A MESSAGE FROM DENNIS KUCINICH

[pnorman]

(RECORDED THE EVENING OF APRIL 20, 2004)

Hi, this is Dennis.

The situation in Iraq continues to get worse, and unfortunately leaders of both political parties do not seem to know any way out and they are guiding us towards a path of sending in more troops, which will inevitably prolong the war, and put us in a situation where we are going to have more casualties on both sides, and a greater cost to the American taxpayers and an alienation further from the nations of the world.

Your help has enabled me to bring a message that war is not inevitable and that peace is inevitable if we are willing to work for a new plan which will enable us to go to the United Nations and bring in U.N. Peacekeepers and bring our troops home. As you know, now we've been talking about this plan for six months. And as you know, with your help, I've been able to stay in this presidential campaign to continue to talk about the need for peaceful resolutions of the conditions in Iraq.

Now more than ever your help is needed to help us keep this message going. Now more than ever I need your financial assistance to make sure that we can carry this message not only through the platform committee process, but through to the convention so that our Democratic party can offer the American people a real alternative. It really isn't fair to the American people that they have to choose between a Democratic version of Iraq and a Republican version of the war in Iraq.

Yet our campaign gives the people some hope that there are alternatives. That we can go to the U.N. and ask the U.N. to handle the oil assets of Iraq on behalf of the Iraqi people until the Iraqi people are self-governing. The same with the contracts. That we tell the world community the United States is no longer interested in the privatization of Iraq. That we ask the U.N. for help in scheduling elections and drafting a constitution for Iraq. That we help to pay for what we destroyed, that we pay reparations to families of innocent victims and noncombatants who lost their lives in the conflict, and that we help fund a U.N. peacekeeping mission.

It's not inevitable that we stay in Iraq. And it's not necessary for our troops to have the bear the responsibility for stabilizing Iraq. You know and I know that the U.S. invasion created the instability in Iraq. That the U.S. invasion created a situation where the war is deepening, and that only when we get our troops home is there going to be any hope of bringing about a resolution provided of course that we can come to and agreement with the U.N. for a new peace plan. And that's exactly what I've offered.

This is the moment when we get a chance to consciously choose a new direction for our nation. Your support for this campaign has made it possible for us to get this far. But I can't take another step without your help. I need your help to keep funding our effort. I need you to go right now to our website at kucinich.us and send another contribution so that in the next weeks and months so that we can keep this message alive inside the Democratic Party.

We have to have the Democratic Party stand for peace. We can't tell the American people that they're going to be asked to choose between a Republican version of the war in Iraq and a Democratic version of the same. So your help is going to be so important in helping to send this campaign in a direction where we can enable the Democratic Party to stand for something. To stand for a new hope. To stand for a new way to stand for a course of action which will bring our troops home.

As we speak, 10,000 miles away, there are men and women who serve this country who wonder if their leaders are going to be able to come up with a solution so that they can come home and be with their families. As we speak, there is bloodshed in the streets of Iraq and people are wondering if there is any way out of this plight that seems to afflict this country without end.

And yet, we have it within our hands to take a new direction. We have it within our hearts to cause the American dream to be opened up to people in this country when we start focusing the resource of this country on rebuilding the American way of life, instead of using our military might to try to force people to accept conditions which are basically foreign to them.

This is the time that we get an opportunity to say what we stand for. Please stand with me as I continue to carry the challenge forward. The challenge that America must walk the way of peace. The challenge of a Democratic Party must offer true peaceful alternatives. A challenge that as we prepare for a November election that our people can be given a real choice. And that when the choosing is complete, that they will have chosen peace, that they will have chosen reconnecting with the world community.

With your help this is possible. I look forward to continuing to work for you and with you in the weeks and the months ahead, as we prepare America to take a new course of action which will bring peace not only with Iraq, but will enable us to reconnect with the world community in the hopes of creating peaceful tomorrows. Thank you very much.

Dennis Kucinich

Audio here: http://members.audiogenerator.com/postcards/?3111617

pnorman

[kimchi]

1. Dennis doesn't know how to lie; he speaks from the heart.

Too bad so few voters have the courage to stand with him.

[dolstein]

23. He lied about being pro-life for 20 years

Or maybe he's lying now about being pro-choice. Which is it?

[Zomby Woof]

26. He has always been truthful

He does not let his personal view of abortion, which has remained unchanged, get in the way of his human-rights-centered defense of it, which caused him to start changing the way he voted 2 years before he was drafted to run for the presidency. He knows RvW is the law of the land, and if he failed to acknowledge that before, more power to him for coming around.

I think the problem here is that DK doesn't share your enthusiasm for the Iraqi war, so you insist on trolling in DK threads.

What I am wondering is why Lieberman keeps lying about being a Democrat. He has been a Republican for far more than 20 years. He will never admit he was wrong about Iraq or supporting the terrorist state of Israel as DK admitted he was wrong with his anti-choice votes.

[diamondsoul]

2. Kickin' it up for Dennis-

Who is getting himself a very brief respite at home tonight. He's worn out.

[Desertrose]

3. I can imagine....

don't know how he's done it for SOOO long now.

bless his heart and sending :loveya: and energy for Dennis!!!

DK:yourock:

Peace & hope
DR

[leftbend]

4. Dennis was in Central Oregon Monday

I finally got to meet him that evening at a Democratic rally in Bend. He was great and had the crowd on their feet cheering most of the evening. I don't understand how anyone can listen to Dennis and not vote for him, he is the heart and soul of the Democratic party. He did appear to be a bit tired though. Help support Dennis in Oregon, he can win this state and send a strong message to the party at the convention.
Peace

[revcarol]

8. when is the Oregon primary?

Can send a DK supporter some great stuff!!PM ME IF YOU WANT IT.Post the news reports when you get them.

The monthly contribution is on the credit card now. Keep going, you are the true voice of DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS, Dennis.

Love ya!!:loveya:

Edit: My 'THE EYES THAT SEE THROUGH THE LIES' POSTER IS ALMOST READY.They are putting it permanently on a backing, to be covered by plexiglass.

[LWolf]

24. You almost got to meet my mom.

She was supposed to be there, but ended up working late, and very disappointed. Still, I'm hoping I've persuaded one Oregon voter to support Dennis!

[pnorman]

5. I got the above by email.

Here's his website which also contains that speech: http://kucinich.us/messages/042004-audiopostcard-dennis.php

It has other information, as well as a means to contribute on line. I don't know of any 2000 Naderite who will vote for anyone other than the Democratic Party candidate this year (That goes for me too), but it's ABSOLUTELY vital to send as strong a message as possible to that Convention.

Few here had a full realization of the forces that were behind Bush in 2000, BUT WE ALL DO NOW! Just knocking their smirking clown into the dunk-pool come November, will by no means put THEM out of business.

pnorman

[pnorman]

6. This also came in my email today:

The Democratic Presidential Nominee May
be Decided, But the Direction of the
Democratic Party Platform is Yet to be Determined!
Dear Friends & Kucinich Campaign supporters!

Your support at this time helps the Kucinich Campaign for President stimulate public dialog and Democratic Party interest on issues like: peace in Iraq, national health care, jobs & fair trade, and civil rights and liberties. Our campaign continues to reach out to voters in the remaining 13 states and territories who still have yet to cast their ballots.

We have a quick, effective tool you can use to take the campaign's message to the convention floor!

IT'S EASY, FUN, AND THERE ARE GREAT PRIZES TO BE WON

Set up an online chain letter to Light Up America ! Go to www.kucinich.us and click on the "Light Up America" graphic on the right hand side of the homepage.

In less than ten minutes, you can create your own customized Kucinich fundraising page to help the campaign. This is the easiest way to instantly generate funds online.

step one: Create your own personalized Kucinich website. Build a team of supporters and name yourselves something fun like: Politics of Peace, or Standing up for America, then select a photo from the photo gallery and set your own fundraising goal.

step two: Write your own email or select from pre-written emails and announce your new web page to your address book. Be creative and personalize your letter! Your page will introduce others to the Kucinich message, invite them to join your fundraising team, and offer them the opportunity to create their own Kucinich Campaign fundraising web page.

step three: Once you've sent your email announcement to your friends, family, business associates, and organizations; you can sit back and monitor your progress, or become even more active competing with other teams, cities and states for great prizes. As a team leader, you can also communicate with site visitors through your own message board.

You have been such an inspiration thus far; it's time to inspire your friends to the continued message of Dennis Kucinich that resonates with us all! It is critical that the voice for peace, health care for all, fair trade and civil liberties reach the Democratic Platform Committee at the National Convention in July.

Let's demonstrate the power of the American people to make the change we want to see! Start gathering email addresses of friends, acquaintances, and group members so you can start right away. Get this tool sweeping through business organizations, social groups, and personal email address books.

Click here to get started right away: http://www.kucinich.us/lua/kucinichcontest.php

Best regards,

Leatrice Tolls
National Director of Special Events
Dennis Kucinich Campaign for President
1-866-413-3664

[pnorman]

9. This came in this morning's email:

TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO POSTCARD:

Hi Everyone, this is Dennis.

It's Friday, April 23, 2004. I'm in Philadelphia today and I'm looking at the front page of the Philadelphia Inquirer with the headlines: "Coffins at Dover Base - A Little Seen View of the War" and it contains a photo that was published by an activist on his website. It was obtained from the Department of Defense under the Freedom of Information Act and it is is a very grim picture of rows and rows of flag-draped coffins of American service men and service women who were killed in action in Iraq.

The sanitized version of the war is beginning to give way to the grim reality that the casualties keep mounting as this administration keeps digging this country in deeper and deeper. I am more convinced than ever of the importance of standing up and speaking out and demanding that our Democratic Party take a strong stand in challenging this war. Aside from the moral imperative of doing so, aside from the moral imperative of reconnecting with the world community, in the cause of securing not only our nation but the safety of the world itself, we need to take a stand as a practical political imperative.

Because the fact of the matter is, this administration lied to take the people of the United States into a war with a nation which did not attack us. As a practical matter, that kind of a challenge can rally the American people and shake the moral sensibilities of this country about why we need to take a new course of action. Instead of sending more troops, we should be making plans to bring our troops home, through reconnecting with the world community at the U.N. so we can bring in U.N. peacekeepers.

Instead of looking for ways to get more people into this conflict, we should be finding a way to reconnect with the world community so that eventually the United Nations peacekeepers will be able to create a transition of control over to the Iraqui people themselves. And yet we're at a moment right now where given the policies of this administration and the relative silence of some of our Democratic Party leaders if not a tacit agreement with the Administration on Iraq, we are headed towards a long term occupation, with its increases in casualties on both sides.

And so I am going to be campaigning throughout Pennsylvania this weekend, talking about the need for a new direction and talking about how across the country there's this growing awareness of the insufficiency of the policies that have kept us in Iraq and the need for a totally new approach. This then is a pivotal moment in the history of this country where we have to continue to stand up and speak out, challenge the direction, challenge our party to a higher level of accountability, to really give the American people a choice.

So thank you so much for allowing us to be able to do that. I am going to continue to be the voice of those who have long sought a peaceful resolution of conflicts, not only in Iraq but with respect to other nations as well. I intend to continue to be someone who you can count on to stand up and to challenge the prevailing notions that war is inevitable.

This is the moment that our hearts need to speak out. So thank you, please continue your support of our efforts. Talk to your friends and urge them to contribute to this campaign . We need your help to keep moving forward.


You'll be hearing from me much more often as we move towards the completion of the primary and caucus schedule. I'll be giving you regular updates and I'll ask that you please stay tuned to these messages.

So thanks again, and let's keep it going. Bye.

Dennis Kucinich

***
Contribute by calling 866-413-3664 or online at https://www.kucinich.us/contribute.php or by sending your check to the address shown at the bottom of this page.

You can also contribute by purchasing original campaign items in the Official Campaign Store:
http://www.kucinich.us/store.php

HEAR THE AUDIO POSTCARD: http://members.audiogenerator.com/postcards/?3158334


pnorman

[pnorman]

21. Here's today's Dennis-Gram:

A MESSAGE FROM DENNIS KUCINICH

RECORDED THE EVENING OF APRIL 25, 2004

You have an audio postcard from Dennis! Click below to listen:

http://members.audiogenerator.com/postcards/?3176829

NOTE: A transcript for this audio message will be available on the web site shortly.

======

Help take the Kucinich Platform to the Democratic National Convention by making a contribution today. Call 866-413-3664 or make it online at https://www.kucinich.us/contribute.php or by sending your check to the address shown at the bottom of this page.

PLEASE NOTE - You can also help the campaign by ordering ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN MEMORABILIA such as cups, travel mugs, t-shirts, and buttons and in the Official Campaign Store: http://www.kucinich.us/store.php . These designs are limited stock; once these quantities are gone they will be no longer available.

Sign Petitions: We will be delivering signed petitions to the Democratic Party Platform committee before the National Convention in Boston this July. The petitions focus on the critical issues this campaign has stood for. Petitions to end the war in Iraq, repeal critical sections of the PATRIOT Act, and to establish a cabinet-level Department of Peace are among those available. You can sign the petitions online right now, or print and circulate them. Deadline for getting them back to us is June 1st , so please don't delay.

Get the petitions here: http://kucinich.us/VolunteerAction/petitions.php .

WE CAN RAISE OVER $1 MILLION BEFORE THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN JULY!
Prizes for best fundraisers, including an autographed guitar!
Light Up America Contest! http://www.kucinich.us/lua/kucinichcontest.php

Democratic National Convention News is here: http://www.kucinich.us/convention.php

"DENNIS TALKS ABOUT" is a series of 2 to 5 minute reports of Dennis on the campaign trail. In these clips, Dennis discusses in detail his current thoughts on specific issues. You can watch the video online, hear the audio, or read the text transcript on each of the issues.

The Environment: http://www.kucinich.us/talksabout/environment-talksabout.php

PATRIOT Act: http://kucinich.us/talksabout/PATRIOTact-talksabout.php

Oil and U.S. Politics: http://kucinich.us/talksabout/oil-talksabout.php

Military Draft: http://kucinich.us/talksabout/draft-talksabout.php

Affordable Housing: http://kucinich.us/talksabout/housing-talksabout.php

< more Dennis Talks About: http://kucinich.us/video/issues_video.php >

Do you stand with Dennis? Tell us why: http://www.kucinich.us/standsfor_form.php

Find out why others stand with Dennis: http://www.kucinich.us/standwithdennis1.php

Discuss what’s going on with fellow supporters around the country in our National Discussion Forum:
http://us.denniskucinich.us/phpBB2/

HEAR THE AUDIO POSTCARD

http://members.audiogenerator.com/postcards/?3176829

------------------------------------------------------

Click here to contribute to Kucinich for President online.

https://www.kucinich.us/contribute.php

Please forward this Email quickly and widely.
If you received this Email from a friend and would like to receive them directly, click here: http://kucinich.us/alerts-signup.htm

Contact us:

Kucinich for President

11808 Lorain Avenue - Cleveland, OH 44111

216-889-2004 / 866-413-3664 (toll-free)

http://www.kucinich.us


pnorman

[latebloomer]

7. Thanks for posting this

I just called and contributed. It's very important he stay in the race.

[IntrepBerkExplor]

10. Kucinich and Kerry need to work together

I disagree with Latebloomer that Kucinich should remain a candidate. As a practical matter, I believe Dennis would be more effective helping Kerry as an ally rather than an opponent. The race for the nomination is over, as Governor Dean (who I supported) conceded weeks ago. Dean and Kucinich, acting together, have a chance to strengthen Kerry's resolve.

[no name no slogan]

11. Dennis does not attack Kerry on the stump

Do a little research, and you'll find out that Dennis has been saying that although Kerry may get the nomination, WE have to keep on fighting for our issues, and keeping them on the table for debate.

Dennis has done nothing but attack the bankrupt policies of the Bush Administration and has worked hard to spread the message to all who will listen. His "campaign" is no longer one against Kerry, but for keeping the Democratic Party true to its historical values. Dennis is not in the race to get the nomination anymore-- he's in the race to keep our issues in the minds of voters AND the party.

Besides, the primaries are not over. Not everybody wants to vote for Kerry just yet. After all, this is a democracy.

[jsw_81]

14. "...although Kerry may get the nomination"

ROFLMAO

[Zinfandel]

12. Go Dennis...Kucinich will throw his support 100% behind Kerry...

and so will I and most Kucinich supporters, after the primaries are over, in about a month.

Kucinich is picking up delegates here and there, and hopefully have a prominent spot at the Democratic National Convention...Kucinich's platform and message needs to be heard by all Democrats and the nation.

[jsw_81]

15. The primaries are already over

And if you think Kerry is going to give Kucinich and his fringe delegates (of which there are about six) a "prominent" spot in Boston, you're delusional.

By continuing his laughable campaign well after Kerry clinched the nomination, Kucinich is only ensuring that he will have no influence whatsoever in the Kerry administration.

[eridani]

16. Actually, they aren't n/t

[no name no slogan]

18. You must really want Bush to win this year

Your despicable attitude towards other Democrats who actually care more about issues than candidates amply illustrates why we have not won a presidential election with a majority of the vote since 1976. It's for this very same reason that so many progressives and liberals deserted the party in 2000, too. Your arrogance and negativity will do NOTHING to attract new blood to the party.

Despite the fact that Kucinich's delegates (there are more than six, btw, and we add more every day) are ALREADY making a difference in this party, you continue to belittle us, our issues and our candidates.

Thankfully, the Kerry campaign and the DNC are not as close-minded as you are. This afternoon, I talked to a high-ranking member of the Kucinich campaign in Boston. They party (including the Kerry folks) have been more than welcoming of Dennis Kucinich and his supporters, because the KNOW that we WILL make a difference not only in this campaign, but in a future Kerry administration as well.

When the clutter of the election clears, WE'RE still going to be working. Just because Kerry wins doesn't mean that we'll have fair trade agreements, single-payer healthcare, and end to unjustified wars, and a sane military budget. A Kerry victory only guarantees he's in the White House for four years and NOTHING MORE. Need a reminder? Two words: BILL CLINTON. He may have been president, but the Rethugs dictated the terms of his administration. We can't allow that to happen again. WE have to show Kerry that it's okay to BE A LIBERAL and do what's right-- despite the Republican attacks.

And even more remarkable, for a campaign that is supposedly "over", we're growing bigger every day. My state's organization has actually DOUBLED in size since our March 2 caucuses. We continually add new members and volunteers to our base-- many of whom are now in high-ranking positions in not only their local parties, but also at the state AND national levels, too. And we're STILL attracting support for our ten points too-- from Dean supporters, Clark supporters, Edwards supporters, and even Kerry supporters. These issues MATTER, and they need to be on the table no matter WHO the nominee is.

It really is a shame that you somehow think Kerry's "victory" gives him a mandate-- IT DOESN'T. It only means he's our standard bearer in November. He still needs the other 65% of the party who DIDN'T support him in the early primaries to win.

I'm only glad that the rest of the party has been much more welcoming and supportive than your posts would indicate. Otherwise Kerry's be in some serious trouble come November.

[Zinfandel]

20. Thank you!!!

I did not read the silly and childish response from the person who posted after me...until now, 24 hours later...

Great post and thanks again.

http://www.kucinich.us/

(Everyone, please donate a few bucks if you can, it will truly make a difference.)

[no name no slogan]

22. Anytime Zinfandel!

because it's not just about winning elections, it's about changing the Democratic Party and changing America.

I myself abandoned the Democratic party after 1994, when Clinton showed that he was all too willing to let the Repubs dictate the terms of the debate. This year, I'm back-- with a vengeance. Not only am I a delegate to our state convention, I also serve on our party's state central committee-- along with a slew of other DK supporters who want to change the direction our party and our country are headed.

I have been blessed with the chance to speak for Dennis at both my county unit convention and also my Congressional District convention as well. I'm proud to say that I've had the crowd on cheering louder for me than for the "winning" candidate's spokesperson. I've even had folks from the campaigns of other supporters contact me, and offer to support me if I decide to run for office. I've never given this much thought before, but Dennis has helped me find my voice, and I'm seriously considering running in 2006.

And even though I'm unemployed right now, I'm going to go kick in a few more bucks for Dennis. After all, our 2,500-member strong organization in the "swing state" of Minnesota can't be wrong....

and of course a :kick: for the most courageous Democratic presidential candidate in my lifetime!

[dpbrown]

28. Thanks for saying this, nnns

This is exactly what needed to be said here.

You rock, man.

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[no name no slogan]

29. de nada, amigo

We're still here, and we've been welcomed with open arms by most other Dems, too. Not only will WE WIN, but Kerry will also stomp Bush in November, too!

:toast:

[no name no slogan]

13. kick

for the only one who's keeping our issues front and center

[Direckshun]

17. I don't agree with Dennis, but...

...his argument against keeping troops in Iraq was really well made.

Kudos to Dennis.

[eridani]

19. Help with the petition campaign

Put progressive issues before the Democratic party this July.

http://www.kucinich.us/VolunteerAction/petitions.php

Download and spread them around.

[GreenPartyVoter]

25. Go, Dennis, go!

[Desertrose]

27. a kick up for Dennis

This man is still campaigning and getting the progressive message out...
and the message of Peace, which we sorely need.

He is still working hard for us and deserves some good words here on DU!

DK :yourock:

Peace
DR