Congressman Kucinich states the simple truth: "We do not have to fund this war"

[draft_mario_cuomo]

==Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) delivered a blistering speech on the House floor today in response to an Associated Press report that "the latest Iraq Supplemental funding plan, incredibly, will tie an increase in the minimum wage to funding the war through October."==

=="The Democrats' new bill also was expected to include the first federal minimum wage increase in more than a decade, a top priority for the Democrats who took control of Congress in January," Flaherty continued. "White House officials have said Bush was amenable to accepting an increase in the minimum wage, although they and key GOP lawmakers favor larger tax cuts to accompany the measure."

Kucinich said in response, "If this is true, and I hope it is not, it tells American workers that the only way they will get an increase in wages is to continue to support funding the war which is taking the lives of their sons and daughters."

"First blood for oil," Kucinich continued. "Now a minimum wage for maximum blood. Aren't the American people giving enough blood for this war without having to give more to have a wage increase?"==

=="We do not have to fund this war," the 2008 Democratic presidential candidate added. "We must leave Iraq now. Support our troops and bring them home. HR 1234 is a plan to end the war and stabilize Iraq and give Iraqis control of their oil. We must take a new path. We must take a path of truth and justice."==

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Kucinich_blasts_minimum_wage_for_maximum_0522.html

It is a shame we aren't seeing such leadership from some other prominent Democrats in Congress. The truth is we have the votes to end this failed war. We just need more Democrats to synchronize their polished and appealing anti-war rhetoric with their actions on the war in order to end George Bush's failed war.

[mike_c]

1. Kucinich tells the truth while Pelosi and Reid launch a smoke screen....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x943557

[draft_mario_cuomo]

2. Edwards and Kucinich are the only prez candidates showing leadership on this

Edwards for president, Kucinich for Speaker of the House?

[Cleita]

3. How about Edwards and Kucinich as Pres. and VP?

Either way you do it, it will be sixteen years of good guys if they get elected. However, I know Dennis needs a lot of campaign funding. He isn't getting all the corporate cash the other leading candidates are getting, which they will have to pay back in favors.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

4. That would be great as well!

I just thought DK could do more leading the House than VP. Either way would be awesome, though. Kucinich is a leader and a true Democrat. We need more Kucinichs, Feingolds, and less slaves to polls, focus groups, and the sacred "wisdom" of millionaire consultants...

[Cleita]

6. I'm more worried about the slaves to campaign contributions.

If you go to the Open Secrets website, you may be dismayed as to which candidates are getting big fat PAC and corporate checks. You know that they are going to have to repay them once in office. I like the fact that Kucinich hasn't gotten this money yet, however, he's really behind on the few contributions that he has gotten from individuals. It will be hard for him to campaign with nothing. Edwards is doing a little better but he'd better be getting some cash soon too.

[Greyhound]

5. Now, as previously, as always, Dennis tells the truth and is correct.

In addition, on the rare occasion when he is wrong, he admits it and takes steps to correct it. That is the reason I support him though I don't agree with him on everything. He is a leader, something I can't honestly say about any of the others.

[IndianaGreen]

7. There is no Constitutional requirement for the Dems to submit another bill to Bush

Let the money run out. Let this war starve on the vine!

[Heath Hatcher]

11. Oh so we should let the money run out

So our great troops get no money that woul give them body armour and equiptment hell no I support the troops and i'll be darned if i'm going to let our soldiers go into battle without protection, sorry I cannot support that and a majority of americans outside of DU don't support it well. My buddy Kris is in Iraq as a SEAL and it wouldn't be right if he didn't get no funding for equiptment.

Sorry everyone but I cannot support such a measure I hope you can unserstand that.

[Cleita]

14. The money isn't going for those things.

It's going to pay contractors for Halliburton, Kellogg, Brown and Root and Blackwater as well as the Vatican size American Embassy. The troops aren't getting much like the body armor and equipment they need. This war is making a few corporations and individuals very rich at the expense of our military and the Iraqi people.

[Heath Hatcher]

15. Proof?

[Cleita]

16. Let Google be your friend.

Google any of the following:

Halliburton
Kellogg, Brown and Root
Blackwater
New U. S. Embassy in Iraq

There is so much information out there, I can't list it here.

[Greyhound]

22. Do you have even the slightest idea of how funding measures work?

Because you response would indicate that the answer is no.

Check out this documentary, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446345/">The Ground Truth, you'll have a much better idea of what's going on than you will ever get from the "news" and the press releases, and much sooner than from your friend too.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

17. Let's stop the spin and be realistic about defunding

If we stopped financing the war Bush would have no choice but to bring the troops back. He politically cannot leave them there to die without any armor, food, etc. And if extra money would be required to bring them back we could easily pass a bill that would provide money solely for that purpose. The key is standing up to Bush and making it clear that he will no longer receive funding to continue the war. One side had to back down on this--it should have been Bush, not us.

[defendandprotect]

20. Fund the troops homecoming -- that's all.

[Tom Joad]

23. there are plenty of funds to ensure their safe return. BTW, i think they have body armour when they

arrive. I mean, that only makes sense.

[info being]

10. Too bad Americans can't process truth

[loudsue]

8. I love that man!!

:bounce: Go Kucinich!!! :yourock:

:kick:

[bonito]

9. K&R

[Le Taz Hot]

12. Until today, I hadn't chosen a candidate.

Yes, I've known Kucinich's positions all along but after the last couple of days' disgusting INaction by the Democrats, it's time to pick a REAL anti-war candidate. As of today, I'm declaring my support for Kucinich.

[Heath Hatcher]

13. That's good Le taz hot

Good to see you chosen a candiate, maybe how you can turn his poll numbers arounf for one percent to two. Very good choice, DK is a good egg.

[ValiantBlue]

21. Based on how events are unfolding......

Kucinch seems to be seperating himself from the rest. For someone who does not have "electability" it would not suprise me if all of sudden he is a serious contender.

Obama and Hillary are out in front (with Edwards pulling up) but they could potentialy squander their respective positions based on how they vote for this bill.

If Gore enters it would be a breath of fresh air. But until then I too think Kucinch is the best individual to put this country back together again.

[eleny]

18. K&R!

[defendandprotect]

19. Kucinich and privatizing Iraq's oil today --

Kucinich also took the floor of the Senate today to discuss privatizing Iraq's Oil -- which is something the Democrats are going along with.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to hear what he said cause I was watching the Monica Goodling hearings.

Obviously, however, America's natural resources shouldn't be in the hands of a few private families
and even more obviously, it is for the Iraqi people to decide who controls their oil and who profits from it. Somehow, I think it should be Iraqis -- !!!

Kucinich has always told more truth than those in control are comfortable with.

[zulchzulu]

24. Did Kucinich pull the curtain out showing his Magic Votes Out Of Thin Air Machine?

While I agree on what Dennis says, it's got to obvious to him that the votes aren't there....yet...

[AnOhioan]

25. And the votes would never be there if.........

Dennis did not speak up. At least he is trying instead of capitulating, unlike our supposed "leaders".

[LWolf]

26. It's funny how that works, isn't it?

It's best not to do anything because you won't have the votes, you can't win. You can't win, so you ought to go along.

When congresspeople do that, we get inaction. The action on issues that we work for would never be brought up, let alone brought to a vote.

When voters do that, we end up with the "electable" candidates in office who perpetuate this myth; that what is right, what is good, what we need can't ever win so why bother?

I think it's time for Democratic voters to send a different message. It's time to vote for the candidates who take strong positions, and then walk their talk. That's how we'll get reps in congress who will take strong positions and walk their talk.