Phone Home Kucinich: UFO Lobby Wants Hillary/Richardson Ticket

It was, at once, the most unanticipated and head-scratching moment during Tuesday's presidential debate at Drexel University. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-OH, was pestered by moderator Tim Russert regarding the congressman's claimed sighting of a UFO while staying with writer Shirley MacLaine. Kucinich stood by the previous account (watch video), asking Russert to repeat the fact that 14 percent of Americans claim to have seen a UFO at some point in their life.

One might think that the Ohioan's candidness earned him the endorsement of the community of extraterrestrial believers. But not so fast.

According to Stephen Bassett, Executive Director of the Paradigm Research Group and chief lobbyist of the Extraterrestrial Phenomena Political Action Committee, Kucinich isn't even the preferred Democratic vice presidential candidate. That honor goes to Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico. As for Bassett's choice for president, Sen. Hillary Clinton inhabits the mothership.

"Hillary has a connection there because there is no way she and John Podesta [Bill Clinton's former chief of staff, who has advocated declassifying relevant government records] weren't fully aware of it. She knows this issue is not trivial," said Bassett. "Of the 20 candidates the two who have clearly identifiable connections to the issue are those two [Clinton and Richardson]. Kucinich is number three."

For extraterrestrial enthusiasts, the issue of prime importance is ending the UFO truth embargo, something Bassett believes the next Democratic president will do "so that the cover up doesn't become their cover up." He acknowledges that his organization's political support doesn't translate into campaign donations, or, for that matter, many earth-bound votes. And he laments the fact that Republicans - with Sen. McCain, R-AZ, being the possible exception - aren't more "out there" on "exopolitics." Mostly, however, he has little patience for the theory that a candidate who addresses Martian-themed issues will lose any and all political credibility.

"I don't care if they can or can't win. I'm sick and tired of candidates who say I can't talk about this or that because I want to be president. That's bull****," said Bassett. "They want to lead the free world, but they can't talk about an issue of that implication?"

Comments

[johnyjack]

you know there are kooks out there and there are liars like dubya also. I don't know anyone who has seen a ufo and I have not seen one either. with all that said I do believe however, some good people have seen something. what it was they don't know and maybe no one knows. is the chance of ufo's being real better than the bible being true? beam me up scotty.

[Yopitt]

What about Ronald Regan and Nancy who ran the White House and country according to what the Astrologist told them each day.

[olivia]

Here are a few examples of Tim Russert's "credibility"

http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/people/timrussert

[olivia]

Kucinich is the smartest and most courageous of the bunch. He has my vote.

Introduced H.R. 1234 to end the Iraq war

Rightly says Congress cannot end the war by continuing to fund it

Introduced articles of impeachment against Cheney

Trying to introduce articles of impeachment against Bush

And have you seen that wife?

[vapaday]

A Clinton/Richardson ticket is certainly more credible than Obama as VP. Gov. Richardson brings an incredible wealth of International experience, and as well his role as Governor and Congressman. Yes, I know its not politically correct to have a Hispanic on the ticket ahead of Obama, but The Us needs leaders, not pop-sicle stars.

[olivia]

Tim Russert email:

msnbc.com.com

[Yopitt]

How is this different from Ronald and Nancy Regan who seeked their guidance from Astrology.

[Postroad]

I do not believe in UFOs. That saidk I did come across a place that uoted Jimmy Carter, when he was running for president, and he claimed that he had seen a UFO and was aware that many people claimed the govt covered up what it had on this subject. Carter, according to what I had read, stated that if elected he would make available all things the govt had on UFOs. He didn't. I wrote him (in care of Plains) and asked about this but I got no answer.

[quietman42]

The question asked of Dennis was a lose/lose set of options. Had he denied the report he would be abandoning those of his friends who see him as honest and open. By admitting that he, like a small proportion of Americans, has at least once seen an object in the sky they couldn't identify, he opens himself up to ridicule. He should have turned the question around. He was much too slow and hesitant in making the point that (1) he didn't know what the object was, and (2) that doesn't imply anything about whether the object was extraterrestrial or not.

[UNCLEJOE]

I was in the AAF during WW II where air craft identification was part of our visual training classes. In the summer of 1955 the weather was so hot many of us slept on the beaches to escape the heat. That was the night I saw a glowing unidentified object hovering in the sky maybe a mile overhead. After hovering still in the air for a minute or two, it spiraled upward toward the south in a streak and disappeared from view. There is no aircraft even today that can move so fast that it could disappear flying upward at a diagonal in what was a matter of two seconds.
Kucinich is no kook, he's what the Republican controlled DCCC would like to eliminate.
posted 10/31/2007 at 13:39:39

[UNCLEJOE]

I was in the AAF during WW II where air craft identification was part of our visual training classes. In the summer of 1955 the weather was so hot many of us slept on the beaches to escape the heat. That was the night I saw a glowing unidentified object hovering in the sky maybe a mile overhead. After hovering still in the air for a minute or two, it spiraled upward toward the south in a streak and disappeared from view. There is no aircraft even to day that can move so fast that it could disappear flying upward in what was a matter of two seconds.
Kucinich is no kook, he's what the Republican controlled DCCC would like to eliminate.

[AngryMonkey]

How bout that asswipe Russert asking a question that is worthwhile to ask. Like "What is your plan for ending the Iraq war?" or maybe "Briefly tell us your plan for Universal Health Care."
But of course the idiot can't ask those questions it would ruin his rep of not asking the right questions.

[konchster]

Well hopefully if we do get alien visitors it's after Bush is gone from office He's pissed everyone in this world off let's not start with other worlds

[hydenorhare]

They must never exclude little Dennis from these debates. Never.

I don't care if his support drops to .006%.

He's the best comic relief among that group of comedians ... quite a feat.

Besides, you exclude him and his people will vaporize you with a proton disintegration beam next time they pay a visit.

[tommo]

I was lucky to see Dennis speak in person. The crowd started to applaud frequently. But the end people were clapping, shouting, whistling, stomping their feet in approval. It was the most inspiring political speech I have seen in years.

Every point he made we could not help but agree. He was just fantastic.

We get the politicians we deserve.