National Jewish Democratic Council slams comments by Kucinich

[stuartrida]

Jewish Democrats criticized U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) for saying he was considering Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) as his running mate.

The National Jewish Democratic Council in a statement Tuesday slammed comments by Kucinich, a prohibitive underdog among the Democratic presidential candidates.

"Despite his views on the Iraq war, Rep. Paul no more belongs on a Democratic ticket than Dennis Kucinich on a Republican one," said NJDC Executive Director Ira Forman. "Any Jewish Democrats or independents that are tempted toward Rep. Paul because of his stance on the war should be reminded that this Republican representative has a terrible record on Middle East politics, is anti-choice and opposes stem cell research."

The NJDC also provided several anti-Israel quotations from Paul, whose presidential candidacy on the GOP side has attracted support from several neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups.

On Sunday, Kucinich told a crowd in New Hampshire that he was considering Paul as his running mate. Despite being from different parties, Kucinich said the joint ticket could "balance the energies in this country."

http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/105566.html

Elizabeth Kucinich claimed Dennis is absolutely considering running with Paul. If she was not speaking the truth, Dennis should say so.

Questioner: Do you believe that your husband would ever give consideration to possibly running as a running mate to say a candidate like Ron Paul?

Elizabeth Kucinich: It is a consideration. Absolutely.

[OzarkDem]

1. Kucinich's office has already denied

that Kucinich said such a thing.

It doesn't speak much for this organization's credibility if they make this kind of statement.

[cali]

2. glad to hear that.

do you have a link?

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. Nothing on his website to that effect. Do you have a link for that?

http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/

:shrug:

[OzarkDem]

6. Call his office, they will tell you

[cali]

10. and you slam me for making a claim without a link?

please. try living up to your own standards. this doesn't cut it. No press release. nothing on the website. Oh, and I put links up in my thread.

[Ignis]

35. Nor has he released a press release denying that he beats his wife.

So, obviously, he must beat his wife.

:eyes:

[Freddie Stubbs]

91. There is no audio recording of him beating his wife. There is a recording of his Ron Paul comments:

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/11/exclusive_audio_kucinich_consi.html

[Freddie Stubbs]

72. If they told you that it was a lie. There is audio of his remarks:

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/11/exclusive_audio_kucinich_consi.html

[stuartrida]

71. Can you please post in this thread?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3767654

I'd like to hear what you have to say about it.

[Freddie Stubbs]

76. If they have denied it, they are liars

Kucinich's words were taped:

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/11/exclusive_audio_kucinich_consi.html

[Freddie Stubbs]

87. Why did Kucinich's office lie about this?

There is audio proof that he said it:

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/11/exclusive_audio_kucinich_consi.html

[MrsT]

3. Her statement bothers me. He better refute that if he wants my vote

Ron Paul? No freakin way.

[OzarkDem]

4. Welcome to DU

[MrsT]

8. Thanks

but I am not that new. I rarely post.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. Ron Paul Also Said

"If you have ever been robbed by a black you now how fleet of foot they are."

[yardwork]

30. Did he really say that? I can't stand Ron Paul. I can't imagine voting for him.

I'm really disappointed that Kucinich suggested anything remotely close to choosing Ron Paul as his running mate. Really disappointed in Kucinich about this. Bad mistake.

[Ian David]

9. Dennis has stopped taking his candidacy seriously. n.t

[Spirit of 34]

36. I think he stopped taking it seriously long, long ago

As many DK-haters from the Dem Party's right and centrist wings as there are here on DU, you should be thanking Dennis...were it not for his quixotic campaign, half of his supporters would have left the Party entirely.

[AlertLurker]

11. More BOOLSHEET.

"On Sunday, Kucinich told a crowd in New Hampshire that he was considering Paul as his running mate."

He never did any such thing. If anyone here can find me a NON-PARSED quote to this effect, I'd be grateful. No one will, because one DOESN'T EXIST.


Does no one else see a difference between:

"Elizabeth Kucinich claimed Dennis is absolutely considering running with Paul."

AND:


"It is a consideration. Absolutely."

???

ABSOLUT BOOLSHEET.


Support Dennis Kucinich. TODAY.

[cali]

12. not bullshit

though hardly monumental in the scheme of his campaign. If he didn't say it, he should issue a clear refutation. It's all over the liberal blogs, and it does him no good to leave it hanging.

[Chulanowa]

13. Maybe he counts on Democrats to be moderately literate?

Then again, the ability to read and comprehend seems to come and go in any political community.

Q: Would Dennis ever consider the possibility of running as a running mate to, say, a candidate like Ron Paul?
A: It is a consideration. Absolutely.

Dennis would possibly consider maybe running for a candidate similar to perhaps someone who is in some manner similar to Ron Paul. The exact nature of the similarity of the proposed maybe might possibly consider potential candidate to Ron Paul remains unquantified.

What I'm saying folks, is that the question was tortured, vague, and ended with a deliberate lead.

I further have yet to see any direct quote from DK from this meeting he had

[AlertLurker]

14. Both you and I know he's not going to say word ONE to the P.D.

THEY were the ones who parsed the quote on their blog (story never hit the print edition, to my knowledge), and if I remember correctly, if something is not actually true, it's bullshit.

I agree, however, in that I wish that he should address this, but I am not privy to Mr. Kucinich's mind. He is a pretty smart person and may have his own reasons for leaving this hanging...raising his profile in the media?

I haven't seen his poll numbers either increase or decrease since the weekend, so I am unsure as to any effect this rumour may be having on his candidacy.


Support Dennis Kucinich TODAY!!!

[kenfrequed]

15. It really is absurd

Why would anyone waste ink or time on a "news story" posted on the blog of a crappy right wing rag?

Demanding an apology for something that there is no reputable proof Kucinich ever said. Does this mean if I post some scrambled together and made up quote that Hillary didn't actually make, and combine it with half of an answer that Bill made to a question that was reworded in print?

I mean is this even remotely fair?

Ok and then we get to have the fun of our party taking it seriously?

Do the republicans Take seriously John Stewarts interviews? Do they use liberal blogs and soak them up as though they were gospel? (nevermind the fact that if they did they might have a more realistic view of things) Do Republican organizations release scathing rebukes on candidates based on half-quotes placed on liberal blogs?

Is there any possibility that we are lending too much credence to this "papers" quotations?

[BenDavid]

16. Ira Forman is correct about Ron Paul anti-Israel comments.

Even more shocking than his extreme views on domestic policy is Representative Paul's ardent and outspoken opposition to Israel. As perhaps Congress' most anti-Israel member, Representative Paul consistently opposes foreign aid to Israel, regularly votes against pro-Israel resolutions and legislation, and has repeatedly accused Israel of having a dangerous influence on U.S. foreign policy. On the House floor, Representative Paul has accused Israel of expansionism and the intent to intimidate neighbors and contended that the U.S. is "forced, by domestic politics here at home, to support Israel at all costs." Representative Paul has a 73 percent voting record with the National Right to Life Committee since 1999 and has voted to permit religious organizations receiving federal funds to discriminate in their hiring practices.

[Kucinich4America]

17. That may be the case

But that's no reason for the JTA, JDC, or whomever, to attack Dennis Kucinich, based on one unconfirmed report from a blog associated with a newspaper known to have a long standing grudge against Kucinich.

[AlertLurker]

20. Anyhing said against Israel is, OF COURSE, "Anti-Semitic"

Haven't you been paying attention?

:hide:

[yardwork]

32. Did you read what Ron Paul actually said? It's antisemitic.

[MLFerrell]

27. OK, let's see...

"Representative Paul consistently opposes foreign aid to Israel..."

He opposes foreign aid to any country, not just Israel.

"...regularly votes against pro-Israel resolutions and legislation..."

Which is a bad thing why again?

"...and has repeatedly accused Israel of having a dangerous influence on U.S. foreign policy."

http://www.amazon.com/Israel-Lobby-U-S-Foreign-Policy/dp/0374177724

Read this, and tell me Ron Paul is wrong. Oh, and though they're not Israeli per se, AIPAC spies passed classified information to Israel.

"On the House floor, Representative Paul has accused Israel of expansionism..."

Until Sharon kicked the illegal settlers in Gaza and the West Bank out, the Israeli government was turning a blind eye to this expansionism. Oh, and some of the illegal settlements are still there.

http://www.nimn.org/Resources/settlements_landing_page/000026.php

"...and the intent to intimidate neighbors..."

What was the attack on Lebanon about, if not intimidation? Israel laid waste to Lebanon, because of TWO captred soldiers. If that's not intimidation predicated on a flimsy casus belli, I don't know what is.

"...and contended that the U.S. is "forced, by domestic politics here at home, to support Israel at all costs."

Again, see this: http://www.amazon.com/Israel-Lobby-U-S-Foreign-Policy/dp/0374177724

And then get back to me.

And no, I'm not anti-Semitic. Just anti-Israeli government.

[Spirit of 34]

29. Yes, shocking

Funny how nowadays an American politician not pledging fealty to a foreign power is "shocking".

Why doesn't every candidate feel obliged to begin and end every statement on foreign policy in Europe with "I am a strong supporter of France"?

Our military support of Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia/Gulf States should cease immediately. We have no business meddling in the affairs of that region. And the government has no right to steal my hard-earned money from my paycheck and hand it over to foreign tyrants, aggressors and human-rights violators-- I could give a damn less whether that's foreign Jews, Muslims or Christians.

[Lurking Dem]

56. He sounds like at least half of IP.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[sufrommich]

19. Could you provide a source for your"five dancing Israelis" ?nt

[Name removed]

77. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ilovesunshine]

21. I remember dancing Palestinians after 9-11

They were partying in the streets after we were attacked.

Yeah, they are good friends for us to have!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

[yardwork]

39. You remember them? Did you actually see them? Or did the Faux News tell you about them?

I remember a lot of rumors about various people "celebrating" after 9/11, but they all turned out to be lies.

[Spirit of 34]

50. I remember it

They played the same clip, over and over, on all the major networks. The massive Palestinian prayer vigils and memorials to the victims of 9/11 were barely covered in the mainstream media, by contrast.

And the Palestinians celebrating in the clip were a bunch of teenagers and young boys, mindlessly cheering an attack on a country that has helped keep their people under an oppressive military occupation for decades. I'm sure the young punks weren't then considering the massive toll on innocent civilian life-- they were just happy someone attacked the heart of the imperial power they've been suffering under for far too long.

But as I noted above, there were many more Palestinians who empathized with the 9/11 victims, believing themselves to be victims of violence and terror for many years.

[yardwork]

57. Lots of those supposed clips turn out to be fake, anyway.

Remember watching "grateful Iraqis" toppling the statue of Saddam after we invaded? I watched that on CNN, and it looked real to me, too. But months later, aerial photos of the event were released, and it showed that the entire Saddam statue toppling was staged. A very few people took part, guarded and helped by U.S. soldiers. The rest of the square was deserted. There was no outpouring of gratitude by Iraqis. Just a staged photo cop and carefully edited video clip that appeared to show something that was really a lie.

The same with the clips of "angry Palestinians cheering 9/11." Who knows where or where those were really filmed? Maybe the participants were actors paid to take part.

Unless you saw it in person, you didn't really see it. In this age of video editing and CGI, remember that.

[Spirit of 34]

59. Yeah, but

considering the suffering they've gone through at the hand of U.S. imperialism, I don't think a few Palestinian kids cheering at an attack on the U.S. is that much of a stretch.

[yardwork]

61. Either way, it is a non-issue.

[Freddie Stubbs]

92. CNN aired the footage:

http://www.snopes.com/rumors/cnn.asp

[sufrommich]

22. Still looking for that source? nt

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

24. The First Clip Started Rather Interestingly

"Did the Jews know in advance the World Trade Center would be hit?"


I have a question ...

Do you believe there were no Jews killed in the WTC because they got tipped off in advance?

[ilovesunshine]

25. WTC was a Jewish conspiracy....

Or didn't you know.

Oh, and the Holocaust never happened either according to these morons!

[MLFerrell]

37. You forgot a sarcasm tag.

And making light of Holocaust denial is fucking disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourself.

[cali]

65. the irony of this post is breathtaking.

you are shameless.

[Madam Mossfern]

26. Your question though it may be rhetorical

assumes that there were no Jews killed in the WTC.
In fact, there were.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

33. I Get The New York Times

They ran an obit for every victim... Many were clearly Jewish...

[MLFerrell]

34. "Do you believe there were no Jews killed in the WTC because they got tipped off in advance?"

No. Anyone who believes that is an anti-Semitic retard.

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cali]

45. Obviously some did what?

do tell.

[yardwork]

52. It's against DU rules to post antisemitic, hate-filled sites here.

Please delete the offensive links and stop telling lies.

[cali]

31. It's your pushing of these clips that demonstrate what you are.

You own it now, bucko.

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[yardwork]

41. What? I've never heard that! That sounds like a lie.

You had better have something to back up that assertion, or delete it. That is a terrible thing to say unless you have actual proof.

[MLFerrell]

43. See above.

[yardwork]

51. Those links are horrible - I won't click on them.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

42. Was That In The Youtube With The Jewish Music That Said Jews Were A Corrosive Force?

I think it's at the two minute fourteen second mark...

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cali]

44. yeah, and that's about as meaningful to me as

Palestinians dancing in the streets and handing out candy in celebration of the WTC attack. Neither incident is fraught with meaning. If 5 Israelis were observed filming the burning WTC, it doesn't mean that Israel was behind the WTC attack. There is 0 evidence for that. There's a ton of evidence for it having been carried out by Saudis.

Do you believe that Jews working at the WTC were warned prior to the attack.

I'm quite interested in whether you believe the shit you're posting.

[sufrommich]

46. Not one credible news source and yet you choose to repeat

one of the boldest anti Semitic lies being bandied about after 9/11.Have you read some of the "jewish conspiracy" comments left on some of these sites? Why would any self respecting Democrat use internet hate sites to spread shit like this?

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[yardwork]

54. Your argument is preposterous. Why would the Israeli government send people to dance?

You offer absolutely not evidence to support your belief that the Israeli government knew about the 9/11 attacks in advance. Even if they did, why would they send "five dancing Israelis" to celebrate, thus enraging the rest of the world and tipping us all off?

It makes absolutely no sense.

The government that DID get advance warning of the 9/11 attacks is the U.S. government. President Bush was warned repeatedly about the impending attacks and did nothing to stop them. He went on vacation. Get outraged about that and drop this nonsense about Israel before you end up booted off DU for posting illegal sites.

[inthebrain]

63. That claim is sourced back to a bunch of Neo Nazis

Avery and the Loose Change croud were busted for this a long time ago. It was sourced back to the Neo Nazi American Free Press and another white supremacist radio host.

[yardwork]

67. Help me out by alerting on this troll, then.

[cali]

55. lol

you never learned how to reason critically. that much is clear. To assume that "dancing Israelis" offer evidence that Israeli Gov't officials knew about the attacks and didn't tell the US is evidence of that, is deranged. And I can only assume that it's your hate of "Israel" that's deranged you.

You just posted links to truly vile anti-semitic material. That you don't have a qualm about doing so, tells me all I need to know about you and your dubious agenda.

[LeftishBrit]

64. You're not using WhatReally(Never)Happened as a serious source are you?!

It is a far-right racist hate-site, as well as being totally unreliable - a big source for spreading right-wing smears about the Clintons in the 1990s!

[The Magistrate]

78. Not Any More, Ma'am, At Least Not Here....

"Kill one, warn one hundred."

[riqster]

28. MY ex-wife says stupid shit about me

...I don't bother refuting it anymore.

The PeeDee is Kooch's equivalent to my Ex.

[mmonk]

48. So I'm to take it Kucinich is anti-semitic and racist, right?

Is that going to continue to be the claims around here? If so, I'm bugging out of here for awhile until the primaries are over. It will be the best for some of your candidates if I do if mine isn't still on the balot in May. I'm getting to permanently turn off mode (meaning there might be a snowball's chance in hell on an unusually hot day for down there that my vote goes for any of your candidates in any circumstance).

[cali]

53. That claim is ridiculous

but much as I disagree with the OP, it is not being made. Oth, someone in this thread is posting hideously anti-semitic videos. I'd think you'd find that troubling and worth a word of condemnation.

[inthebrain]

58. That is fucking troubling

and who's ever doing it is a first rate asshole.

[cali]

62. I'd have to agree with your assessment of the poster. n/t

[mmonk]

68. Just wondering why this exercise continues.

The daily Kucinich/Ron Paul threads that is. Guilt by association appears to be the emphasis.

[LeftishBrit]

66. Kucinich is not anti-semitic or racist!

Ron Paul possibly is. Certainly he is (a) sexist; (b) homophobic; (c) believes in the unfettered right of the rich to trample on the poor; (d) believes in the unfettered right of the corporations to trample on the environment. All quite enough reason to hate his guts!

[Progressive Friend]

79. Neither are "anti-Semitic"

However, in the US, anyone who opposes either certain policies of the "State of Israel" or "Israel" itself, are called "anti-Semitic". It is hysteria similar to the McCarthyist era, where anyone who wasn't a right-wing fanatic was accused of being "Communist."

Now, of course, there are some real neo-Nazis in the US, like the Stormfront people. However, they are a very, tiny, politically irrelevant, minority of the population.

[riqster]

60. They can't beat Kooch on issues, so they make this kind of shit up. nt

[skipos]

69. I don't think his wife is "making shit up"

Do you really believe that? I can see someone believing that the Cleveland paper has misquoted him, and for some reason he isn't correcting them. His wife calmly and confidently said Kucinich would consider running with Ron Paul.

[The Magistrate]

70. To Be Fair, Sir, It Matters Not One Whit: Rep. Kucinich Will Not Run In the General For President

Therefore the question of who his running mate would be has all the point of the proverbial 'teats on a hog'. Rep. Kucinich rather likes his seat in the House, and if he took up a third party run for President, the state and national Democrats would see to it that he lost his House seat.

Paul, on the other hand, exists in the House more or less independently of the national Republican apparat: his local support in his district is a hard core of racist and traditional 'hate the gum'mint' types loyal to him on a personal level. He is pretty secure in his seat no matter what future course he takes.

[skipos]

74. I agree with most of your points but

there has been so much debate over whether Dennis was really considering Paul. A lot of people said some pretty nasty things to anyone who believed the news story and/or believe Dennis' wife.

[The Magistrate]

75. True Enough, Sir

"Say it ain't so, Joe!"

[riqster]

80. His wife is not the candidate

Until I hear it from the candidate, it's shit.


I don't know how to break this to you, but Elizabeth Kucinich has a mind of her own-she did not spring out of her husband's rib. She might have spoken from her own heart without getting Kooch's permission to speak.

It's amazing how antediluvian so many 'progressives' can be. Such sexist horseshit, as if women can't speak for themselves.

[Freddie Stubbs]

73. It is not made up. Here is a link to the audio of Mr. Kucinich's remarks:

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/11/exclusive_audio_kucinich_consi.html

[cuke]

81. *crickets*

Funny how no one ever acknowledges making a mistake

[riqster]

83. I just did. I waitied until I heard the whole clip.

My bad. I will be letting the campaign know what I think of this stupidity, and that if Kooch COMMITS to Paul, I'll not vote for him, even in the general election. NO MORE REEPS, even if a Dem brings one along.

[cuke]

84. In that case I commend you

and apologize for being so impatient. It's just so rare to see an admission

[riqster]

85. I'm a stubborn old bastard

but an honest one.

[cuke]

86. I'm glad to hear that

I'm a fan of stubborn old bastards

[riqster]

89. Just emailed his campaign website and ripped him a new one.

God, I am SO disgusted.

[riqster]

82. Finally somebody gave me proof.

I'll retract my statements on the matter and give Kooch an earful. This is insane.

[Name removed]

88. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Freddie Stubbs]

90. Why would Kucinich's office lie about this?

Here is the audio of Mr. Kucinich's remarks:

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/11/exclusive_audio_kucinich_consi.html