Political positions of Dennis Kucinich

Dennis John Kucinich (born October 8, 1946) is an American Democratic politician who has represented Ohio's 10th congressional district since 1997 and who was previously Mayor of Cleveland (1978-1979).

He was a candidate for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2008 election. However, on January 24, 2008, Kucinich's office released a statement confirming that he was withdrawing from the race. [ [http://www.newsnet5.com/politics/15130404/detail.html Dennis Kucinich Dropping Out Of Presidential Race] Newsday.com. Accessed 24-January 2008]

ocial issues

Abortion

Prior to 2002 Kucinich's voting record was pro-life, but he currently maintains a pro-choice stance on abortion. In 1996 he was quoted as saying that "life begins at conception", and he has also voted in favor on banning partial birth abortion and preventing the transport of minors to undergo abortion procedures. However since then he has been a strong supporter of abortion. He said in a 2003 interview that he had a "journey" regarding the abortion issue which "caused me to break from a voting record that had not been pro-choice." [David Enrich, [http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-enrich060903.asp Kucinich’s Continued Evolution] National Review, June 9, 2003]

Kucinich said that, as President, he would not appoint anyone to the U.S. Supreme Court who would vote to repeal the decision of Roe v. Wade. [ [http://youtube.com/watch?v=YADPgCgPJWY&feature=related Dennis Kucinich at November 2007 Democratic Presidential Debate] ]

Kucinich supports a woman's right to abort, having stated that "there are circumstances in which a woman and her doctor should be allowed to make this most difficult decision without government intervention." However, he advocates minimizing the number of abortions by use of prevention techniques, including providing sexual education and health care. [ [http://www.kucinichonline.com/pdfs/Kucinich_Reproductive%20Rights.pdf Issues - Reproductive Rights] Kucinich.us]

He is currently rated 100% by NARAL's Congressional Record on Choice, indicating a pro-choice voting record. Prior to 2003, Kucinich's NARAL rating had never been above 25% in his previous six years in Congress. [ [http://www.naral.org/choice-action-center/in-congress/congressional-record-on-choice/state.html?state=OH Congressional Record on Choice by State] NARAL.org]

Animal rights

Kucinich identifies himself as a vegan, and he is a long-time advocate of the ethical treatment of animals. He has stated that "As a necessary component of the living world, we must extend compassion to one another and to every living thing." [ [http://www2.kucinich.us/issues/rightsanimal.php Issues - Animal Rights] Kucinich.us] .

Civil liberties

The American Civil Liberties Union gave Kucinich a 100% rating on civil liberties for the 2006-2007 legislative session. In addition he has been given a 89% lifetime rating by the ACLU. [Tom Head [http://action.aclu.org/site/VoteCenter?congress=110&repId=477&session_num=0&page=legScore Congressional Scorecard] ACLU.org]

Kucinich supports same-sex marriage and opposes the definition of marriage as "between a man and a woman". [Tom Diemer and Sabrina Eaton, [http://www.cleveland.com/kucinich/plaindealer/index.ssf?/kucinich/more/1058348272157840.html Kucinich supports marriage for same-sex couples] , Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 16, 2003] Rather, he feels that all citizens deserve equal treatment under the law, and should be allowed to choose for themselves who they want to marry. He has also voted for the expansion of hate crime laws in the United States and against banning LGBT adoption in Washington, D.C. [ [http://www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/reports/reports/final_candidates_positions.pdf 2008 Presidential Candidates' Positions] TheTaskForce.org] .

Kucinich has opposed the USA PATRIOT Act since its inception. He voted against the act in 2001, and against its renewal in 2006. He voted for an amendment to the constitution outlawing flag burning and desecration, however he has since taken up the opposite stance and voted against a similar amendment in 2005. [http://votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=318ivil_Rights.htm Representative Dennis J. Kucinich] , VoteSmart.org]

In 2007, Kucinich voted to require the Department of Defense to present a detailed plan for transferring prisoners out of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

D. C. Statehood

Kucinich supports giving rights of state to the District of Columbia , including its own executive, legislative and judicial powers and eliminating all federal government committees and/or subcommittees that have oversight or appropriation power over the DC government.

Kucinich supports giving DC an equal and proportional voting delegation in Congress. [ [http://www2.kucinich.us/issues/dc_statehood.php Issues - D.C. Statehood] Kucinich.us]

Death penalty

Kucinich strongly opposes the death penalty. He states that because human judgments are "fallible and often wrong", we do not have the moral authority to take human life. He advocates elimination of the federal death penalty "even if unpopular" and has introduced a national moratorium on executions. He has contended that 98% of those executed have been poor. [ [http://www2.kucinich.us/issues/death.php Issues - Death Penalty] Kucinich.us]

Kucinich has introduced legislation that would abolish the death penalty under federal law. [ [http://www.opencongress.org/bill/109-h4923/show H.R.4923 - Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act] OpenCongress.org]

Drinking age and alcohol education

About the legal drinking age, Kucinich said, "We have to have confidence in young Americans... a president who reaches out to them and talks about drinking responsibly is much better than a president who tells them 'thou shalt not' because young people will do what they do. But they're looking for leadership from a President. I'm ready to provide that leadership. Of course they should be able to drink at age 18, and they should be able to vote at age 16." [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWtw_NJrwVU]

Drugs

Kucinich supports marijuana decriminalization for recreational and medical users. He supports penalties for those who provide the drug to minors and endanger others through irresponsible use. He likens the ban on marijuana use to the failed Prohibition policy, which outlawed alcohol. [ [http://www2.kucinich.us/issues/marijuana_decrim.php Issues - Marijuana Decriminalization] Kucinich.us]

He has stated that the "war on drugs" has failed, and that "Prison should be for people who hurt other people, not themselves." [ [http://www2.kucinich.us/issues/drugwar.php Issues - Drug War] Kucinich.us]

Environmental issues

Kucinich had a 100% rating during 2005 and 2006 from the League of Conservation Voters, indicating pro-environment votes. [ [http://capwiz.com/lcv/bio/keyvotes/?id=468 Representative Dennis J. Kucinich] , LCV.org] He has stated that clean water is "a basic human right". [ [http://www.time.com/time/2007/candidates_books/kucinich/ Dennis Kucinich: The Candidates in Print] Time.com]

Gun ownership

Kucinich is graded "F" by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record. He also received a 100% lifetime rating from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. [ [http://votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=318&type=category&category=37 Interest Group Ratings - Gun Issues] VoteSmart.org] .

He has introduced legislation that would ban handguns. [ [http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=62819 Kucinich Offers Comprehensive Plan to Address Violence in America] House.gov]

Health care

Kucinich, alongside fellow Democratic Congressman John Conyers (D - Michigan), is co-sponsor of (HR 676) - a bill which would provide federally funded health care to all citizens. Kucinich says that the plan "covers all healthcare needs, including dental care, mental health care, vision care, prescription drugs, and long-term care - at NO extra cost!" [ [http://www2.kucinich.us/issues/universalhealth.php Issues - Universal Health Care] Kucinich.us]

Immigration

Kucinich has said that "Welcoming immigrants to our shores is one of our country's vital traditions". He supports immigration reform and giving resident undocumented workers "a clear road map to legal status". [ [http://www2.kucinich.us/issues/immigrant_rights.php Issues - Immigrants' Rights] Kucinich.us] In 2001, Kucinich was a co-sponsor of H.R. 500, which would have given legal status to all those living in the U.S. for at least five years. [ [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h107-500 H.R. 500 [107th] : U.S. Employee, Family Unity, and Legalization Act] GovTrack.us]

Foreign policy

Cuba

Kucinich favors normalizing relations with Cuba. He advocates a full repeal of the Helms-Burton Act and the immediate lifting of the trade embargo and travel restrictions. He claims that America's "aggressive rhetoric and actions" have not helped US interests, but have hurt the Cuban people. [ [http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/issues/cuban_embargo.php Issues - Cuban Embargo] Kucinich.us]

Iran

Kucinich believes that the US should engage in direct diplomacy with Iran. He has claimed that the Bush administration is purposely escalating tensions with Iran and preparing to use military force without Congressional authorization. [Dennis J. Kucinich, [http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070312/kucinich Collision Course With Iran] TheNation.com, Feb. 26, 2007] After a December 3, 2007 National Intelligence Estimate report indicated that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons, Kucinich stated that it was clear that there was "no threat to the international community from Iran right now, or in the near future." [ [http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070312/kucinich Kucinich Slams Bush Over Iran Report] All Headline News, Dec. 3, 2007]

Iraq war

Kucinich voted against the authorization of military force against Iraq in 2002. He has also voted consistently against funding the war. [ [http://votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=318&type=category&category=47&go.x=18&go.y=17 Use of Military Force Against Iraq] VoteSmart.org]

Kucinich cited the war as one of his primary reasons for entering the 2008 presidential race. He said that the 2006 mid-term elections were a message that Americans were unhappy with the situation in Iraq. "Instead of heeding those concerns and responding with a strong and immediate change in policies and direction," Kucinich said, "the Democratic congressional leadership seems inclined to continue funding the perpetuation of the war." [ Zachary A. Goldfarb and Peter Slevin, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/11/AR2006121101268.html Unhappy With Democrats Over Iraq, Kucinich Plans Another Bid for White House] , Washington Post, December 12, 2006]

The "Kucinich Plan" for Iraq includes an immediate withdrawal of all US troops and contractors, as well as the closing of military bases, to be replaced with a UN peacekeeping force. He would also work towards rebuilding the Iraqi infrastructure and economy, and "repair [ing] our relationship with Iraqis and with the world". [ [http://www2.kucinich.us/node/1803 The Kucinich Plan for Iraq] Kucinich.us]

Economic issues

Free trade

Kucinich opposes participation in NAFTA and the WTO. He says that "one of my first acts as president will be to cancel NAFTA and the WTO". [ [http://home.ourfuture.org/assets/tba2007-transcript-dennis_kucinich.pdf Campaign for America's Future] June 20, 2007 Speech] Kucinich has consistently opposed free trade on the grounds that it costs American jobs and enables abusive working conditions in other countries. [ [http://www.cfr.org/publication/14762/#264 The Candidates on Trade] Council on Foreign Relations]

Tax policy

Kucinich introduced the Progressive Tax Act of 2003, which was designed to repeal what he called the "unfair Bush tax cuts" for wealthy Americans and corporate tax loopholes. [ [http://kucinich.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=1465#future Tax Reform] House.gov] [ [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:h.r.03655: H.R.3655] Library of Congress] He also favors simplifying the tax code and a Payroll Tax Credit and a Family Credit.

See also

*Dennis Kucinich presidential campaign, 2008
*United States presidential election, 2008

References

External links

* [http://campaigns.wikia.com/wiki/Dennis_Kucinich Campaigns Wikia - Dennis Kucinich]