Following the campaign, October 27
From Karin Caifa
DETROIT SHOWDOWN
Kucinich didn’t field his first question until 23 minutes into the debate, and those who have an eye on this campaign were holding their collective breath, wondering if the congressman would use the national venue to continue his battle to get Dean’s ads off the air in New Hampshire. He did. Kucinich used a question on disclosure of Iraq intelligence information to segue way into another cry for Dean to correct or pull his ads. “You know, a number of us have opposed the war,” the congressman said. “But I’d have to say to Dr. Dean, you said in paid TV ads that only you opposed the war in Iraq, but that’s not true. Why forfeit the public trust? Why can’t you just admit you made a mistake and take down the ad?” Before a sparsely attended press conference in Detroit Sunday afternoon, Kucinich said that his legal counsel would be taking the claim “to the next level” on Monday and that he had a “private conversation” with Dean in New Hampshire on Saturday. Why make such a fuss over one little ad? “Because of New Hampshire’s significant role in the process, we’re going to make sure that the American people know that it’s not a matter that relates only to New Hampshire but to the whole country,” Kucinich said. Why not take to the airwaves to counter the Dean ads? Kucinich said that his campaign may do television ads at some time, but his campaign’s advertising is not the point. It’s more likely that the Kucinich camp just doesn’t have the money to throw ads up on the air. Candidates like John Edwards have spent upwards of $500,000 on New Hampshire television ads. Kucinich’s bid had only $800,000 cash on hand at the end of quarter three and raised $1.7 million during the same period. Media buys would be a huge chunk of that. Just before heading into his hotel Sunday night, Kucinich told me he’s just looking for the truth. “Look, everyone makes mistakes,” he said. “I made a mistake with some numbers tonight. But I admitted it. When you’re wrong, why not just admit you made a mistake?”
JUST ANOTHER DEBATE
Other than the Dean ad controversy, Kucinich was treating the Detroit forum just like any other debate. When I asked him how he’d be spending the few hours between his press conference and the big event he replied, “Just going to be meeting with staff and sitting down and taking some notes. You know, what I always I do.” The congressman grew increasingly and visibly impatient as the clock ticked by and he continued to get passed over. While Braun made light of her situation, stating that the reason she and Kucinich were overlooked was because “no one is mad at us,” Kucinich scowled. Even a gracious attempt by the candidate Kucinich has said he is closest to among the gang of nine, Edwards, to get Braun and the congressman into the questioning, was met with a sulking look. But once given his turn, Kucinich was clearly in is element. His first answer, where he outlined his exit strategy from Iraq, was interrupted by applause four times. As the former mayor of a major city, he tailored his answers to the urban population. He spoke of combating violence on city streets with his proposed Department of Peace, of health care for all, and of bringing jobs back to the U.S. by canceling NAFTA and the WTO. “My presence here on this stage arises from growing up in the city of Cleveland and understanding the power of individuals to change the outcome, of being able to come from poverty, being able to come from living in a car and understanding that with hope and with courage you can create new possibilities,” the idealist candidate told the audience. “I think people are looking for someone they can identify with and someone who has been able to achieve an American dream and cause all people to have the chance to reach and achieve that dream.”
JUST THE FACTS, SIR
Mired in his pursuit of accuracy, Kucinich got caught up in several mistakes Sunday night. Panelist Huell Perkins incorrectly stated that Kucinich would replace the Department of Defense with his cabinet-level Department of Peace. Not so, Kucinich noted. His Peace Department would “work domestically to make nonviolence an organizing principal in our society,” while the DOD would continue to provide military force. Moderator Gwen Ifill said that “the last member of the House who was elected directly from the House to the presidency was Abraham Lincoln,” which wouldn’t bode well for the congressman. He responded that it wasn’t Lincoln but was James Garfield, “who lived in the same county that I am from. So I’m looking to repeat history, in that regard.” Perkins then had a correction for Kucinich. Earlier in the evening — and when speaking to reporters during the afternoon — the congressman said that 300 people ad been killed in the streets of Detroit during the month of September. “Let’s consider,” Perkins said, “There’s actually been a 30 percent reduction in the homicide rate in Detroit. I think you need to be clear on that.” Kucinich acknowledged his error.
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