The Case Against Kucinich

[wyldwolf]

The Case Against Kucinich

Alex Koppelman makes the liberal case against Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) -- who says he'll vote against the Democratic health care bill because it doesn't go far enough -- noting that he's actually been a very ineffective congressman.

"In fact, according to the Web site GovTrack, of the 97 bills Kucinich has sponsored since taking office in 1997, only three have become law. Ninety-three didn't even make it out of committee." (Political Wire)

------------------------------------

... Moulitsas argues that the congressman hasn't accomplished anything at all, and -- though I know I'm going to get slammed for saying this -- I have to agree. Sure, it's good to see a politician standing up for his beliefs and fighting for a point of view that might not otherwise be represented. But there are ways to do that and simultaneously be an effective legislator. Kucinich simply isn't, and he's never really tried hard to be. (You could also argue -- I would -- that the way he goes about things makes him pretty ineffective as a spokesman for his ideals.)

...according to the Web site GovTrack, of the 97 bills Kucinich has sponsored since taking office in 1997, only three have become law. Ninety-three didn't even make it out of committee.

The three that were enacted are, in chronological order from first to last: A bill "to make available to the Ukranian Museum and Archives the USIA television program 'Window on America,'" a bill "to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14500 Lorain Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio as the 'John P. Gallagher Post Office Building" and a bill "proclaiming Casimir Pulaski to be an honorary citizen of the United States posthumously."

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/03/10/kos_kucinich/

[ZombieHorde]

1. This is not a case against DK, this is a case against the other Democrats in office. nt

[Orsino]

84. +1

There is indeed a point to being pragmatic, to passing what we can, but it is not the sole measure of the effectiveness or ethic of a Congresscritter. Attempts to frame it otherwise have not been persuasive.

If there were three hundred Kuciniches in office, we would not be fiddling around with weak-ass legislation like the current incarnations of HCR. Those who wish to silence him may be well-intentioned, but they also--and there is no way around this--are standing up for the status quo.

[jenmito]

2. This is why "Kucinich stands with Kucinich" as Lynn Woolsey said...

as she went on to say the CPC will vote for the bill.

[DrToast]

3. Kucinich prefers to sit at the back of class and throw spit wads

Rather than go up to the board and show his work.

[IndianaGreen]

4. The case against the pro-corporatist, pro-war wing of the Democratic Party

They suck!

[mr715]

5. What does corporatist mean?

Pro-free market or anti.



MR

[IndianaGreen]

6. Capitalism is NOT free market. It is monopoly!

Our Founding Fathers would have been driven out of business by the big transnationals.

[mr715]

8. Well, no.

Capitalism does have a definition you know.

[h9socialist]

55. Our "Founding Fathers"

Let's get this straight, "Our Founding Fathers" we essentially a group of major creditors! Go read "An
Economic Interpretation of the United States Constitution" by Charles Beard (it was written in 1913, so you might have to research it). Of 55 delegates to the Constitutional convention in 1787, 40 were major lenders. Their big concern was making sure that state governments paid their war debts without resorting to printing money, and devaluing the currency to do it. George Washington was the richest man in America -- the Bill Gates of his time. My point is that the "Founding Fathers" were themselves a bunch of predatory capitalists pursuing their own self interest . . . and the system they designed in the Constitution was one meant to give power to private property, and frustrate democratic majorities. Same shit, different century!

[dionysus]

56. you have a funny definition of capitalism. if properly regulated, it's a great system.

:shrug:

[HughMoran]

7. It's a catch-all gobbledygook word for "anybody who supports American capitalism"

At least that's how it's used in context now. I used to use the word until the pop-tart heads got ahold of it and turned it into a meaningless catch-all word.

[Warren Stupidity]

10. Well no, the meaning is quite obvious. Consider health care reform.

The corporatist wing of the Democratic Party, a party that 25 years ago was consistently proposing the expansion of medicare to everyone, produced a health insurance 'reform' bill that guaranteed baked in profits for the health insurance 'industry' instead of affordable health care for everyone. The corporatist wing serves the interests of big money, of corporate lobbies such as the health insurance lobby, rather than the interests of the people. The corporatist wing is bought and paid for by corporate cartels to serve their interests.

The corruption is manifest. Denying the obvious is delusional.

[HughMoran]

15. "The corruption is manifest. Denying the obvious is delusional."

That's deep man :smoke:

[ibegurpard]

17. about as deep as pop-tart heads

that was really witty...got any more bon mots?

[HughMoran]

19. At least I am funny

You're just attacking me personally for no reason as I wasn't even talking to you

:P

[ibegurpard]

21. but you're not

which was my point

[HughMoran]

24. I laughed when I posted it

& I laughed at you for letting it bother you.

I'm laughing now as I type this.

I'm funny :party:

[suzie]

74. I laughed at it.

[dionysus]

58. i think he's got a good sense of humor.

:shrug:

[Warren Stupidity]

28. you've got nothing.

[HughMoran]

29. heh

don't I?

[Enthusiast]

46. Deep and true. nt

[dionysus]

57. you corporowhore bankster kubuki theaterist you! did i get all the annoying catch phrases?

:P

[boppers]

81. Pseudo-revolutionary catch phrases are bourgeois

Nobody but the oligarchy still uses them.

:evilgrin:

[nemo137]

37. It means that whoever's using it has no appreciation of history.

There is such a thing as corporatism. It's often one of the ideological threads in fascism, especially in Catholic countries, since it draws inspiration from St. Thomas Aquinas and the papal encyclicals Rerum Novarum and Quadragesimo Anno. It's the idea that workers and industrialists should be organized into organic units where everyone benefits. There's also rather a lot of sociological and metaphysical stuff there that's equally important, but it basically boils down to right-wing collectivism.

As used on these boards, it's the phrase people use when they want to avoid being accused of violating Godwin's law for calling something fascist. It describes a real problem (worrying entanglement between government and private business, lack of accountability, etc) in an unhelpful way.

[Enthusiast]

45. A corporatist votes

against the interests of their constituency. Their votes on legislation are in accordance with the wishes of their corporate masters.

For example: Democrats that voted for globalism and free trade essentially caused the decline in American manufacturing and cost millions their jobs. They created the rust belt.

Campaign finance reform did not go far enough to prevent this.

[mr715]

50. Kucinich voted against his constituents.

I mean, anti-health care, anti-climate change, anti-jobs, anti-stimulus.

Is he a corporatist?




M

[Enthusiast]

53. That is quite a stretch.

In my opinion there are sound reasons for these Kucinich votes. And, no, Dennis is not a corporatist.

[dionysus]

59. he is a reliable "no" vote on everything. how helpful.

[CTLawGuy]

49. I don't know but I know it's

BAAAAD! Cf. "socialism"

[Cali_Democrat]

9. Kucinich is nothing more than an ineffective gadfly

an irritant that cares more about Dennis Kucinich than the American people.

He doesn't really care about introducing bills that will actually help the American people. He would rather stick his finger in the eye of anyone who wants REAL progress like Barack Obama.

At the end of the day, it's all about Dennis Kucinich and not the American people.

[slipslidingaway]

12. The bill to improve the nation's infrastructure would help people...

as would a Medicare for All bill.

Too many of the Dem leaders were busy voting to invade Iraq and voting for funding year after year.

[Sebastian Doyle]

11. Dupe

This shit was already posted more than once. As have all the Kucinich bashing threads which have taken over the board in the last three days.

[slipslidingaway]

13. And they'll be back :( n/t

[Cali_Democrat]

18. The Obama bashing threads have taken over since he was inaugurated. n/t

[slipslidingaway]

25. LOL who is the leader??? And there are many threads that

do more than bash, but the constant supporters allow no questions or criticisms.

Some things just happen when you hold the highest elected office.

[dionysus]

60. oh, so the obama bashing threads are okay because he's the leader? that's a new one.

so saying anything bad about dennis isn't allowed because he's inconsequential?

[slipslidingaway]

67. No but threads critical of Obama are to be expected after the election since

he is setting the tone for our party.

The poster that I replied to seems surprised that the numbers of threads criticizing his policies have increased since the inauguration. Why anyone would be surprised is beyond me.

:shrug:


Obama is the leader, he is setting the direction.

[JTFrog]

86. Criticizing is one thing. But it goes far beyond that here. And Skinner made it clear:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=5524913

A few people have expressed confusion about what is permitted here now that Obama is president.

Constructive criticism of Democrats or the Democratic Party is permitted. When doing so, please keep in mind that most of our members come to this website in order to get a break from the constant attacks in the media against our candidates and our values. Highly inflammatory or divisive attacks that echo the tone or substance of our political opponents are not welcome here.

Nonetheless, if anyone is confused about what is permitted here, I'll spell it out as clearly as I can. It's pretty simple:

* Any and all substantive criticism of Barack Obama and his policies is permitted. And by "any and all substantive criticism" we mean all of it -- no issue is off limits.

* Expressions of dismay, disappointment or disagreement with Barack Obama or his policies are permitted.

* But insults, name-calling, or other expressions of contempt toward Barack Obama or his supporters are not welcome.


There is a part of me that is a little disappointed (but not surprised) that this even needs to be said. Even if you don't agree with President Obama on a number of issues, I guess I kinda thought that everyone here would consider themselves -- on some level -- to be among his supporters. Or, at very least, I didn't think that any DUer would want to deliberately use the same type of language one would expect to hear from tea-baggers and Freepers.

[Cha]

14. Good! I'm glad someone is calling him out

besides those of us on DU.

Actually Steve Benen did too.

"'I DON'T THINK HE GETS A PASS'.... When considering Democratic lawmakers who oppose health care reform, we tend to think of a few contingents within the party. There's obviously conservative Blue Dogs, who represent the bulk of the Democratic opponents. There are also some vulnerable incumbents from competitive districts who are simply afraid of a backlash, regardless of how many people the legislation helps.

And then there's Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D) of Ohio, who has nothing in common with those other Democratic opponents. His district isn't conservative; he's not worried about polls; and his re-election isn't really in doubt. Kucinich simply opposes his party's reform efforts because, as he sees it, the proposals aren't liberal enough. Indeed, he voted with far-right Republicans against the reform package in November, even though it included a public option, because he concluded that the public option wasn't robust enough to earn his support.

This week, Kucinich made clear that he intends to vote with Republicans against health care once again. He thinks the legislation isn't strong enough, and if his opposition kills the legislation, so be it.

In general, Kucinich doesn't draw the same kind of progressive ire that, say, Blue Dogs do. The left realizes that Kucinich is sincere. His concerns are genuine. His heart is in the right place. He's certainly not being cowardly and/or putting electoral considerations above the public's needs.

But if Kucinich joins Republicans in killing health care reform -- as he has said he fully intends to do -- the millions of Americans who'd benefit from the Democratic proposals won't find much solace in Kucinich's deeply-held principles. They need a champion who'll make things better, not an idealist who'd rather wait until imaginary support materializes for a more perfect solution.

And with time running out, and the need for every single vote so great, Kucinich is starting to draw justified criticism.

Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas warned on Tuesday night that if Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) plays a role in killing health care reform, a Democratic primary challenger would almost certainly await him in the next election.

In an appearance on MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Moulitsas conveyed pointed frustration with the Ohio Democrat's pledge to oppose reform on grounds that it doesn't go far enough. He said Kucinich was practicing a "very Ralph Nader-esque approach" to politics.

"The fact is this is a good first step and he is elected not to run for president, which he seems to do every four years," he said. " is not elected to grandstand and to give us this ideal utopian society. He is elected to represent the people of his district and he is not representing the uninsured constituents in his district by pretending to take the high ground here." <...>

"What he is doing is undermining this reform," he added. "He is making common cause with Republicans. And I think that is a perfect excuse and a rational one for a primary challenge."


Markos said that Kucinich's willingness to deny help to those who need it is "completely reprehensible." Markos added, "I don't think he gets a pass; I don't care what his excuse is."

Watching Kucinich vow to vote with right-wing opponents of reform, it occurs to me that he almost certainly would have voted against FDR's Social Security plan, which was thin and weak when it was signed into law. He also would have rejected Medicare, because it wasn't ambitious at all when it passed.

Fortunately for all of us, lawmakers from those eras saw a value in establishing a strong foundation and then building on it in future years. In other words, fortunately for all of us, Social Security and Medicare weren't dependent on lawmakers like Dennis Kucinich."

—Steve Benen 9:30 AM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (61)

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/monthly/2010_03.php

[slipslidingaway]

20. That is just bullshit and if anyone actually listened to what he said

about his vote they would know it was not because the bill was not liberal enough.

There was nothing in the bill to cap premiums coupled with an individual mandate and most people would not be able to use the public option.

And according to Wendell Potter the medical loss ratio was 95% in the 90's, the new HC reform places the MLR at either 75 or 80%.

Just pass a bill that gives more profits to private companies, thanks Dems!


"...Kucinich simply opposes his party's reform efforts because, as he sees it, the proposals aren't liberal enough. Indeed, he voted with far-right Republicans against the reform package in November, even though it included a public option, because he concluded that the public option wasn't robust enough to earn his support..."

[jeanpalmer]

43. Dennis has never voted "with Republicans"

And he won't be voting with them on HCR. He wants something totally opposite of what they want in terms of health care.

But the Democrats who voted to continue the war (~170 in the House) actually did vote with Republicans because they have the same goal as Republicans -- to continue the war and "win" it. Obama has also aligned himself with the Republicans on the war and is now a pro-war president. Dennis OTOH obviously is against the war and represents Democratic values on this issue. The rest of them have sold us out.

Same thing on the Wall Street bailout. Obama and other Dems voted with George Bush and the Republicans. Dennis voted as a Democrat should.

You're fooling no one with this anti-Kucinich message. On HCR Dennis is trying to save Dems from self-destructing. But they seem hellbent on rushing over the cliff.

[dionysus]

61. pssst, when he votes "no" on everything and the republicans vote "no" on everything,

he's uh... voting with the republicans.

[Enthusiast]

47. Markos Moulitsas is dead to me. nt

[ibegurpard]

16. you're a bit late

the pile-on on Kucinich is sooo 2 days ago

[Cha]

22. Right on time, wyldwolf.

[SoxFan]

27. LEAVE DENNIS ALONE!

[Cha]

32. ..

:nopity::nopity:

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Jennicut]

26. I think everyone on DU needs to get over Kucinich and move on. Do we even need his vote to pass HCR?

At this point in time I don't think we do.
DK stands for some very important principals, things I do believe in. But his tactics are all or nothing.
To me, he just isn't doing something that I can hate him for, like I do with conservadems. On the other hand, he is so obstinate and is like a man growing old, watching everything go by him and never participating. Never taking a first step.
So I think Dennis is a good guy that I happen to find frustrating.

[flvegan]

30. Maybe that dipshit Moulitsas should expand his horizons to see WHY

Dennis has (in his opinion) not "accomplished anything at all"

Because again, leading the charge against the party of "no" and a bunch of bought and paid for, tail between the legs, shitwit wanna-be "Dems" he's may well not have success, considering.

I will again dredge up the Kucinich introduction of the Articles of Impeachment against George W. fucking Bush, where were your leaders? Where? Off the table Pelosi? Keep the powder dry losers afraid of doing the right thing?

Fuck them, and fuck you Kos you moron.

[Dinger]

31. What flvegan Said

Spot on. Good post. :patriot:

[mr715]

34. It is simple.

Public opinion matters.

Clinton was impeached for political reasons.

Impeachment must not be used as a political weapon and it would have been incredibly bad policy to have consecutive impeachments, especially when the votes for conviction did not exist for either.

The Democrats had a 1 vote majority in the Senate and not a solid one at that - Lieberman, Nelson, Feinstein, and others would not have voted for impeachment.

It was a quixotic ploy and it is clearly a move for "anger" or "payback".

Political reality made impeachment impossible to manage and likely a major liability.

[Enthusiast]

48. Unlike the Clinton impeachment

a Bush impeachment would NOT have been political. An impeachment of Bush was fully justified.

[zulchzulu]

36. Show me any evidence where Kucinich has been successful as a legislator

There is nothing.

Anyone can play a grandstander and try to draw attention to one's self that they are "just too damn cool" for words, but cannot get anything accomplished in a legislative fashion.

The true representative that provides a voice for the people is one who can offer legislation that can actually get passed and not waste time and money on just shooting the wad for charlatenesque "rewards".

Bush might have been impeached if a REAL legislator had been able to rally more than a handful of others to vote for impeachment.

Kucinich is the absolute LAST person I would want to have represent and try to enable legislation that is crucual and critical. He's a known prick, hard to work with and can never get more than molecular support when he runs for national office.

Do I like what he talks about? Mostly, yes. Do I think he could actually produce results that would withstand the usual political pressure to get needed legislation passed, which is the whole point of being a successful member of Congress?

Hell friggin' no.

Kucinich sees failure as some kind of marketable success to have contributions to pad his wallet. He is no better than a conman yelling in a subway that you need to buy your ticket from him to get on the train. You buy the ticket and get jackshit in return.

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[flvegan]

41. Okay, name him or her.

"Bush might have been impeached if a REAL legislator had been able to rally more than a handful of others to vote for impeachment."

Please utter the name of the "REAL legislator" that would have ever done it. Please follow that up with the names of the folks that would have bought in, supporting it properly.

Go ahead. Your complicit and worthless leaders await your support in this.

Puppets are fun.

[zulchzulu]

33. Kucinich is on record wanting to ban all handguns in the US... imagine Democrats following that...

Talk about absolute political suicide as well as an insane attack on trying to be as unconstitutional as ever.

Let's say that the Democratic Party embraced Kucinich's opinion/screed/diffuse insanity that all handguns should be declared illegal. Talk about an absolutely careless stance to have to defend.

That's Kucinich in his ultimate form... utopian purist sophistry on really bad acid.

[mr715]

35. Department of Peace

Department of Plenty

Department of Love

Department of Truth

[grantcart]

38. Some of us think that his work passing legislation on the Ukranian Museum was worth

all of the alienation he stirs within his own caucus.

Of course if he were more moderate he would have passed the bill supporting a Monrovian museum but I for one am glad that he has stood by himself and never built any legislative bridges.

Fuck the Monrovians.

[cliffordu]

39. You better watch out with the having sex with the Monrovians.

They have the rockin' pneumonia and the boogy woogy flue.

Or so I heard.

[Cha]

66. Fuck alienation.

:)

[Grand Taurean]

42. One Dem stands on principle and the left base trashes him.

You are getting exactly what you deserve from this administration.

[cali]

44. One dem? uh no

just because you're ignorant of others doesn't mean they don't exist.

[freddie mertz]

51. This isn't the left base that is trashing him.

it's the corporate establishment Dems, aided by a smattering of leftist-lite dupes.

[HughMoran]

52. If there's only one Dem who stands on principal

...yet he never has accomplished anything for the American people, then we got BIG problems.

Fortunately, your post is utter bullshit.

[Warren Stupidity]

64. The left is not trashing here. Our DU right is loading the pig pile.

[austin78704]

54. If that makes Kucininch a bad congressman

then the same logic will make the majority of republicans good congressmen since they got all kinds of bills passed--nevermind that they're all shit bills that did tremendous harm,

OTOH, if you look at Kucinich's speeches, he's been on the correct side of just about every fight. Had the other democrats stood up with him, we'd not be wasting so much money and so many lives in Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. We'd have a better energy policy, we'd have a better education system, we'd have better just about everything that the congress has touched. The healthcare fight would be over and we'd all be covered. Maybe we ought to be pounding on the appeasement wing of the democrats.

Kucinich is a man who'd rather be right than powerful.

You know, applying the OP's logic to Obama vs. Bush, Bush was a better president because he got a whole lot more done in the same amount of time. Either we're all on the wrong team, or the OP's logic is bullshit.

[mr715]

65. Look at his SPEECHES?

Rhetoric does not a leader make.

We can all talk a good game, heck even some hardcore republicans talk a big game. Saying something and doing something are very different. And you know that is true.


Kucinich is a man that would rather be the lone voice than a constructive leader. He is oppositional for the sake of being a "blessed" loser than a winner with true blue values.

Kucinich would become a carnivore if veganism became widespread. He would vote for the public option if it was going to lose. He would vote for anything as long as he goes down. He has this weird reverse victim complex where he derives his sense of meaning from always, always being on the losing side.

He is what makes Democrats look like fools. I'd rather have a mature, calculating, and successful Congressman than a man who has passed jack in 8 terms.

[austin78704]

68. But he's right.

He doesn't just look right, he is right.

And what, exactly, have our more calculating democrats gained us? Looks to me like they're just as ineffective as you complain Kucinich is, but they don't have any principles to stand on.

Don't pony up some sob story about Kucinich undermining the rest of the democrats--he's only one congressman. If he can ruin their plans all by his lonesome, their plans weren't worth a shit anyway.

Your victim complex theory is just made-up bullshit. You're attacking him to justify ignoring the fact that he's been correct on almost every issue. He was against the war long before it was popular, and he continued to be against the war after it was popularly hated.

[mr715]

71. He was wrong about abortion.

He's been wrong on health care, on climate change, on S-CHIP, on flag burning...

He's been wrong on a lot.

But Kucinich also threw support to John Edwards, the author of the Iraq War Resolution. Perhaps Kucinich isn't as right on the war as you think.

[austin78704]

72. You and I see things differently

I look at his stance on health care and see it as right, where you see it as wrong, so arguing that would be pointless.

However, I will argue one thing: Kucinich is not responsible for Edwards' behavior, Edwards is responsible for Edwards' behavior.

You're shifting goalposts. Accusing him of being ineffective didn't hold water since the capitulators haven't made any progress either, so you switch to personally attacking him. When your personal attack against him--accusing him of having some kind of complex--didn't work, you shifted to blaming him for the behavior of someone else. That didn't work either, now what will you shift your criteria to?

For the life of me I can't understand why the democrats now see liberals as their enemies. Why on earth are you running around _Democratic_ Underground, accusing Democrats of being as bad as republicans and using bogus arguments to support that instead of out in public, accusing actual republicans of being a bunch of obstructionist assholes which is the actual goddamned truth!? What are you trying to achieve?

[mr715]

75. Here is my problem with Kucinich

1) He is ineffective. He has never produced meaningful legislation.

2) He is unable to forge coalition.

3) He is unwilling to accept plurality of opinion.

4) He does not represent the desires of his constituents and instead crusades on national pet issues.

5) He pursues a set of interests that are certain to fail and regularly changes his position if it appears as though something is going to succeed. Success is the enemy because it is all part of a grand conspiracy.

Here is my problem with Kucinich supporters.

1) They are intellectually inconsistent. They will grant Kucinich forgiveness for changing his positions on abortion but not Kerry or Edwards or Clinton for changing their positions. They ignore Obama's consistent voice in favor of the Iraq War, but laud Kucinich's.

2) They ignore actions of their candidate and conflate rhetoric with ability.

3) They will complain about "Democrats in Name Only" because they demand compromise, but won't call foul when Kucinich votes hard line with the Republicans on EVERY issue just because he says it doesn't go far enough.

4) They call him Dennis, which screams cult to me.


I want my Democrats loyal. I want the party to fight for their President, and pass legislation. We have a hostile media and a horribly weak caucus. We need health care because I know people that are dying, and this is about PEOPLE not insurance companies. I don't want to punish insurance for being evil, I want to insure 40 million of the poorest americans.

Let the bill grow over time, but lets accept a small victory over... nothing?

[goclark]

76. Bingo!

[mr715]

79. Let me also add,

I appreciate what you have to say and I want to be clear that I do not have an instant and all consuming dislike for Kucinich supporters.

I have an instant dislike for people that are irrationally attached to any politician.

But I do very much believe you are incorrect about Mr. Kucinich's motives. I don't think they serve anyone but Kucinich.

[Name removed]

73. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Forkboy]

62. The beatings will continue until morale improves.

God, if ever there was a Party that deserves all it gets....

[niceypoo]

63. Ok, so now principles are now a bad thing...

Smeared for not being a sell out. My, how far we have fallen.

Principles are the latest speed bump at the greyhound station.

[Douglas Carpenter]

69. 2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Americans for Democratic Action 95%

the fact is, Mr. Kucinich has an outstanding progressive record across the board!!

2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Americans for Democratic Action 95 percent in 2008.

http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=318

2007-2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association 100 percent in 2007-2008.

2007-2008 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to National Farmers Union's position, Representative Kucinich received a rating of 75.

2007-2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund 93 percent in 2007-2008.

2007-2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the The Humane Society Legislative Fund 108 percent in 2007-2008. Members of Congress who led as prime sponsors of pro-animal legislation received "extra-credit" equivalent to one vote or one co sponsorship, 17% for a Senator or 8% for a Representative of the House.

2007-2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union 100 percent in 2007-2008

2007-2008 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Arab American Institute's position, Representative Kucinich received a rating of 100.

2007-2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Human Rights Campaign 100 percent in 2007-2008.

2007-2008 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Leadership Conference on Civil Rights's position, Representative Kucinich received a rating of 87.

2007-2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the American Association of University Women 90 percent in 2007-2008..

2007-2008 In 2007-2008 National Education Association gave Representative Kucinich a grade of A.

2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Latin America Working Group 75 percent in 2008.

2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Environment America 85 percent in 2008.

2007-2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund 93 percent in 2007-2008.

2007-2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the League of Conservation Voters 85 percent in the First and Second Sessions of Congress in 2007-2008..


2008 In 2008 Citizens for Global Solutions gave Representative Kucinich a grade of A.

2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Friends Committee on National Legislation 100 percent in 2008.

2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Peace Action West 100 percent in 2008


2007-2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association 100 percent in 2007-2008.

2007-2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 0 percent in 2007-2008..


Agriculture Issues


2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the National Association of Wheat Growers 89 percent in 2008.

2007-2008 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to National Farmers Union's position, Representative Kucinich received a rating of 75.


Animal Rights and Wildlife Issues



2007-2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund 93 percent in 2007-2008.

2007-2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the The Humane Society Legislative Fund 108 percent in 2007-2008. Members of Congress who led as prime sponsors of pro-animal legislation received "extra-credit" equivalent to one vote or one co sponsorship, 17% for a Senator or 8% for a Representative of the House.

2007-2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the The Humane Society of the United States 100+ percent in both sessions of Congress in 2007-2008.


Campaign Finance and Election Issues


2007 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the League of Women Voters 80 percent in 2007.



Education


2007-2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the American Association of University Women 90 percent in 2007-2008.

2007-2008 In 2007-2008 National Education Association gave Representative Kucinich a grade of A.


Employment and Affirmative Action


2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Latin America Working Group 75 percent in 2008.






Environmental Issues


2008b] Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Environment America 85 percent in 2008.

2007-2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund 93 percent in 2007-2008.

2007-2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the League of Conservation Voters 85 percent in the First and Second Sessions of Congress in 2007-2008.

Foreign Aid and Policy Issues


2008 In 2008 Armenian National Committee of America gave Representative Kucinich a grade of B+.

2008 In 2008 Citizens for Global Solutions gave Representative Kucinich a grade of A.

2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Friends Committee on National Legislation 100 percent in 2008.

2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Peace Action West 100 percent in 2008.

2007-2008 In 2007-2008 Council for a Livable World gave Representative Kucinich a rating of 87 percent..

2007-2008 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation's position, Representative Kucinich received a rating of +3.



Labor


2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 93 percent in 2008

2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the AFL-CIO - Lifetime 96 percent during their legislative career up until 2008..

2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees 86 percent in 2008.

2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees - Lifetime 97 percent during their legislative career up until 2008.

2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Latin America Working Group 75 percent in 2008.

2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Service Employees International Union 100 percent in 2008.


2008 In 2008 United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers rated politicians in selected states. They gave Representative Kucinich a rating of 100.

2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Utility Workers Union of America 100 percent in 2008.

2007-2008 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Federally Employed Women's position, Representative Kucinich received a rating of 80.

2007-2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the United Food & Commercial Workers 100 percent in 2007-2008.

2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Alliance for Retired Americans - Lifetime 92 percent during their legislative career up until 2008.

. 2007 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the PFLAG, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays 100 percent in 2007. .

2008 In 2008 Drum Major Institute for Public Policy gave Representative Kucinich a grade of A+.

2008 In 2008 NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby gave Representative Kucinich a rating of 83 percent

2007-2008 Based on the votes, committee votes, co-sponsorships and other leadership actions that took place between 2007-2008 the Secular Coalition for America assigned Representative Kucinich a grade of A+. With grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F.

2007-2008 In 2007-2008 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Representative Kucinich a grade of A.

2006 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 100 percent in 2006.

2008 In 2008 The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law gave Representative Kucinich a grade of 94 percent..

2007-2008 Representative Kucinich supported the interests of the American Association of University Women 90 percent in 2007-2008.

2007-2008 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Federally Employed Women's position, Representative Kucinich received a rating of 80.

2007-2008 On the votes used to calculate its ratings, the National Organization for Women attaches more value to those votes it considers more important. For 2007-2008, the National Organization for Women gave Representative Kucinich a rating of 87 percent..


http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=318

[dionysus]

77. pardon me, but a list of individual votes on bills doesn't mean anything when there's tons of dems

with the same voting record. it doesn't make him unique or special.

[Douglas Carpenter]

78. it does show that this nonsense about not voting with the Democrats or never being pragmatic is

nonsense. What makes Mr. Kucinich special is that he is one of only a handful of Democratic members of Congress who on almost every issue takes a strong progressive stand - and though, I personally think he is making a mistake by not following Bernie Sander's example of voting for the current health care bill while continuing to work for the goal of single-payer - the fact remains Representative Kucinich on an issue by issue level is far more in tune with advancing the kind of progressive agenda that the vast majority of mainstream Democrats actually would want to support - but is usually kept off the table by the power of special interest.

The fact that single-payer is not even permitted to be placed on the table when a majority of Americans would support at least a Medicare for all program or some form of single-payer - is a sad statement about the current realities of American democracy. The fact that EVEN a public option that is supported by the overwhelming majority of Americans, - even with a Democratic President who campaigned on that issue and won - EVEN with the largest Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress in decades - but still it is not going to happen. Now this is truly a sad statement about the realities of American democracy.

When an overwhelming majority of the American people want a public option, when the Democrats campaigned on a public option and won. When the Democrats hold the largest majorities in both houses of Congress in decades. Yet there is no chance that a public options is going to happen - if that doesn't make the Democrats in Congress look ineffectual - I don't know what it could possibly take. They are truly shooting themselves in their own foot by thwarting the will of the American people and reneging on the promises that they ran on and won on.

It seems to me that the U.S. Congress needs at least few voices of genuine progressive dissent and at least a few voices who will say out loud what a significant portion of the population is thinking. Someone like Dennis Kucinich at least keeps the cause of real change and significant change alive.

[RBInMaine]

70. Kucinich's intentions are good, but his uncompromising positions are STUPID !

[harkadog]

80. Yes and bills Kucinich has not sponsored such as funding

for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have become law. Other Democrats sponsored those bills and voted for them. We are supposed to celebrate that? Those bills are accomplishments?

[mr715]

82. Give me a million dollars.

I didn't kill someone today.


We should not award kudos based on what people DO NOT do. We should honor people that are capable of doing something, not just complain about how movement is not fast enough.

[Cha]

83. Kick

[freddie mertz]

85. Kick!

Up there with the other Dennis sucks threads.

[Name removed]

87. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LanternWaste]

88. I imagine that a man who...

I imagine that a man who holds onto the courage of his progressive convictions and rails against the typical D.C. establishment of high-dollar PACs isn't going to be very popular.