A handful of Kucinich supporters crowded into the back of a city council meeting room in Cleveland City Hall yesterday to cheer on their man. They wore t-shirts and held placards that said "Kucinich for President." They had been made for the 2004 campaign. Reduce, reuse, and recycle could be the theme of the Vegan candidate's 2008 campaign. It's the war in Iraq again.
Kucinich said he was dismayed to attend a Democratic Party caucus after they had won a majority in the November elections, largely on opposition to the war.
Dennis Kucinich: In that caucus, it was made clear that leadership was taking us in the direction to fund the war, not stopping the war.
Kucinich was upset that Congress recently passed an appropriations bill that would funnel $70 billion towards the war effort. But he's more concerned that his party may approve a $160 billion bill this spring to fund the war for another two years.
Dennis Kucinich: It's not credible to say you oppose the war but vote to fund it.
One person who's glad that the Congressman is taking on the war is Rose Allen of Euclid. Tears streamed down her face as she told him that her daughter, an Army sergeant, is being sent to Iraq. Allen said she supported Kucinich's bid two years ago and finds his stand courageous.
Rose Allen: He was against and others need to be. If it cost you your congressional seat than so be it. I'm willing to say to President Bush don't send my daughter to Iraq, send one of yours, I bet he won't do it.
Kucinich was willing to take on the mantle of a Don Quixote. Cleveland City Hall was where Kucinich , the so-called boy mayor, resisted area banks and the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company in their attempt to buy the Municipal Power system. That was 28 years ago this week.
Dennis Kucinich: I put my career on the line to protect people's right to own a muni electrical system. I had the courage to stand up. Years later, I was proven right.
Kucinich says he was proven right on Iraq and proven right on saving community hospitals and proven right in resisting the shutdown of LTV steel - now Mittal Steel. He apparently surprised his wife Elizabeth Harper last week when he told a New York Times reporter that he would run for president. Now she's on board.
Elizabeth Harper: I believe in Dennis. This is the voice that the world craves from America and this is the voice that the U.S. craves for its politicians.
Reporters asked the six term congressman whether it wasn't more fair to his 10th district constituents to fight appropriations bills from within the House of Representatives.
Dennis Kucinich: Are you kidding? This war is changing lives of my constituents. This war is robbing of hope of more money for schools, for health care, for housing , for senior citizens. Somebody has to take this on.
Kucinich says he will be able to fund his campaign through internet donations to his website. He said he fully expects to win.