By Manila Ryce
Published Thursday, January 24th, 2008, 2:53 pm
Filed under: Personal Posts, US Politics
In an interview with Cleveland’s Plain Dealer, the six-term House member said he was quitting the race and would make a formal announcement on Friday.
“I will be announcing that I’m transiting out of the presidential campaign,” Kucinich said. ”I’m making that announcement tomorrow about a new direction.”
Kucinich has received little support in his presidential bid; he got 1 percent of the vote in the New Hampshire primary and was shut out in the Iowa caucuses. He did have a devoted following.
Kucinich, 61, is facing four challengers in the Democratic congressional primary March 4, and earlier this week he made an urgent appeal on his Web site for funds for his re-election. Rival Joe Cimperman has been critical of Kucinich for focusing too much time outside of his district while campaigning for president.His decision comes a month after his youngest brother, Perry Kucinich, was found dead.
Kucinich said he will not endorse another Democrat in the primary.
I’m saddened of course to see Kucinich drop out before Super Tuesday, but I’m glad to see that he won’t be endorsing any of the other Democrats. I’ll be voting for a third party candidate and I hope you will too. America has shown it’s not ready for a good leader. It’s unfortunate that everyone else will have to suffer in the meantime, but maybe after 4 more years of hell the American voter will actually vote for change instead of just wishing for it. Until then, we need to work to reclaim our media so that private powers won’t be able to silence Kucinich the way they did this time. Dennis has made it quite clear in recent statements that he intends to run until he wins.
When I was elected to the House of Representatives I got elected on my fifth try. And my first attempt was in ‘72. And I lost in ‘72, and I lost in ‘74, and I lost in ‘88, and I lost in ‘92. And I won in ‘96 and in ‘98, and 2000, and 2002, and in 2004, and in 2006. To me, what you do in life is you stand up and you fight for those things you believe in. And you do it without a question or a pause, to take a phrase from one of my favorite songs. And so I don’t have any complaints.
I wish you much luck in your race for re-election congressman. For those interested in helping Kucinich fight the corporate powers wanting him out of Congress entirely, you can contribute to that campaign here. It’s sad that he won’t be in the White House, but we still need to keep this sole voice of reason in government.
13 Responses to “Kucinich to Drop Out: Time to Vote Green”
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I certainly see your point. To me, the odds are too great for me to vote third party this time around.
It’s too important to get a person in who addresses even some of my concerns as opposed to none of them.
01/24/08 at 2:56 pm
Kevin, I fail to see the logic behind your strategy. By voting for whatever conservative Democrat the corporations nominate you’re sending the message that you’ll eat whatever they put on your plate and smile.
Yes, the odds are great and it’s precisely because liberals have voted for conservatives for the past couple decades. Voting for the lesser of two evils is what got us in to this mess in the first place.
Do you really expect the Democrats to nominate a real liberal when you won’t even hold your vote as leverage against them? Why should they listen to you when they know you’ll cave?
01/24/08 at 3:03 pm
I’m sorry to see Kucinich drop out, but his campaign never did take off. I’m not sure why, since his message was a good one. But doesn’t Gravel share quite a lot in common with him? If you are living in one of those swing states, don’t waste your vote on a third party candidate. Even Clinton, as odious as she is, is preferable to anything on the Republican ticket. The exception being Ron Paul, but he’s another long-shot.
01/24/08 at 3:11 pm
@WillySF
Yeah, it’s been pretty clear that Paul’s not gonna get the Republican nomination, and he won’t run as an independent. If he ran on a unity ticket with Kucinich, then I would’ve actually voted for him.
Swing states are debatable. You can justify voting for the lesser of two evils under that circumstance, but when it comes down to it, is Clinton really the lesser of two evils against McCain? Many believe that despite the tough talk, McCain would actually get our troops out sooner than Hillary. There’s no way she would want to be seen as the president that “lost the war”, but a former military man might be able to do it without losing much face.
This is my point. The difference between Democrat and Republican has all but vanished. Some Democrats are now more conservative than their Republican rivals because Democrats never stand their ground. They always cave, politicians and voters alike.
01/24/08 at 3:21 pm
Ugh… I feel like I’ve just been sucker-punched.
I was ready to proudly mark my Absentee Ballot for Mr. K… alas… it truly would be a wasted vote now.
Dennis… why? Why before California had a chance to speak… we were here for ya, buddy!
Okay, go keep yourself in office in Ohio and keep pluggin’ away at ‘em!
I’m not sure how I’ll vote now, but I know one thing. I WILL NOT VOTE FOR HILLARY!
Maybe Edwards… sigh…
01/24/08 at 3:31 pm
I will NOT vote for any other Democratic Party Candidate. I too am going Green with Cynthia McKinney.
If we were so strong to say that no vote is wasted than how can a third party vote be wasted. We need to realize our power even when we face obstacles.
Voting for the lesser evil is Evil. Rhetoric I know but the essence is true. We need to remain steadfast and uncompromising.
If every Kucinich supporter went Green, the party would gain ballot access perhaps, leveling the playing field.
True Progressive values need to be both defended and furthered. Dennis still stands with us as a Representative.
The Democratic Party Machine has taken Progressive voters for granted for far too long.
If the people lead, the leaders will follow.
01/24/08 at 6:41 pm
I’m voting green. I’m sorry to see Kucinich drop out. He was so sidelined by the corporate media. And I will never understand how the average stupid electorate can only vote for a candidate if they have raised millions and millions of dollars. It just perpetuates an “undemocratic” voting system. We need a publicly financed voting election system more than ever before.
Goodbye Kucinich. I supported back in 2004 and I donated to your campaign in 2008. I guess I’m voting Nader. Come on, Nader!!!!!!
01/24/08 at 9:00 pm
I too was an idealist once. I suppose I still am. But think about the Supreme Court. Think about the possibility of another Republican administration. Clinton is not a great candidate, but she will represent more of our interests. Voting Green or any other third party is a waste. If you want to make a statement, then actively boycott what you feel are fraudulent elections.
01/25/08 at 7:59 am
Again, isn’t Gravel still in?
01/25/08 at 7:59 am
Vote for Mike Gravel in the Democratic primary. Then vote for an independent or third party candidate in the general election. You should also join the Green Party or some other 3rd party after you vote in the primary election.
Don’t waste your vote on Clinton, Obama, or Edwards unless all you care about is abortion, stem cell research, civil unions and other minor issues.
01/25/08 at 3:45 pm
I don’t have to vote for Hillary or Obama in the California primary. It’s a primary!! Come the general election I will reluctantly vote for Obama or Hillary; I doubt Edwards will get the nomination.
But that’s what the stupid electorate doesn’t understand. In a primary, you NEVER waste your vote by voting for whom you want to vote for!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is your democratic RIGHT to vote for whom you wan to for. So this talk about “throwing away your vote” is utter BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When it’s your primary you should vote for the candidate that best reflects the values and ideas you cherish. How simple and yet how stupid the American electorate can’t even bother to vote in this way. PATHETIC!
01/25/08 at 6:31 pm
Manilla,
You know I want you on that Green train. It seems that the Democrats are sizing someone up to take on Kucinich in the primaries soon as punishment for causing a bit of a stir. If Dennis is being targeted, then he needs to go Green after 2008.
01/26/08 at 6:40 am
Yes, it is your democratic right to make sure your vote means nothing. Vote Green. Vote Socialist Workers. Vote Whig. Whatever.
01/26/08 at 7:28 am