WHO IS DENNIS KUCINICH?

A Flip-Flopping Liberal Extremist

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"Kucinich is no political powerhouse. . . . The nation came to know Kucinich as the 'boy mayor' of Cleveland, but forgot his name after he was forced from office after one controversial term. . . . [Kucinich] creates annoying static, best tuned out."  (Columnist Marie Cocco, "Democratic Leaders Abdicate On War Policy," Newsday [New York, NY], 9/26/02) 

THE FACTS ABOUT REPRESENTATIVE DENNIS KUCINICH (D-OH)

KUCINICH'S ULTRA-LIBERAL RECORD

ü      Kucinich Consistently Votes To Cut Defense And Intelligence Spending.

ü      Kucinich Consistently Votes Against Tax Relief For Americans, Including Votes Against Tax Relief For Married Couples And Against Eliminating The Estate Tax.

ü      Kucinich Voted For Iraq Liberation Act Of 1998, But Against 2002 Resolution Authorizing Use Of Force In Iraq.

ü      Kucinich Asserts Iraq Has Neither The Intention Nor Ability To Harm United States.   (PBS' "The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer," 9/3/02)

ü      Kucinich Wants To Establish A "Department Of Peace" Within Federal Government.  (Ian Miller, "Rep. Dennis Kucinich [D-Ohio]," The Hill, 6/21/00)

KUCINICH'S MAYORAL MELTDOWN

ü      As Mayor Of Cleveland, Kucinich Took The City Into "Largest Municipal Default Since The Great Depression."  (Steven P. Rosenfeld, The Associated Press, 12/5/78)

KUCINICH'S ABORTION FLIP-FLOP

ü      A Formerly Pro-Life Congressman, Kucinich Now Stands With Pro-Abortion Lobby, Conveniently Timed For His White House Run.

KUCINICH IN DEPTH

KUCINICH'S ULTRA-LIBERAL RECORD

Kucinich's Radical Record On Intelligence Efforts

Kucinich Twice Voted For A Five Percent Across-The-Board Cut To Intelligence Funding.  (H.R. 1775, CQ Vote #253: Rejected 142-289: R 27-198; D 114-91; I 1-0, 7/9/97, Kucinich Voted Yea; H.R. 3694, CQ Vote #137: Rejected 120-291: R 21-196; D 98-95; I 1-0, 5/7/98, Kucinich Voted Yea)

Kucinich Voted Against Fiscal 1999 Intelligence Funding.  The conference report on the bill to authorize intelligence funding for fiscal 1999 called for a slight increase from fiscal 1998 levels.  (H.R. 3694, CQ Vote#487: Adopted 337-83: R 174-47; D 163-35; I 0-1, 10/7/98, Kucinich Voted Nay)

Kucinich Voted Against A Bill Requiring Federal Agencies To Share Classified/Non-Classified Information On Homeland Security Threats With Law Enforcement And State And Local Officials.  (H.R. 4598, CQ Vote #258: Passed 422-2: R 213-0; D 207-2; I 2-0, 6/26/02, Kucinich Voted Nay)

Kucinich's Ultra-Liberal Record On Defense Issues

Kucinich Voted To Freeze Spending For Fiscal 1998 Defense Appropriations.  (H.R. 2266, CQ Vote #337: Motion Rejected 137-290: R 37-186; D 99-104; I 1-0, 7/29/97, Kucinich Voted Yea)

Kucinich Voted Against Passing Fiscal 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 And 2003 Defense Appropriations, Which Combined Total Approximately $1.4 Trillion.  (H.R. 2266, CQ Vote #338: Passed 322-105: R 200-22; D 122-82; I 0-1, 7/29/97, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.R. 2266, CQ Vote #442: Conference Report Adopted 356-65: R 202-17; D 154-47; I 0-1, 9/25/97, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.R. 4103, CQ Vote #266: Passed 358-61: R 209-13; D 149-47; I 0-1, 6/24/98, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.R. 4103, CQ Vote #471: Conference Report Adopted 369-43: R 204-10; D 165-32; I 0-1, 9/28/98, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.R. 2561, CQ Vote 334: Passed 379-45: R 210-6; D 169-38; I 0-1, 7/22/99, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.R. 2561, CQ Vote #494: Conference Report Adopted: 375-55: R 214-7; D 158-47, 10/13/99, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.R. 4576, CQ Vote #241: Passed 367-58: R 208-8; D 158-49; I 1-1, 6/7/00, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.R. 4576, CQ Vote #413: Conference Report Adopted 367-58: R 207-10; D 159-47; I 1-1, 7/19/00, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.R. 5010, CQ Vote #270: Passed 413-18: R 218-1; D 194-16; I 1-1, 6/27/02, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.R. 5010, CQ Vote #457: Conference Report Adopted 409-14: R 218-1; D 190-13; I 1-0, 10/10/02, Kucinich Voted Nay)

Kucinich Voted Against Fiscal 2001 And 2002 Supplemental Appropriations, Which Combined Total $20 Billion For National Defense.  (H.R. 2216, CQ Vote #176: Passed 341-87: R 199-19; D 141-67; I 1-1, 6/20/01, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.R. 4775, CQ Vote #328: Conference Report Adopted 397-32: R 201-18; D 195-13; I 1-1, 7/23/02, Kucinich Voted Nay)

Kucinich Voted For Substitute Amendment To Fiscal 2001 Budget Resolution, Which Called For 25% Cut In Defense Spending.  (H.Con.Res. 290, CQ Vote #70: Rejected 70-348: R 0-212; D 69-135; I 1-1, 3/23/00, Kucinich Voted Yea)

Kucinich Sponsored Substitute Amendment To Fiscal 2002 Budget Resolution On Behalf Of Congressional Progressive Caucus, Which Called For Cutting Defense Spending By $65 Billion.  (H.Con.Res. 83, CQ Vote #66: Rejected 79-343: R 0-217; D 78-125; I 1-1, 3/28/2001, Kucinich Voted Yea)

Under President Clinton, Kucinich Voted For Iraq Liberation Act Of 1998, Which Declared That It Should Be The Policy Of The U.S. To Remove Saddam Hussein's Regime From Power.   (H.R. 4655, CQ Vote #482: Passed 360-38: R 202-9; D 157-29; I 1-0, 10/5/98, Kucinich Voted Yea)

But Under President Bush, Kucinich Voted Against 2002 Resolution Authorizing Use Of Force Against Iraq.   (H.J.Res 114, Roll Call Vote #455: Passed 296-133: R 215-6; D 81-126; I 0-1, 10/10/02, Kucinich Voted Nay)

Kucinich Asserts That Iraq Has Neither The Intention Nor Ability To Harm United States, And Accuses War Supporters Of Abusing American Power.   "There's been no stated intention on their [Iraq's] part to harm the United States. I think that we . . . have an obligation to defend ourselves, but Iraq doesn't have the ability to hurt the United States."  (PBS' "The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer," 9/3/02)

Kucinich Suggests That Domestic Issues Pose A Greater Threat To Americans Than Saddam Hussein.   "Saddam Hussein is not an immediate threat to the United States, and no one with any credibility is maintaining that he has the ability to strike at the United States. The truth of the matter is, you know what's an imminent threat? Unemployment, the fact that people in my district don't have health insurance, they can't afford prescription drugs."  (CNN's "Crossfire," 9/12/02)

Kucinich Wants To Create Department Of Peace To Transform "The Social And Political Structure Through Changing The Consciousness Of The Nation."  "I've been working on the idea of creating a Department of Peace, where non-violence would become an organizing principle in our society, not only for international problems, but for domestic, as well . . . . What I envision is nothing less than a transformation of the social and political structure through changing the consciousness of the nation and the world about matters of war and peace; to see peace and not war as being inevitable; and to see a way in which the human experience can evolve and unfold in higher expressions, instead of getting caught in a downward spiral."  (Ian Miller, "Rep. Dennis Kucinich [D-Ohio]," The Hill, 6/21/00)

Kucinich's Ultra-Liberal Record On Taxes

Kucinich Voted Against Lowering Federal Income Tax Rates.  (H.R. 3, CQ Vote #45: Passed 230-198: R 219-0; D 10-197; I 1-1, 3/8/01, Kucinich Voted Nay)

Kucinich Twice Voted Against Cutting Taxes By More Than $1 Trillion Over Ten Years.   (H.Con.Res. 83, CQ Vote #70: Adopted 222-205: R 218-2; D 3-202; I 1-1, 3/28/01, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.Con.Res. 83, CQ Vote #104: Conference Report Adopted 221-207: R 214-3; D 6-203; I 1-1, 5/9/01, Kucinich Voted Nay)

Kucinich Voted Six Times Against Tax Relief For Married Couples.  (H.R. 6, CQ Vote #15: Passed 268-158: R 219-0; D 48-157; I 1-1, 2/10/00, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.R.4810, CQ Vote #392: Passed 269-159: R 220-0; D 48-158; I 1-1, 7/12/00, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.R. 4810, CQ Vote #418: Conference Report Adopted 271-156: R 219-0; D 51-55; I 1-1, 7/20/00, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.R. 4810, CQ Vote #466: Veto Override Rejected 270-158: R 221-0; D 48-157; I 1-1, 9/13/00, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.R. 6, CQ Vote #75: Passed 282-144: R 217-0; D 64-143; I 1-1, 3/29/01, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.R. 4019, CQ Vote #229: Passed 271-142: R 210-0; D 60-141; I 1-1, 6/13/02, Kucinich Voted Nay)

Kucinich Voted Four Times Against Repealing Estate Tax.   (H.R. 8, CQ Vote #254: Passed 279-136: R 213-0; D 65-135; I 1-1, 6/9/00, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.R. 8, CQ Vote #458: Veto Override Rejected 274-157: R 220-1; D 53-155; I 1-1, 9/7/00, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.R. 8, CQ Vote #84: Passed 274-154: R 215-3; D 58-150; I 1-1, 4/4/01, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.R. 2143, CQ Vote #219: Passed 256-171: R 214-4; D 41-166; I 1-1, 6/6/02, Kucinich Voted Nay)

Kucinich Twice Voted Against Passage Of Bill That Called For Reducing Taxes By $792 Billion Over Ten Years.   (H.R. 2488, CQ Vote #333: Passed 223-208: R 217-4; D 6-203; I 0-1, 7/22/99, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.R. 2488, CQ Vote #379: Conference Report Adopted 221-206: R 216-4; D 5-201; I 0-1, 8/5/99, Kucinich Voted Nay)

Kucinich Voted Six Times Against Passing Constitutional Amendment Requiring Two-Thirds Majority Vote In Both House And Senate To Raise Taxes.  (H.J.Res.62, CQ Vote #78: Rejected 233-190: R 208-15; D 25-174, I 0-1, 4/15/97, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.J.Res. 111, CQ Vote #102: Rejected 238-186: R 213-12; D 25-173; I 0-1, 4/22/98, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.J.Res. 37, CQ Vote #90: Rejected 229-199: R 203-17; D 26-181; I 0-1, 4/15/99, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.J.Res. 94, CQ Vote #119: Rejected 234-192: R 204-14; D 29-177; I 1-1, 4/12/00, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.J.Res. 41, CQ Vote #87: Rejected 232-189: R 204-11; D 27-177; I 1-1, 4/25/01, Kucinich Voted Nay; H.J.Res 96, CQ Vote #225: Rejected 227-178: R 201-11; D 25-166; I 1-1, 6/12/02, Kucinich Voted Nay)

KUCINICH'S MAYORAL MELTDOWN

With Kucinich At The Helm, Cleveland Fell Into "Largest Municipal Default Since The Great Depression."  "The city was plunged into default when midnight struck . . . as Mayor Dennis Kucinich and the Cleveland city council failed to reach agreement on a plan to avert fiscal disaster. . . . Cleveland owed six local banks a total of $14 million, and the city treasury another $3.5 million, but could not come up with the cash. It was the largest municipal default since the Great Depression. 'There will be six months of chaos in the city to pay for this one night of shame,' Kucinich predicted . . . ." (Steven P. Rosenfeld, The Associated Press, 12/5/78)

Because Kucinich Opposed Balanced Budgets, Cleveland's City Government Endured Financial Straits.  Kucinich maintained "municipal control of Muny Light, the electric utility for part of the city.  But city government was in terrible financial straits, and Kucinich was unwilling or unable to balance the budget and meet obligations.  When bankers demanded he sell Muny Light, as other city-owned properties had been sold by the previous mayor, he refused, and they called their loans." (Michael Barone, The Almanac Of American Politics, 2000)

Kucinich Was Forced To Wear Bulletproof Vest Due To Alleged Bounty On His Head Over Cleveland's Financial Nightmare.  Cleveland's financial nightmare put Mayor Kucinich's "life in jeopardy, bringing an alleged $25,000 bounty on his head, and forcing Kucinich to wear a bulletproof vest. Eventually, seeing that the mayor was not going to be reelected, the hit was called off." (Ian Miller, "The Mayor, Muny And Murder Threats," The Hill, 6/21/00)

KUCINICH'S ABORTION FLIP-FLOP

The National Right To Life Committee (NRLC) Once Gave Kucinich High Marks, But Now Notes That His Abortion Position Has "Turned On A Dime."  Kucinich earned a 90% and a 95% (with 100 being perfect) from the NRLC for his voting record in the 105^th and 106^th Congresses, respectively.  The NRLC now notes, "Kucinich . . . turned on a dime when [he] decided holding a pro-life position would make it difficult, if not impossible, to win [his] party's nomination."  (Vote Scorecard, National Right To Life Committee Webshite, www.capwiz.com/nrlc, Accessed 2/25/03; Dave Andrusko, Commentary, "What We Expect," Today's News And Views, National Right To Life Committee Website, www.nrlc.org, February 26, 2003)

In 2000, The Columbus Dispatch Described Kucinich As "Pro-Life."  "Kucinich, despite his liberal bombast and the baggage of a bankrupt Cleveland, can solidly articulate what he believes is a true 'pro-life' position: against abortion rights, against the death penalty, for the environment, and for universal health care -- a spectrum of views perhaps more consistent than either of the major parties."  ("Democrats On Other Side Of Abortion Issue Pushed Aside Darrel Rowland," The Columbus Dispatch, 8/15/00)

In A May 2002 Article In The Nation, Kucinich Is Referred To As "Solidly Anti-Choice."  "In his two terms in Congress, he has quietly amassed an anti-choice voting record of Henry Hyde-like proportions. . . . That a solidly anti-choice politician could become a standard-bearer for progressivism, the subject of hagiographic profiles in The Nation and elsewhere, speaks volumes about the low priority of women's rights to the self-described economic left, forever chasing the white male working-class vote. Supporting an anti-choice Congressman may have seemed pragmatic; trying to make him President would be political suicide."  (Columnist Katha Pollitt, "Regressive Progressive?" The Nation, 5/20/02)

But Kucinich Now Takes A Pro-Abortion Stance.  "I believe that women have the right to determine their reproductive choices, and I believe that criminalizing abortion is unconstitutional. . . . I do not believe that Roe v. Wade should be overturned."  (Representative Dennis Kucinich [D-OH], "Statement On Reproductive Rights," Press Release, U.S. House Of Representatives Website, www.house.gov, Accessed 2/22/03)

In February 2003, Tim Russert Confronted Kucinich's Abortion Reversal On "Meet The Press."  NBC's Tim Russert:  "You've been pro-life your entire career, over a 90 percent approval rating from the National Right to Life Committee, a 0 from NARL, the National Abortion Rights League, and then suddenly you announce for president and turned on a dime and said, 'I'm pro-choice on this issue.'"  Kucinich:  "Well, first of all, Tim, I didn't change on a dime. Last year, in the last Congress, there were votes where I experienced my concern about the direction that this debate has been going. This is a very difficult issue for Americans, and I've taken a lot of time to think about it. And when I was out on the campaign trail and I was asked the question and I answered, that answer reflected years of thinking and some changes in votes that occurred over the last year."  (NBC's "Meet The Press," 2/23/03)

AT ODDS WITH FELLOW DEMOCRATS

On Partial-Birth Abortion

Kucinich Disagrees With Kerry, Lieberman And Edwards On Partial-Birth Abortion.  Kucinich voted in favor of banning partial-birth abortion, but Kerry, Lieberman and Edwards voted against the ban. (H.R. 1122, Senate Vote #71, Passed 64-36: R 51-4; D 13-32, 5/20/97; H.R. 1122, House Vote #65, Passed 295-136: R 218-8; D 77-127; I 0-1, 3/20/97; S. 1692, Roll Call Vote #340: Passed 63-34: R 48-3; D 14-31; I 1-0, 10/21/99)

Kucinich Disagreed With Lieberman And Kerry On Overriding President Clinton's Veto Of A Ban On Partial Birth Abortions.  In 1998, Kucinich voted to override President Clinton's veto of a ban on partial-birth abortions but Kerry and Lieberman voted against overriding the veto.  (H.R. 1122, House Vote #325: Passed Over Clinton Veto 296-132: R 219-8; D 77-123; I 0-1, 7/23/98; H.R. 1122, Senate Vote #277: Veto Override Rejected 64-36: R 51-4; D 13-32, 9/18/98)

On Permanent Normal Trade Relations With China

Kucinich Disagrees With Kerry And Edwards On Normal Trade Relations With China.  Kucinich voted against PNTR, while Kerry and Edwards supported PNTR.  (H.R. 4444, House Vote #228: Passed 237-197: R 164-57; D 73-138; I 0-2, 5/24/00; H.R. 4444 Senate Vote #251: Passed 83-15: R 46-8; D 37-7, 9/19/00)

On Trade Promotion Authority

Kucinich Disagrees With Lieberman And Kerry On Trade Promotion Authority.  Kucinich voted against Trade Promotion Authority for the President, but Lieberman and Kerry voted for TPA.  (H.R. 3009, Senate Vote #207: Passed 64-34: R 43-5; D 20-29; I 1-0, 8/1/02; H.R. 3009, House Vote #370: Passed 215-212: R 190-27; D 25-183; I 0-2, 7/27/02)

DENNIS KUCINICH'S INTEREST GROUP RATINGS

1997 (105^th Congress) - 2002 (107^th Congress)