Mayor Kucinich and Council President George Forbes right before Kucinich drove the
city of Cleveland into default - the first American city to do so since the Great Depression

From the South Carolina Democratic Presidential Debate, May 3, 2003

MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Congressman Kucinich, you get the last question. The one time you had executive responsibility as mayor of Cleveland the city went bankrupt. How do you respond to those who will say that you'll do for America what you did for Cleveland? (Laughter.)

REP. KUCINICH:  . . .I also want to remind you that in Cleveland that default ends up being a badge of honor for me because I stood up for the people of Cleveland against a takeover of our municipal electric system by a utility monopoly.

Click here to read the entire debate transcript.