Jackson on Kucinich

The talented Derrick Jackson (who I had the pleasure of working with at the Globe) says Dennis Kucinich has it right on health care.

Dennis Kucinich rarely gets much airtime in Democratic presidential debates. That was underscored recently when ABC’s George Stephanopoulos called on him in an Iowa forum to talk about God. Kucinich said, “George, I’ve been standing here for the last 45 minutes praying to God you were going to call on me.”

With poll numbers at 1 or 2 percent, the Ohio congressman is the nudge kicking at the knees of the Democratic Party to offer more than incremental change. He deserves more attention than he gets. On healthcare, he says what Americans believe, even as his rivals rake in contributions from the industry.

You don't have to look for to find how much I agree with him ( here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here).

And come to think of it, health care is not the only issue where the Kuc is right. He is, and has long been, right about Iraq. So here we have a candidate that is right on the two most pressing concerns for the country -- let alone Democratic primary voters -- who is dismissed as a fringe candidate and polls at 1-2 percent. Something is seriously wrong with the way we handle elections in this country.

The Crime of Omission: The Times Narrows the Health Care Debate

Yesterday's Times article, 2008 candidates vow to overhaul U.S. Health Care, does its readers a great disservice. While they outline possible "overhauls" of the health care system by 2008 hopefuls (a generous word, given that the boldest proposal among those featured, John Edward's, still keeps the system in tact, and run by the private insurers), they manage to narrow the debate in an unforgivable way, through an egregious omission.

The article fails to make even one mention of the existence of a health care plan, HR676 Medicare for All, that 1) would actually overhaul the current system and give everyone access to health care 2) is written into a bill and has 80 cosponsors, the support of the AFL-CIO, and the majority of the country and 3) was introduced by a candidate for president, Congressman Dennis Kucinich.

Kucinich is a long-shot candidate, that is true. But Sen. Joe Biden, also a hopeless long-shot, got an entire article written about him today ... just for talking. So a couple sentences about a health care plan that has massive support hardly seems out-of-place in an article about health care proposals from presidential candidates.

This is a sad example of how the media narrowly frames the debate, and in doing so, serves to thwart a healthy understanding of policy matters. It is unforgivable coming from the paper of record.

Something missing?

If you look closely at today's Times article on last night's debate there are a couple of not-so-curious omissions. The words "Kucinich" and "Gravel" are nowhere to be found.

They don't even bother mentioning them dismissively.

Kucinich on Obama

[Obama's] voted to fund the war at least ten times, each time, it's like reauthorizing it all over again. If they keep voting to fund the war, it's not credible to say they are for peace.

Medicare for All

Around the Web: Kucinich, Impeachment and Other Musings

*Dennis Kucinich is sending a message about impeachment. Even some comments on DailyKos, a place not very friendly to the Kuc, are rather positive. Now, I have no delusions about Kucinich's chances to win -- or even compete -- for the nomination. But, if he takes an aggressive approach on this issue, it will expand the debate, and give him more exposure. It may also give him a one or two points bump in the polls, for whatever that is worth.

Seems like a good deal for everyone concerned, other than the White House. It about time more attention is paid to the “I Word.”


* Sam Harris has something new in the LA Times.

There is no question that many people do good things in the name of their faith — but there are better reasons to help the poor, feed the hungry and defend the weak than the belief that an Imaginary Friend wants you to do it. Compassion is deeper than religion. As is ecstasy. It is time that we acknowledge that human beings can be profoundly ethical — and even spiritual — without pretending to know things they do not know.

*What the hell has happened to Deval Patrick?

The Fox News Debate & The Netroots

Marc Cooper thinks the blogs were mistaken in pressuring Democrats to cancel the Fox News debate. And, as he notes, so does Dennis Kucinich.

"If you want to be the President of the United States, you can't be afraid to deal with people with whom you disagree politically," Kucinich said. "No one is further removed from Fox's political philosophy than I am, but fear should not dictate decisions that affect hundreds of millions of Americans and billions of others around the world who are starving for real leadership."

"I'm prepared to discuss the war, health care, trade, or any other issue anytime, anywhere, with any audience, answering any question from any media. And any candidate who won't shouldn't be President of the United States."

He raises an interesting point. But its hard for me to fault those blogs and other liberal groups -- here, here and here for a few of many examples -- that pushed the Democrats to stop playing ball with a channel that has become comically stupid with its latest ideological slings and arrows.