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Kucinich 'Admires' Paul, Says Drug Problem Requires 'Compassion and Wisdom'
The following piece was produced by HuffPost's OffTheBus.
Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich was scheduled for a full day of campaigning Wednesday, Nov. 21, but he set aside some time in the morning to conduct one-on-one interviews with New Hampshire press at his Manchester office. Armed only with my digital voice recorder, I ascended the stairs of the office, which is located above the Merrimack Restaurant on Elm St.
After a short wait, I was led into a small room with the Congressman, who shook my hand and closed the door so we could have privacy. And so the conversation began:
MS: First I'd like to ask you about an issue that has been one of your issues, but I haven't heard mentioned yet in this campaign, and that's industrial hemp farming. U.S. companies import hemp from Canada, Europe, and even China, but our farmers are not permitted to grow it because the DEA says hemp is identical to marijuana. So let me ask you Congressman, as a sponsor of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act, what's the matter with this picture, and what, in your mind, are the benefits of hemp?
DK: It's hard to discern why this should even be an issue. I mean, let's cut right to the quick. Marijuana should be decriminalized, period. Decriminalize it and then hemp's not an issue.
MS: Why is this taking so long?
DK: Well, you know, we have attitudes about drug use which need to be reexamined. If someone has a drug problem, I see it as a medical problem, not a criminal justice matter. Now if someone's pushing the drugs, trafficking in drugs, it's a whole different matter. They ought to be prosecuted and go to jail. But as far as marijuana? Look, I've never... I don't smoke, I don't drink, I don't do drugs, okay? I don't get why the country ought to be turned upside down over the issue of marijuana, so to me hemp's not an issue.
The conversation then turned to the New Hampshire police officer who had recently confronted John McCain at a town hall. Kucinich had never heard of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (L.E.A.P.), but he said he was not surprised to learn of their existence.
MS: Do you think it would have a major impact on public opinion if more members of the law enforcement and criminal justice communities went public with their criticisms of the War on Drugs?
DK: I think it would be helpful because they have to deal with it. They're the ones who have to arrest and round up people for essentially nonviolent offenses, when violent crime is something that really needs the attention of law enforcement. Again, it's a matter of just we need to change our laws. We need to end mandatory minimums. We need to look at drug abuse as being a medical problem and help people get the medical care, the mental health care that they need in order to put their lives together again.
Again, I've never done drugs. I couldn't stand the idea of anything altering my own consciousness. I don't need to do that, but for those who have done that, they need compassion. Some of them need care. They don't need judgment.
This approach is similar to that of two other candidates on the campaign trail: Mike Gravel and Ron Paul. Dr. Paul in particular has spoken with authority against the "War on Drugs" throughout his campaign. I decided to ask Congressman Kucinich about his thoughts on his colleague in the House of Representatives.
MS: One thing I found interesting was that Dr. Paul, in his WMUR "Conversation with the Candidate" several months ago, was asked which candidate he might support if he wasn't running. After mentioning Chuck Hagel as a potential anti-war GOP candidate, he said "on the Democratic side, it just happens that Dennis Kucinich is a good friend of mine, and he's an honest person." Some of his more conservative supporters may have been surprised by that, but it prompts me to ask, what besides honesty do you have in common with Dr. Paul?
DK: He's been a fearless defender of the Constitution and an outspoken opponent of war as an instrument of policy. He's very bright. He's someone who has a lot of courage, and he's my friend... it's nice when you can admire your friends even if you may have some disagreements with them? I admire him.
MS: Now I'd like to ask you about a moment that took place a couple of debates ago, one which passed without a whole lot of comment. When Tim Russert asked who disagreed with Senator Dodd's position that marijuana should be decriminalized, you were the only person who did not raise your hand. Senator Edwards said it would send the wrong signal to young people, which Senator Dodd later found amusing. What would you have said if you'd been given a minute to speak on that issue to the American people in that debate?
DK: That I agree with Senator Dodd. This again should be about our awareness of taking the tension away from this issue -- not attention, tension. When you put judgment on people because they have used drugs, you make it difficult for people to be able to take a new path. I'll be a president who demonstrates both compassion and wisdom in how you deal with these issues. I'm not into judging people. I'm into meeting people as to who they are and helping them get to who they want to be.
Kucinich also reminded me that when the DEA conducted raids in California four years ago, he had flown out to speak against them. Although the DEA raids did not begin until after Sept. 11, 2001, the Clinton administration took a firm position against medical marijuana in the late 90's. I pointed out that the Clinton/Gore drug war had been marked by increased budgets, mandatory minimum sentences, "zero tolerance" policies, and a multiplication in the number of marijuana arrests.
MS: Is it enough (as Senator Clinton suggests) to elect another Democratic president, or is it critical that we look at specific issues?
DK: There are Democrats and then there are Democrats. There are Democrats who as the Clintons did, favored, pushed for NAFTA and China trade, who would not admit the possibility of a not-for-profit health care system, who, you know, may have done some good things, but... We are in a position now where the remedies that are needed in our society are much more profound. We need to, if we're looking for a historical model, we probably should be looking not at 1992, but at 1932, when Franklin Roosevelt came into office and brought forth a dramatic program of economic reform to make sure that everyone was able to survive financially with jobs for all and retirement security for all, with regulation of Wall Street, with government playing a positive and active role in people's lives. So I think that would be the model I'd be looking for, 1932, not 1992.
MS: He also ended Prohibition, didn't he?
DK: And that was a good thing. And I say this as someone who doesn't drink, because there's a deeper issue of human freedom here. The minute you start to get into Thou Shalt Nots... it's always a risky business, when you're talking about affecting social mores.
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I really appreciate the way Kucinich approached questions about the decriminalization of marijuana. I feel that many candidates are so concerned about gatting a bad soundclip that they won't touch that issue with a ten-foot pole. They all know that a media spin can either make or break you (al gore "[taking] the initiative in inventing the internet.") I feel that the media uses Kucinich as a punching bag so much that it seems he has become to only candidate able to speak his mind without fear of riprisal. He can only go up from here.
WOW! Dennis Kucinich is so wise. We sure need a man like him running the country. This article is great. Thanks.
It seems that the Ron Paul detractors, for the most part, are missing the big picture. It is easy to criticize many of the more extreme positions that Paul has taken over his long career. But to many of us who support him, those issues are irrelevant. The important thing is that he wants to end the self-destruction being wrought on this country by 60 years of endless war and empire building. We support him because we can't continue this madness and for us it doesn't matter what "mainstream" Democrat or Republican is elected because they are all part of the same corporate, elitist and wealthy oligopoly that cynically uses the misplaced patriotism of our young people to fill the military ranks. The oligopoly that is inter-married, attends the same Ivy League schools, works at/owns the same corporations and foundations and believes, more or less, the same things. A military and corporate empire is wonderful for them since they are the beneficiaries and their children are safe in the USA. Let them send their own children to die in Iraq and Afghanistan. For us, globalism means making Wall Street richer and losing our kids to make American corporations/super-rich secure as they screw the rest of us and the rest of the world. We love our country and we believe Ron Paul can help us to save it. Destroy the empire and save America.
What of the news that Kucinich today called for free college and free health care for all Americans?
Why the lame article on Kucinich, HuffPo?
Biased against, much?
I want to say something else to Democrats who do not follow Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich.
You people must understand your party has taken a position that leads to endless war.
When we first went into Iraq we were told 6 months and $87b dollars!
Guess what they lied.
Both parties have followed this path(right or wrong) to endless war.
I can understand their feeling of needing to go down with the ship.
This is what politicians do!
They try their hardest to stay in office.
THEY LOVE AND WANT thier jobs so bad it would make a grown man weep.
We have seen Boehner!
What the Democratic people must understand is you have a choice now, to follow your leaders off the cliff or place an order for change.
With all my heart I do not trust my government.
I trust no one.
I was not raised to be trustful of people or trustful of government.
I trust my family and select friends.
Why then, would you Democrats, place your faith in an uncertain future where war and economic downturn is consistently on the table?
If we do not correct the overspending we have made, not only will you not get your free health care, but your cars will have no gas because it will be $300.00 a barrel, if they even continue to use the dollar as a form of currency.
Watch how Saudi Arabia changes its OPEC currency back to the GOLD standard, like it was before they met us in the 50's.
You wont even know what poor is!
Dr. Paul does.
He knows how to head this off.
No one is EVEN discussing this.
They argue and bicker but DR. Paul is giving SOLUTIONS.
You may not like them, but that is most likely because you do not understand them.
If you have learned of a policy question, ask me but NEVER assume he is rightwing because you read it. The right wing HATES him.
Why do you think the media ignores him?
I like Dennis--he isn't small but he isn't tall--so what? We don't need more creature features; we need honest people in high office. He is the individual for the Oval Office.
Paul v. Clinton
MILITARY COMMISSIONS. RP NO.....HC YES
PATRIOT ACT 1.. RP NO ..........HC YES
PATRIOT ACT 2. .RP NO ..........HC YES.
IRAQ WAR.. .RP NO.........HC YES
WAR WITH IRAN. .RP NO.........HC YES.
WIRETAPPING. .RP NO.........HC YES
INCREASED AID TO ISRAEL. RP NO.....HC. YES
EMINENT DOMAIN..RP..NO.........HC.. NV
NAFTA.........RP..NO...........HC..YES
CAFTA.........RP..NO...........HC..YES
IMF...........RP..NO...........HC..YES
WORLD BANK....RP..NO...........HC..YES
WTO...........RP..NO...........HC..YES
NORTH AMERICAN UNION..RP..NO...HC..?
NATIONAL ID....RP..NO..........HC..YES
IMMIGRANT DRIVERS LICENSE..RP..NO..HC..YES
Misanthrope2...go back to the blimp story!!!
Did you drag the Galvestonian guy here with you????
OH NO.....there goes meaningful, intelligent dialog again!!!
Hooray for Kucinich.
Down with the Clintush Dyansty.
America will not stand for the plan of the pro-war Clintush Royal Dynasty:
Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton
Fuck that! This is America, not medieval Europe.
This is why I'm supporting Dennis. He is invested in looking at the issues on a deeper level to create meaningful change. I believe his modern FDR government is what our ailing economy needs. Unfortunately, the greater public is not ready to really hear his message and we will need to wait another 4 years of crap(Dem or Rep) until we see if our nation is ready to get off their assess and vote for a fundamentally different type of government and politics.
Way to go Dennis!
Jako
Kucinich and Paul are the only honest brokers in this campaign. Their political philosophies are totally different. But they are both honest men. Two of the very few in our government. That said, would either of them make a good president. Well, (damning with faint praise), either would be better than the current occupant.
Nice post Mr. Simon.
Well done huffpo for putting up a fair story on Kucinich......please continue to do so.
God bless Dennis Kucinich and Dr. Ron Paul.
The War On Some Drugs is the greatest Domestic policy failure in US history.
The Constitution Guarantees the right to Life Liberty and happiness: this means a person can do what they want with themselves.
Drugs are freely and easily available now. They are expensive and way more dangerous than if Prohibition were repealed.
People who choose not to use drugs are taxed and shot at, have their rights trampled and have a broken justice system trust on them by the War On Some Drugs.
The War On Some Drugs began way before Nixon...in 1902 the first Federal law was passed. Harry Anslinger was the one person most responsible for Drug Prohibition.
Untill 1902 all drugs were freely and cheaply available and the problems were minimal...mostly in the mids of some fanatical "moralists" who were comparable to the religious extremists of today (Bin Laden, Pat Robertson and such)
Until Drug Prohibition is completely repealed we will have ever increasing violence, police and political corruption, guns and gangs , prostitution and theft, overflowing jails and drugs will still be freely available to all who want them.
The hardest drug for kids to get is alcohol...because there is no incentive to sell to them...this is not true of illegal drugs.
For a safer saner world that does not make evil people wealthy and kill innocent bystanders;
End Drug Prohibition NOW.
dennis is great. paul has more pragmatic solutions to healthcare than dennis does. he trusts the federal reserve too much and his healthcare policies would fail through inflation under our current monetary policy. instead of CORPORATE/welfarism we'd get corporate/WELFARISM, both equally bankcrupting us.
If we changed economic policy, as suggested by dr paul, then we could return to doctor house calls, alternative medicines, cheap drugs, and charity hospitals. ...putting healthcare where it should be...between patient and doctor...no where else.
they agree on most issues, just not how to fund them. it is almost classic. in the "good old days"...democrats and republicans didn't differ on much either...just how to fund things. It's nice to see statesmen still involved in politics.
regarding electibility: change parties if you're in a closed-primary state and vote for paul in the primary. switch or stay for the general. get paul and kucinich on the ticket.
consider these when thinking paul can't be elected....he has a much much greater chance than dennis at this time:
http://www.infiniteronpaul.com/meetupmaps/
http://www.indedge.com/ronpaul.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07TVBLFroSM
www.teaparty07.com
www.youtube.com (search for ron paul)
www.ronpaul2008.com
www.dailypaul.com
www.whowouldtheworldelect.com
www.meetup.com (join us!)
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071108/NEWS08/311080111
http://media.newsreview.com/TearSheets/files/R/2007-11-08/0036.pdf
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Posted November 25, 2007 | 06:32 PM (EST)