Election 2008: Kucinich's wife speaks out in Green Valley
Originally published in the Green Valley News and Sun
Election 2008: Kucinich's wife speaks out in Green Valley
By Ellen Sussman, Special to the Green Valley News
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 11:01 PM MDT
"Iraq was wrong for America. We should have a strong military for a strong national defense; we should not have a strong military to be manipulated.
"Global warming and global warring are inextricably linked; both are fueled by oil."
These were some of the key thoughts by Elizabeth Kucinich, wife of Democratic presidential hopeful and U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio. She spoke with an audience of about 75 Tuesday at the Joyner-Green Valley Library.
Tall, with long auburn hair and a British accent, the crowd listened intently as she spoke fervently on key issues of her husband's presidential platform.
"I apologize for being late, but you have a beautiful state to drive through," she told the crowd who had waited patiently for close to an hour.
She stated her husband's campaign slogan, "Strength Through Peace," and said our occupation in Iraq is making the U.S. less safe.
"Do you feel that the war in Iraq made you feel safer? she asked the audience. They responded quietly with a joint "no."
Speaking about H.R. 1234 introduced in Congress by her husband on February 28, 2007 to immediately end the U.S. occupation in Iraq, she said, "Our occupation is fueling the insurgency... Dennis has spoken with 2,000 ambassadors; a political solution not a military solution is what will work... H.R. 1234 to, help end the Iraq war," she told the audience, adding, "Every time there's a vote to fund the war there's a vote to re-authorize the war."
Speaking about domestic issues she said, "Our energy policy has failed us and made us weaker." Of the potential use of solar energy she said, "Why are we using coal and fuel when we have the sun? There should be a focus on solar, wind and water.
"We can maintain the same standard of living by changing the way we do things; we have the ability to bring America back to a position of strength," she said with passion.
Of her husband's overall strategy, Kucinich said the United States needs a government that represents everyone; that there's a strong need for a government that stands for a true energy program.
"We need to elect people who are servants of the community... Dennis Kucinich will say exactly what it is he stands for."
On the issue of health care, she said $1 of every $3 is spent on the for-profit system. In a brief interview, she told the Green Valley News that health care is the main reason for most bankruptcies in the U.S.; that universal single-payer medical care for all Americans that includes long-term care and prescription medicine is what her husband advocates.
About the war in Iraq, she told the News, "The people understood it was a lie; it's not a war; it's an occupation. We should close the bases and bring our troops home."
Opening the reception to the audience for questions, one man called Mrs. Kucinich, "a noble ambassador for peace."
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