Following the campaign, August 27
From Karin Caifa:
SIGNS OF TROUBLE? HECK NO! ‘LET’S GROW’
While PoliticsNH.com speculated the little-bid-that-could might be contracting, the Kucinich campaign sent an e-mail last night to campaign supporters with “Let’s Grow” in the subject line.
It begins, “Establishment pundits and corporate Democrats had hoped the Kucinich campaign would just disappear. But with new hiring across the country, expansion of the web site and enhanced constituency outreach, our campaign keeps growing.”
The e-mail also touts the launch of two outreach initiatives (see more on these below) and encourages Kucitizens to log on and take a look at the new campaign video on the site, featuring actors Hector Elizondo (“Chicago Hope” and “Runaway Bride”), James Cromwell (“LA Confidential” and “Babe”) and Ed Asner, all of whom have made contributions to the campaign.
Iowa field coordinator John Friedrich today also scoffed at the notion that expansion in New Hampshire meant contraction in the Iowa operation for the campaign. “I have no idea where that came from. We have more staff here than anywhere else and Dennis continues to draw sizable crowds.,” even in Iowa’s smaller towns. From what he’s seen, Kucinich has “drawn some of the biggest crowds of any candidate” in the Hawkeye State. Now that college kids are coming back to school, Friedrich plans to tap into that voter pool as well, kicking it off with rallies at Iowa State and the University of Iowa next Tuesday. Lots of students have already been in touch with him, he says.
Friedrich also notes, “... we had a great rally in Dubuque on Saturday night with Willie Nelson, where he praised Rep. Kucinich for his strong support of family farmers.” He also forwarded me a sampling of articles on Kucinich from the Iowa press and pointed out, “When you read the articles, it’s clear that something exciting is in the air.” The Iowa staff now stands at 14.
“Exciting” seems to be the word surrounding our fiesty Ohioan. Click here to read a dispatch from Amherst, Mass.
But can “exciting” and “electable” find a happy medium?
9,414 Kucitizens are also looking forward to their monthly MeetUp, as organized on the web site
MeetUp.Com, and encouraging more to hop on board (they’ve picked up 500 since Friday.) I’ll be checking in on plans in various venues, which are sure to include watching their favorite candidate at the Albuquerque debate.
ENERGIZING DETROIT, WITH HELP FROM UP NORTH
Tomorrow’s main event is an international press conference with Canadian politicians regarding blackout fallout and other energy crises, including the rising price of gas in the U.S.
As Ontario recovers from North America’s worst blackout, NDP Leader Howard Hampton and Kucinich will meet to promote the value of a publicly owned hydro system. He is quite familiar with FirstEnergy Corp., the for-profit firm being blamed for the Aug. 14 blackout. Kucinich’s battle to prevent the sell-off of Cleveland’s municipal utility to FirstEnergy’s predecessor ran the “boy mayor” out of the city in 1979.
They’ll also discuss health care, chiefly Kucinich’s single-payer plan which syncs up with the NDP’s policy, and other energy concerns.
Speaking of energy concerns, on gas prices today the candidate said:
“The jump in gas prices is yet another blow to our failing economy. It is well past time for this Administration to break itself free of the special interests that have taken over energy policy and move toward energy independence, renewables, and automobile fuel efficiency standards.”
While in Congress, he has introduced legislation that would bring back the windfall profits oil tax. He most recently introduced it in February 2003, in anticipation of war with Iraq. The windfall profits oil tax made $40 billion off of oil companies between 1980 and 1988, when it was repealed, by taxing the profits made by oil refineries and corporations off of crude oil and gas. The proposal has been unpopular in the GOP-led Congress and has not made it to the House floor.
REACHING OUT: TWO NEW OFFICES
The Kucinich campaign has added two new initiatives, a “People of Color Outreach” initiative based in California and headed by Placido Salazar and a gay and lesbian outreach initiative based in Cleveland and headed by Mari Englehart.
The People of Color office has big goals, beginning in California and moving outwards. Rep. Kucinich speaks Spanish and has already attended rallies in Southern California to attract Hispanic and Latino voters.
“Our intention is to include all people of color, not just in the campaign to just get their vote,” said Placido Salazar. “We want to make this campaign, the Kucinich administration look like America.” They’ve already set up outreach offices in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, New York and Washington State.
On Sept. 21 Kucinich will unveil his plan for immigration policy in San Diego near the Mexican border. The campaign considers border relations, especially with Mexico, very important. “Right now we treat them like 2nd class citizens (Mexican immigrants),” says Salazar. “We’ve put up this huge wall and it’s ridiculous the way we treat these workers who come over to do our work.”
How will the Kucinich campaign differentiate itself from the other 8 Dems in courting minority voters?
“It’s all about inclusion in a way that solves problems. It’s being against Prop 54 out here in California, it’s about dealing with the Democrats who had to leave Texas to avoid redistricting,” Salazar said. “A lot of other candidates try to play it safe.
But you can be progressive on your issues and not pander to the small right-wing groups who are not going to vote Democratic anyway.” He adds, “People of color are smarter when it comes to politicians. We’ve been promised the world.”
MORE ON IRAQ
After addressing the issue at yesterday’s CWA conference, last night Kucinich issued a statement on Iraq:
“With the death toll on the rise and chaos overtaking Iraq it is time for the US to begin the process of withdrawal from Iraq and allow the United Nations (UN) to take over peacekeeping operations in the country.
“It is clear now that the United States is bogged down in an ongoing guerrilla war with almost daily casualties. The situation is one that the Administration did not plan for and is not adequately prepared to handle.
“Assertions by the President, and his Administration, that the war is over and that our mission was accomplished, like their claims about Iraq’s ‘vast stockpiles’ of WMD’s, are false and misleading.
“While this Administration was quick to send troops into harm’s way, they have no exit strategy for removing US troops from the country.
“It is time for the United Nations to be brought in. Negotiations for an exit must begin now. The UN must take over management, accounting and distribution to the Iraqi people of Iraq’s oil profits. There must be no privatization of the Iraqi oil industry. The UN must handle the awarding of all contracts for the rebuilding of Iraq so that there can be no more sweetheart contracts for companies like Halliburton. Additionally, a transition from UN control to self- determined governing structure by and for the Iraqi people must be planned.
“It was wrong to go into Iraq. It is wrong to stay in Iraq. Let’s support our troops by bringing them home.”
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