You can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time. But, is a Congressman's purposefully hiding his real policy position any way to treat voters?
Reading Dennis Kucinich's excuses for voting this week against the latest Iraq funding bill should make us all spitting angry.
"Leadership could have told President Bush they will not continue to fund the war. They could have said: Use the money you already have to bring the troops home. That is what the American people want," he said.
"They did not have to bring a bill to the floor. They could have forced the President to bring the troops home by refusing to provide any money for the war. Enough money exists to bring the troops home -- without further appropriations, " Kucinich said on his Congressional website.
If you haven't read his Iraq policy carefully, he might be able to get away with that. After all, the first element of his plan says, "The US announces it will end the occupation, close military bases and withdraw."
Most people read that as his wanting to withdraw all troops now. But read on. Element 4 says, "Convene a regional conference for the purpose of developing a security and stabilization force for Iraq.. . . The end of the US occupation and the CLOSING of military bases are necessary PREconditions for such a conference. . . . Prepare an international security and peacekeeping force to move in, replacing US troops who THEN return home."
OK, so which is it, Dennis? Do we withdraw our troops to meet the preconditions for the conference, or do we wait until after holding the conference and persuading a to-this-date unwilling United Nations to prepare peacekeepers to come relieve our troops? If the latter, if we cut off funding for our military in Iraq, how do you suggest we feed and supply the brave men and women we sent there?
"The US will necessarily have to fund a peacekeeping mission, which, by definition will not require as many troops. . . . The ambition of the UN is to deploy in less than ninety days. However, without an agreement of parties the UN is not likely to approve a mission to Iraq, because countries will not give them troops," he continues.
In Kucinich's HR 1234, which he says is a plan to use existing money to bring the US troops home and transition to UN peacekeepers, he states, "The United Nations can field an international security and peacekeeping mission, but such a mission cannot take shape unless there is a peace to keep . . . ."
To date, do we have peace to keep? When did that happen? I must have missed the announcement.
Kucinich also bemoans the amount of money this war has cost. Agreed, it is way too much. However, how much would we pay for the non-existing UN peacekeepers, and for reparations, all of which he says we American taxpayers should cover?
"When will the House Leadership stand up for the American people? How many more lives have to be lost before they stand up to this Administration and refuse to send any more money for the war?" Kucinich concluded.
I want the Iraq situation ended as much as anyone does, Dennis. When will you stand up face to face with me in a debate and explain these contradictions?
Rosemary Palmer is the Democratic challenger to Congressman Dennis Kucinich in Ohio's Tenth Congressional District. Learn more at www.rosemarypalmerforcongress.com
Democratic House Representative for District 10 is Dennis Kucinich. He has won, with over 70% of the vote. When he was first elected, he unseated a Republican incumbent.
I question your intent.
Democratic leadership in Congress is finally getting around to what Dennis has been saying for months... That is: no money = no war.
To suggest that the troops wouldn't be safe in a withdrawal, is just mouthing Republican neocon fear mongering - in an attempt to control people through fear. Nice try.
Pelosi & Reid have taken a page from Dennis's play book Stop funding the war and it will end. This is a simple concept. I don't know how else to make it clear to you.
OK - try this. Suppose a heroin addict is your friend. You keep giving him money, at the same time begging him to stop using drugs. Yet, each time you give him money, he gets more drugs. So - you stop the money - and he stops getting drugs. see how this works? (ok - a drug addict might find another source) Where would the war mongers get money -- if we the people stop handing it to them? It would be interesting to find out.
Rosemary, you are tilting at windmills. No matter how you get the press to slur Dennis - he is an immaculate warrior. You (& the Ohio press) sound like you're still angry because he didn't hand over the utilities to you in the 70's...
for shame.
Reading you are the challenger for his seat in the tenth district in Ohio explains alot. Twisting statements; taking things out of context; making a resonable plan sound like there are contradictory points hidden within...you should do well in politics!
If you're not part of the solution...you're part of the problem. Sure you don't want to reconsider and register with the Republican Party???
Ron Paul has the only good plan for Iraq. Talk to the Generals and get them out in months and use the funds already in the pipeline to do so.