Why are Kucinich and Sharpton still campaigning?

[Asteroid]

After poor showings in N.H they are both still on the campaign trail. Do either hurt the rest of the field by staying in the race?

[zulchzulu]

1. You get to meet babes n/t

[KissMyAsscroft]

2. For Sharpton....ego boost , $$$$$$ and recognition

For Kucinich....getting issues out there.

[TolstoyAndy]

3. Because they are the 2 best candidates

They are anti-war, pro-people, anti-corporatism,
pro-union.

Unlike some, they believe they say.
They are the real deal - they will help all Americans against our mutual enemy: big business.

I live in IL, where my primary vote is unlikely to matter, so I am going DK all the way. I probably would anyway.

[cyclezealot]

38. Right on Tolstoy

I say the results in HH and Iowa has no effect upon Dennis Kuicnich's core workers or financial contributors. For god's sake, I made too many nasty phone calls to Kerry's office for his disgusting votes...If I want a Skull and Crossbones candidate,I would vote for Bush...Democrats so desperate,they do not care about issues and just go for pretty faces..Not me..
Issues and substance. DK is the best candidate. we are fighting for a real populist, and against someone with a scarred past who voted for Nafta, Cafta, Patriot Act, an illegal war..Tonight a news report said Kerry even called the Patriot Act when it was voted on as landmark legislation to protect the American people.
Not fazed at all. Dennis..We are there for you and we expect you to be there for us...Should Democratic handlers stymie debate due to some DLC effort to hush issues, never to late to bolt Green.
God, I rate Kerry not much higher than Liebermann...
I know come Boston we will rally about the head of the ticket, even if we do not expect him to improve our lives all that much.
Also, DK..You have already made an impact. Coercing the party on core issues to fight for the American people...With your goading, the Democratic party might deserve our support.

[Snivi Yllom]

42. Sharpton is not a good candidate DK is.

Al is in this for himself.

[jenk]

4. they want more facetime

[tinanator]

5. 2 low pop white states get to choose MY president?

not this year, baby.

[Tinoire]

6. To shame the Democratic Party & to expose the voters

who say they would vote for a really progressive candidate if only one would run. I am all for it. Kucinich and Sharpton remain for the record and are the voice of millions who do not identify with the other candidates.

It's still a Democracy. And it's still the Primaries. Whence the damn rush to shunt aside the 2 most Progressive candidates? I hope the other candidates aren't yet that tired of having to constantly shift their rhetoric to the left because there are still months to go :)

Promises to make & miles to go before they sleep...

[Miramar]

9. I appreciate your stand Tinoire

I've admired your dedication and copied all of the material you presented here on the DU site in support of Dennis. I voted for DK in NH and we had a great party Primary night. He has a great message and very loyal supporters. I know I will campaign for him now in other States. It's about time we gave peace a chance! He is in the race for all 50.

[Tinoire]

10. Hi Miramar!

Welcome to DU!

:toast:

And a big blushing thank you! I look forward to reading you. Peace

[Iverson]

17. You know the answer to this.

"Whence the damn rush to shunt aside the 2 most Progressive candidates?"

They are outside the boundaries of acceptable liberalism.
If they favored the death penalty, economic globalization, military adventures, and blurring the lines between church and state, then they'd deserve to have a voice.

Now, however, ...

[mikehiggins]

31. Wait until SC and Delaware and Florida

Then the folk's'll see why Sharpton is still hanging in.

Dennis is a matter of principle.

Sharpton is a matter of political reality. Sharpton is the only person blacks can vote for if they want to make the Democratic party take them seriously.

Hit the front runners hard enough and there'll be a black candidate for VP on THIS ticket, not sometime in the great, wide yonder.

And no, I'm not black and of course I'm only saying this so the blacks will vote for Sharpton and derail both Kerry and Dean so my guy can get a leg up on the other whities.

See, I saved somebody the trouble of writing that him or herself.

Damn sure I'm happy I was born white in this country, and not black or native American (NAIP-Native American Indigenous Person). I'm not stupid nor am I blind. Racism is an everyday reality in the United States and I'm lucky I only have problems because of my politics.

[Tinoire]

39. Agree but I think Dennis is principle and a belief we can do this

but nice post :toast: & very good point about Blacks being tired of being taken for granted.

[TheDonkey]

7. Sharpton is polling high in SC

he wants to change the conversation to race. Also get recognition that a black man is running for office, similair to Brauns vanity run (plus being a woman).

Kucinich on the other hand... i guess to keep up with the anti-Iraq message.

[question everything]

22. Will African Americans vote for an African American candidate

just because he is one?

Don't shoot. I don't know much about Sharpton, except the infamous Tawna Brawley (sp?) and that he has never held an elective office nor an executive one, like Clark.

Back in 1988 Jesse Jackson was not much better except that he was better known.

I hope that someday we will have an African American candidate that has a solid track record and that can energize all of us (I would vote for the "David Palmer" character of "24" in a hearbeat..) but not this time.

[mikehiggins]

35. If southern blacks don't vote for Sharpton the party will take them

for granted, just like always.

Kerry's remarks about skipping the South write off millions of voters, many of whom were systematically and deliberately disenfranchised in 2000.

Sharpton has a good shot at S.C., Delaware and Florida, and probably other places as well. If people of color wait for the leadership of the Democratic party to decide when their place in the sun will come, the date will be the 12th of never.

DISCLAIMER: I am an American of Irish descent who worked in construction in NYC for thirty six years. I am not claiming to be black or in any way denying that I am part of the race that runs the show in the US. I only offer my opinion because unless I say it, I don't know if anybody has heard it.

[hyphenate]

8. I've got an even more important question:

Why is Joe Lieberman still campaigning?

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. Lieberman has more of a right to be in it than Sharpton and Kucinich

He has recieved far more votes than both of them combined.

[Iverson]

15. "more of a right to be in it"

That's incredible!

[Freddie Stubbs]

20. The voters of New Hampshire would agree

They didn't think too much of Kucinich and Sharpton.

[Iverson]

23. Let's follow your logic.

If legitimacy is conferred only by numbers, then the early suffragists should have given up.

No majority from the outset? Forget it.

I despair for public education.

[youngred]

24. and don't forget the founders

whose numbers never got over 25% support throughout the war.

[Iverson]

26. That means the English monarchy had "more of a right."

Poof! No American revolution.

I guess Rosa Parks was wrong too, in that ethos.

[youngred]

28. What was that guy's name

that lanky fella....oh yeah Lincoln, no more Emancipation proclaimation

[youngred]

11. No, they don't hurt anyone

and they have a message and as much right to be there as anyone else.

BTW, where do you think Dean steals half his issues from? It sure ain't Lieberman

[WilliamPitt]

13. Well, speaking unofficially for Kucinich

I'd say he's still in the race because he is the only candidate running who stood up in Congress against the Iraq war, against the wespons deception, and convinced more than 100 House members to join him.

He is the only candidate in the race who voted against the Patriot Act.

He is the only candidate with a detailed plan to provide single-payer universal health care.

He is the only candidate talking about trade agreements that have cost American workers 3,000,000 jobs since July 2000.

He is the only candidate formulating a national grassroots movement to be in place after the race is over.

He is a Democrat.

Just a guess, but these issues are kindasorta important, so that's why he is still in it, and will be staying in it, until the last dog dies.

[eridani]

14. So start speaking officially, already!! n/t

[tinanator]

16. Kucinich is running to give voters a choice.

Perhaps the only one.

[anti-NAFTA]

18. You tell 'em!

The trade issue is seriously underrated. Some people here have no clue how dangerous it is to vote for a candidate who wants to continue the Bush/Clinton/Bush policy (i.e. Clark).

[hippywife]

21. And don't forget~

he's electable because:

There's gonna be a little problem if the eventual nominee is someone who voted for, supported in any manifestation, or praised the Iraqi war effort. Bush can't win on his domestic policies. He's going to have to rely heavily on his "victory" in Iraq and the fear many in this country have since 9/11 and the "war on terra". It's going to go something like this:

DEM NOMINEE (other than Kucinich or Sharpton): Mr. Preident, the war in Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, was illegal, our troops died for your lies...there were no WMD's!

BUSH: But Mr. (insert your favorite candidate here) you

a.) also stated that you believed that Hussein had WMD's.
b.) voted for the IWR.
c.) supported Biden-Lugar amendment.
d.) praised this Administration's handling of the conflict.
e.) All of the above.

DN: Um well, what I meant to say was....

http://www.accuracy.org/press_releases/PR012304.htm

[corporatewhore]

37. and rember he won in OHIO not liberal havens like VT or Mass

[bushwakker]

19. Shapton is a charlatan

He is s disgrace to the party and his presence on the field diminishes the party and ALL the candidates. I've been waiting in vain for one of the other candidates to put this fraud in his place. He cares nothing about the party - he is in it for vanity only.

[corporatewhore]

25. To Support Our Troops

My father will be redeployed if kerry clark edwards dean orbush are president. Our troops our dying they are hanging themselves they want to go home and the iraqis dont want us there so i believe they are giving Our troops and their loved ones a chance to voice our concern

[Asteroid]

27. Kucinich does have a strong platform

It's just that he is barely getting noticed in the democratic field. I guess not enough people know who he is, or what he is about. The media doesn't seem to talk about him much, and he doesn't have as much money as many of the other candidates.

I just wonder if Kucinich believes he is still in the race.

[fernwoods]

30. Kucinich would be president if people would see the truth

Kucinich has less money because he doesn't accept corporate funding. This is why he would work for the people instead of the corporations that paid to get the others elected.

He doesn't get media attention because he doesn't want the media to be monopolized. His efforts to try to keep a diversity in the media are what is best for an informed public, but it isn't what is best for the financial gain of the owners of the big media. My newspaper and local TV news station are owned by the same people. This is called deception by omission. They pretend he doesn't exist and thus deceive the people.

If people would stop following the crowd and select the candidate that was closest to what they wanted, I think most would choose Kucinich. http://www.presidentmatch.com/Main.jsp2?cp=main

[fernwoods]

29. So I can choose peace, universal medical care, jobs, and environmental pro

Kucinich is running because many people want him to be our president since he offers a real change from Bush. And why should Iowa and NH pick our candidate? Shouldn't the rest of us have some voice in this important decision? Kerry and Edwards voted for the war and the Patriot Act! How could anyone entrust our future to someone that is either so uninformed or so controlled by others that they would vote to take away our rights and kill thousands of people for no reason. And how could I entrust the powers of President to Clark who until recently supported Bush and was also involved in WACO and preemptive war strikes. And how can I trust Dean when he said so many times that he was the only one against the war when Kucinich voted against the war and rallied many others to do so as well. Dean's wife sounds wonderful, but I can't understand how some think Dean has integrity when that is my biggest objection to him. Saying Carter invited him to church is another of his many lies that probably really hurt him in Iowa. And Kerry's connection to Bush through Skull and Bones and Dean's connection through his Grandmother being in Bush's Grandmother's wedding party make them to close to the Bush family for me to believe they will be a real change.

[corporatewhore]

32. welcome to DU

:hi:

[ThirdWheelLegend]

46. Welcome!

Welcome fernwoods! Great post!

"And how can I trust Dean when he said so many times that he was the only one against the war when Kucinich voted against the war and rallied many others to do so as well. Dean's wife sounds wonderful, but I can't understand how some think Dean has integrity when that is my biggest objection to him."

Very astute observation. This is a huge deal. Dean has LIED several times about Kucinich's position on the war. And Dean's 'integrity' is still touted as one of his biggest assets?

:shrug:

TWL

[genius]

33. Because they're the best

And we love them and want them to stay in the race.

[Jersey Devil]

34. because it is their right as free Americans

Each have consitutencies even though they haven't gotten many votes. My guess is that each wants to be able to represent those constituencies at the convention by applying pressure for the nominee and the platform to contain some provisions that coincide with their beliefs. Sharpton may very well have some delegates after the southern primaries. Whether Kucinich has delegates or not does not matter, imo, because there are a sizable number of voters who respect him - that alone could place pressure on the eventual nominee to include changes in his positions or platform.

[no name no slogan]

36. Because only 1.5% of the delegates have been awarded so far

Delegate-wise, IA and NH are only 1.5% of the total number of delegates awarded. That leaves another 98.5% to be selected, as well as 48 more states who have yet to make their voices heard.

This race is just getting started-- no WAY DK or AS are dropping out!

[drfemoe]

40. Something to do with Party "Unity" ... ...eom

[GreenPartyVoter]

41. They keep topics on the table

that would otherwise be ignored by a crowd of mainstreamers.

[drfemoe]

43. Sharpton's Purpose ..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=194602

[Rhiannon12866]

44. Because they have something important to say

As a Kucinich supporter, I am sorry that more people haven't come to understand his vision, as it is a good one. As for Al Sharpton, he is an excellent speaker and I have appreciated his contributions to the debates, as have his audiences. I am glad that they both are hanging in there, as was Carol Moseley Braun. She often said what I was thinking. We need divergent points of view to engage everyone.:shrug:

[diamondsoul]

45. Sharpton-

To raise the awareness of the issues facing people of color in America and to put forth the fact that racism is far from dead in this country. Sharpton's point is that when we're at a stage where a black candidate can't even be a contender, numbers-wise we're a far cry from overcoming our racist history. If we need Affirmative Aaction policies just so people of color can get a fair shake, we're still a racist nation. It's the same point CMB was making about women.

Kucinich- OTOH is in the race because he's preparing to be the President of the United States. It really is that simple.

Oh I know what you all are saying- "Yeah right, he can't even get over 1% of the votes in the Primaries, how's he gonna win a GE?!"- Well I didn't say he was necessarily going to be the NEXT President of the United States. That's what I'm busting my ass for, absolutely, and yes I do believe he can do it. I also accept that he may not do it in this run. That's ok. I know Dennis Kucinich well now. I've never met him face to face, but I know him well. If he loses the nomination, he'll head back to Cleveland and get to work protecting his seat in the House, and I'll be helping him with that too.

Then in 2008 he'll throw his hat in the ring again, only this time people will remember him.

"Hey wasn't that the little elf dude who ran in 2004 and lost hard?! Damn! He's got guts to wanna do that again!", "You know if he's this gutsy, maybe he's got something going for him. His supporters back in 2004 sure thought so!", "You know that Kucinich guy has been putting up a heck of a lot of good legislation, only he can't get squat done with that Republican Congress. Maybe if he's elected President we can get that fixed."

And so on and so on. Dennis Kucinich will be the President of the United States because once he sets a goal he doesn't quit until he meets it. The only question is when will we elect him.