Kucinich Stirs Union Activists
The following is an email sent out by the Kucinich campaign on August 6, 2003. You can sign up to be on the campaign email list at the official website.
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KUCINICH STANDS OUT
C-SPAN viewers on Tuesday night watched Congressman Kucinich express fervent support for workers rights at the AFL-CIO candidates' forum.
In case you missed it, here's the lead from Tom Curry's MSNBC.com report, sub-headlined: "Kucinich stands out at AFL-CIO event."
"The leaders of organized labor played host Tuesday night to a nine-candidate free-for-all among the Democratic presidential contenders. Long-shot contender Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio stood out from the crowd, delivering a rousing performance, challenging former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean on why he wasn't
willing to cut the defense budget and demanding that Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri tell the audience whether he'd revoke the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and pull the United States out of the World Trade Organization.
"After the debate Kucinich insisted that it wasn't impractical to cancel NAFTA and pull out of the WTO. 'No one here answered that question.... None of them would say it -- not even Dick Gephardt who is trying to rely on support from labor to become the next president.'"
Full article: http://www.msnbc.com/news/948704.asp
GAINESVILLE "CAUCUS"
In Gainesville, Florida, union members and officials gathered caucus-style to watch the forum on C-SPAN and then have a straw vote: Kucinich won with 21 supporters, followed by 10 for Dean in second place, and 5 each for Gephardt and Kerry tied for third.
DENNIS VS. DEAN
In advocating at the AFL-CIO event that the Social Security retirement age be returned to 65, Dennis Kucinich noted that "Mr. Dean has said
that he'd move the retirement age to 68. One time, he talked about moving it to 70."
Dean responded by offering a broad denial: "I have never favored a Social Security retirement age of 70. Nor do I favor one of 68."
In a release today documenting Dean's previous statements, Kucinich said: "It's unfortunate that Dr. Dean was not forthright with labor leaders and activists concerning his statements on Social Security which had been discussed on a recent 'Meet the Press' program.... If he wants to clarify his earlier statements, fine. But don't deny them while appealing for union votes."
For background: http://kucinich.us/#chicago
HIROSHIMA ANNIVERSARY
On this day 58 years ago, the U.S. dropped a nuclear bomb on the city of Hiroshima. On this solemn day, it's a good time to acknowledge Rep. Kucinich's years of leadership on nuclear
non-proliferation and his call for the United States to revive the Anti Ballistic Missile treaty; sign and enforce the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; abandon plans to build a so-called missile shield and prohibit the introduction of weapons into outer space.
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For more on the Kucinich campaign: http://www.kucinich.us
Please forward this to at least one friend, especially someone leaning toward Dean or Gephardt.
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