Daily Kos Takes Kucinich foe to task. Cimperman a corporate Democrat.

[cyclezealot]

Daily Kos states the many progressive bills Kucinich has sponsored. Plus, outlines Kucinich's opponents connections to GOP corporate interests. Segments of the report below.

$$$$.
As you're probably aware, Ohio's 10th Congressional is in the midst of a fierce primary battle. Motivated to seize the House seat for its preferred corporate candidate, and driven by hatred stretching back to Muny Light, the Cleveland Plain Dealer -- a very conservative newspaper and the town's only daily -- is trying to push Dennis Kucinich out after more than ten years of loyal and able service to his constituency.

Follow me below the fold for more
***
Cleveland's movers and shakers have thrown their support by sitting Ward 13 councilman Joe Cimperman, a corporate-owned politician. His argument for running is based in part on the most ludicrous of claims: that a sitting elected official ought not to spend taxpayer time and money running for another elected office. But that is precisely what Cimperman is doing. Furthermore, he is running on a patently false claim that Kucinich has missed more votes than almost any other member of Congress.

The truth, however, is not on Cimperman's side. According to GovTrack.us:

Dennis Kucinich missed 346 of 7054 votes (5%) since Jan 7, 1997.

Compare this to campaigning Republican Ron Paul, who according to GovTrack.us has missed twice as many votes as Kucinich.

Ronald Paul missed 687 of 7054 votes (10%) since Jan 7, 1997.

**
While we're on that note, let's ask ourselves, of the two main candidates for Ohio-10, who has accomplished more? Kucinich, hands down.

Kucinich -

Cosponsored HR 676, which is Medicare for all Americans.

H.R. 4060: Universal Prekindergarten Act

H.R. 3400: Rebuilding America's Infrastructure

H.R. 1234: To end the United States occupation of Iraq immediately

H. Con. Res. 23: Expressing the sense of Congress that the President should not order an escalation in the total number of members of the United States Armed Forces serving in Iraq.

H.R. 2707: To reauthorize the Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program

H.R. 3875: To permit the Secretary of Labor to make an administrative determination of the amount of unpaid wages owed for certain violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act in the New Orleans region after Hurricane Katrina.

**
And then, of course, there are his articles of impeachment against Dick Cheney. Pretty busy for a "part-time" member of the House of Representatives, huh? And what, by the way, has Cimperman done for his constituents? According to ClevelandLeader.com (bear with me, this one's a long quote but it is absolutely necessary):

Just to remind people of what the donation-gobbling Cimperman has become as the downtown councilman, I’ve listed below what the city and others, with Cimperman’s strong backing, gave to the Wolstein project in the Flats. The project is in Cimperman’s ward.

Of course, the city also helped with eminent domain to shift properties to Wolstein from others.

There’s an interesting battle now going on for downtown real estate development with several major corporations and law firms reportedly interested in new office space. Looking for new digs: Baker & Hostetler, Eaton Corp., Ernst & Young, Huntington Bank and Squire, Sanders & Dempsey. So there’s demand
Below are the incredible "incentives" given to the Wolstein partnership for the Flats East Side project. Here is the list:

- BDOHS (port authority) will provide $11 million in loans.

- City of Cleveland will provide $6 million in Core City loans.

- Cleveland Public Power will provide $3.4 million in services
***Rosemary Palmer and Barbara Anne Ferris, the latter of whom comes from a family-owned steakhouse and was endorsed by the Plain Dealer in 2006, are also on the ballot for Ohio-10. But with Cimperman getting corporate money thrown at him like water splashed on a kid at the local pool, neither of them stands as big a chance against the far worthier incumbent. Furthermore, Ferris has received help from Cleveland-area Republicans<1> in order to seize the seat the only way they can -- through a bought off "Democrat". In 2004 she ran against Dennis Kucinich as an independent before switching her party affiliation over to Democrat so she would fare better in the heavily-Democratic town.

You really have to wonder if The Plain Dealer thinks it can fool all the people all the time
***
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/14/123353/526

[nosmokes]

1. Meanwhile, the Dem party machine is doing all it can to defeat Dennis.

[OzarkDem]

12. Not in Cuyahoga Co

Dennis has been endorsed by the county party and has the full support of the county chair, Jimmy Dimora. Dimora has been quoted several times in the newspaper saying he doesn't see any of Dennis' opponents being able to beat him.

Dennis has huge support from Dems here locally. The few Dems in the race against him are, like Cimperman, backed by the big wealthy folks in downtown Cleveland or members of small factions within the local party that want to get their own person in the seat. 10th District is one of those places where there are plenty of Dems running for office and not enough seats for all of them to run for.

[asthmaticeog]

2. It's a shame, really. Cimperman was promising early in his career.

But after one term in city council he became one of those sad (and dangerous) bastards that thinks he's a player but is really a pawn. He's nothing but contentless ambition now, he'll do whatever Sam Miller and the Ratners want.

[cyclezealot]

4. Its a human tragedy really

what special interest cash and ambition will do to someone who once offered promise. I read in the First Cleveland Congressional debate. No one really disagreed with Kucinich on the big national issues. And he has championed trade and health care. One stupid enough to think Cimperman could run as effectively with those same issues with which is basically agrees with Kucinich.

[cyclezealot]

3. The Kucinich people

are we that forgetful. We just raised two million dollars since last September for his presidential race. We desperately need him in the Congress. Do we become distracted so easily. Dennis Needs cash asap.

[NikolaC]

9. Not Here

I donated to his Congressional and Presidential campaign. I also voted for him in the Dem primary in VA. It seems to me that this would not have happened without the Dem party leadership's approval. Dennis is tough and I hope that he could withstand the onslaught and keep his seat because God knows we need the few "real" progressive Dems that we have in office.

BTW, correct me if I am wrong, but where was Kos with their impassioned plea about his record when Dennis was running for Prez? Better late than never I guess.

[rjones2818]

10. There were a few of us...

me, penguinsong, archangel and a few others. It was like swimming upstream in a river that had a 30 degree incline.

[NikolaC]

11. I Know

DU was one of the few places on the net where I found some solid Kucinich support. I found the dismissive and snobbish tone toward Kucinich on other "progressive" sites irritating, to say the least. America could have had a good thing, but they blew it for looks and "electability" over substance. Oh well, I hope that Cleveland does not fall into the same trap.

[OzarkDem]

13. Dennis has the party's endorsement and support

He's up against a corporate backed candidate. If you think the Dems can control the billionaires in town, forget it. They answer to no one.

[rjones2818]

5. To the greatest page with you!

For those of us on the left, Dennis is OUR Congressman!

Go Dennis! :woohoo:
http://kucinich.us
http://integritynow.org
Pro-progressive? Kucinich for Congress!!!

[rhett o rick]

6. We must help Dennis. k & r. nm

[cyclezealot]

7. Where i am getting impatient

Few fight for single payer, government oversight of information gained from the Downing Street Memo's, or the interests of labor in their fight over fair trade. / Where are they with the Cimperman fight. Micheal Moore should be up front with Kucinich the way he was after Sicko made its debut. Moore was on a podium with Kucinich when Sicko was drawing attention. And Moore endorsed the Conyers/ Kucinich healthcare bill. Does the likes of Mooore think single payer interests will be enhanced with a Congress member such as Cimperman. / I insist the likes of Micheal Moore come to assist Dennis Kucinich. Or else I will have less respect for the likes of Michael Moore. What are they cowards. Too busy.

[Norrin Radd]

8. kr

[yurbud]

14. kick

[Uncle Joe]

15. Kicked, too late to recommend.

Thanks for the thread, cyclezealot.

[cyclezealot]

16. thanks too

glad to have posted this bit of good news. We all hope.

[cyclezealot]

17. Today is the big day for Kucinich

yes. he did raise some cash to fight back. I fear his ads are too kind. But, please send your good thoughts, prayers, or whatever Dennis' way. In particular Money , if you can. Tonight, is the big debate. He needs your positive thoughts. Cimperman has been a real azz hole. He blames factory closing on Kucinich. Can you imagine how wrong such tactics are. Plant closings are happening all over Ohio. Not just Dennis's district. Cimperman's latest attack ad is terrible. Tonight is the night, DK can speak truth to Cimperman's lies and special interest connections.