Kucinich\r\nv. Dean<\/strong><\/p>\r\nWhere broad\r\nagreement exists, I've omitted the issue to save space.
\r\nI've also omitted issues where one candidate has no stated position I could\r\nfind,
\r\neven though this is a measure of a candidate's relative concern for and\r\nfamiliarity with issues.
\r\n
\r\nThe main sources are the candidates' own websites, plus a whole lot of searching\r\nvia Google.
\r\nI can't promise every detail is correct; this is one guy's best effort.<\/p>\r\n
Full\r\ndisclosure: I have several friends on the Kucinich campaign, and I supported him\r\nwhen this started.
\r\nA few months ago, I was even going to join up, but since I'm in the media,\r\ndecided it was better to be independent.
\r\nI was also very interested in Dean for a while, around February and March, until\r\nI decided to support Kucinich.
\r\nMake of that whatever you will.<\/p>\r\n
Finally,\r\nDean is basically a good guy, and if he's nominated I'll vote for him in a\r\nheartbeat.
\r\nIt's just that it's simply not accurate to refer to him as a progressive\r\ncandidate.
\r\nAs he told Salon<\/em>: \"I\r\ndon't mind being characterized as 'liberal' -- I just don't happen to think it's\r\ntrue.\"<\/u>
\r\nI'm also not saying that Kucinich's positions are the \"right\" ones on\r\nevery issue;
\r\nI just personally agree with him on most of them, and I think other progressives\r\nwill, too.
\r\n
\r\nPS: I had not the slightest idea how many people would visit this page.
\r\nAccording to Memeufacture, a link here from TalkLeft quickly spread all over the\r\nliberal blogosphere.
\r\nThanks, cool, great -- but I'm not an expert, just a guy trying to figure this\r\nout.
\r\nI've tried to correct any mistakes brought to my attention, but I do make them.
\r\nDo your own research and thinking.<\/em>
\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Issue<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Dennis\r\n Kucinich<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Howard Dean<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Health care\r\n plan<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Canadian-style\r\n single-payer system, extending the successes of Medicare, financed by\r\n a tax on employers lower than the current cost of private insurance\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n Complex\r\n 4-prong plan, extending multiple state and federal programs piecemeal,\r\n combined with tax credits and incentives, all of which Dean claims is\r\n more likely to become law, but still won't cover everyone<\/p>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n | \r\n \r\n \r\n Death\r\n penalty<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Opposes\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Favors for\r\n \"extreme\" crimes like terrorism or the killing of a police\r\n officer, although critical of Bush administration's\r\n \"careless\" approach to executions\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Roe v. Wade<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Pro-life until\r\n recently; now the only candidate pledging to make Roe v. Wade a\r\n \"litmus test\" for appointing federal judges\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Pro-choice, but\r\n refuses to make Roe v. Wade a litmus test for federal judges\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Kyoto\r\n treaty<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Supports\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Says we must\r\n \"take another look,\" but has \"concerns\" about some\r\n provisions\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Patriot Act<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Only presidential\r\n candidate who personally voted against it\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Would repeal\r\n \"parts,\" but also wants to expand intelligence agencies;\r\n praises Russ Feingold as only Senator<\/em> who opposed the act,\r\n ignoring Kucinich's vocal House opposition, falsely implying no other\r\n candidate opposed the Patriot Act\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n NAFTA\/WTO<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Full withdrawal, to\r\n replace with fair trade; opposes \"fast track\" treatment of\r\n any future trade legislation; personally marched in Seattle protests\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Notes problems with\r\n \"free\" trade, suggesting the need for inclusion of human\r\n rights, environmental, and labor standards in trade agreements -- but\r\n still pro-NAFTA\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \"Star\r\n Wars\" ballistic missile system<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Would abolish; has\r\n sponsored legislation banning weapons from space\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Would cut only 1\/8\r\n of the funding, transferring it to international threat-reduction\r\n programs\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Pentagon\r\n waste<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Would cut Pentagon\r\n programs which don't even work, like the V-22, F-22, and \"Star\r\n Wars,\" and demand accountability for over a $1 trillion in\r\n \"lost\" funds\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Disagrees with any\r\n proposed Pentagon cutbacks, and advocates aggressive expansion of\r\n intelligence, police, and special forces\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Balanced\r\n budget<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n A long-term goal,\r\n but deficits may be necessary in the short run for economic and social\r\n investment\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n A main priority --\r\n even equating it with social progress: \"we cannot have social\r\n justice without a sound fiscal foundation\" -- describing himself\r\n as \"to the right of Bush\" on the issue\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Gun control<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Supports federal\r\n gun control legislation, and sponsored a bill calling for child safety\r\n devices on all new handguns\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Supports closing\r\n the gun show loophole, but opposes other new federal regulation;\r\n considers guns a states' rights issue; an \"A\" rating from\r\n NRA most of his career\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Medical\r\n marijuana<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Supports\r\n compassionate use\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Firmly opposed,\r\n although promises to abide by a proposed FDA evaluation\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n War on\r\n drugs<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Proposes\r\n European-style treatment of addiction as a medical, not criminal\r\n problem, with attendant reductions in crime and violence\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Has accepted\r\n National Governors Association position: more federal funding for all\r\n aspects of the drug war; however, also speaks of drug use as a medical\r\n problem, and has called the War on Drugs a failure; website and recent\r\n speeches simply do not clarify what policies he would pursue, as far\r\n as I can tell\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Gay rights<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Believes gay and\r\n straight couples should be 100% equal before the law, including Social\r\n Security and domestic-partner benefits; supports federal civil union\r\n legislation\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Signed a civil\r\n union (not gay marriage) bill, but opposes similar national laws as a\r\n states' rights issue\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Energy<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Supports investment\r\n in solar, wind, ocean, and other clean energy; risked career to\r\n prevent a power monopoly in Cleveland, saving taxpayers over $200\r\n million\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Supports investment\r\n in alternative energy and energy efficiency ; <\/em>however, has\r\n sided with Vermont state utilities on most issues\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Political\r\n experience<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n Has\r\n held local, state, and federal office for a total of 17 years. Four-term\r\n member of Congress, since 1997. Currently chair of the Progressive\r\n Caucus, largest Democratic caucus in Congress.<\/p>\r\n <\/td>\r\n | \r\n \r\n Vermont state\r\n legislator, 1982-86; Lt. Governor, 1986-91; Governor, 1991-2002.\r\n Former chair, National Governors Association.\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Iraq war<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Opposed staunchly\r\n from the beginning, has never wavered\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Firmly opposed,\r\n before, although he told the L.A. Times<\/em> in January that he\r\n would support unilateral action if Iraq had WMDs; softened his\r\n rhetoric again in March, once the war began, explaining in\r\n conservative South Carolina, \"it's hard to criticize the\r\n President when you've got troops in the field... we all have got to\r\n support the troops;\" now again firmly opposed, and highly vocal\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Personal<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Lifelong member of\r\n the working class. Grew up so poor that his family lived in a car more\r\n than once. Currently a vegan.\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Patrician\r\n upbringing. Speaks harshly about negative environmental impact of SUVs.\r\n Drives an SUV (a Chevy Suburban).\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Wellstone\r\n connections<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Wellstone was a\r\n proud member of the Progressive Caucus, which Kucinich leads\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Stole the\r\n \"democratic wing of the democratic party\" line from\r\n Wellstone after his death\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Ambition<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Began campaign\r\n late, in part because he was busy organizing anti-war voices in\r\n Congress\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Vermont newspapers\r\n had to sue to get Dean's 2002 schedule as Governor; Dean spent almost\r\n all of the year out the state, and didn't want his constituents to\r\n know\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Home state<\/strong>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Ohio, 21 electoral\r\n votes\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n \r\n \r\n Vermont, 3\r\n electoral votes\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n \r\n<\/table>\r\n
\r\nBack to this site's Kucinich page, featuring Kucinich Komix by Scott Bateman<\/p>\r\n\n","contact":"","link":"","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/html","summary":"good quick summary","numcomment":1,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2003\/06\/68381.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":68400,"heading":"I dont get it","article":"One candidate wants to essentially ban guns federally,\r\nand the other nut wants ban guns by the state\r\nBoth violators of the 2nd amendment.\r\n\r\nOne candidate dosent want to cut military spending\r\nThe other one wants to cut a "few" out.\r\n\r\nBoth are essentially anti abortion\r\n\r\nBoth have fucked up systems of health care.\r\n\r\nand the list is contiuous.\r\n\r\nTHE TWO ARE ONE OF THE SAME\r\nPS\r\n\r\n"HELP US, PLEASE, WE'RE STUCK IN A NUTSHELL"","author":"constitution","parent_id":68381,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-30 09:45:14","modified":"2003-06-30 09:45:14","fileurl":""}]}
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