Kucinich leads caucus program
Originally published in the Iowa City Press-Citizen
Saturday, November 15, 2003
Kucinich leads caucus program
Political community turns its attention to students
By Vanessa Miller
Iowa City Press-Citizen
The faces of area residents too young to vote filled the lower level auditorium of the Coralville Public Library on Friday.
But that didn't matter to Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Dennis Kucinich and speakers representing six other candidates.
"When people are young, you have to go through a kind of hazing when people tell you that 'you don't really know,' and 'wait till you're older,'" Kucinich said during Friday's Student Caucus Program. "Well let me tell you, you know now. ... The power you have is something you shouldn't give up for anything."
Kucinich was the keynote speaker at the Iowa City Press-Citizen- and Coralville Public Library-sponsored program. The Press-Citizen hosted a similar student-oriented program before the 2000 Iowa Caucuses.
Representatives for Howard Dean, John Kerry, Dick Gephardt, John Edwards, Wesley Clark and President George W. Bush joined Kucinich at the event.
"This is a great time to get involved," said Tim Hagle, adviser with the University of Iowa College Republicans, who spoke on behalf of Bush. Hagle stressed the importance of attending the Iowa Caucuses. "We really want to get a good turnout - you have a chance to make a difference."
The group of high school students in attendance learned how to participate in caucuses and became educated about each candidate and their vision for the nation.
"We just got finished doing a project on all the candidates, but it was interesting to hear Kucinich speak himself," said Elena Rodriguez, 17, a junior at City High, 1900 Morningside Drive. "I wish that more candidates were here because I really think students represent an important voice in the community."
Kucinich related to the students by talking about his political beginnings in high school. He recalled being inspired by President John F. Kennedy's statement, "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."
"You can look at the world the way it is and say, 'I don't like the way things are, I think things can be different,'" he said. "You can have the world that you envision, but it takes the willingness to step forward and make a difference."
Kucinich said that if elected president, he will send the nation down a different path.
"I want to take America into a new direction," he said. "If you want to change it all ... then that's what my candidacy is all about."
Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, spoke for Dean and said there is an abundance of strong candidates in the upcoming election.
"I'm excited about the election next year because we have a great field of democratic candidates who think the country is heading in the wrong direction under President Bush," Bolkcom said. "The Bush recession is not over here in Iowa, and we need to get someone in the White House who understands domestic issues and how they relate to our economy."
Bolkcom said he thinks Dean has the best chance at overtaking Bush and will do the best job of inspiring new voters to cast ballots.
"He has the greatest ability to bring new people out to the polls next year," Bolkcom said. "I believe he is the candidate that can win."
Sen. Bob Dvorsky, D-Coralville, spoke on behalf of Gephardt and stressed the need to remove Bush from office.
"The great line Gephardt has been using is 'George Bush has been a miserable failure,'" Dvorsky said, adding that Iowa can play a major role in removing his influence. "We are a small state in the center of the country, and we get a tremendous opportunity to be the first ones who decide who should be the leader of the free world. Everyone here should be participating in the caucuses, it's that important."
Heidi Hochstrasser, 16, a junior at West High, 2901 Melrose Ave., said she learned a lot from the event and is excited about attending a caucus when she is allowed to vote.
"I thought this was an awesome experience for students to get firsthand experience discussing issues with candidates," she said. "I thought it was really cool of them to take time and talk to students, knowing that a lot of us won't have a direct impact on the turnout."
Hochstrasser said while she can't yet vote, she plans to become politically involved.
"We can still be active in the process by volunteering," she said. "And I plan to get registered for the caucuses when I'm old enough. I think it's important not to take the political process for granted."
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