KUCINICH: Statement on behalf of Ohio Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich

Statement on behalf of Ohio Congressman
Dennis J. Kucinich

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Perry J. Kucinich, younger brother of Ohio Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich, died early this morning in his apartment in Cleveland, Ohio. He was 51. The cause of death will be determined by the coroner's office.

Perry Kucinich was a talented artist who produced a prodigious volume of work. Some of his works have been on display recently at a local art gallery. He and his brother Dennis were planning another showing of his works in the spring.

"He was an admirer of the works of Klee and Picasso, and the style and structure of his artwork derived from their influences," said Dennis Kucinich. "He was a genius. He had extraordinary insights. Although he struggled with mental illness, with the help of his family and friends, he was able to lead a productive life."

"The Kucinich family is very close knit," said family spokesman Andy Juniewicz. "This is a devastating loss to each and every member of the Kucinich family. Dennis was very close to his brother Perry. He watched after him, and he loved him dearly. The two spoke nearly every day. He was more like Dennis's son than his brother."

Perry Kucinich was born Dec. 11, 1956, the fifth child of Frank and Virginia Kucinich. The family's travails were chronicled in a recently released book, "The Courage to Survive," written by Congressman Kucinich.

Funeral services are pending. In addition to his brother Dennis, Perry is survived by brothers Frank, Gary, and Larry, and by sisters Theresa and Beth Ann. They all live in Northeast Ohio.

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Andy Juniewicz

KUCINICH: Kucinich 'Peace Train' set to whistle through California next week

Kucinich 'Peace Train' set to whistle through California next week

For Immediate Release - December 17, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - U. S. Congressman and Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich will be riding a "Peace Train" through Western California with his wife Elizabeth and dozens of special guests and supporters, making numerous stops along the way for political rallies and campaign events.

The unprecedented whistle-stop tour will begin Thursday evening, December 20, with a special Town Hall gathering and fundraiser hosted by Elizabeth Kucinich at Mendocino Community College in Ukiah. Kucinich, the leading progressive candidate in the Presidential race, will join the event via a live video feed.

On Friday evening, December 21, there will be a big "Peace Train" Kick-Off Rally in San Francisco with Elizabeth Kucinich and well-known supporters of the campaign, including John Nichols, Washington correspondent for The Nation; political author and scholar Michael Parenti; Medea Benjamin from Code Pink; news anchor and talk show host Bree Walker; and peace activist Cindy Sheehan. The Congressman will be arriving in San Francisco that night.

Kucinich, his wife and their supporters will board the "Peace Train" (regularly known as Amtrak's "Coast Starlight") at Jack London Square Station in Oakland on Saturday morning, December 22, and arrive mid-afternoon in San Luis Obispo, where they will disembark and attend a rally and fundraising dinner, both open to the public. The following morning, December 23, it's all aboard once again in San Luis Obispo, as the "Peace Train" travels to Union Station in Los Angeles and a Peace Rally nearby at Placita de Dolores.

"I'm very excited about the great opportunities Elizabeth and I will have to be with thousands of supporters while traveling on the 'Peace Train' through California this weekend," said Rep. Kucinich. "With the February 5 Democratic primary here just a few weeks away, I'm looking forward to talking about my universal, not-for-profit health insurance plan, and my positions on Iraq, Iran, impeachment, the Patriot Act, NAFTA and other crucial issues facing the United States."

Kucinich recently swept 47 of 50 states in the online Democracy for America poll, topped all other Democrats in the Progressive Democrats of America poll, and was the runaway winner in a poll by one of the nation's leading political publications, The Nation. In some national and key- state polls, his numbers are higher than senators Biden and Dodd, virtually tied with Governor Richardson in some polls, and trailing a few points behind former Senator Edwards.

"Dennis Kucinich is the people's candidate and the 'Peace Train' brings his campaign directly to the people. It's a great way for his supporters to come out and express their enthusiasm for both the candidate and his clear and consistent stand on peace," remarked Jeeni Criscenzo, California State coordinator for Kucinich.

Public schedule for the Kucinich for President 2008 "Peace Train" is as follows:

Thursday, December 20
7 PM—Town Hall Meeting and Fundraiser with Elizabeth Kucinich @ Mendocino Community College, 1000 Hensley Creek Rd., Ukiah CA

Friday, December 21
Noon—Fundraiser with Elizabeth Kucinich and guest Norman Solomon @ Sebastopol Community Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol CA
7 PM—"Peace Train" Kick-Off Rally with Elizabeth Kucinich and numerous special guests, including John Nichols, Michael Parenti and Cindy Sheehan @ First Unitarian Universalist Church and Center, 1187 Franklin Street, San Francisco CA

Saturday, December 22
7:30 AM—Breakfast Send-Off with Dennis and Elizabeth Kucinich @ Jack London Square Station, Oakland CA
8:50 AM—"Peace Train" departs Jack London Square Station, Oakland CA. This train will make short scheduled stops in San Jose (9:55 AM), Salinas (11:48 AM) and Paso Robles (1:38 PM). Supporters will greet the Kuciniches and company at each of the stations. Arrival times may vary from schedule.
3:20 PM—"Peace Train" arrives at San Luis Obispo Station.
4 PM—Peace Rally in Mitchell Park, San Luis Obispo CA
5 PM—Spaghetti Dinner and Fundraiser at Odd Fellows Hall, San Luis Obispo CA

Sunday, December 23
6:45 AM—"Peace Train" departs from San Luis Obispo Station. This train will make short scheduled stops in Grover Beach (7:05 AM), Guadalupe-Santa Maria (7:21 AM), Lompoc-Surf (7:55 AM), Goleta (9:03 AM), Santa Barbara (9:21 AM), Carpinteria (9:37 AM), Ventura (9:58 AM), Oxnard (10:12 AM), Camarillo (10:23 AM), Simi Valley (10:51 AM), Chatsworth (11:03 AM), Van Nuys (11:18 AM), Burbank Airport (11:27 AM) and Glendale (11:39 AM).
12:10 PM—"Peace Train" arrives in Los Angeles at Union Station
12:30 PM—Peace Rally at Placita de Dolores, across from Union Station
3 PM—"Peace Train" continues on with supporters all aboard (the Kuciniches will heading back East) on Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner 580, departing from Union Station, Los Angeles CA. This train will make short scheduled stops in Fullerton (3:32 PM), Anaheim (3:41 PM), Santa Ana (3:50 PM), Irvine (4:04 PM) and San Juan Capistrano (4:18 PM).
4:53 PM—"Peace Train" arrives at the Oceanside Transit Center
6 PM—Holiday Peace on Earth Celebration @ Oceanside Library Community Room, 330 North Coast Highway, Oceanide CA.

KUCINICH: Clinton, Obama and Edwards health plans modeled after Nixon's, leading medical authorities say in The New York Times

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Kucinich welcomes support from Judiciary Committee members on impeachment

For Immediate Release - Friday, December 14, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC - Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich's push to initiate impeachment hearings against Vice President Richard B. Cheney received a significant boost today when three of his Democratic Congressional colleagues, all members of the House Judiciary Committee, endorsed Kucinich's call for action.

In a joint public announcement today, Representatives Robert Wexler, Luis Gutierrez, and Tammy Baldwin said, "The charges are too serious to ignore. There is credible evidence that the Vice President abused the power of his office, and not only brought us into an unnecessary war but violated the civil liberties and privacy of American citizens. It is the constitutional duty of Congress to hold impeachment hearings."

Kucinich is the only Democratic Presidential candidate who has called for impeachment proceedings. The other candidates have either dodged the issue or deferred to the comments of the Democratic Congressional leadership that the impeachment issue "is off the table."

"I appreciate the support of my good friends in this effort to hold our highest elected officials accountable, under the Constitution of the United States of America, for their violations and abuses of their sworn oaths to the Constitution and to the people of this nation," Kucinich said. "With the continuing drumbeat from the Administration toward a possible war with Iran, the need for hearings is more urgent than ever."

Kucinich introduced the impeachment resolution on April 24, 2007; and, last month, brought it to the floor of the House, where members voted to refer it to the Judiciary Committee for further consideration. The call to action by three Democratic members of that Committee might help move it out of the hopper and onto the calendar.

Kucinich will be campaigning in New Hampshire this weekend.

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Website: www.dennis4president.com
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Kucinich, top-rated Democrat, excluded from Des Moines Register debate

Kucinich, top-rated Democrat, excluded from Des Moines Register debate

For Immediate Release - Wednesday, December 12, 2007

DES MOINES, IA - The highest polling Democratic Presidential candidate among the Party's progressive, grassroots, activist base, Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, has been excluded from the Des Moines Register-sponsored Presidential debate here on Thursday because his Iowa field director operates from a home office rather than a rented storefront.

Despite being the top-ranked Presidential candidate in polls conducted by Democracy for America (DFA), Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), and one of the country's leading progressive publications, The Nation, Kucinich was not invited to participate in the debate because "It was our determination that a person working out of his home did not meet our criteria for a campaign office and full-time paid staff in Iowa," according to a statement from the newspaper's top officials, including editor Carolyn Washburn.

The dismissive reference was to Kucinich Iowa Field Director and State Coordinator Marcos Rubinstein, who coordinates campaign activities from his home office in Dubuque, bolstered by a dozen-or-so other senior campaign staff who have traveled the state over the past several months.

Both the DFA and PDA have been extremely active in Iowa in the past few weeks promoting the top vote-getters in their on-line polls. The DFA is planning to run full-page ads featuring Kucinich, as well as second and third-place finishers John Edwards and Barack Obama; and the 90,000-member PDA has been sending emails to its Iowa members advising them that Kucinich scored first with 41% while Edwards came in a distant second at 26%.

The results of those polls, and others showing Kucinich ahead of "invited" candidates - Senators Joe Biden and Chris Dodd - apparently carried no weight at the Des Moines Register, despite the fact that the newspaper and other national media have been portraying the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses as a national political event that may determine the outcome of the Presidential race.

"The Iowa caucuses have been portrayed as having national implications, and if the Register has decided to use hair-splitting technicalities to exclude the leading voice of the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party, then the entire process is suspect," according to a statement from the Kucinich campaign. The Iowa Democratic Party, Iowa Public Television, and well-funded political interests have barred Kucinich from previous public appearances. "The Des Moines Register's arbitrary and unreasonable exclusion of Congressman Kucinich is consistent with the treatment that the Congressman has received from the entrenched political and institutional interests in Iowa."

Kucinich, his campaign pointed out, is the only Democratic Presidential candidate who voted against the Iraq war authorization in 2002 and every war-funding measure since. He has been warning for years that the Administration's belligerence toward Iran is unjustified, and, last week's revelations in the National Intelligence Estimate confirm that. He is the only Democratic candidate who voted against the Patriot Act, and the only Democratic candidate who has called for the repeal of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) because of its disastrous effect on U.S. jobs. Kucinich is also the only candidate pushing for a national, not-for-profit, single-payer health insurance system that will cover all Americans.

"He is also the only major candidate who has been excluded from Thursday's debate," said his campaign. "The Des Moines Register, Iowa Public Television, the Iowa Democratic Party, and other broadcast sponsors should be asked to explain why the leading voice in the progressive Democratic constituency has been denied a presence and a voice in this debate."

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Sean Penn to deliver major political address today in SF

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Democratic candidates drift toward Kucinich, but fall short

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Democrat base gives Kucinich third major win in nationwide poll

Democrat base gives Kucinich third major win in nationwide poll

For Immediate Release - Wednesday, December 5, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC - Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich has won another major poll among grassroots Party activists most likely to vote in caucuses and primaries, capturing 41% of the vote from Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), which has more than 80,000 members across the nation.

In the field of eight candidates, the Ohio Congressman was the overwhelming winner, easily out-pacing second-place finisher former Senator John Edwards, who received 26% of the vote. Senator Barack Obama came in third with 13%, followed by Senator Hillary Clinton with 9%, and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson with 5%. The other Democratic candidates were in the low single digits. Kucinich was also the top vote-getter among PDA members in the early-voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire.

It is the third exceptionally strong finish by Kucinich in polls among active, grassroots Democrats. Last month, he topped all other candidates in 47 of 50 states in a poll sponsored by Democracy for America (DFA). Also, a poll conducted by the progressive The Nation magazine showed Kucinich with 35% of the vote, Obama second with 24% and Edwards third with 13%.

In last month's DFA poll, Kucinich received almost 32% of the 150,000-plus votes cast, more than Edwards and Obama combined. There, too, he won both Iowa and New Hampshire.

In announcing today's results, PDA said, "The Congressman's showing indicates that Progressive Democrats are still in sync with the Kucinich agenda: Out of Iraq; no attack on Iran, single-payer healthcare, fair trade, etc." The poll was open only to PDA members, and the organization said it added "extra layers of security" to protect the integrity of the survey.

In an analysis of the recent polls in The Nation today, Washington correspondent John Nichols wrote that Kucinich's "pointed opposition to the war in Iraq and outspoken advocacy of impeachment of Vice President Cheney has echoed the sentiments of the Democratic base" and "party activists who do the heavy lifting."

Nichols also noted, "The DFA and PDA poll results give Kucinich an additional measure of credibility as he reaches out to key activists, including Democrats who are currently leaning toward other contenders..."

Kucinich's national and state-by-state poll numbers have risen noticeably in the past several weeks. Not only is he the only Democratic candidate who voted against the Iraq war authorization in 2002 and every supplemental funding measure since, he also is the only Democratic candidate who voted against the Patriot Act. And, his early opposition to hostile moves by the Administration towards Iran was validated earlier this week when the National Intelligence Estimate revealed that Iran had abandoned its nuclear weapons program four years ago.

Kucinich, sponsor of a resolution calling for impeachment proceedings against Cheney, has called for a Congressional investigation of the handling of the NIE findings by the Administration. He said that such an investigation "will further build the case for the impeachment of both the President and the Vice President."

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Kucinich calls for Congressional investigation of NIE handling

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