Kucinich drums up support
Originally published in the West Branch Times
Introducing Congressman Dennis Kucinich at the Hoover House restaurant Monday night, Mark Minor-Nidey separated the candidate from the other Democrats seeking the presidential nomination.
"He's the only candidate...," Minor-Nidey said as he listed distinctions such as Kucinich's opposition to the war in Iraq, his plan for a single-payer healthcare plan for all, and his desire to cancel NAFTA. Then Minor-Nidey brought up another unique separation factor.
"He's the only candidate that's been to West Branch three times," he said.
In fact, Kucinich is the lone Democratic candidate who's been in West Branch at all in preparation for the Jan. 19 caucus.
As he's done during the two other visits, Kucinich used the brief stop here to speak about issues important to him and his supporters.
To a group of about 40 people at the Hoover House, Kucinich said, "with your help, Iowa is going to speak for peace" by standing up for him at the precinct caucuses.
As he did in the Des Moines Register's presidential debate Sunday, Kucinich made peace and hope his mantra at the West Branch visit.
He said the war in Iraq is the "overriding issue" in this election.
"We're on a slippery slope to another kind of Vietnam," he said.
He said he wants to get the U.N. in Iraq and the U.S. out, adding that the longer the U.S. is in Iraq, the more unsafe troops become. He added that he's concerned about the cost of the war.
Kucinich also spent time talking about his plans for a universal health care program, noting that it's shocking that Howard Dean, in the Sunday debate, spoke about why he doesn't believe such a program is possible.
The candidate said he doesn't think in such terms and will fight for his ideas.
He even had a prediction for Jan. 19 and beyond:
"We'll be the surprise of the Iowa caucus...of the 2004 election."
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