Reports from the campaign trail, December 1
From Melinda Arons:
Wooing Arab-Americans [ed note: No, Melinda, they're Muslim Americans]
Dec. 1 — Rep. Kucinich enjoyed a warm welcome Saturday night as the only presidential candidate to speak to the Council on American Islamic Relations in Tysons Corner, Va. The 1,000-plus crowd gave the Congressman standing ovations for his vehement comments condemning the Iraq war and the Patriot Act, and for being the only candidate appearing in person to address the group, which has come under fire for having possible ties to terrorist groups. Said the emcee in his introduction to Kucinich's keynote speech, "General Clark sent CAIR a letter, but we see who's actually here in person to talk to you." And in a signal that Arabic may be the new Spanglish for politicians wooing the ethnic group, Kucinich started his speech with greetings in Arabic and was received with hearty applause.
But outside the ballroom the praise was more muted, with attendees echoing the same refrains often heard at Kucinich events. A CAIR member listening to Kucinich's speech told ABC News, "People like him and think he's a straight shooter, but it's the age-old dilemma … .do you vote to make a statement or do you vote to win?"
Gobble gobble? Not so much
Rep. Kucinch told ABC News he spent Thanksgiving with friends in California, who cooked for him a vegan feast of wild rice, cranberries, boiled carrots and grapes ("It was really good!" he swore), and vegetable salad, with no tofurkey in sight. From California he flew to New Hampshire to campaign Friday and then to Washington to spend the weekend.
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