Letter to the editor
This excellent letter to the editor of the West Branch Times gives an eloquent answer to the "electability" question:
I have a "Kucinich for President" bumper sticker on the back of my car. I don't generally use-or even like-bumper stickers. But sometimes, enough is enough and timidity is not what is needed.
I was filling my gas tank the other day and a fellow sufferer spotted my sticker. "I'd like to support Kucinich, but I don't think he can win, can he?" My answer was immediate, "Well, no, not as long as people think like that."
We talked a bit more and I explained that, to me, U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich seems to be the only presidential candidate who actually forms his positions based on his beliefs and not political expediency, popularity polls or behind-the-scenes deals. I like that. I also like his core philosophy: that government is not the "enemy" but the servant of the people-a power for good, if we so choose. He reminds me very much of the Kennedy brothers!
But can he win? Well, that is the wrong question. This is not a casino game, or a horse race, or a team sport, where our only task is to guess the winner and then place our bet. American politics is not sports gambling-it's far more real and far more important.
As a citizen in a democracy, my task is to identify the candidate whose philosophy and agenda represent the best possible future for my country and then support him or her.
It is possible that Dennis Kucinich will not be elected as our next president, but I will be the real loser if I do not support the best possible future for America.
We can greatly improve the quality of American politics - and heaven knows it needs it - if we stop handicapping and stand up for the best way we know.
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