Dennis Kucinich.
John Nichols the confused self-professed "progressive" and Obama backer lamented the defeat of Dennis Kucinich in an opinion piece in the Nation--- see link at very bottom.
Talk about the bastardization of the word "progressive." At best Kucinich was a liberal populist with a lack of courage to struggle against racism and for women's rights as he capitulated and broke under pressure from Obama on health care reform.
One has to really stretch the imagination as John Nichols does here to consider Kucinich, the Ron Paul lover, opponent of abortion, opponent of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday, opponent of public school integration, opponent of the enforcement of Affirmative Action, opponent of ridding racist Parma of its racist covenants in deeds, opponent of integrated open housing and the one who broke down when his voice was required in support of single-payer universal health care as a "progressive."
As we have seen with Ron Paul who Kucinich just loves, it takes more than being for peace to be considered a "progressive."
And, let us not forget; Kucinich has vigorously backed Obama.
Instead of taking principled progressive stands on the issues, Kucinich waffled all over the place--- a summer soldier and sunshine patriot at best--- not the kind of people's politician this moment in history requires.
Dennis Kucinich is selfish and disgusting and that is why he was defeated. I guess there are those who like to view themselves as "progressives" who find solace in considering Dennis Kucinich a "progressive" because it is justification for their own non-struggle positions on issues they don't feel comfortable with--- like defending abortion when your constituency is reactionary on a particular issue and when those who are your biggest supporters happen to be rabid racists wanting to keep people of color out of Parma.
Isn't it possible to appreciate Dennis Kucinich for the good that he did while analyzing his racist and anti-woman stands on the issues which ultimately did him in?
Let's face it; Dennis Kucinich didn't lose this Election because of re-districting. Dennis Kucinich lost this Election because more working class people of color and more real progressive voters made up the new district and these voters were obviously not looking for a candidate they couldn't trust to defend their most basic and fundamental interests when it came to someone willing to stand up and fight it out when it came to civil and human rights, the most basic and fundamental rights of working people and the right of women to be free to choose.
It has to be said, Dennis Kucinich helped to give voice to, and build--- both ideologically and in action--- the present racist and anti-woman movements now sweeping this country.
I don't find it unusual that the same old phony liberals, progressives and leftists now mourning Dennis Kucinich's loss are the very same people who helped to sell Obama to the American people as some kind of "liberal," progressive" and even in their minds a closet "leftist" simply because Obama was "mentored" by Frank Marshall Davis.
Marcy Kaptur is no better nor no worse than Kucinich.
Quite frankly, I think the labor unions, Obama and the Democrats were getting ready to primary Kucinich, the gadfly; and none of these people now mourning his loss would have dared to complain.
Real progressives have the courage to step forward and lead, not retreat, in the face of racism and attacks on women.
I'm not gloating over Dennis Kucinich's loss; but, neither am I mourning his defeat. Nothing has changed; everything has stayed the same. Dennis Kucinich reaped the fruits from the political establishment he refused to break free from--- this two-party trap Wall Street is so fond of selling us as a democracy.
I surmise what I have written here will find people in disagreement. I welcome their thoughts as a way to move discussion forward on how we free ourselves from this Wall Street tyranny.
As a matter of fact, some of the most corrupt racist politicians like former Minnesota Congressman James Oberstar backed Dennis Kucinich. That should tell everyone everything there is to know.
Plus; Dennis Kucinich has been the darling of Cleveland mobsters who have their racist, greedy fingers in the Indian Gaming Industry. Kucinich chose to ignore the plight of casino workers forced to work in these loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos without any rights as he continued to vote to approve every single "Compact" giving birth to one more of these hideous casinos from which he and other politicians giving these racist, anti-labor "Compacts" their stamp of approval knowing that which each "Compact" approval they were denying another couple thousand workers their rights and dooming one more Indian Nation to deeper poverty the result of enormous debt. But, then again; this is classic selfish Dennis Kucinich--- and in the end, his opponent ended up with the support of the Indian Gaming Industry. Talk about "just rewards."
Yours in the struggle,
Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnnesota, 56763
E-mail: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com
alternate E-Mail: amaki000@centurytel.net
phone: (218) 386-2432
Make the "United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights" a living reality for all working people!
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