Kucinich's Democratic Convention Speech (VIDEO)

Dennis Kucinich took to the podium today at the Democratic Convention and fired up the crowd with a rousing speech. Kucinich's enthusiasm reached a crescendo as he repeatedly exhorted the crowd with cries of "Up with America!" In case his words were not evidence enough of his fire, his body language put all remaining doubts to rest.

[WATCH]

Comments

[sopranoj]

This is the man who should have been the candidate, but his poor judgement in speaking about UFOs publicly did him in. (Even if he did think they were possible, he should have kept that to himself.) It is a tragedy that this speech wasn't seen on prime time network coverage and a bigger tragedy that his movement for Impeachment, which is justified and valid, was shunted by Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic party, as this would have been REAL change, not just surface maneuvering.

It doesn't pay, in politics or any other field, to be "too different" less you be seen as a kook. Real visionaries, real leaders, however, always see things outside the box and have an unorthodox point of view. This frightens people. We want to be "secure", but there is no security in life. Anyone can die at any time, or get sick, or suffer a tremendous loss. The only kind of change that makes a difference is personal change done on a global basis, one person at a time.

Those who like Bush/McCain are the ones who need attention, particularly the poor people who think the Republican Party is a good idea. They have been fed a line of baloney since Reagan and not one Democrat has been able to address that effectively.

Too bad most people don't really understand Dennis or his message. It is the only really profound and positive platform in all of the USA.

[research]

Kucinich said: "I saw something."

That's it. the MSM spun it up to a controversy.

If Americans are so childish as to misconstrue Kucinich comment to mean something about aliens or saucers,God help us.

What fool would claim they have never seen an object in the sky they couldn't identify?

[DaleZ]

Rep. Pelosi said, " Impeachment is off the table". We need to get rid of her too! I like Barrack Obama, but I love Dennis Kucinich. He brought these hearings together. But only a handful of citizens watch CSPAN. Poor rednecks don't see the real news, they watch infotainment just as so few people will ever watch this clip. The religious right has proven they are the majority in this country i.e Bush winning two elections by the hair of his teeth, the corrupted election system and a stacked supreme court. Woe are we.

[RaisingAwareness]

I really do hope that if Obama wins that Dennis Kucinich gets a prominent role within his administration. Hopefully people like Ron Paul, Ralph Nader and Cynthia McKinney would also be given leadership roles in the administration also. Now that would be progress for the American people and that would be change we can believe in.

[MadeinAmericaProud]

I do not agree adding paul, nadar and mckinney should be added to an Obama administration.

If these people had this country's best interest to provide their professional talent to American and not just in to receive taxpayers' money for election season, should not divide or steal votes from a major party runner is more moose poop.

They should join him for American before the vote, not take from Obama's voters and later be rewarded a job. The same spirit they have before joining Obama will not instantly change after. A snake will not change into an eagle after receiving a hand up off the ground.

[ProudLiberalDan]

“They’re asking for another four years — in a just world, they’d get 10 to 20.”

-----------------

This was the line from the Kucinich speech that the Obama campaign edited out as per the Hill.com:

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obama-tightens-grip-on-podium-speeches-2008-08-26.html

God forbid that anyone be allowed to say anything that offends the conservative movement and Bush/Cheney and the neoCONS who've run the country. God forbid they be held accountable for what they've done or someone ever be allowed to even just publicly speak the truth about it.

Oh, that's right, we're doing empy, vacuuous and ineffective "new politics" now.

Give me a truth teller anyday.

[Michael08]

“Give me a truth teller anyday.”

Thanks for the link, however, in this particular case I thought the line was more opinion than fact and regard the omission benign.

I agree with the Obama strategy and, as a former “Conservative”, I would like to offer my perspective.

Not all “Conservatives” and, or Republicans, are as narrow minded as it would appear on these message boards.

Unfortunately many people have been conditioned with year after year of misinformation from Fox News and other TV networks as well as radio’s Clear Channel network (for example, the misinformation regarding Iraq).

It will take a nuanced approach to persuade reasonable thinkers whom consider themselves “Conservatives”, to reconsider some of their preconceived ideas.

Albeit a small percentage, it may be enough to turn an election.

[Radionites]

I like the fact we hear from such Republicant negativity, which seems to be their only weapon this time around. We can't be made afraid with lies of new terrorism, don't believe the economy is great, and amused when the White House can't remember "skeletons­-in-the-cl­oset" when they come out to play.

As for Dennis - yes, a hand-up for people in this dismal economy and make the 1% earning 30% of the U.S. wages to pay their share, rather than getting Reaganomic hand-outs (hasn't worked in 25 years).

By the way, study the "socialist" economies of Canada and Sweden. True, they pay more in taxes. But that's it. No health care coming out of the check, no day care coming out of the check, college is paid from there (imagine NO student loans), and you don't have to worry about your retirement package walking away with some (probably Republican) CEO who robs the company. When all is said and done, all Swedes pay 29% of their income in taxes, and the average American pays 42% with taxes and all the other expenses that come out of our hides.

GWB is lousy at economics, except when it comes to lining his and his buddy's pockets from war profiteering (which, by the way, is under investigation in the U.S. House as we speak). We don't need this crap from a guy who doesn't even know where his houses are, much less where America stands.

[gakabani]

you points are well taken, 'socialist' societies such as those you mention have 'sustainable economies' because they invest in their human infrastructure. I may say that they have sustainable societies rather than sustainable economies. Here in the USA is about war profits and warmongering, exploitation and corruption.

[Geisha]

Please don't include Canada in your example as the people of my home and native land are heavily taxed, and contrary to popular belief, paying for health care coverage and I have the pay stubs to prove it. Daycare is not paid for, and college tuition isn't an issue for many parents as 25% of students don't graduate when they're expected to, and many other young high school graduates chose to join the working force to afford to attend college. Some, of course, decide to continue working and put their education on hold. If you want to live anywhere in the Western part of Canada, be prepared to pay handsomely for it. The cost of living is atrocious and unless you are content to live in a nanny state and collect welfare, it is extremely difficult to get ahead, with my generation content to purchase practically everything on credit. A close American friend of ours just moved back to the States with his Swedish bride as it was time for them to begin a family. Life in Sweden was good for them, but life in America proved to be better.

Not defending the current state of the American economy, as it is horrific but conveniently ignored by too many of those in power, but just wanted to enlighten you if you're considering moving to Canada anytime too soon! ;-)

[lady49]

How big is the government that took us to war with no concrete actionable evidence.
UP WITH SHREDDING THE CONSTITUTION!!
UP WITH FIRING ANY ATTORNEY GENERALS WHO WOULD STAND UP TO YOU
UP WITH CREATING 1 TRILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT
UP WITH PAYING THE IRAQI'S $4 GALLON FOR GAS IN THEIR COUNTRY
UP WITH ALLOWING IRAQ TO GENERATE AN ACCOUNT WORTH $79 BILLION DOLLARS WHILE THE US INFRASTRUCTURE CRUMBLES

[gakabani]

That is Bush moneys not Iraq's moneys by the way.

[mero909]

He might as well have said...

"Up with bigger government!"
"Up with Socialism!"
"Up with the government in every aspect of your life!"
"Up with more government bailouts of large companies!"
"Up with wasting Congressional time by putting forth symbolic measures!"
"Up with more governmental spending!"
"Up with blaming oil companies when it's really the Congress fault for spending like they have a blank check!"

Fun watching him act like a Baptist preacher though.

[Bobleblah1]

MERO909

You are an absolute idiot.
I almost want to argue with you, but I can tell your level of education is so
on the surface that its not even worth my time.
Do you honestly believe the stuff your writing?

Its always good to save copies of these posts, because It will be eye opening when I can show
my friends that a person who thinks they know politics just got on Huffpo and called upholding the Constitution of The United States "wasting congressional time"

Its such a stupid comment that I'm trying to get my head around its profound ignorance.

[research]

Whereas you conservatives are

Up with Bigger government
Up with Fascism
The government spying on your every move and jailing you for political descencion and owning you uterus.
Up with Bailout for large companies (Not Kucinich)
Up with Congress rubber stamping King Georgia
Up with Borrow and Spend on your cronies on 3 trillion dollar wars, tax breaks for the super rich and bankrupting the US Government till you can drown it in a bathtub. (at least with Kucinich we would get our moneys worth from the government)
Up with Torture
Up with Robber Barons
Up with Hoovervilles
Up with deregulating the Enron loophole, so that a few speculators can manipulate and double the price of oil, so oil companies can artificially restrict supply to double prices, and so the BushCo oil company can start wars in the middle east to double the price of oil.

Up with You conservative's big lies and Projection.

[jplass]

everything you just mentioned was enacted by the Republican party...
Clinton left Bush with a balanced budget, all the "spending" you refer to was to pay for the war. Government in every aspect of my life seems to have been entirely the fault of the Bush admin. (see wiretapping, Patriot Act, constant paranoia, etc. etc. etc.)

You sir, are fired.

[gakabani]

LOL

[Destin]

What's wrong with socialism? And what's wrong with capitalism? You confuse fascism with socialism. And capitalism with corporatism. And there is really no difference between fascism (everyone ruled by the State) and corporatism (everyone ruled by the Corps).

You might wanna educate yourself on Government 101 before posting such ludicrous comments.

[Bobleblah1]

DON'T FALL FOR PROPAGANDA'S FAVORITE TOOL......... EDITING

WATCH HIS WHOLE SPEECH!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/26/kucinichs-democratic-conv_n_121622.html

AMEN

[research]

Dennis Kucinich is a great man, He truly cares about all the people.

He's taller than President John Adams.

He wants to bring the USA in the modern world with a Scandinavian type capitalist, free market society that invests and protects it's most valuable resource: It's people.

Kucinich is our FDR.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden:_the_Middle_Way

If we all contribute to Kucinich, he will suddenly seem much more viable. Dennis will be able to use that money to influence the rest of the democrats back toward what democrats stood for with FDR.

[Bobleblah1]

Wow!
Dennis Kucinich might be the only elected official that I believe in.
He has more courage than every member of the Democratic congress combined.
Its one thing to say you want a candidate to win, but its whole other thing to say that you believe in a person. I believe in Dennis Kucinich.
I dont call him a politician because he has proven that he is bigger than that. Dennis Kucinich is a leader as well as a man with dignity and pride. He stands ready to fight for what he believes in and he puts forth action to advance his ideals, rather than lofty words.
To anyone trying to pick at Mr. Kucinich, go right ahead. You will easily find the substance of ACTION behind his words. He backs up what he says and for that, in my eyes he is the real leader of the liberal agenda. Nancy Pelosi isn't fit to shine Dennis Kucinich' shoes.
Its really telling that the party and the networks stopped America from hearing Rep kucinich speak.

I ask all of you, does such a move sound like the actions of a party that is honestly trying to win?
How can anyone in their right mind think that Sen Obama is helped by not allowing America to hear a speech like the one Rep Kucinich gave?.

It never ceases to amaze me.

[WMK]

I really enjoyed DKs speech last night - I was driving and they had it on NPR - he's great, a real patriot - unlike the slimy chickenhawks and liars who wrap themselves in the flag while demanding your family make sacrifices to bring profits to some corporate deathmongers.

[mal33]

He's a leftist Smurf. He's an elf posing as a Marxist.

[IndependentThinker]

He is a little wierd, but he tells it like it is! He said nothing in this speech that wasn't true. And, he can't be all bad to land that hot wife of his, Yeow!

[myrddin]

LOL

How did he get that wife of his anyway? He's got to be good at something other than speeches.

[jplass]

he's only weird insofar as he believes in democracy in an era in which it has been forgotten

[Podewumun]

I'll take a leftist Smurf over a Reichwing troglodyte like you or McCantremember anyday.

[EarthToZoey]

I wish HuffPost would have posted the ENTIRE six minute speech. It's even better!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4EN7ibO1ec

Dennis Kucinich tells it like it is!

[Podewumun]

I'm somewhat surprised HP even mentioned it.

[InedaName]

I want to get huge speakers for my car and drive around blaring this speech. Everyone needs to hear it. Dennis is the only one to address the issues that directly affect working Americans. I know that Stephanie T-J was smiling down from heaven.

[wyson]

I would love to cast a vote for Kucinich one day!

He's a true patriot.

[IndependentThinker]

Save this year's vote for Obama, we need every single one. Being 500,000 ahead at the end wasn't enough to get Gore elected. But it would be fun to vote for him in the next primary. He'll run again for sure.