Obama is on the wrong side from Kucinich on so many issues beyond impeachment and funding the war

[Tejanocrat]

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.

Hell, Obama even worse than Hillary and MUCH worse that Edwards on thses Key issues:

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.

[Colobo]

1. Kucinich knows what he's doing.

[EFerrari]

5. He knows exactly what he's doing. And this is the third time

the poster has put up this material.

I'd like to know why anyone thinks Dennis would throw voters at Edwards when that is the choice many progressives are considering, DK or JE? It would be a strategic mistake on DK's part.

All of this handwringing is a little over the top, imho.

[John Q. Citizen]

18. A few individuals seem to get temporary insanity around the heat of the moment of a campaign and

become shill and irrational. Every little detail, report, comment, poll, interview takes on mythological importance.

This poster apparently is very upset that Kucinich would ask his supporters to go to Obama on the second round in precincts where Kucinich hasn't survived the requisite 15% to remain viable.

But this is what I love about Kucinich. He's smart enough to make use of whatever leverage he has to effect change and to influence outcome. He might not make the same choice as I would, but I'm a voter and he's a candidate, so I assume that his recommendation is offered from his view point. And why wouldn't it be?

Ralph Nadar went with Edwards. I wonder if the OP wrote a detailed post with links to to explain why Nadar should have endorsed Kucinich instead of Edwards? I'm sure Ralph has his reasons for endorsing Edwards. One big reason may be that he and Dennis compete for some of the same voters. I'm a Kucinich supporter and it doesn't bother me a bit that Ralph endorsed who he did. I long ago figured out that Ralph has to do what he has to do, just as apparently the OP has to do what he has to do. And so does Dennis.

If I were an Iowan caucus goer, I'd vote Kucinich in the first round, and I'd give considerable weight to Dennis' request that I go with Obama in the second round if Kucinich didn't get the 15% at my caucus. I'd do that because I'd want Dennis to be where Edwards is now (3rd) and because Edwards introduced the war resolution which gave the whole enterprise bi-partisan and strong Southern Democratic support for the invasion and occupation of another country. So I can do both the politic and the right thing so to speak.

You know, I like Edwards focus on populous politics, But I'm not sure he should be rewarded for having so bipartisanly and personally enabled a 3 trillion dollar, 1,000,000 Iraqi death, 30,000 injured and dead US GIs kind of an optional and illegal war, invasion, and occupation. Of course, most of our candidates are in some ways in the same boat as Edwards, even Obama who has consistently voted to legitimate the illegal invasion and occupation by voting YES to funding the operations.

From a world citizen perspective, there are a lot of Dems who might be considered war criminals. Sure, almost every single Repo sure as shootin could be put onto that list. Just look at the recorded votes. But still, there are about half the Dem Senators who could make the list as well, and maybe 20% of the Dem House Caucus. And about 99% of the Repos.

For myself, there is no other responsible vote than for Kucinich. And if he thinks it makes sense to support Obama in the second round where applicable, then why not? He's been right an awful lot before this.

[eridani]

22. Not at all. I think Dennis is just plain wrong

His best chance is a brokered convention, and the best way to do that is to prop up the candidate who is running third nationally.

[Sulawesi]

2. Dennis disagrees...

[IndianaGreen]

3. But Hillary is a Joe Lieberman with a vagina!

Warmongering from the Clintons makes them radioactive to the antiwar Left.

[mtnsnake]

6. You're as sick as ever. Keep that kind of nonsense on your Green Underground, will ya? n/t

[Renew Deal]

32. I thought that was funny.

One of the funniest comments I've seen all season.

[emilyg]

24. Go away.

[cali]

25. seek help.

you are a deeply disturbed woman. And you seem obsessed with Clinton's vagina. This is hardly the first time you've used her genitalia to dismiss her.

[seriousstan]

4. You need to convince Dennis, not me.

[Capn Sunshine]

7. wow. it's everywhere- the status quo is threatened

and right away all the pretend friends of candidate X are out together with the concern trolls.

The next two weeks will be a toxic shitfest of innuendo slime spin and falsehoods.

Would we expect anything less, judging by what we've seen thus far?.

[EFerrari]

10. I think I need to spend more time playing Scrabble.

lol

[IndianaGreen]

12. Thankfully it will be all over by mid-february

A Clinton loss will make all those "concerned moderates" start whining about an independent bid by Bloomberg.

[info being]

33. Haha....true true

[madrchsod]

8. does`t bother me that he said this...

dennis is the only true progressive we have. if he decides that obama is the person most in line with his thinking maybe you should e mail this to him to show him he`s wrong. your post isn`t going to change my mind on who to vote for. unless dennis drops out before i vote then i`ll decide and look over his recommendation.

[MuseRider]

9. This is not an endorsement

it is a one time strategic move on his part. He is continuing the fight in NH. My personal opinion is that this is a move to stop Clinton. Some say it is to stop Edwards. Whatever it is it is strategic. He did not tell anyone they had to do it, he suggested it thinking we were all bright enough to know what a caucus is all about.

I agree with you on Obama, he would never get my vote either but I understand what DK is doing and can't think of a single reason to hold it against him. If he can stop Clinton from running away with Iowa I will be forever thankful.

[Tejanocrat]

11. Supporting Obama to stop Clinton is like infecting someone with the flu to cure their cold. Obama is

on less odious than Hillary and, on quite a few key issues outlined in the OP, Obama is a damn stretch worse than Hillary.

And it is an endorsement because (1) now Dennis has pissed away the campaign contributions I've sent him insofar as he's not going to be viable in ANY precincts and ALL his supporters will be supporting a "second choice" candidate (hopefully, they won't follow Kucinich off this cliff) and (2) Dennis is effectively DONE -- he won't be in the New Hampshire debate, he won't have the funds to campaign beyond New Hampshire.

Dennis Kucinich has effectively turned himself into Mike Gravel - an amusement unworthy of further attention.

For whatever Dennis believes he got in exchange for this deal with the devil, he's proven to me and others that he WON'T stand up for the values that drew us to him.

[MuseRider]

13. I do see where you are coming from

but I just don't agree with it totally. You have to do what is right for you so go for it and good luck.

[Tejanocrat]

14. Next time I'll know better.

[babylonsister]

17. But you supported Kucinich who supported Obama. Maybe

DK is dealing with realities. That's where I've been going.

[Tejanocrat]

36. If "dealing with realities" requires you to get in bed with Donnie McClurkin, and a walled border

with Mexico, and a health insurance plan that excludes 15 million people, numerous votes to fund the war without end, voting for corporations and against the middle class, then I don't like your plan.

[lisainmilo]

15. Nice info here....thanks!

:)

[Czolgosz]

16. Spot on. Kucinich lost my support over this. Will the last Kucinich supporter please turn out the

lights?

Oh, and would someone tell Dennis this message was supposed to go out Thursday afternoon and it was supposed to be private to precinct chairs only because, otherwise, your supporters aren't going to bother to show up Thursday?

[John Q. Citizen]

20. Over this? My my. Biggest thing since the balanced budget. Earth shaking stuff.

It's like there was a world before Dennis asked his voters to support Obama on the second round in the event he was disqualified for not garnering the requisite 15%, and then BOOM!!!

A whole Brave New World after he made that communication to his supporters.

It's a whole new ballgame baby! Hang on tight! Papa has a brand new bag....

[Czolgosz]

21. He took my contributions and then essentially conceded on the eve of the election and endorsed a

candidate who supports none of the same issues. That sucks!

[TeamJordan23]

23. He endorsed Edwards in Iowa in 2004, were u saying the same thing back then?

Also, he shares more in common than Obama than the other candidates, such as both opposing the Iraq War.

[Czolgosz]

29. I was supporting Kerry in 2004, but it wouldn't bother me. If Biden or Richardson endorsed Hillary,

that would be fine because they are birds of a feather -- but still if I was a Richardson or Biden supporter, I'd be furious if they made such an endorsement so far in advance of the caucus that the effect of the early endorsement would be to discourage their few supporters from bothering to show up.

If Kucinich had endorsed someone who was less embracing of homophobes or less a proponent of right-wing attacks on universal health care, it's only be mad about the crappy timing of the endorsement, but since Kucinich endorsed a candidate who doesn't share progressive views on many issues, I pissed at the substance and the timing.

[John Q. Citizen]

26. If strategic voting is beyond your capabilities, then so be it. Dennis certainly hasn't conceded,

he's just using the rules of the game to his best electoral advantage. If you fault your candidate for playing to win, then that's your problem I think.

I don't caucus in Iowa. We have a primary here in Montana in the Spring.

Obama spoke out against the war before it happened, and so did Dennis, so I guess they do share that for sure. Also, Obama at this point appears to be the person most likely to put the brakes on Clinton, and I think that's real politik of Dennis to do the party and the country a favor and turn the page on the past and move on to change. I like Edwards' populous campaign, yet his personal and bipartisan embrace of the Iraq invasion and occupation leaves me cold. Still, I'd far prefer Edwards to Clinton. And I'm personally about neutral when it comes to Obama/Edwards. They both seem to me to be kinder gentler Empire types.

Yet Dennis sees plain as day that he needs to get into the #3 spot to get a good shot at reshaping this campaign.

and Edwards, according to pundit wisdom is in that #3 spot currently. So if you blame Dennis for running a campaign to succeed, then perhaps you should have given your donation to someone that doesn't want to win, but will ask their Iowa Caucusers to cast their second vote for a candidate you approve of.

Next time, don't give money until you are sure your candidate intends to lose and you won't be disappointed. Maybe you can send in the "Who would you ask your Iowa supporters to cast their second caucus ballot for after your 1st choice is disqualified " question to you tube?

[Czolgosz]

30. I suppose Kucinich's flirtation with Ron Paul as a VP was also "strategic." I should have seen this

coming back then. I should have gotten of this wrong-way train a few stops earlier.

[John Q. Citizen]

35. Yes, politics isn't for the faint of heart. Run away before you get a stroke or something..

I made my choice for the nomination based on research I did through vote smart, the candidates own websites, and thomas.gov which I did last spring.

Based on the issues and solutions, I saw pretty quickly that Dennis supports the same solutions I do to the issues facing us.

I could care less about Ron Paul (except that I'm glad he's running since it pisses off the Repo establishment) and about who Dennis is asking his caucus goers to support in the event that their caucus doesn't give him the 15% cut off margin.

I suggest you might want to support Hill. You sound pretty sweet on her and if she floats your boat, go for it.

I won't vote for her period, but that just me. It won't matter anyway, because Montana won't vote for Hill, so she's already lost my states electoral votes. Edwards or Obama could certainly win Montana as could the rest of the Dem contenders. It would be close, but they could win.

Have a nice day!

[Tejanocrat]

39. I'll vote Edwards or Dodd. Why is it if you're not attacking Hillary people presume you support her?

[readmoreoften]

28. Totally lost my support. And I was a big supporter. I feel used.

I'm coming to the point where I don't give a fuck about any of these people. I think they're all pandering, full of shit, liars who aren't going to do a damn thing except serve as a feel-good placeholder until the Republicans regroup and storm the Presidency again in 8 years and we're all completely fucked.

After watching Sicko, reading the Shock Doctrine, and watching this joke of a race, my family and I have seriously begun talking about expatriating. I'm so sick of this BS I can't take it anymore.

[Tejanocrat]

43. Loved Sicko. I'm glad Moore gave Edwards' health care plan the thumbs up.

[TeamJordan23]

19. Obama and Dennis opposed the war from the start. nm

[readmoreoften]

27. Yeah accept for that time in 2004 when Obama said he basically agreed with Bush.

It's easy to talk when you didn't have to be there to cast a vote.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

40. Because he was trying to help Kerry and Edwards, who had voted for the IWR. nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

31. Perhaps the UFO told him to do it

;)

[Tejanocrat]

37. I could forgive the kookiness, but this is just a plain and simple back-stab

[Freddie Stubbs]

38. As opposed to 2004 when Kucinich made a deal with Edwards?

Keep in mind, back in 2004 was still in favor of the war (but Howard Dean wasn't).

[LWolf]

34. Again, there is no competition here for MY vote.

DK's got it, and Obama can't get it.

[fightindonkey]

41. Obama Is A Hack, A Hollow Idiot, With No Direction, Skill, of Knowledge About Anything

A vote for Obama is the same as voting for a third party that will never win. The guy is a coward, and a complete moron. 180 on every issue in one month, and he couldn't even stand up to the Christian Right. Barack Oprah Hussien Obama, is over. Next.

[Tejanocrat]

44. But how to you REALLY feel?

[Czolgosz]

42. kick