Following the campaign, September 23
From Karin Caifa:
FIGHTING THE PATRIOT ACT
Kucinich on Wednesday afternoon will unveil legislation that would repeal 10 sections of the original USA Patriot Act, his congressional office said Monday. According to the office, Kucinich’s bill, which he’s dubbed the “Benjamin Franklin True Patriot Act”, has been endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Council on American Islamic Relations and has 19 Congressional co-sponsors. The act, signed into law just weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, gives the federal government expanded power to investigate, prosecute and punish suspected terrorists. It came as the result of a request by Attorney General John Ashcroft for more police powers in fighting the war on terrorism. It’s come under fire since for civil rights violations. Repealing the Patriot Act subsequently became one of Kucinich’s campaign platforms. Of the presidential candidates who are members of Congress, Kucinich was the only one to vote no on the bill.
THE HILLARY FACTOR
Kucinich campaign communications director Jeff Cohen isn’t worried about the former first lady entering the nomination fray, largely because he doesn’t think it’ll happen. “I don’t think there’s a chance in hell that she would come in,” he said Monday. “It would shake up the race but it couldn’t hurt us,” Cohen said. “She’s obviously the hugest of the ‘personality’ campaigns. Even bigger than Wesley Clark.” The Kucinich camp is running a “progressive, issues-based” bid.
Cohen also noted the fundamental differences between Clinton and Kucinich. He says she voted yes on the war with Iraq, while Kucinich opposed it. He says she is a supporter of NAFTA, while Kucinich says if elected he’ll cancel it. He notes she has not come out against increases in the Pentagon’s budget, while his candidate wants to trim it.
PEACE PARTY FOLLOW-UP
While they may not reach their goal of $1,000 per party, the Kucinich campaign is calling Sunday’s Peace Day House Party inititative a success. The campaign received responses from Homer, Alaska, to Honolulu, Hawaii, and is looking forward to another round next month. Preliminary totals posted on the Web site had the campaign at $64,333 from 161 parties as of 6:30 pm ET Monday. The campaign says it sent out about 1,200 house party kits. Not all party-throwers have posted their totals, which makes you wonder how diligent they’ll be about sending in the money on time and in accordance with FEC rules. The campaign is also looking to boost Sunday’s total with federal matching funds. “It was definitely a big day for us,” Cohen said. He added that it was also successful in getting the word out about the candidate and the initiative. “From some parties there were four people who said they’ll hold their own party next time.” House party wizard Bob Silverstein says they are looking to mobilize another 1,000 parties in conjunction with Kucinich’s official announcement of his candidacy in October and also in conjunction with the release of his book in November. In addition to the funds raised, the campaign was also successful in getting Peace Day proclamations from governors in 16 states, including one from Gray Davis in California, Silverstein said.
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