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The
Michigan Socialist | News | Michigan
Kucinich: Nice words, but a little
late
By JOE
DeNEEN
The Michigan Socialist
ON TUESDAY, August 26, a reception was held in
Flint Township for Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), one of
nine candidates for the Democratic Presidential nomination.
Congressman Kucinich spoke predominately on
his antiwar and peace stance and briefly glossed over his
universal health care and education platform.
 Unfortunately, he departed
within an hour and after ten minutes of supportive questions
from the audience.
The event was organized on short notice, held
at the Flint Township Carman-Ainsworth Senior Center, and
scheduled from 4:45 to 6 p.m.
However, Kucinich did not arrive until shortly
after 6 p.m. and his campaign manager drove him away an hour
later to go to his next stop in Southfield.
The audience of approximately 50 people was
predominately members of Michigan Citizens for Peace and the
Democratic Party, and included individuals of all ages.
The composition of the audience was white and
middle class; not a single African American, and only a
handful from the working class.
The tardiness did not sit well with many,
though only a handful left disgusted, including a reporter
from the local Fox television station.
One attendee was left unsatisfied and
unimpressed with the lateness and shortness of Kucinich who
spoke little on the issues -- it was a pep rally for his
supporters.
While waiting for Kucinich, the Chairman of
the Genesee County Democratic Party, John Nickola, spoke at
length, calling on the audience to join the Democrats, to
bring the fight to Bush.
Nickola employed the usual rant, "you are
allowed to disagree with 20 percent of our platform and
disagreement is your democratic right," to motivate
individuals to join.
(Sorry John, we Socialists oppose capitalism,
so that "20 percent" is huge!)
He also made many references to "evil" people,
and one reference sums up the "big tent" mentality of the
"left" Democrats.
He implied that if the audience's candidate
(Kucinich) lost the nomination, they would be allowing "evil
people" to be elected, by becoming apathetic and not
supporting whomever became the Democratic candidate.
Upon Kucinich's arrival, to the singing of "We
Shall Not Be Moved," the audience livened up with standing
applause and cheers.
Kucinich came in thanking the organizers, and
jumped directly into a rant against the Iraq war and
occupation, the Bush Doctrine of pre-emption, and called for
the abolition of nuclear weapons, and a 15 percent cut to the
outrageous military budget of over $400 billion.
He called for an America that thinks from the
heart and embraces the world community with a vision of peace
and unity, not separation and chaos.
On domestic issues, Kucinich briefly spoke
about the need for universal health care, with touching
stories of people he has spoken to throughout his campaign.
He concluded his speech with a brief mention
of "college for all citizens" and "for free! for free!" as the
reception was forced to end due to a 7 p.m. senior event
requiring the room.
Outside, a handful of questions arose on how
people could help him. This reporter had a couple pointed
questions that could not be asked or answered.
Kucinich had said that all Iraqi oil is for
the Iraqi people and there should be no privatization. Would
he would apply that logic to the United States and nationalize
all resources from oil, mining, water, electricity, heat,
etc.? After all, if public ownership is good enough for the
Iraqi people, should it not be for the American people?
What electoral reforms, if any, would he enact
to ensure democracy and a voice for all citizens?
Specifically, what would his campaign do for the Socialist
Party, or other "third parties," to even consider supporting
him?
Indeed, Kucinich sounds like a good candidate
-- for the Democratic Party. However, the problem is he is not
a socialist, and only pushes for the social-capitalism of
Europe.
There was no reason given why the Greens,
Socialists and others at this event should support him, other
than declaring himself to be the "only" antiwar candidate who
is also for social justice, and "one of us" (whatever that
means). | 
