Kucinich Helps the AFL-CIO Prove a Point
by John Nichols

When the AFL-CIO organized a presidential debate at Chicago’s Soldier Field, leaders of the labor federation quietly went out of their way to make sure that Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich would be on the stage.

While some debate organizers have talked about excluding so-called “lesser” candidates — those like Kucinich with low poll numbers and small bank accounts — from the debates, the AFL-CIO wanted progressive populist from Cleveland front and center Tuesday night. Why? Because leaders of the labor organization recognize the importance of candidates who stand on principle rather than merely engage in political calculations.

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On Tuesday night, Kucinich wowed the crowd of 15,000 union activists in Chicago when he promised to use a little-known provision in the North American Free Trade Agreement to pull the U.S. out of the deal.

“In my first week in office, I will notify Mexico and Canada that the United States is withdrawing from NAFTA,” declared Kucinich. “I will notify the WTO, that the United States is withdrawing from the WTO.”

As the applause rose from a rumble to a thunderous roar, Kucinich shouted, “How about it America? Do you want out of NAFTA? Do you want out of the WTO? Listen to the workers of America, let them hear from you!”

It was the most rousing moment of the night, perhaps of all the Democratic debates up to this point.

Kucinich did exactly what the AFL-CIO’s leadership had hoped he would. He showed the most cautious frontrunners — all of whom continue to back NAFTA, albeit with apologies and calls for reform — just how much enthusiasm there is for a radical shift from the misguided trade policies of Bill Clinton and George Bush. That’s a lesson that 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry never really got, to the detriment of his bid for blue-collar votes that year.

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http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/08/07/3046/

I wish there were more debates sponsored by groups who represent the average Americans -- the ones who give them the votes they need but the ones who are allowed to be stepped on by corporations.

positive attention that doesn't talk about his size and the false issues of "unelectablitiy" and "out-of-the-mainstreamness"?

Kucinich for President 2008!

Most on this site will admit that the MSM has an agenda driven by money and politics and are full of lies. Because of my complete lack of trust in them, it really makes me wonder why it is that they don't seem to want to even bring up Kucinich. Is there a reason behind it or is it just a coincidence? You would think that if he were no threat to their agenda ( which we all are against ), they would at least trash him or something. It feels like they don't want to even bring him up too early because then maybe Americans with enough time would find out more about him and possibly like him or his ideas. I'm guessing that when as the time gets shorter and shorter, they will bring him up but in whatever negative way they can so people will already have made up their minds. Most Americans get all their info from the tv box and the only way I think Kucinich may get stronger is by word of mouth. At least some DUer's are calling him unelectable and not presidential, I don't even see that on the MSM.....Why?

Sorry Hillary and OBama they just don't get it

If they actually let him speak, he does very well.

I wish people would stick to facts when they make whatever argument they want to make. Kerry got the union vote because he also has a union card, has never crossed a picket line, and has been as strong for unions and labor as any Dem candidate ever running. And while anti-trade rhetoric goes well at a rally, when people step back and think, they know their coffee and bananas and mangos don't grow in Texas. We need small business and labor to have a seat at the trade table. It doesn't matter whether you go through the WTO or not, if you don't have someone committed to labor and the environment and human rights, you aren't going to get good trade agreements. That's what matters in the end and that's why those union voters went to Kerry in 2004.

Inside the beltway ("upstairs"), most of the elitists sneer at these people. Kucinich DOESN'T.

about how voter turnout and party affiliation are the two single-most important factors during the election, and if we can turn out the vote with a true progressive that has real ideas on how to move the country forward, then we can field almost potential any candidate, within reason.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3436670&mesg_id=3436670

He represents principles and every time he talks about those principles, he moves the other candidates and the US closer to real honesty and good government. Regardless of whether he wins or loses, he will have served a very useful purpose in representing those principles and moving them a step closer to being honored and put into practice at the national level.