Ask any West Side Democrat about Dennis Kucinich, and you’ll get two general responses. Theoretical lefties will tell you he’s “right on all the issues.” Lay Democrats offer some adaptation of the fighting-for-the-little-guy theme.
To the west of the Cuyahoga, these are notions as sure as the fecal count off Edgewater Beach.
Then ask for Kucinich’s accomplishments over 12 years in Congress. The conversation becomes stuttering and rigid. Maybe there will be mention of how he lessened train traffic through Lakewood. But mostly there’s empty, defensive air.
Such devotion to the unknown is perfectly natural. Voting tends to be a gut affair. We cast our ballots based on emotion and instinct, scraps of things we hear. They call it human behavior. It just doesn’t work very well.
It’s why Congress has an approval rating lower than the president’s, but we re-elect the same guys 98 percent of the time. It’s why downstate conservatives vote for those who denounce gays and praise Jesus — and push economic policies that cut the faithful’s knees. And it’s why we keep electing Dennis Kucinich. He tells us everything we want to hear. But 12 years later, we’re no closer to holding those pretty things in our hands.
You have to hand it to the guy. He plays us like Guitar Hero on the remedial setting. For yellow-dog Democrats, he’s a fiery voice for jobs and health care, a fearless antagonist of that vague and ominous enemy, the wealthy special interest. For the cerebral left, he offers plums and cherries like the Department of Peace and the impeachment of Dick Cheney.
We lap it up like Labradors. He’s the one guy who gives eloquent voice to our wishes, burning denunciation of our foes. Because in the parallel universe of politics, we’ve come to believe that talking and fighting are the same thing.
But take a closer look at his record. Search for one slab of concrete he’s laid, one shingle he’s pounded to make any of this happen. You won’t find any. That’s because there’s a very simple truth about Kucinich: The self-proclaimed “workers’ president” has a serious aversion to work.
Defenders will tell you it’s hard for one member to do anything in Congress. True. It’s a battle royal among 535 clinically alarming egos, perhaps the most competitive workplace on earth. Talking does no good. At any given moment, there are 100 guys talking louder and prettier than you.
So you do as you would on any job: Put your head down, work your ass off, make your bones. If you want to be someone, these are the rules of the working life.
Senator Sherrod Brown understands this. He’s quietly made himself an expert on trade. Should there be an Obama presidency, and Washington rediscovers the golden chalice of American politics — secure jobs that pay enough to live — the Senate will turn to him for advice. Finally, an Ohio guy with Ohio sensibilities will be in a position to do something about manufacturing.
But Kucinich has made himself an expert on nothing. He’s the flighty co-worker who leaps from one task to another, boldly announcing how he’d do things better, then moving to a different task. You know how these people are viewed on your job. It tends to involve a lot of expletives. And it’s the same way his own party views him in Congress. They just want him to shut up and get out of the way.
So when Washington eventually decides to do something about health care, education, consumer protection, the war, Kucinich will be on the outside looking in. He’ll have no more say in crafting these bills than you or I.
But let’s forgive him for a moment. Let’s admit he’s not cut out for work. His gift is his tongue, his flair for the dramatic, his ability to shine light on what ain’t right. The smart fighter plays to his strengths, and a congressman can pack a lethal punch if he has the will.
There is no shortage of righteous battles in Cleveland. When National City was on its predatory lending spree, Kucinich could have been outside corporate HQ protesting every day, embarrassing executives into forgoing the serial rape of their hometown.
He could be at government construction sites, shaming public officials into abiding by their own minority-hiring laws.
He could use his staff to investigate corruption in HMOs, campaign finance, the Cleveland schools, the Mike White administration.
He could do what Brown has done — use his campaign funds to rent buses, so old people could buy cheaper medicine in Canada.
He could be the one Democrat who stands up every time Jimmy Dimora buys land from Sam Miller at five times its value.
To simply do one of these would have doubled his list of accomplishments over the past 12 years. But here’s another truth about Dennis Kucinich: He’s a George Bush kind of fighter — a guy who bravely speaks from the safety of the officers’ tent, never risking his own sweat and blood.
Which means we’ve spent about $10 million — including his salary and federal subsidies of his presidential campaigns — so Dennis can create fabulous symbolism. Peace would be good, but the Department of Peace hasn’t gone anywhere. Cheney may be a shirt tail relative of Satan, but he still has a job. Kucinich doesn’t have the juice or drive to push boulders like these. He just plays like he does on TV.
Meanwhile, winnable fights — the kind that might put bread on someone’s table — are ignored. The problem is that they require real work, real tenacity, real bravery. Dennis doesn’t have the stomach.
So vote for him if you will. And when you’re short on rent, short on the doctor’s bill, take solace that somewhere, Dennis Kucinich is talking about having your back. He’s sure to get around to it. Just give him another 12 years.
In the meantime, see if you can pay the heat bill with symbolism. That’s worked pretty well for us so far, hasn’t it?
This article appears in Feb 27 – Mar 4, 2008.
Dennis Kucinich has worked harder than any member of Congress to restore jobs to Cleveland and to America. The free trade agreements, which Cimperman would expand, are the reason there aren’t more jobs. Under Kucinich, jobs will return. Cimperman would increase the speed with which jobs would leave.
Kucinich has a perfect voting record on human rights, civil rights, workers rights, peace and all the issues that matter to real people. Each month Kucinich is working on a new bill to help more of the people. An example of his good work is HR676, which he wrote and co-sponsored, the Conyers-Kucinich Universal Health Care bill.
It is sad that Cimperman lies on an ongoing basis about Kucinich’s attendance record. Last night, the Patrick Henry Democratic Club of America recognized Dennis Kucinich for having the best attendance record in Congress. They have repeatedly recognized him for his 100% perfect record on human rights,civil rights, workers’ rights, the environment, peace, jobs and the economy. Cleveland is very lucky to have the hardest working member of Congress, Dennis Kucinich.
http://patrickhenrythinktank.org
The Patrick Henry Democratic Club is proud to announce its unanimous American Hero Award to Representative Dennis Kucinich for having the best attendance record of any Member of Congress.
Dennis Kucinich has worked harder than any member of Congress to restore jobs to Cleveland and to America. The free trade agreements, which Cimperman would expand, are the reason there aren’t more jobs. Under Kucinich, jobs will return. Cimperman would increase the speed with which jobs would leave.
Kucinich has a perfect voting record on human rights, civil rights, workers rights, peace and all the issues that matter to real people. Each month Kucinich is working on a new bill to help more of the people. An example of his good work is HR676, which he wrote and co-sponsored, the Conyers-Kucinich Universal Health Care bill.
It is sad that Cimperman lies on an ongoing basis about Kucinich’s attendance record. Last night, the Patrick Henry Democratic Club of America recognized Dennis Kucinich for having the best attendance record in Congress. They have repeatedly recognized him for his 100% perfect record on human rights,civil rights, workers’ rights, the environment, peace, jobs and the economy. Cleveland is very lucky to have the hardest working member of Congress, Dennis Kucinich.
http://patrickhenrythinktank.org
The Patrick Henry Democratic Club is proud to announce its unanimous American Hero Award to Representative Dennis Kucinich for having the best attendance record of any Member of Congress.
I may not live in Cleveland, but I sincerely disagree with you since I keep up with Kucinich’s work.
So saving Cleveland’s steel industry, and along with it thousands of jobs, is considered doing nothing?
So saving two major Cleveland area hospitals is nothing?
So it isn’t anything to get 125 Congressman to vote against the Iraq war?
So it isn’t anything to ensure that someone is actually there working for the rights of the workers?
Interestign analysis.
He helped introduce HR 676 (Single-payer, universal healthcare). He voted AGAINST the Patriot Act (Only 18% of the House members that voted voted this way). He has led the way on impeachment when others didn’t have the balls or the guts. He visited Syria and had face-to-face dialogue with Syria’s President. He didn’t just say things, he went there. He’s one of the few who is against clean coal (which is a stupid idea), he’s one of the against nuclear power (which is a stupid idea), he supports real negotations rather than waging wars on countries based on lies (Hello, Iran. Hello, Pakistan. Hello, North Korea…)
Dennis is one of the few Progressives in Congress and the majority of those who don’t like him in Congress are the same who didn’t want him in the White House: the corporations, the lobbyists, and all their little bitches. Remember Muny Light?
Another hit piece brought to you by corporate interests. I urge all Clevelanders to do some basic research on the Internet on Kucinich. Don’t trust your hometown newspaper. They have an agenda to get rid of Dennis because he’s causing so much trouble for Pelosi and company. Trust me, Pelosi deserves all the trouble she’s getting. You Clevelanders are LUCKY to have Congressman Kucinich. Men of conscience are very rare. Men of conscience in politics are almost non-existent.
Elect Cimperman and they’ll be no one in Congress to stand up and hold Bush accountable for launching a war on lies that’s killed 4,000 American soldiers, wounded 20,000 more, wasted 3 trillion dollars from our treasury and caused the price of gas to explode. The consitituion is almost completely dead. Elect Cimperman and rest assured he’ll be a good soldier to Pelosi and never say a word about it.
People like to poke fun at kucinich’s Dept of Peace. We’ve had two insane shooting in the Chicago area this year. You’ve all been following the nut who killed the students at Northern Illinois U. We also has another psycho shoot and kill 5 women at a clothing store. It’s about damn time someone brought up the idea of teaching peace and conflict resolution. This shooting stuff is becoming the norm. But what do you expect when a country believes in Pre-emptive war. What the hell is that anyway. Imagine instead of spending more than every other country in the world combined on defense, which the US does, we spent just 1% of that on Peace efforts. Oh no that’s crazy. Our kids are going to grow up thinking killing innocent people is the norm. That’s one sick world.
Don’t just vote for Kucinich. Cheerish that he’s your congressperson. My Congressperson is a coward on a You-Tube video running from a returned soldier who just wanted to ask him a question. What an embarassment! I’d give anything to have a Congressperson who introduced an impeachment resolution and tried to save our country.
Blatant smear piece written by a Republican who has wet dreams of Cimperman getting nod. Sorry, last I saw it was 55% to 29% with Cimperman LOSING. Of course, if you convince enough of your demoralized crossover pals to show up, you could bring Cimperman over the top, right? WRONG, the numbers just aren’t there. So you lose, again, and the one true American Patriot in our Congress, Dennis Kucinich, shall remain and continue to fight against those like your bosses, who told you to write what you did. Now go do more of what they wish.
Well…Dennis Kucinich is the shit eh?
The previous posters (kucinich staffers?)manage to copy a database and paste it in Scene.
At least Pete’s got proof in writing on his voting record.
Yeah VOTING RECORD. He voted! NO KIDDING! Think that piece of moss on the east side “tubby jones” would have not voted on the same legislation?
Kucinich knew LTV management was crap, but didn’t warn the unions. So half of them got their jobs back after the fallout the ultimately became Mittal.
Kucinich knew St. Alexis and Deaconess Hospitals were no more than a soccer balls to kick around between “health care chains”, but couldn’t make the effort to protect it from greedy health-care administrators.
Kucinich knew Iraq was a bad decision, but waited knowing he could use it to HIS advantage.
Enjoy working for free for Dennis again.
That was a pretty disingenuous article – embracing all the talking points Cimperman likes to wield – without any real context or substantiation or actual understanding of how Congress works or what Dennis has actuall been able to do – and places and people he has protested on behalf of.
The man works 18 hour days and dedicates his work for exactly the things this article claims he doesn’t. What a pathetic piece of “journalism”.
the 10th should be proud to have Dennis representing them.
Having been born and raised in Cleveland, and having lived and owned a home on the West Side there for 12 years in Dennis’s congressional district, I have a hard time getting my District of Columbia friends to understand my “indifference”, if not hostility, to Mr. Kucinich. Your article pretty much provides me with the outline I’ve wanted to provide them in my defense. God knows, Mr. Kucinich is right about so many things – Hell, so am I! But does that make me a worthwhile prospective Congressman? Nope, not at all, and it doesn’t make Mr. Kucinich one either! What an amazing let-down his presidency would have been when everyone discovered he was all talk. And my question is – “Why do the residents of Cuyahoga County continue to send him back to Congress at all?” I now only read the Scene online, but thanks so much for your continued good work on Cleveland’s behalf.