Dear Iowa, Vote for Dennis But Don't Listen to Him

By David Swanson

I love Dennis Kucinich and think he is far and away the best candidate running for president. He and I are speaking together on a panel in New Hampshire this weekend. But asking his supporters in Iowa to vote for Obama as their second choice makes no sense to me.

First of all, any Iowan willing to take instructions on whom to vote for would not be backing Kucinich. Every television in Iowa tells voters every day not to vote for Dennis. His supporters are not the sort of people who obey instructions. They should back him aggressively in every caucus, and if they can't get 15% go home or back the candidate of their choice, as they will do regardless of what I or Dennis has to say.

Second, 99% of Kucinich's supporters do not live in Iowa or have much of an idea how the Iowa caucus system works. They see absolutely no need to make this sort of announcement, any more than they saw one the last time around when Kucinich pointed to Edwards as a second choice and the media all announced that Kucinich had dropped out and endorsed Edwards.

Kucinich backers see a huge gulf between him and the other candidates on the issues. They believe him when he says, as he's said on and off for four years, that if the Democrats nominate a war-candidate, he won't support them. Kucinich and most of his supporters consider Obama a war candidate, yet here he is - 11 months early - already endorsing him. It's not much of a leap to envision a Kucinich endorsement of Clinton if nominated, and that turns the stomachs of a lot of Kucinich backers.

Third, the media was guaranteed to do what it did four years ago and announce that Kucinich had conceded. The corporate and even progressive media are now doing just that. Here's Michael Moore:

"Personally, Congressman Kucinich, more than any other candidate, shares the same positions that I have on the issues (although the UFO that picked ME up would only take me as far as Kalamazoo). But let’s not waste time talking about Dennis. Even he is resigned to losing, with statements like the one he made yesterday to his supporters in Iowa to throw their support to Senator Obama as their 'second choice.'"

Fourth, while none of the other candidates comes close to Kucinich, Edwards is more likely to end illegal occupations, refrain from launching new ones, and shift power away from the wealthy and the military-industrial complex than Obama. If Dennis is going to back someone else, the rest of us can do the same. My distant second choice is the man who just announced the withdrawal of troops from Iraq over 10 months once he's in office: John Edwards. My first choice remains voting and caucusing and campaigning for Kucinich. Vote for him, but don't listen to him.

Attention Democrats: Who'll Stand Up for Working Americans?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB8Ch9mNZ74

check it out!

Don't need advice for that one. Edwards health care plan is marginally better than Hillaries. To this extent, I agree. Should I live in Iowa, I'd vote for Dennis and then go home.

would it be wise to vote for O'Bama. As her second choice. We vote in California./ I told her, she better damn well not do such . I'd have to send another 100 bucks to the Kucinich campaign, out of our joint checking account because of her treason. She was only posing a question.We have both worked in his campaign in the past. She did not mean it. / I was quite sincere.

and write on the check "Because You Are Not Obama"

legally allowed, had we been able to have afford it. He's fighting for the only health care plan that will benefit the American people. He is worth every penny. We still have sent more than our budget allows.

He was broadcasting from the Des Moines Convention Center.

One =HUGE= Kucinich supporter from Iowa called into the program and said, "You know Ed.. Kucinich has always been my guy, but if it turns out their isn't enough support for him - I'd have to say that Edwards would come in closest to Kucinich's line of thinking."

Ed said to the guy ...."Well, you do know that Dennis told his supporters that if that should happen--if he doesn't wind up with enough support, that he wants his supporters to select Obama as their second choice"

The guy's response was .... ""Huh. ... Seriously?"

Big Ed went on to explain what Kucinich said. Then he asked the Iowan...

"So knowing this, does this make you change your mind on a second choice?"

The guy said.. "Well. Yeah, I.... Wow.. I hadn't heard that... Huh."

It was interesting to learn that some people (even in Iowa) hadn't heard about the support shift.. and that unlike the DU poll someone created on here yesterday, an actual Kucinich supporter stated that hearing DK say that does make an impact on what he'll do.

What I thought when I heard the exchange was ... if people weren't aware that DK said this, I'm sure Obama supporters will fill in Kucinich supporters (if) DK doesn't get the level of caucus support he's hoping for.

Do you have any idea WHY Dennis did this? It's mystifying to me.

If a candidate drops out, wouldn't you just start looking at the other candidates and what they stand for. I respect DK, but it's is scary that he is acting like he is a prophet??? "Follow me", type of thinking. I mean no offense. I'm just thinking, one would start looking at the other candidates websites and start investigating for themselves. :shrug:

It is kind of obvious that this is a strategic move for DK. If you paid attention to the debates he mostly went after Edwards and called him on his positions. If it came down to it and DK was out of the race I think he would have to support Edwards, except that he voted for the war. Obama didn't and that seems like the most important issue to DK. Plus too much support for Edwards hurts Dennis more than anyone as he is drawing the progressive vote, while Obama and Clinton obviously aren't. I would have to think that Hillary is DK's least favorite candidate of the bunch. Remember when Edwards and Clinton were overheard talking about limiting the debates, no matter what they actually were talking about, it really upset Dennis.

Dennis is running better in NH and if Edwards would win Iowa it would kind of take any wind that Dennis has in his sails away. If Obama wins it then makes Edwards look less likely to stay in the race and I have a feeling that Dennis is in for the long haul, as in 2004. His message and issues are in more stark contrast to Clinton and Obama's and if there are more debates with less candidates on the stage, he will get more air time(hopefully) to air his positions and resonate with voters. He's lost on the national stage right now. Just look at Huckabee's quick rise on the Republican side. Whatever happens it is kind of exciting to see how it turns out.

You make a lot of valid points about the reasons Dennis is asking Iowa supporters to back Obama. The idealist is me wants to believe this is more about ethics than just pure political strategy. I think Kucinich was deeply disturbed by Edwards and Clinton talking about limiting the debates. Dennis is a man of integrity, and Edwards proved he wasn't by attempting to exclude Dennis from the debates. The media has already taken over our democratic process of electing our next president. Kucinich is a fierce defender of our Constitution, and anyone attempting to dishonor our Founding Fathers with political subterfuge couldn't possibly have his support. I think he told his Iowa supporters to back Obama based on principle and ethics. John Edwards hedge fund Fortress is heavily invested in Humana, yet he claims to be willing to take on the powerful insurance industry for his universal health care plan. I just don't buy it, and I think Kucinich sees right through it as well.

Though it may be true that most people will not listen what Dennis has to say about this, I'm sure that it will make the difference for at least some of his followers. In a close race like Iowa appears to be, that could make a crucial difference. I am afraid that if Edwards doesn't win Iowa his campaign is effectively over.

O'Bama swears he was against the Iraq war from the start unlike Edwards.Plus Edwards health care plan is not that much better, either than Hillary's.

Just a quote in a press release saying "Barack and I have one thing in common - change", which doesn't really tell us a lot.

He was asked by Tucker, why not Clinton or Edwards? Dennis answered that Obama is "sincere."

I'm sure Mike Huckabee is sincere, but that doesn't mean I'd want him as President.

No matter what you think.

He isn't endorsing Obama, for that matter. He's "encouraging" his supporters a) in Iowa only to b) vote for Obama if and only if Dennis doesn't reach the 15 percent threshold. And they are under no compulsion to do so. There's no indication that Obama is giving him anything. I suspect Dennis highlights "sincerity" because he probably feels some of the other candidates are not sincere, i.e. are pandering, dishonest, or otherwise misrepresenting themselves.

an assessment I thoroughly agree with, as to one candidate in particular.

It's been clear pretty much all year that Dennis was disillusioned with that one candidate in particular.

Candidates with less than 15% support in a caucus are excluded. Would you rather these people just leave after the first round of voting? Even if it would put Hillary in first place?

Its prolly not even his fault, the others have far more money and a bunch of advisers to tell them what and when to say, essentially they are actors. Dennis is a real person so he is subject to mistakes, like the Ron Paul thing. Hes only human so I forgive him!

He told his Iowa supporters that if he was not viable, they should subcaucus for Edwards.

Dennis me be an idealist, but he knows how to count. He knows he won't be viable in all prencincts (in fact, most candidates are NOT viable everywhere). He also knows that he can get his people into Obama's subcaucuses and possibly get them onto the county- and CD-level conventions (where you are only committed to a candidate for ONE BALLOT).

Dennis is shrewd. He's a politician and he's playing the game.

He's got my vote, but I won't be voting for Obama, and wouldn't caucus for him if I were in a caucus state.

He stands head and shoulders above the rest. But I can at least live with Obama in the general, as opposed to Hillary. There is no way in hell I could vote for her. At least Obama hasn't quite sold out as bad as Hillary, and he shows every sign of being a cerebral candidate, and Lord knows we need some serious brains in the office after the past few years.