Kucinich speaks to receptive Laguna Woods crowd
Originally published in the Orange County Register
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Kucinich speaks to receptive Laguna Woods crowd
Democratic candidate urges end to war and 'government eavesdropping.'
By RICHARD CHANG
The Orange County Register
Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich paid a visit to Laguna Woods this morning, urging an immediate end to the war in Iraq and calling for a withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization.
The Ohio congressman warned that President Bush is starting to beat the drum for war against Iran, and that oil is controlling U.S. foreign policy.
"Since the oil is running everything, does the oil belong to us, or do we belong to oil?" the 61-year-old politician asked a receptive audience of about 170 people. "The next president of the United States has an obligation to be a peacemaker. ... You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb the world to peace."
Kucinich spoke at the Clubhouse 5 Auditorium in Laguna Woods Village, formerly Leisure World. The event was organized by the Laguna Woods Democratic Club.
Kucinich's speech was greeted by enthusiastic applause and hearty cheers and whistles. Attendees, many of them seniors, said they were impressed.
"He's a good speaker and he desperately needs air time," said Joan Utas, 82, of Laguna Woods. "It's good, especially when people are older and can't travel far, that people come to them."
Sharon Barrier, 68, of Irvine said she didn't think Kucinich, who trails in the polls, had "a chance in the world." Still, she said she appreciated his visit and hoped other candidates would listen to his message.
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