & Debbie Stabenow - repubs are going after her Senate seat with lots of money.