Disciple of Science and Young Democrat have been debating over the merits of two potential vice presidential nominees for Barack Obama: Dennis Kucinich and Hillary Clinton. I don't have a strong opinion on this issue: we have two months until Obama announces the VP, but I want to correct some misconceptions about both Clinton and Kucinich. [CONTINUED: Click "Read More"]
First of all, I'm afraid Young Democrat has not read into the history of Kucinich's term as mayor of Cleveland. Kucinich was a largely self-educated man; throughout his childhood his family moved over twenty times, always in search of an affordable home. After a failed attempt at a city council seat, a powerful grassroots effort elected him mayor of Cleveland at a record 31 years of age. Against the wishes of 90% of the population, Kucinich refused to privatize the city-owned utility Muni Light. The mafia attempted an assassination.
Kucinich understood that privatization would mean through-the-roof electricity bills for the city and staunchly stood with his principles, knowing he would lose his seat because of it. Sure enough, popular anger swept him out on a recall vote and put Republican George Voinovich in office. Voinovich is now a conservative Republican senator from Ohio.
With no support, Kucinich's life crumbled, but in time his predictions were proven correct. Ten years after sacrificing his career for an ungrateful city, he was vindicated. Studies showed that his courageous actions had saved the city several hundred million dollars. In a show of support, he was elected a representative to Congress in 1996 and has since been easily reelected five times. If that's not a profile in courage, I don't know what is.
I greatly admire Kucinich for his willingness to speak his mind and not go along with the status quo. He has criticized the Bush administration's "drum beating" on Iran and introduced articles of impeachment against him. On matters of courage and principle Dennis Kucinich is an American hero.
However, as Young Democrat pointed out, he has many drawbacks. He is thrice married and openly claims to have seen a UFO, both things which put him slightly out of the mainstream.
My conclusion: Dennis Kucinich would not be a viable vice president. He is, though, a principled leader and not by any means a "loony".
Obama '08
-The Young Sentinel
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
The Kucinich Controversy
(Representative Dennis Kucinich, Democrat of Ohio)
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The debate between Young Democrat and Disciple of Science about potential vice-presidential candidates has been resolved.
To Linda Zimmer and Trisha, who voiced concerns about possible implications of certain comments, Young Sentinel sincerely apologizes. The debate originated from a mistake of wording which was misconstrued and led to a debate in which Senator Clinton's integrity was questioned. Please know that this is not the position of this blog or any of the contributors, and we are very sorry that some comments were interpreted as sexist. The mistake in wording has been rectified, and the parties involved will post personal apologies. A spirited debate got out of hand, and I hope we can recognize this and move on.
I deeply apologize from the bottom of my heart if my words were misinterpreted to be sexist of chauvinistic. I made an idiotic error in word choice how I attempted to illustrate a broad point in one word. This word, "integrity," was used much too loosely and therefore the point that I was trying to make, (specifically that the poor qualities that Hillary Clinton illustrated when she claimed victory in the popular vote without counting any of the caucus states were not isolated to that single incident,) was lost to oblivion. I unconditionally regret this word choice and the ensuing uncivil argument which, in attempting to quell, I only perpetuated. I AM NOT sexist in any sense of the word and have always been an advocate for women's rights.
I again apologize and hope that we can, once and for all, put the final nails in this arguments vulgar and gruesome coffin.
Note: I noticed a small punctuation error in my apology. The word arguments in the last paragraph should be argument's.
More errors:
* In the first sentence: "sexist of chauvinistic" should be "sexist or chauvinistic."
* In the second sentence: "word choice how" should be deleted.
I apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused.
Disregard the second * on my previous correction.
"Word choice how" should be "word choice and how."
I know I'm probably being overly meticulous with this and I again apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused.
I accept your apology. If your words were misinterpreted by me, I apologize. As I have said before, I do not believe you are sexist.
When Hillary Clinton was speaking to the NYSL via cell phone on June 4th, she spoke a sentence of wisdom: "It's time to forgive, forget and finally move on." I will follow the Senator's advice here; while striving to to exude her identity, intelligence and integrity every day, everywhere I go.
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