Why Did Dennis Kucinich Go After John Edwards?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

I thought they were supposed to be kindred spirits...

[MethuenProgressive]

1. John deserved it?

Just guessing here...

[William769]

3. Thats a damn good educated guess.

[EV_Ares]

19. Thats right not too difficult. Dennis speaks out and the subject warranted his

hitting John with that. Its really too bad Dennis doesnt't get more support overall. Everyone bitches about wanting someone in office that will fight for them and here you have a guy that does exactly that and it goes nowhere. We deserve what we get.

[incapsulated]

2. WesDem said he had been going at him before the debate

So he was already pissed.

I have no idea where this kindred spirit meme came from, Dennis does not forgive or forget (pretty recent) votes, heh.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. During The 04 Primary Season They Seemed Close

DSB

[incapsulated]

6. Really?

Honestly I don't remember this.

:shrug:

[Peregrine Took]

22. The two of them had an alliance in Iowa to try to stop Howard Dean. n/t

[Adelante]

25. They were friendlier then

But Kucinich seems to have lowered his opinion of Edwards, and is not so charmed anymore. Kucinich was the only one last time in Iowa who escaped Edwards' black binder attacks, so Edwards was really working it, and Dennis believed Edwards could be trusted. This year, I think whatever Dennis heard Edwards whispering into Clinton's ear at that spring debate took him with surprise and dismay. There was a picture of it and you could see Dennis hearing every word. Over the summer Kucinich criticized Edwards on his investments in Fortress, because Edwards stands to make money off his health care plan. Now his hearing Edwards going on about toxic toys from China without taking responsibility for that China trade vote, has really angered Kucinich. Of course, Edwards tried to make it into a big joke, but Dennis was dead serious.

Here is what he says about it:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – “Made in China” has become a health and safety warning label for American consumers following the recalls of tens of millions of Chinese-made toys, but the “real warning label should say ‘Made in Washington, D.C. by corporate lobbyists’ because the life-threatening hazards of these products were either ignored or brushed off by members of the Congress seven yeas ago,” Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich said today.

And, at least one then-member of the Senate, John Edwards, who has been railing lately in favor of higher safety standards for Chinese-made products, defended his 2000 vote supporting expanded China trade with the famously reported comment, “it does us no good to pretend that these remedies are perfect and that people will not be hurt.”

“Senator Edwards knew seven years ago that people would be hurt, so why did he vote for China trade?” Kucinich asked. “How credible is his newfound consumer protectionism and his campaign advocacy for trade reform to save American jobs?”

Kucinich, D-OH, noted that Edwards, who became a millionaire as a trial lawyer with considerable expertise in product liability matters, “knew better than any other member of the Senate what the risks were in sending U.S. manufacturing jobs to a country with almost no labor standards, no health and safety standards, and no environmental standards.”Beyond that, Kucinich pointed out, Edwards’vote in favor of the 2000 China trade agreement has resulted in the loss of more than 973,00 manufacturing jobs and more than 1.2 million jobs total, according to studies released by the AFL-CIO.

“If he knew then that this trade agreement would hurt people and put Americans out of work, he had a moral responsibility to vote against it,” said Kucinich, who has a perfect record in his votes against unfair trade agreements. “Like his now-regretted vote in favor of the resolution that led to the Iraq war, his votes on trade issues raise questions of judgment.” “When candidates stand in front of a union audience or in front of the cameras, they bemoan the three millions jobs that have been lost because of ‘free trade’ agreements,” Kucinich noted. “When they had a chance to vote as a member of Congress, they strongly supported those agreements. That means they voted against American workers, and, as recent events have shown, against American consumers.”

http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/%91made-in-china%92-hazards-began-with-%91made-in-washington,-d.c.%92/

[asthmaticeog]

4. Kindred spirits?

John no single payer no gay civil rights voted for the war Edwards is supposed to be kindred spirits with Kucinich HOW?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. John Edwards Was An Afterthought In 03-04 DU Primary Polls

However, in his recent carnation he has adopted more liberal/populist positions...He now does well in many DU polls... It seems many of his supporters are erstwhile Kucinich supporters because they see him as the "electable" Kucinich or the candidate that comes closest to represent Dennis Kucinich's views that can actually get elected...

[incapsulated]

8. Wait, maybe you just discovered the reason right there

Edwards is no Kucinich and maybe he is hearing that people who would normally support him are backing Edwards and he wasn't going to have it.

[riqster]

11. I have seen posts urging Kooch backers to ditch him and switch to Edwards

...based on such logic. Ain't gonna happen. DK is my guy until the last shot is fired and the smoke clears.

After which, I'll support our nominee, whoever it is. I say, let the primary do its job. GO KOOCH!

[Debi]

12. I think this is it - many Iowans who were Kucinich supporters

are now with Edwards (after all, that's what Kucinich told them to do in the 2004 caucuses).

[incapsulated]

13. Ah, so that is the connection

With Edwards. I didn't remember.

Well obviously things are different this time, heh.

[Debi]

14. It was a pact - non-viable E's were to go to K and vice-versa

However, I think K got screwed in the deal b/c there were a lot more non-viable K's and it bumped E up to second place in the caucuses. Kucinich is not running in Iowa (I think he's been here 7-8 times this entire cycle and only has one office here which is a supporter's home). I think his supporters are antsy and have turned to Edwards since that's where they were told to go four years ago. The exchange last night might shake some of them, but I don't know if it will send them back to Kucinich. I think Edward's support is pretty solid here - no matter what you're seeing in the polls.

[durrrty libby]

9. It was a nice little surprise. I wonder if that helped throw Edwards

He seemed dizzy during most of the debate.

[Adelante]

26. He did seem dizzy

But this occurred late.

[Ninga]

10. Because he is a 6 term Congressman, who is a policy wonk, has his heart in the

right place, but is indistinguishable as a leader.

I remember it well, at a Christmas party for Dem's, in December 2002, Dennis proudly showing me and my husband his Blackberry, and the press release he had sent out that day, declaring his intention to explore running for POTUS.

Our conversation was brief, and unremarkable. I asked him why he didn't run for Governor or for the senate, and he didn't answer.


Dennis is not a leader. He is a good policy wonk, and is exactly the person needed on the floor of congress to "whip" the rest of the members into voting for progressive bills.

Back home, in NE Ohio, Dennis has cast his lot with the likes of GOP Congressman, Steve LaTourette by refusing to support and/or endorses any Democratic who has challenged LaTourette.

Dennis does lots of small, petty stuff that is beneath his lofty message.

[mtnsnake]

15. Isn't it obvious? Kucinich does not like hypocrites

Dennis is the straightest shooter of the bunch, and he finally got sick and tired of Edwards' two-faced, long drawn out, hypocritical string cheese diatribes. Same reason Edwards turns off most Americans. Does one thing, says another, and he comes off as a two-bit televangelist preacher while he does it.

[EV_Ares]

16. If he turns off people so much, why is his standing in the poll where

it is. It seems to be out of alll the candidates, Hillary is the one who has to worry about turning people off. She has always had that problem and always will.

Dennis was right for calling him on it and you are correct in saying "Dennis is the straightest shooter of the bunch". He will call anyone on something if they put themselves in that position. I also liked his comeback when John said I don't know what a trial attorney has to do with it and Dennis shouted back j"product liability". He is sharp.

[maddiejoan]

17. Yep! Yep! Yep!

You got it down!

[MuseRider]

18. I used to

kind of like Edwards but there is something different about him this time around. I think you may have hit part of it with the preacher comment. I saw him in Kansas before the last election and he was very impressive then. Now he seems, I don't know, pressured? I have always liked many things about him but I do not like what I hear this time around. He has been molded into a slick version of what he used to be. He seems less real.

[Adelante]

27. I think Dennis genuinely liked him last time, too

I admit I was taken by surprise with the Iowa deal they cut, but I decided Dennis felt he knew where Edwards was coming from, even if they were so different. He trusted him. It seems now that Dennis just doesn't believe Edwards anymore.

[MuseRider]

28. They both spoke about

their friendship last election. I was surprised as well when they made that deal. Funny thing, all we ever heard was how "pure" Kucinich did in Dean with his "corrupt" move infact we still hear about it from some people. I waited and wondered why nobody ever mentioned how horrible Edwards was for making the same deal even though he did not have to use it. :shrug:

I really wonder what changed. Does not matter at all but I do wonder. :hi:

[Adelante]

30. I give my understanding of the change in post 25

If you'd like to know. But you are certainly right about where the blame fell in that Iowa deal and unfairly. It was pretty amazing at the time, but I've since grown to accept that the Edwards teflon is just something that is. He is gifted in this way. He is never going to be held responsible for his actions or record here on DU. Oh, well :hi:

[MuseRider]

31. Ahh thanks.

I think you are right. DK will not stand for talking out of two sides of your mouth. I know there are those who would jump all over me about this but this is how I see him. I rarely, if ever, have seen him change votes for his own benefit. Ah well, we all have our blind spots. I try not to but then I am certain I do have them.

I am quite amazed by the teflon that Edwards has. He is like Obama I think in that he talks a great game and seems very sincere. They may be sincere but I just don't like their stances. Listening to them is always a pleasure even if it is only to listen to quality orators who do inspire people.

Good to see you WesDem and thanks for pointing me to your previous post.

Edit to clarify

[MonkeyFunk]

20. because they're both fighting for fifth place?

[hijinx87]

21. kucinich didn't seem to like much of anyone last night. n/t

[RichGirl]

23. Kucinich is...

Above all honest and fair. He saw that Edwards was accusing Clinton of things he himself did so he called him out on it. Not that he agrees with either of them,he was just being honest.

[Armstead]

24. Maybe he realizes he's not going to win -- and has taken a different role

Just a theory, but at this point it's obvious he isn't going to pull any upsets.

He's probable also feeling pissed like many of us are at how this primary campaign has turned into a shallow coronation of the candidate of the Usual Suspects and the Same Old Crap.

Therefore (if my theory hold true) he is focused totally on getting out his message, and pushing the Democrats to be more responsive to the progressive positions.

Just a theory.

[riqster]

29. A Build on your point

...Kooch has nothing to lose and everything to gain by acting this way. He is gaining national recognition and pushing the party left, and no matter who wins, he will have more leverage in Congress.

Like they say about Ramirez, this is "Dennis being Dennis". And I am glad he is.

Hey hey motherfuckers, let's kick out the jams!