Ode to The Silenced Drummer with the Different Beat
Legal Name: Dennis John Kucinich
Onyx Name: Dennis “Hell’s Snowball” Kucinich
Nickname: The Democrat’s Ron Paul
Current Office: U.S. House Representative,
Ohio
: January 1997 to Present
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Unofficial Sect: Left-Wing. Period.
His Campaign’s Tagline:
Strength Through Peace
Onyx’s Tagline for Kucinich:
Shit, We Tried.
Why He Wasn’t a Major Contender: Money, Power, Respect. He garners plenty of each from a core group of enlightened supporters, but not enough of either from the larger American constituency. Considering the economic and political woes of
Cleveland
, many are pissed that he “wasted” his time running in the first place.
Onyx’s Take on Kucinich: For anyone aware of what Kucinich has been up against as a candidate, his withdrawal from the race is disheartening and enraging. We could go into a long explanation of all that is wrong with his forced departure (it was not voluntary), but we’ll get straight to the point. Kucinich’s exit is a significant and regrettable statement on how much money and big party influence affect one’s ability to really compete in the race to lead this country. How things went down for him (for those who were following) was a testament to the race’s preference, and thus
America
’s, for packaging and popularity over product. He consistently had to spend time, money and energy fighting to get primetime space, debate assignments and even his name on the ballot. There was no question that he had the experience and the ideas. The Issues Library on his website features over 80 topics grouped within 10 larger focus areas. (Women’s Issues, as a category, are missing on his list, but they didn’t make Obama’s either.)
Kucinich was by FAR the most left-wing candidate still in the race, especially after Bill Richardson dropped out. His extensive legislative record backed up what and who he claimed to be. Onyx Cranium doesn’t suffer from the impulse to romanticize Kucinich. He definitely has his quirks and his shifted stance on Roe v. Wade didn’t inspire confidence. His motivation does often get in his own way. For example his decision to not recognize September 11th as a day of remembrance could be viewed as ignorant and/or insensitive. But what other politician would support a “no” vote by asserting that the government was complicit in the attack? Of course Kucinich isn’t a perfect person, but he walked his talk and had been doing so for quite some time, even in a Congressional environment that was as hostile to left-wing agenda items as any other in history.
Yet an examination of his issues (outside of those featured on his campaign website) revealed that he was not expecting to win. Most of his papers were opinion positions rather than policy blueprints, but he still showed key insight into a gambit of several central issues that were lumped together, ignored or minimized by his rivals. Some would rebut that this is a free country and any person can still launch a campaign (over 100 people are officially running) and take their chances. Sure, they can. But it will merely be a symbolic exercise in democracy rather than the viable existence of it.
Just for Kicks, Kucinich’s Issues:
Campaign Issues
* Campaign Finance
* Campaign Reform and IRV
* Electronic Voting
* Media Reform
* Open Debates
Crime/Law Issues
* Crime
* Death Penalty
* Drug War
* Gun Laws, Gun Rights & Violence
* Mandatory Minimum Sentences
* Marijuana Decriminalization
Economic/Financial Issues
* Corporate Power
* Economic Justice
* Farm Policy
* H-1B and L-1 Visas
* Jobs Programs / Infrastructure
* Manufacturing
* Minimum Wage
* Outsourcing Jobs
* Public Services
* Small Business Growth
* Social Security
* Taxes
* Workers' Rights
Environmental Issues
* Clean Air
* Clean Water
* Electronic Waste
* Energy
* Environment
* Forests and Logging on Public Lands
* Genetically Engineered Food
* Hemp
* Nuclear Safety
* Organic Farming
Family/Social Issues
* The Arts
* Children's Issues
* Domestic Violence
* Education
* Housing
* Poverty
* Predatory Lending
* Seniors
* Vouchers
Health Issues
* AIDS
* Complementary and Alternative Medicine
* Mad Cow Disease
* Medical Marijuana
* Medicare Bill
* Mental Health
* Prescription Drugs
* Universal Health Care
International Issues
* Aid to
Africa
* Cuban Embargo
*
Haiti
* International Cooperation
* The Kucinich Plan for
Iraq
*
Korea
*
Middle East
* Sweat Shops
* Trade
* World Hunger
Military/Defense Issues
* Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
* Department of Peace
* Depleted Uranium
* The Draft
* Military Budget
* National Security
* Nuclear Weapons
* Terrorism
* Torture
* Veterans
* Weapons and Non-Proliferation
Race/Ethnicity Issues
* Affirmative Action
* African American Issues
* Native Americans
* Arab Americans
* Irish-Americans
* Racial Discrimination
Rights Issues
* Animal Rights
* Civil Liberties
* DC Statehood
* Disability Rights
* Immigrants' Rights
* LGBTQ Rights
* Patriot Act
* Reproductive Rights
* Voting Rights
* Water as a Human Right
Parting Words:
“There is a point at which you just realize that you, look, you accept it, that it isn't going to happen and you move on.”
Although Kucinich is talking about his bid for the Democratic nomination, we believe that “it” could mean a lot more – including “revolution.”
