Freedom Rider: Democrats Target Kucinich for Defeat
by BAR editor and senior columnist Margaret Kimberley
"Somewhere, somehow people have to win a victory over
corporate control and corporate greed." - Congressman Dennis
Kucinich
In his presidential campaigns in 2004 and 2008, Ohio
Congressman Dennis Kucinich told Democrats a brutal truth. Party orthodoxy is a
disaster, a series of lies that must no longer be accepted. While his
opponents, Obama, Clinton and Edwards, made it clear they weren't serious about
ending the occupation of Iraq, Kucinich presented a plan to do just that. When
they made the case for leaving a failed for-profit health care system intact,
Kucinich said that non-profit universal care was possible. He
co-sponsored legislation calling for impeachment hearings against
Vice President Cheney and President Bush while leadership declared the
criminals should go free.
While Barack Obama garners 80% to 90% of black votes in the
primaries, it is the Kucinich platform that actually expresses the political
opinions of most
black Americans. Disavowal of American military aggression and support for
government enforcement of legal and civil rights of citizens are the hallmarks
of Kucinich's history. Obama makes eloquent but empty speeches bereft of
specifics. In contrast, Kucinich's national political life appeared to be over
shortly after it began because he took a courageous stand against corporate
power.
"It is the Kucinich platform that actually expresses the
political opinions of most black Americans."
Elected mayor of Cleveland in 1977, Dennis Kucinich refused to
allow a privately owned electrical utility to purchase that city's publicly
owned utility. In an effort to force the sale and thereby create a monopoly,
banks refused to extend the city any credit and plunged it into default.
Kucinich paid the price for his principles when he was defeated in his
re-election effort. Years later Kucinich was vindicated, having stopped what
would have been an enormous corporate theft of public money and services.
Kucinich returned first to the Cleveland City Council, then
the Ohio state legislature, and in 1996 he was elected to Congress. Despite his
vast experience, he was forced to drop out of this year's presidential race.
The lack of media and debate access were not his only problems. He faces a
fierce challenge that once again puts his political survival in jeopardy.
In December 2007, Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman
declared himself a challenger for Kucinich's congressional seat. Within fifteen
days, Cimperman raised more than $39,000 from fifteen
contributors, none of whom reside in the 10th District that is being
contested. Cimperman is no different from these contributors. He doesn't live
in the district either but that doesn't matter to the lawyers, bankers and real
estate developers who are giving him money. They expect
access and influence. Cimperman's address, like the interests of residents, is
of no importance to them.
Cimperman supporters are not alone in wanting Kucinich out
of office. Cleveland's daily newspaper, the Plain
Dealer, endorsed Cimperman, and didn't mince words about wanting
Kucinich gone.
"Kucinich repeatedly has
defied House Speaker Nancy Pelosi."
"Congress runs on relationships and loyalties. Yet Kucinich
repeatedly has defied House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her leadership team [emphasis mine] by not
supporting their attempts to impose a deadline on U.S. involvement in Iraq -
even when those attempts were part of realistic bipartisan proposals to
recalibrate a policy he detests."
Support for Nancy Pelosi and the awful Democratic
Congressional leadership should not be held up as the standard for political
success. After declaring that Kucinich's principles aren't worth supporting,
the Plain Dealer heaps further insult by comparing Kucinich to Democrats
who win approval by failing the people. Barney Frank is used as an example. ".
. . he knows when and how to cut a deal. He delivers [emphasis mine] for
his party, his constituents and his beliefs."
Citizens never benefit from what Barney Frank or Nancy
Pelosi would call victory. There is no bipartisan recalibration with the Bush
regime. Bush still gets what he wants from Democrats. They fund the Iraq
occupation, support trade deals that endanger American workers, refuse to
rebuild the Gulf Coast, and say nothing when administration officials ignore
their subpoenas. Because acquiescence is equated with political rectitude,
Kucinich flunks the test.
"Kucinich was the only progressive in the presidential
campaign."
So great is the pressure to get rid of Kucinich, that
Cleveland's Mayor, Frank Jackson, also endorsed Cimperman. Elected officials
usually endorse incumbents, or refrain from making endorsements altogether. The
pressure to get rid of Kucinich is overwhelming.
The Democratic leadership has a history of punishing their
own who dare to oppose Republicans. Cynthia McKinney was twice sent packing from
Congress because she wouldn't toe the line. Now it may be Kucinich's turn.
Kucinich is a "black" congressional candidate. He was the
only progressive in the presidential campaign. His re-election should be the
first priority for activists in this presidential campaign year. Imagine a
Congress with no voice for impeachment. Imagine Congress with no questions
about Iraqi civilian casualties. Imagine a Congress without Kucinich when Bush
decides on his pretext for war against Iran. Imagine the worst, because that is
what we will have if Kucinich is defeated.
Margaret Kimberley's Freedom
Rider column appears weekly in BAR. Ms. Kimberley lives in New York City, and
can be reached via e-Mail at Margaret.Kimberley(at)BlackAgandaReport.Com. Ms.
Kimberley maintains an edifying and frequently updated blog at freedomrider.blogspot.com. More
of her work is also available at her Black Agenda Report archive page.
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