Following the campaign, October 10
From Karin Caifa:
MORE AGGRESSIVE APPROACH
Prior to the debate, Kucinich told the throng of supporters who greeted him outside downtown Phoenix’s Orpheum Theatre to pay close attention to the debate. “I have a few surprises tonight so make sure you’re watching.” The “surprise” was a more aggressive approach from Kucinich onstage. As expected, he reiterated that he’s now the only member of the field who voted “no” on the congressional resolution to authorize force in Iraq. But he certainly stepped it up, taking more jabs than he has in previous debates. “I would like to say that it would have been good if Senator Kerry and Congressman Gephardt, both have been articulate in criticizing the president, had actually voted against the resolution that took us to war,” said Kucinich of two of his Hill colleagues. “The reason why people don’t trust the Democrats is because our Democratic leadership stood with the president in the Rose Garden and now stands on this stage and attacks him for the war.” Kucinich also sparred with Howard Dean, engaging him in a spat over the proposed $87 billion for Iraq. Kucinich said that Dean had made a flip-flop in his position between the Sept. 25 CNBC/Wall Street Journal debate and an article in Thursday morning’s New York Times. “Mr. Dean has said that he says what he believes,” Kucinich said. “I want to ask him, do you believe in spending $87 billion to keep our troops in Iraq? Because I don’t. Do you?” When the former Vermont governor replied that he would keep the troops there “if the president was willing to pay for it,” Kucinich continued to press for an answer until moderator Judy Woodruff redirected the questioning.
NOT ENOUGH TIME
Candidate and campaign staff alike seemed miffed at the perceived lack of time Kucinich was given compared to his fellow candidates. Watching the debate, three members of the staff sighed as Kerry, Edwards, Lieberman, even Sharpton, fielded questions and Kucinich was forced to keep mum. Kucinich was practically leaping off his stool to answer an audience member’s question on health care, his arm extended and hand waving like an eager grammar school student with the answer to the question on the blackboard. Instead, the question went to John Edwards. Kucinich was given the very final moments to briefly answer a question on immigration. “He did a good job in five seconds,” said Kucinich People of Color Outreach Coordinator Placido Salazar. “That shows you how much this thing is fixed.” Kucinich himself was less diplomatic on the perceived slight than he was after the previous debate in New York, where he seemingly grinned and bore it. When asked if he got enough face time, he snapped, “No, and you wouldn’t have asked me that question if you didn’t notice it.”
SETTING THE AGENDA
Iraq was clearly Kucinich’s focus Wednesday night and not even a hot topic like the White House leak investigation could throw him off his track. “The White House has a relationship with some of the media. That’s true of every administration,” he dismissed. “But I will tell you that issue pales in comparison to young men and women dying in the desert because the administration lied to the American people. There is nothing more important than what’s going on in Iraq right now.”
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME!
’Tis the season for fall classics and it seems Kucinich has dumped the “Seabiscuit” analogy he stuck with in the summer months and replaced it for something that’ll play a little better with the fans. He told the 100 or so supporters who greeted him before the debate, “Right now they’re talking about us being a longshot. Well, remember, you’ve got the Cubs and the Red Sox in the playoffs.” But the contender declined to make any predictions on the outcome of either playoff series. “Some of my friends are for the Cubs,” he said, “some of my friends are for the Red Sox. And me, I’m for my friends.”
LOUDER AND PROUDER (AND EARLIER)
Arizona State Coordinator Kevin Spidel had Kucitizens arrive three hours before the debate to stake out the best spot for their rally. After kindly being told to move off the sidewalk directly in from of the theater, they moved across the street to assemble several huge colorful signs complete with long colored streamers and sparklies. At one point, they engaged in a shouting contest with the Dean supporters organized on the corner across the street from them. (A portent of what was to happen between the two candidates on stage later in the evening.)
BIRTHDAY BOY
OK, so the big day was really Tuesday, but that didn’t stop Kucinich supporters from showering the congressman with wishes for a fabulous new year. At a post-debate reception, with “Dharma and Greg” actress Mimi Kennedy and the colorful Patch Adams on hand, Kucinich was presented with a vegan birthday cake baked by a Phoenix organic co-op and was serenaded by the crowd.
THE PANDER BEAR RETURNS
Another sighting at another Democratic gathering: the “Pander Bear,” the Bush devotee in a panda suit to chastise Dems for their pandering. He even came “bearing” gifts — flip-flops. (Think about it.) Not even Phoenix’s blistering heat kept Pander away from the Orpheum Theatre Wednesday. But it wasn’t an easy day for him: He told me the fan built into his suit was broken.
Subscribe to this blog's feed