The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal

Kucinich outlines plan for 'peace with honor' in Iraq
By Terry Dillman Of the News-Times


U.N. in, U.S. out.

Distilled to its essence, that is the Dennis Kucinich plan to end what he calls the "illegal and unjustified" war in Iraq, and take a giant step toward restoring America's credibility throughout the world.

Kucinich, a Democratic Congressman from Ohio, outlined his plan as part of a May 15 presidential primary campaign stop at Lincoln City's Bijou Theatre.

A standing-room-only crowd filled the 172-seat theatre to greet and hear Kucinich, who - despite the almost inevitable nomination of Massachusetts Senator John Kerry as his party's nominee for president - has stayed the course for one "primary" reason: To work for much-needed change within the Democratic Party. He wants to remain the voice of those people whose issues Kerry and other party leaders are either ignoring or not discussing.

"The Democratic Party needs every vote to win in November," he said. "We must stand for something that represents the values and practical aspirations of American citizens."

Elected to Congress in 1996, the former Cleveland mayor is the only presidential candidate who voted against the "civil liberties-shredding" PATRIOT Act. He also rallied opposition to the war in Iraq, raising it from a small group of dissenters to the almost two-thirds of House Democrats who voted against the war resolution. Kucinich has also emerged as a national political leader of the progressive movement, and his focus on the primary in Oregon, where many progressive initiatives get their start, aimed at tallying enough votes to send a message to the presumptive nominee and party leaders to indicate "they don't represent your views on the issues."

Kucinich backs universal health care with a single payer plan; full Social Security benefits at age 65; withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement and World Trade Organization; a woman's right to choose, the right to privacy, and civil rights; balance between worker's rights and corporate profits; quality education from pre-kindergarten through college; environmental protection and clean energy; restoring rural communities and family farms; repealing the PATRIOT Act; and a renewed commitment to peace.

Peace emerged as the central theme in Lincoln City.

Standing in...(Full Story)