Washington Monthly catches Kucinich cherry picking his information

[NJmaverick]

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) has received a fair amount of pressure lately, following his stated intention to join right-wing Republicans in killing health care reform, because, as he sees it, the Democratic plan is too conservative.

The liberal Ohioan talked to Benjy Sarlin yesterday about his position, and repeatedly cited the work of Jacob Hacker, the Yale professor who was largely responsible for crafting the idea of a public option. That's an odd rhetorical choice -- Hacker has repeatedly said he wants Congress to pass the Democratic proposal. Kucinich is citing a scholar, while ignoring the scholar's judgment. Perhaps he doesn't know about Hacker's conclusion?

More at:

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_03/022846.php#more

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[NJmaverick]

2. .

[Bobbie Jo]

3. What time did you clock in?

[Name removed]

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[HughMoran]

4. Not too surprising

...at least he's not out of character.

[NJmaverick]

5. I have to say it's intellectually dishonest

how can you quote someone's individual views while ignoring the over arching conclusion.

[sabrina 1]

16. Since you are so concerned, I wonder why I never saw

your objections to the 'lie by omission' about Kucinich's record of sponsored bills V bills enacted into law in any of the threads here over the past several days?

Anyone with your conscience would surely have done the research eg, that I did, it was quite simple actually and took less than maybe ten minutes, which quickly debunked the claim that he was 'eneffective' as a Congressman? I'll be happy to provide you with the results of my research btw, in case it was just oversight on your part.

So, in the spirit of your concern about honesty in politics, I have to ask this: You wouldn't be the kind of person who would be selective in your opinions about what you consider to be 'intellectually dishonest' or not, would you?

Now, considering the source, I will do a little research into this latest attempt to silence a Congressman who is according to those making the attempt 'ineffective'. Odd to spend so much energy trying to discredit a person who is ineffective.

[Scurrilous]

6. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Cha]

7. Disingenuous dennis!!

Now that's a shocker!

[NJmaverick]

8. To be honest I knew he lacked the ability to get things done

but I didn't know he was also lacking in intellectual honesty.

[Cha]

9. I didn't really pay attention

until he starting ragging on the President and voting against the Dems and with the sociopaths.

"Principles" my Dem :kick:

[sabrina 1]

19. And you show your own intellectual dishonesty with that talking point.

Unless you are simply not aware that it IS a lie.

FYI, Kucinich is as effective a majority Democratic members of Congress. Why tell that lie by omitting the information that totally debunks it? I thought we had put that lie to rest, but apparently some opponents of the Public Option don't have much regard for facts.

Once again, just so more honest individuals are not swayed by the smears against Kucinich:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=400140

Biden, after 23 years:

Joseph Biden has sponsored 237 bills between Jan 6, 1987. and Oct 1, 2008 of which 160 haven't made it out of committee and 19 were successfully enacted. Biden has co-sponsored 980 bills during the same time period. (The count of enacted bills considers only bills actually sponsored by Biden and companion bills identified by CRS that were themselves enacted, but not if they were incorporated into other bills, as that information is not readily available.)

Russ Feingold, considered to be a very effective Democrat:

Russell Feingold has sponsored 376 bills since Jan 21, 1993 of which 346 haven't made it out of committee and 6 were successfully enacted. Feingold has co-sponsored 1,207 bills during the same time period. (The count of enacted bills considers only bills actually sponsored by Feingold and companion bills identified by CRS that were themselves enacted, but not if they were incorporated into other bills, as that information is not readily available.)

Dennis Kucinich, mmm, he co-sponsored even more bills than either Biden or Feingold. It can't be, aren't they very effective Democrats? And haven't they been in office even longer than Kucinich?:

Dennis Kucinich has sponsored 97 bills since Jan 7, 1997 of which 93 haven't made it out of committee and 3 were successfully enacted. Kucinich has co-sponsored 2,924 bills during the same time period. (The count of enacted bills considers only bills actually sponsored by Kucinich and companion bills identified by CRS that were themselves enacted, but not if they were incorporated into other bills, as that information is not readily available.)

And excellent progressive member of the House, Maurice Hinchey:

Maurice Hinchey has sponsored 119 bills since Jan 5, 1993 of which 111 haven't made it out of committee and 3 were successfully enacted. Hinchey has co-sponsored 4,292 bills during the same time period. (The count of enacted bills considers only bills actually sponsored by Hinchey and companion bills identified by CRS that were themselves enacted, but not if they were incorporated into other bills, as that information is not readily available.)

Maurice, like Kucinich has a great record of doing his job of co-sponsoring progressive bills.

Barney Frank has sponsored 380 bills since Jan 6, 1987 of which 317 haven't made it out of committee and 12 were successfully enacted. Frank has co-sponsored 5,325 bills during the same time period. (The count of enacted bills considers only bills actually sponsored by Frank and companion bills identified by CRS that were themselves enacted, but not if they were incorporated into other bills, as that information is not readily available.)

Barney, in 23 years managed to get only 13 of his bills enacted?

I hope this small sampling, showing that Kucinich is as effective as any other Democrat, will keep you from spreading the lie by omission being told by the opponents of the Public Option. And since hope springs eternal, you will have the honesty to apologize for doing so.

[AllentownJake]

10. DENNIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SlingBlade]

11. BullShit... Is that you Rahm ?

[NJmaverick]

12. Sorry if the facts disturb your position

[AllentownJake]

13. You know an actual yes vote to the House bill just said they are voting no today

I think you might want to focus your attention on that...oh and that is a fact.

Carry on the Dennis bashing if it is fun for you.

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[anonymous171]

15. Did he claim that Hacker did not support the current bill?

[sabrina 1]

20. Good question, I see you didn't get an answer.

The answer is no, he didn't.

That is the stupidest article, well it's almost as stupid as Marcos Moulitsas', I have seen on this topic. These people are so transparent. But not one of them will come out and actually address the points Kucinich is making on the issues.

Have they won any converts with these tactics? What do they expect to accomplish by NOT addressing Kucinich's points and attempting in their childish way to distract from what he is saying especially since it isn't working?

I have to remember to call his office and thank him as he is getting all the right people upset. Very effective on his part, he has exposed the anti-health care reform operatives simply by telling the truth.

[beardown]

21. Conflicting messages.

I thought that we were supposed to hate Nader the most? When did it change to Kucinich? If people that are part of the dem "majority" in congress are candidates now for the most hated, I vote for Lieberman.

That brings up another question. Where the hell do I cast my vote for the most hated dem/progressive so you guys know who you're supposed to tag team?

And I thought that the Mandatory Insurance reform was complicated.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

23. Sometimes you just can't keep up!

:rofl:

[Cleita]

24. If you paid attention to what Dennis has been saying he wants to pass the

bill too, but not unless it has a public option.

[SlingBlade]

25. These are Chicago Style Spit Dripping Tactics being used

against all of those who have stood firm against these corporate shills
now going around calling themselves democrats.

They need to return back to the hive, Your not fooling anyone. MmKay

Ya listening Rahm ?