Democrat plans to keep pushing ideas
Originally published in the Pantagraph
Monday, March 15, 2004
Democrat plans to keep pushing ideas
By Laura Rineer
BLOOMINGTON -- With John Kerry already clinching the Democratic presidential nomination, many people are left wondering why Dennis Kucinich keeps campaigning.
"The outcome of the nomination has been decided, but the platform has not been," Kucinich said at the Carpenter's Union Local No. 63 Hall on Sunday night. "I'm still campaigning to keep the debate going."
The crowd at the Carpenter's Hall clapped and cheered throughout his short speech encouraging people to stand behind him on issues such as health care and rights for the working class.
Although Kucinich said he and Kerry differ on major issues, his main concern is "putting together an effective coalition to get a Democrat in the White House."
"Senator Kerry voted for the war in Iraq and I led the effort in the House against it," he said.
Kucinich also is for publicly-financed health care that he says would put doctors and patients back in control of the system.
Kucinich said he has introduced legislation in Congress to take healthcare away from insurance and pharmaceutical companies.
He said Americans spend $1.6 trillion a year in healthcare, $400 billion of which goes to pharmaceutical and insurance companies.
"This is a racket and you're paying for it," he said against thunderous applause.
Barbara Willey of Bloomington said she hopes Kucinich gets heard at the Democratic National Convention.
Although she will be voting for Kerry in November, Willey hopes Kerry will listen to Kucinich's ideas.
"If the platform is solid and strong and reflects Democratic values, then it will give Kerry the courage to do what's right," she said.
Ron Williams of Bloomington said he was also voting for Kerry, but that he admired Kucinich's ideas, and his determination to stay in the race.
"I've watched the debates, and I'm kind of a political junkie. Kucinich might just be a little bit too liberal for our country," he said.
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