OnLine Chat with Rep. Dennis Kucinich 2004

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Concord Monitor &
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Online questions & answers
Tuesday, November 4, 2003; 11:00 AM

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich
Democratic Candidate for President

In January voters in New Hampshire will cast ballots for the Democratic candidate they feel would best hold the office of the presidency. The eventual winner of the nationwide nomination process will face President Bush next November.

The Concord Monitor and washingtonpost.com will host a series of live discussions with participating Democratic candidates for President to give readers the opportunity to share thoughts and questions directly with the nominees.

Democratic candidate Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (Ohio) was online Tuesday, Nov. 4th at 11 a.m. ET to take your questions on the campaign and his vision for the United States.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

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Columbus, Ohio: You want the U.S. to withdraw from the WTO and return to bilateral trade agreements. If the U.S. withdraws from the WTO but no one else does, won't the U.S. still have to negotiate with the WTO? And what is to stop nations from imposing higher taxes on our exports until we rejoin the WTO? Won't withdrawing from the WTO cause the loss of MORE American jobs?

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich: The U.S. is not a beggar in international trade relations. The U.S. is the world's number one consumer market. The world wants to sell to American consumers. That ought to represent leverage. But the U.S. gave up its leverage when it joined the WTO. Withdrawal from the WTO will enable the U.S. to reclaim its leverage. What will we do with this leverage? We need it to solve a major economic crisis on the horizon, and that is the U.S. trade deficit. With this leverage, we will ask of our trading partners to buy from us approximately an equivalent amount of what we buy from them. Lester Thurow calls this the principle of correspondence. We can also promote workplace, human and environmental rights from around the world by simply telling our trading partners that we are not interested in buying their products when they are made with child labor, or by workers who are denied the right to bargain collectively or if the products are made in factories which show no regard for environmental protection. So my approach to trade will enhance the American economy while lifting up human rights, workers' and environmental quality standards world wide.
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Allentown, Pa.: Congressman, you have many wonderful visions, but as a member of Congress you know as well as anyone that just because someone occupies the Oval Office does not mean that Congress will assist in passing legislation. If you were President how would you work with Congress?

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich: As a member of Congress I have had excellent relationships with both sides of the aisle. It is important for the President to work with Congress and I will use the relationships I have built through four terms to create a working partnership. I am also aware that my legislative agenda, which will include universal health care, medicare for all, a single payer system, will require support in the Congress which may not currently exist. As the nominee of our party, I will call upon the American people to support candidates for Congress who will take control of the health care system in the United States away from the insurance companies and the pharmaceutical companies and create a system which truly serves all the American people with guaranteed health care for all. When Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the nominee of the Democratic Party in 1932, he campaigned on broad economic reforms and asked the American people to give him a Congress which would help him do it. The people of America responded by electing 88 new members to the House of Representatives and 13 new members to the U.S. Senate. Those changes gave FDR the momentum he needed to craft the New Deal legislative agenda. I intend to rally the American people in this election to create a New Deal for a New Century.
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Washington, D.C.: Mr. Kucinich, you have called for the immediate removal of American forces from Iraq. If that was the case -- if American soldiers were immediately withdrawn -- how would Iraq be rebuilt? How would security, tenuous at best with American troops present, be maintained? And how would we avoid Iraq falling into the hands of religious extremists like the ones who control Iran?

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich: It is imperative that the U.S.A. get out of Iraq. It was wrong to go in. It is wrong to stay in. We must go to the United Nations with a new resolution which represents a shift in U.S. policy, a resolution which signals that the U.S. is ready to rejoin the world community in the cause of securing Iraq and in helping to create greater security across the globe. That resolution, which can be accessed on my website at www.kucinich.us calls for the UN to handle all the oil assets of Iraq on behalf of the Iraqi people, without any privatization of oil assets. Next the UN would handle all the contracts in Iraq. No more sweetheart deals for the likes of Halliburton. No more no-bid contracts for political contributors. And the UN should be charged with developing new governance in Iraq so that the Iraqi people can move toward self-determination. This resolution would enable the UN to be brought back into the picture. Currently the UN is stepping back from Iraq. We must re-engage the UN. We must reach out to the world community. My exit strategy (and I am the only candidate for President, including the incumbent, who has offered such a plan) would enable the UN to gain support from member nations who would then commit troops to enable the rotation of UN troops into Iraq and the rotation of U.S. troops out of Iraq. My plan, if immediately brought to the UN would enable our troops to be home by the beginning of the New Year. Unless this country makes a shift in policy, we will end up with more deaths of U.S. servicemen and servicewomen, more chaos in Iraq and more separation from the world community. The time to take a new direction is now.
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Indianapolis, Ind.: How do you feel about the lack of media attention your campaign is generating in comparison to candidates such as Dean and Clark, and how do you think it will impact your chances of winning this election?

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich: The media is now covering the story of the media not covering our campaign so I think we are about to get a surge of coverage. Meanwhile, even with little media coverage, we have been able to organize a grass roots campaign in 50 states and raise over $4 million, about half of it through our website at www.kucinich.us. Just think of how fast we will take off when the media realizes that our campaign is on the verge of becoming the surprise of the 2004 primary election season. So after months of work, I am ready to become an overnight success.
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Milan, Italy: Mr. Kucinich, How are you going to end the Israel-Palestine conflict? Thanks

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich: It is urgent for the United States to become closely involved in the efforts to reach a peaceful agreement which protects Israel and which provides for the creation of an autonomous Palestinian state. Additionally, such an agreement must call for the rebuilding of the Palestinian areas which have been devastated. The U.S. can help to lead the way in such an agreement by participating in rebuilding housing, schools, hospitals, businesses, roads and other infrastructure. This is necessary because economic stability is a precondition of political stability. The U.S. must foster a climate of negotiation so that the Palestinians and the Israelis can come to an agreement of the sharing of water rights and on provision of mutual security. Such agreements would engender trust and confidence building and create the possibility where the parties can then deal with the issues of borders and right of return. I believe the government of Israel can help take a step in the direction of setting the stage for negotiations by stopping the building of new settlements and by ceasing in the building of walls. The United States lost an opportunity to bring peace to the region when it decided to wage war against Iraq. We must be mindful that the cause of peace is difficult to advance if we simultaneously are pursuing war. My administration will take the initiative in peacebuilding.
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Cambridge, Mass.: Mr. Kucinich, several Democratic candidates have abandoned their seats in the U.S. Senate at a time when the party needs every seat it can get. If your presidential bid fails, will you run against Sen. George Voinovitch?

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich: Senator Lieberman ran for re-election to the Senate and for Vice President at the same time. Ohio law permits me to run for both the House of Representatives and President. I expect to take an oath of office at the Capitol in January of 2005.
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Alpharetta, Ga.: What is your favorite book?

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich: As a child I loved Alice in Wonderland. It prepared me for Washington, DC.
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Gig Harbor, Wash.: During this campaign I have heard nothing about public financing of all federal elections. As Maine and Arizona have shown, this is one of the most core reforms that we desperately need in America. Would you, if elected, fight for such a reform of the electoral process?

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich: I believe public financing of campaigns is essential. Public financing yields to public control. Private financing of campaigns makes for private control. Private interests control our government today. I believe all federal candidates should participate in the matching funds program as a first step of indicating their solidarity with public control of elections. This is a fundamental issue because it relates to the question of who rules! If Lincoln's prayer: ". . . a government of the people, by the people and for the people..." is to become a reality it is only through public financing of elections. Washington has many talented people serving in Congress but many are captive to the current system in which corporations have enormous influence. I will not only fight for reform of the electoral process, I will lead the way.
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Albany, N.Y.: Congressman Kucinich, let us assume that you do not win the Democratic nomination for president. Given the similarity of your positions to those of the Green Party and Ralph Nader, would you support the Green Party's presidential candidate or throw your weight towards a more conservative Democrat?

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich: Ralph Nader and I have been friends for nearly thirty years. When I needed help saving Cleveland's municipal electric system twenty five years ago, Ralph came forward to help. He and I share many ideals and goals. I have a great deal of respect for the Greens and I consider myself a Green Democrat. However, I want to make the Democratic Party more relevant. That is why I am running as a Democrat. I believe my presence in the campaign is already moving the entire party in a more progressive direction. Just think how progressive it will become when I am the nomineee and when I take the oath of office. I will certainly support the Democratic nominee. It should be easy because I expect to be the Democratic nominee.
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Madison, Wis.: Rep. Kucinich --
As Mayor of Cleveland you dealt with the issues facing large cities today such as crime, pollution, unemployment, etc. What are your thoughts on urban sprawl and what, if anything, needs to be done to stop it?

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich: We must create sustainable, liveable communities. This means city planning becomes a matter of urgent concern. Urban sprawl has created duplication of infrastructure and services. Cities have such great potential for economic and social growth. As a former mayor, I intend to lead the resurgence of cities through rebuilding America's schools, bridges, sewer and water systems and through building new transportation and energy systems. I will lead the discussion on sustainability through working to preserve our farm lands and through protecting the interests of family farmers. I want to see great resources focused on rebuilding our cities and our neighborhoods and thereby creating a new sense of community in America.
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Washington, D.C.: What is your position on reparations for Africans on the continent or Africans in America? If you support reparations, what form should they take?

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich: The Bible tells us we must be "repairers of the breach". The institution of slavery created a breach in our society, which, despite the Emancipation Proclamation, Amendments to our Constitution, and the Civil Rights Act still remains today. That breach is evident in the disparities which exist in educational opportunities, health care, employment opportunities, housing and other critical areas for people of color. The question is not whether or not there should be reparations. There must be. The question is what form will such reparations take? I believe a broad based program of social and economic reforms which consciously works to lift the conditions for people of color will lift up everyone. It is said a rising tide lifts all boats. We must create the advancing tide with health care for all, jobs for all, educational opportunities for all, housing opportunities for all. When we move to heal the gulf created by centuries of indifference to the plight of all peoples of color, of African Americans, of Native Americans of Latinos and others, we will crown the good of this nation with brotherhood and sisterhood from sea to shining sea.
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Minneapolis, Minn.: Most of your opponents advocate universal health insurance. What makes your single-payer health care proposal different, and how will it be paid for?

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich: Many of the other candidates say they want to make sure all Americans have health insurance. I am not selling insurance. I want to create a system which makes it possible for all Americans to have health care. This means we must move from a for-profit health care system which is controlled by insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies, to a not-for-profit system. This is the essence of my proposal for Universal Health care, Medicare for All. A single payer system, it is embodied in legislation, HR 676, sponsored by Rep. Conyers, myself and many other members of Congress. This fundamental change in our health care system will provide all Americans with access to quality health care. Whether you are working or not, you will be covered. The scope of coverage will include all medically necessary procedures, dental health care, mental health care, vision care, long term care and a prescription drug benefit. Americans are already paying for universal health care, but we are not getting it. Billions of health care dollars in the current for-profit system go for corporate profits, high executive salaries, stock options, lobbying, marketing, advertising and the high cost of paperwork in the private insurance sector (15 percent and higher as compared with Medicare - - 3 percent - - ). We can and should put this money directly into the health care system so that the American people need never worry about the economic consequences of an illness in the family. Why should people have to risk everything they have worked a lifetime for in order to get a loved one the care they need? Private for-profit health care means never ending increases in premiums, copays, and deductibles. It means more and more people will be priced out of the system. It means when you lose your job you really are out of luck with respect to protecting the health of yourself and family once COBRA benefits run out. My plan changes it all. And it won't cost more then the present system. It will cost less because the $1.4 trillion dollars which is in the system will go totally into providing health care under a single payer, not-for-profit system. Again, some other candidates want to leave the present system under the control of the insurance companies. I want fundamental change and I am prepared to lead America in that direction.
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Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich: Hi Everyone, Thank you for participating in this online chat. I have tried to provide comprehensive answers to your questions. I am amazed at how the past hour has just flown by! I look forward to having the opportunity to chat again. I want to thank the Washington Post and the Concord Monitor for the opportunity to field your questions.

I am grateful for your interest in my campaign for the Presidency. I ask that you go to our website at www.kucinich.us for more information, and to share your opinions. If you want to help or to contribute, please join us in our campaign to create a new America. Best wishes, Dennis