Following the campaign, September 2
From Karin Caifa:
CAMPUS TOUR: PICKING UP AN ENDORSEMENT
Kucinich crisscrossed central Iowa for visits at the University of Iowa in Iowa City and Iowa State University in Ames on Tuesday.
While in Iowa City Kucinich picked up the endorsement of the grassroots peace organization STAR*PAC (Stop the Arms Race Political Action Committee.) The other frontrunner was former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, the other vocal anti-war candidate in the field of nine. Speaking at a press conference in a classroom at the University of Iowa, STAR*PAC board member Chet Guinn said Kucinich got the nod because he “holds aloft a glimpse of what a renewed commitment to peace could mean for our nation’s people, our economy, our reputation in the world, for regaining our place as a world power… not just because of our military might but because of our heart.”
Kucinich “enthusiastically” accepted the endorsement, noting that Iowa’s Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin often credits his 1988 election to STAR*PAC’s support. “Imagine if we put our money into preparing for peace and international cooperation.”
The congressman said his administration would cut Pentagon spending by 15%. Instead, the money would go to funding a universal pre-kindergarten child care program including educational and social skills and a nutrition program 5 days a week.
“This is a major endorsement,” said communications director Jeff Cohen. “This group has looked closely at each of the candidates, and in terms of Dean vs. Dennis, the peace community chose Dennis.”
As advertised on small red poster board on the first floor of the Student Union, Kucinich later addressed about 75 students and activists. The event was organized by University of Iowa students Anjalie Khosa and Renner Walker. Khosa, a registered member of the Green Party, says she’s just beginning to organize a Kucinich movement on campus after a strong community developed there over the summer.
Things will kick off with a “MeetUp” event scheduled for this Thursday, the same day the campaign holds other MeetUp events nationwide. Walker chose Kucinich as his guy after working at the Iowa Democratic Party over the summer. While there, he says he had the opportunity to meet all of the major candidates, but Kucinich’s peace efforts struck him the most.
At the close of his remarks and a question-and-answer session that went on much longer than Kucinich’s handlers had hoped, Kucinich encouraged the audience to organize their friends for fundraising house parties on International Peace Day, September 21. Everyone can contribute a few dollars, he said, with the goal being $1,000 per house for the campaign.
GOT TAILGATE PLANS, CONGRESSMAN?
During the question-and-answer session, one University of Iowa student broke away from defense and health care issues with a more pressing inquiry: “Will you tailgate with me before the Ohio State game?”
The congressman will be busy campaigning this weekend and declined to take the side of either battleground state’s team. “Some of my friends are for the Buckeyes, some of my friends are for the Hawkeyes and me? Well, I’m for my friends.”
No wonder they call him the peace candidate.
THE PEACE CANDIDATE PICKS BATTLES
Despite being christened the peace candidate by STAR*PAC, Kucinich was picking fights with others in the presidential fray. And he wasn’t afraid to name names.
On his congressional colleagues running for president who voted for last October’s resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq: “Members of the House and Senate were carried along in the passions of the moment and decided to go to war. Is that the kind of president the American people can trust to make the right decision?”
On Howard Dean: “Vermont didn’t have a military last time I checked. There’s no Vermont Pentagon. You can balance the budget in Vermont without having to worry about your soldiers or nuclear weapons. If you’re talking about balancing the federal budget and not touching the Pentagon budget, which has been increased because of fear, what does that mean? It means social spending is going to get cut. Do the math.”
On Rep. Dick Gephardt: “The head of our Democratic caucus, Mr. Gephardt, stood next to George Bush in the Rose Garden and endorsed the war. What’s his deal? Under what circumstances would he commit a country to war. He didn’t have any information.”
THE ‘SEASON OF LONGSHOTS’
Kucinich reminded the University of Iowa folks that Monday, Labor Day, was the real kickoff for the presidential election season and that in “this season of longshots,” his campaign will continue to build and succeed.
“Look at the guy who won the British Open. They said his caddy had a better shot of winning than he did,” Kucinich said. “We had the movie ‘Seabiscuit,’ who beat a horse named… War Admiral.”
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