| state=[[Ohio]]

| district=[[Ohio's 10th congressional district|10th]]

| party=[[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]]

| office2=Mayor of Cleveland

| order2=53rd

| spouse=[[Elizabeth Kucinich]]

'''Dennis John Kucinich''' ({{IPA2|kuˈsɪnɪtʃ}}) (born [[October 8]][[1946]]) is a [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] and was a candidate for the [[Democratic National Convention|Democratic nomination for President of the United States]] in the [[U.S. presidential election, 2004|2004]] and [[U.S. presidential election, 2008|2008 election]]s.<ref>[http://www.wral.com/news/political/story/2350974/ "Kucinich abandons White House bid"], ''[[WRAL]]'', January 24, 2008</ref>

Kucinich currently represents the [[Ohio's 10th congressional district|10th District]] of [[Ohio]] in the House of Representatives, which he has been serving since 1996. His district includes most of western [[Cleveland]] as well as suburbs such as [[Parma, Ohio|Parma]] and [[Cuyahoga Heights]]. He is currently the chairman of the [[United States House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Domestic Policy|Domestic Policy Subcommittee]] of the House [[United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform|Committee on Oversight and Government Reform]]. He is also a member of the [[United States House Committee on Education and Labor|Education and Labor Committee]].

From 1977 to 1979, Kucinich served as the 53rd [[mayor of Cleveland]], Ohio, a tumultuous term in which he [[Cleveland recall election, 1978|survived a recall election]] and was successful in a battle against selling the municipal [[electric utility]] before being defeated for reelection by [[George Voinovich]].

==Personal life==

[[Image:Kuciniches.JPG|right|thumb|Dennis and Elizabeth Kucinich in 2008]]

Kucinich was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on [[October 8]][[1946]], as the eldest of the seven children of Frank and Virginia Kucinich.<ref name="PDF">"About Dennis Kucinich." ''Dennis for President''. [[July 24]][[2007]]. <http://www2.kucinich.us/files/pdfs/about_dennis.pdf></ref> His father, a [[semi-trailer truck|truck driver]], was of [[Croatian people|Croatian]] ancestry; his [[Irish American]] mother was a [[homemaker]].<ref name="kucinich-01">{{cite news

| first = Lynn

| last = Okamoto

| title = Kucinich's hard childhood a 'gift' yielding strength, compassion

| url = http://www.dmregister.com/news/stories/c4788998/22187297.html

| publisher = Des Moines Register

| date = 2003-09-07

| archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20040209061551/http://www.dmregister.com/news/stories/c4788998/22187297.html

| archivedate = 2004-02-09

}}</ref> Growing up, his family moved 21 times and Kucinich was often charged with the responsibility of finding apartments they could afford.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2007/08/15/kucinich_speaks_from_experience_on_homelessness/

|accessdate= 2007-08-16

|title= Kucinich speaks from experience on homelessness

|first= Holly

|last= Ramer

|publisher= Boston Globe

|date= 2007-08-15 }}</ref>

He attended [[Cleveland State University]] from 1967 to 1970.<ref name="Politics1">"Presidency 2004 DENNIS J. KUCINICH (Democrat - Ohio)."''Politics1 — Profile of Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)''. Politics1.com. [[July 25]][[2007]] http://www.politics1.com/kucinich.htm</ref> In 1973, he graduated from [[Case Western Reserve University]] with both a [[Bachelor of Arts]] and an [[Master of Arts (postgraduate)]] degrees in speech and communication.<ref name="kucinich-02"> "About Dennis." ''Congressman Dennis Kucinich''. [[July 25]][[2007]] http://kucinich.house.gov/Biography/</ref> Kucinich was [[baptize]]d a [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]].<ref name="Politics1"/> He is twice divorced, with a daughter, Jackie, from his marriage to Sandra Lee McCarthy. He married his third wife, [[Elizabeth Kucinich|Elizabeth Harper]], a [[British nationality law|British citizen]], on [[August 21]][[2005]]. The two met while Harper was working as an assistant for the Chicago-based [[American Monetary Institute]], which brought her to Kucinich's House of Representatives office for a meeting. She is 31 years younger than he.<ref>{{cite news

| first = Evelyn

| last = Theiss

| title = How Kucinich Found Love

| url = http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/living/1130669287141800.xml&coll=2

| publisher = The Plain Dealer

| location = Cleveland, Ohio

| date = 2005-10-30

| accessdate = 2008-01-13

| archivedate = 2005-10-30

| archiveurl = http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1030-04.htm}}</ref>

On [[December 19]][[2007]], his youngest brother, Perry Kucinich, was found dead in his home. There were no [[Crime|suspicious circumstances]].<ref>[http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/12/19/kucinichs-brother-found-dead/ Kucinich's brother found dead in home], CNN, [[December 19]][[2007]]</ref><ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22329006/ Dennis Kucinich's brother found dead], [[MSNBC]], [[December 19]][[2007]]</ref><ref>[http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/12/perry_kucinich_younger_brother.html Perry Kucinich, Dennis' younger brother, found dead in apartment], [[December 19]][[2007]], Alana Baranik, Cleveland Plain Dealer</ref>

==Recognition==

In 2003, Kucinich was the recipient of the [[Gandhi Peace Award]], an annual award bestowed by the [[Religious Society of Friends]]-affiliated organization [[Promoting Enduring Peace]].<ref name="PDF"/>

==Early career==

Kucinich's political career began early. After running unsuccessfully in 1967, Kucinich was elected to the [[Cleveland City Council]] in 1969, when he was twenty-three.<ref name="kucinich-01" /> In 1972, Kucinich ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives, losing narrowly to incumbent [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[William E. Minshall, Jr.]] After Minshall's retirement in 1974 Kucinich sought the seat again, this time failing to get the Democratic nomination, which instead went to [[Ronald M. Mottl]]. Kucinich ran as an [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] candidate in the [[general election]], placing third with about 30% of the vote. In 1975, Kucinich became clerk of the municipal court in Cleveland and served in that position for two years.<ref name="bartimole">{{cite web

| last = Bartimole

| first = Roldo

| title = 25 Years of Cleveland Mayors: Who Really Governs?

| publisher = Point of View

| date = 1992-07-18

| url = http://www.clevelandmemory.org/roldo/pdf/wheehl.pdf

| accessdate = 2008-01-13 }}</ref>

[[Image:Forbes-kucinich.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Mayor Kucinich with Council President, [[George L. Forbes]] in 1978.]]

==Cleveland mayoralty, 1977–1979==

{{main|Mayoral administration of Dennis Kucinich}}

Kucinich was elected [[Mayor]] of Cleveland in 1977 and served in that position until 1979.<ref name="cleve-encyclopedia">''The Encyclopedia Of Cleveland History'' by Cleveland Bicentennial Commission (Cleveland, Ohio), David D. Van Tassel (Editor), and John J. Grabowski (Editor) ISBN 0253330564</ref> At thirty-one years of age, he was the youngest mayor of a major city in the United States,<ref name="kucinich-01" /> earning him the nickname "the boy mayor of Cleveland".<ref name="pd01" /> Kucinich's tenure as mayor is often regarded as one of the most tumultuous in Cleveland's history.<ref name="swanstrom">''The Crisis of Growth Politics: Cleveland, Kucinich, and the Challenge of Urban Populism'' by Todd Swanstrom ISBN 0877223661</ref><ref name="pd01">''The Plain Dealer'', [[August 1]][[1999]]. ''Our Century: 'Boy Mayor' Leads Battle Into Default'' by Fred McGunagle.</ref> After Kucinich refused to sell [[Cleveland Public Power|Muni Light]], Cleveland's [[Public ownership|publicly owned]] [[electric]] utility, the Cleveland [[mafia]] put out [[Contract killing|a hit]] on Kucinich. A [[hitman]] from [[Maryland]] planned to shoot him in the head during the [[Columbus Day]] [[Parade]], but the plot fell apart when Kucinich was hospitalized and missed the event. When the city fell into default shortly thereafter, the mafia leaders called off the contract killer.<ref name="mafia hit">{{cite news | first=James | last=Renner | title=The Mafia Plot To Kill Dennis Kucinich |date=[[2007-07-04]] | url =http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/9/the-mafia-plot-to-kill-dennis-kucinich | work =The [[Cleveland Free Times]] | pages =Cover story | accessdate = 2007-07-06}}</ref>

In the book ''Best and Worst of the Big-City Leaders, 1820–1993'', [[Melvin G. Holli]], in consultation with a panel of experts, placed Kucinich among the ten worst big-city mayors of all time for reasons of temperament and performance, while Kucinich's supporters say that Kucinich kept his [[Election promise|campaign promise]] of refusing to sell Muni Light to [[CEI]] and was brave for not giving in to [[Big Business|big business]]. Specifically, it was the [[Cleveland Trust]] Company that required all of the city's debts be paid in full, which forced the city into default, after news of Kucinich's refusal to sell the city utility. For years these debts were routinely rolled over, pending future payment, until Kucinich's announcement was made public. In 1998 the council honored him for having the "courage and foresight" to stand up to the banks and saving the city an estimated $195 million between 1985 and 1995.<ref>[http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0123-04.htm]'Boy Mayor' Kucinich Took Charge in Utility Debt Crisis, From [[Los Angeles Times|LA Times]], [[January 23]][[2003]]</ref>

==Post-mayorship==

After losing his re-election bid for Mayor to [[George Voinovich]] in 1979, Kucinich kept a low profile in Cleveland politics. He criticized a tax [[referendum]] proposed by Voinovich in 1980, which voters eventually approved. He also struggled to find employment and moved to [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], [[California]], where he stayed with a friend, actress [[Shirley MacLaine]].<ref name="muhajabah">{{cite news

| last = Pilolla

| first = Ed

| title = He's always had a destiny

| publisher = Concord Monitor

| date = 2004

| url = http://www.cmonitor.com/stories/front2004/kucinich_again_2004.shtml

| accessdate = 2008-01-13

| archiveurl = http://www.muhajabah.com/muslims4kucinich/archives/2004/01/hes_always_had.php

| archivedate = 2004-01

}}</ref> During the next three years, Kucinich earned money as a [[Talk radio|radio talk-show]] host, lecturer, and consultant.<ref name="Politics1"/> It was a very difficult period for Kucinich financially. Without a steady paycheck, Kucinich fell behind in his mortgage payments, nearly lost his house in Cleveland, and ended up borrowing money from friends, including MacLaine, to keep it.<ref name="muhajabah" /> On his 1982 [[income tax]] return, Kucinich reported an income of $38.<ref name="muhajabah" /> When discussing this period, Kucinich stated, "When I was growing up in Cleveland, my early experience conditioned me to hang in there and not to quit. . . It's one thing to experience that as a child, but when you have to as an adult, it has a way to remind you how difficult things can be. You understand what people go through."<ref name="muhajabah" />

In 1982, Kucinich moved back to Cleveland and ran for [[Ohio Secretary of State|Secretary of State]]; however, he lost the Democratic primary to [[Sherrod Brown]].<ref name="muhajabah" /> In 1983, Kucinich won a [[By-election|special election]] to fill the seat of a Cleveland [[city council]]man who had died.<ref name="sourcewatch">[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Dennis_Kucinich Dennis Kucinich - Congresspedia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> His brother, [[Gary Kucinich]], was also a councilman at the time.

In 1985, there was some speculation that Kucinich might run for mayor again. Instead his brother Gary ran against (and lost to) the incumbent Voinovich. Kucinich, meanwhile, gave up his council position to run for [[Governor of Ohio]] as an independent against [[Richard Celeste]], but later withdrew from the race.<ref name="sourcewatch" /> After this, Kucinich, in his own words "on a quest for meaning," lived quietly in [[New Mexico]] until 1994, when he won a seat in the [[State legislature (United States)|Ohio State Senate]].<ref name="sourcewatch" /> "He was in political Siberia in the 1980s," said Joseph Tegreene years later. "It was only when it became clear to people that he was right... he got belated recognition for the things that he did."

==House of Representatives==

In 1996, Kucinich was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the [[Ohio's 10th congressional district|10th district of Ohio]]. He defeated two-term Republican incumbent [[Martin Hoke]] by three percentage points. However, he has never faced another contest nearly that close, and has since been re-elected five times.<ref name="clerkresults">{{cite web |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |title=Election Statistics |accessdate=2008-01-10 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives }}</ref>

===Committee Assignments===

*Education and Labor Committee

**Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education

**Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities

*Oversight and Government Reform Committee

**Subcommittee on Domestic Policy (Chairman)

**Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia

===Domestic policy voting record===

{{main|Political positions of Dennis Kucinich}}

[[Image:Kucinich june07.JPG|thumb|left|Kucinich outside the [[United States Capitol|capitol]] in June 2007]]

Kucinich helped introduce and is one of 87 cosponsors in the House of Representatives of the [[United States National Health Insurance Act]] or HR 676 proposed by Rep. [[John Conyers]] in 2003,<ref>{{USBill|110|HR|676}} [[Library of Congress|The Library of Congress]]</ref> which provides for a universal single-payer public health-insurance plan.

His voting record is not always in line with that of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]. Kucinich voted against the [[USA PATRIOT Act]], against the [[Military Commissions Act of 2006]],<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2006-491 GovTrack: H.R. 6166 [109th&#93;: Military Commissions Act of 2006 (Vote On Passage)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and was one of six who voted against the [[Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Act]].<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2007-993 GovTrack: H.R. 1955: Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007 (Vote On Passage)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He also voted for authorizing and directing the [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary|Committee on the Judiciary]] to investigate whether sufficient grounds existed for the [[impeachment of Bill Clinton]].<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.asp?year=1998&rollnumber=498 H.RES.581] Authorizing and directing the Committee on the Judiciary to investigate whether sufficient grounds exist for the impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton</ref>

Kucinich criticized the [[flag-burning amendment]] and voted against the impeachment of [[Bill Clinton|President Clinton]]. His congressional voting record has leaned toward a [[pro-life]] stance, although he noted that he has never supported a [[constitutional amendment]] prohibiting [[abortion]] altogether. But in 2003, he began describing himself as [[pro-choice]] and said he had shifted away from his earlier position on the issue.<ref>Marc Sandalow, "[http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0223-05.htm Ohio Presidential Hopeful Pivots Over to Pro-Choice Camp]", ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'', [[February 23]][[2003]].</ref> [[News release|Press releases]] have indicated that he is pro-choice and supports ending the [[abstinence-only]] policy of [[sex education]] and increasing the use of [[contraception]] to make abortion "less necessary" over time. His voting record since 2003 has reflected his pro choice stance.

He has criticized [[Diebold Election Systems]] (now [[Premier Election Solutions]]) for promoting [[voting machine]]s that fail to leave a traceable paper trail, and posted on his website internal company memos in which company executives promised to deliver the 2004 Ohio election to [[George W. Bush|Bush]].<ref>"[http://www.commondreams.org/news2004/0423-11.htm Kucinich Calls for Suspension of Electronic Voting]", ''[[Common Dreams]]'', [[April 23]][[2004]].</ref> He was one of the thirty-one who voted in the House to not count the [[electoral vote]]s from Ohio in the [[United States presidential election, 2004]].<ref>"[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll007.xml Final Vote Results for Role Call 7]", [[January 6]][[2005]].</ref>

===Foreign policy record===

Kucinich has criticized the [[foreign policy of President Bush]], including the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] and what he perceives as growing American hostility towards [[Iran]]. He has always voted against funding it. In 2005, he voted against the [[Iran Freedom and Support Act]], calling it a "stepping stone to war".<ref name="Iran_war">[http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=42687 Kucinich Speaks Out Against House Bill That Lays The Ground Work For War Against Iran]</ref> He also signed a letter of solidarity with [[Hugo Chávez]] in [[Venezuela]] in 2004.<ref>[http://www.rethinkvenezuela.com/downloads/08-12-04solidarity.htm]'Solidarity with Chavez' Former Democrat Presidential Candidates [[Jesse Jackson|Rev. Jesse Jackson]] and Rep. Dennis Kucinich support Chavez, [[August 11]][[2004]]</ref>

He advocates the abolition of all [[nuclear weapons]], calling on the United States to be the leader in multilateral disarmament.<ref>[http://www.commondreams.org/news2006/0726-26.htm Kucinich Introduces Legislation To Abolish All Nuclear Weapons]</ref> Kucinich has also strongly opposed [[Space Preservation Treaty|space-based weapons]] and has sponsored legislation, HR 2977, banning the deployment and use of space-based [[weapons]].<ref>[http://www.fas.org/sgp/congress/2001/hr2977.html H.R. 2977; Space Preservation Act of 2001]</ref>

Kucinich advocates US withdrawal from the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] (NAFTA) because, in his view, it causes the loss of more American jobs than it creates, and does not provide adequate protections for [[Labor rights|worker rights]] and safety and environmental safeguards. He is against the [[Central American Free Trade Agreement]] (CAFTA) for the same reason.<ref>[http://kucinich.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=1466#cafta Kucinich's House website]</ref>

Kucinich is also in favor of increased dialog with Iran in order to avoid a militaristic confrontation at all costs. He expressed such sentiments at an [[American Iranian Council]] conference in [[New Brunswick, New Jersey]] which included [[Chuck Hagel]], [[Javad Zarif]], [[Nicholas Kristof]], and [[Anders Liden]] to discuss [[United States-Iran relations|Iranian-American relations]], and potential ways to increase dialog in order to avoid conflict.<ref>[http://american-iranian.org/publications/articles/2007/09/distinguished-speakers-series-senator-chuck-hagel-congressman-dennis-kucinich.html#more American Iranian Council website]</ref>

He believes the US should move aggressively to reduce emissions that cause [[climate change]] due to global warming<ref>[http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=67814 Congressman Dennis Kucinich<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and should ratify the [[Kyoto Protocol]], a major [[Treaty|international agreement]] signed by over 160 countries to reduce the amount of [[greenhouse gas]]es emitted by each signatory.<ref>[http://kucinich.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=1560#Clean%20Air%20and%20Global%20Warming Kucinich's House website]</ref>

Kucinich and [[Ron Paul]] are the only two congressional representatives who voted<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll513.xml Calling on the United Nations Security Council to charge Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with violating the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and the United Nations Charter because of his calls for the destruction of the State of Israel], [[June 20]][[2007]]</ref> against the

[[Steve Rothman|Rothman]]-[[Mark Kirk|Kirk]] Resolution,<ref>[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.CON.RES.21: Bill Number H.CON.RES.21 for the 110th Congress]</ref> which calls on the [[United Nations]] to charge [[Iran]]ian president

[[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]] with violating the [[Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide|genocide convention]] of the [[United Nations Charter]] based on statements that he has made. Kucinich defended his vote by saying that Ahmadinejad's statements could be translated to mean that he wants a [[regime change]] in [[Israel]], not death to its people and supporters, and that the resolution is an attempt to beat "the war drum to build support for a US attack on Iran."<ref>"[http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1184229693289000.xml&coll=2 Kucinich Iran stance outrages Ohio Jewish leaders]", [[The Plain Dealer (newspaper)|The Plain Dealer]], [[July 12]][[2007]].</ref>

Kucinich is the only congressional representative to vote against<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll866.xml Final vote results for roll call 866 on H RES 643]</ref> the symbolic "9/11 Commemoration" resolution.<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=hr110-643 H. Res. 643], text of "9/11 Commemoration" bill, [[September 10]][[2007]]</ref> In a press statement<ref>[http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=73486 Kucinich To Oppose September 11 Resolution, Says It Is Incomplete]</ref> he defended his vote by saying that the bill did not make reference to "the lies that took us into Iraq, the lies that keep us there, the lies that are being used to set the stage for war against Iran and the lies that have undermined our basic civil liberties here at home".

In a visit to the rest of the [[Middle East]] in September 2007, Kucinich said he did not visit Iraq because "I feel the United States is engaging in an illegal occupation."<ref>{{Citation |last= |first= |title=US Democratic hopeful Kucinich meets Assad, blasts Bush |url=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1188392553023&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull |accessdate=2007-09-10}}</ref> Kucinich was criticized for his visit to [[Syria]] and praise of the President [[Bashar al-Assad]] on Syria's national TV.<ref> "[http://www.cleveland.com/editorials/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1189674512182260.xml&coll=2 Dennis Kucinich's Syria follies]", an editorial of ''[[The Plain Dealer]]'', [[September 13]][[2007]].</ref> He praised Syria for taking in Iraqi refugees. "What most people are not aware of is that Syria has taken in more than 1.5 million Iraqi refugees," Kucinich said. "The Syrian government has actually shown a lot of compassion in keeping its doors open, and being a host for so many refugees."<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1188392553023 US Democratic hopeful Kucinich meets Assad, blasts Bush], ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]'', [[September 6]][[2007]]</ref>

Despite Kucinich's committed opposition to the [[Iraq War|war in Iraq]], in the days after the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]] he did vote to authorize President Bush broad war making powers,<ref>[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:HJ00064:@@@R: House Joint Resolution 64]</ref> the [[Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists]] . The Authorization was used by the Bush Administration in its justification for suspension of ''[[habeas corpus]]'' in the [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp]] and its [[wiretapping]] of American citizens under the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]]. Kucinich voted along with 419 of his House colleagues in favor of this resolution, while only one Congresswoman opposed, Representative [[Barbara Lee]].

==2004 Presidential campaign==

[[Image:Dennis Kucinich 2004 Democratic National Convention.jpg|right|thumb|Kucinich speaks out against the occupation of Iraq at the [[2004 Democratic National Convention]].]]

Kucinich was criticized during his 2004 campaign for changing his stance on the issue of abortion.<ref>Marc Sandalow, "[http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0223-05.htm Ohio Presidential Hopeful Pivots Over to Pro-Choice Camp]", ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'', [[February 23]][[2003]].</ref> His explanation was "I've always worked to make abortions less necessary, through sex education and birth control. But the direction that Congress has taken, increasingly, is to make it impossible for women to be able to have an abortion if they need to protect their health. So when I saw the direction taken, it finally came to the point where I understood that women will not be truly free unless they have the right to choose."<ref>Democratic 2004 Primary Presidential Debate in [[Durham, New Hampshire]], [[December 9]][[2003]].</ref>

[[Ralph Nader]] praised Kucinich as "a genuine progressive",{{fact|date=October 2007}} and most [[United States Green Party|Greens]] were friendly to Kucinich's campaign, some going so far as to indicate that they would not have run against him had he won the Democratic nomination. However, Kucinich was unable to carry any states in the 2004 Democratic Primaries, and John Kerry eventually won the Democratic nomination at the [[Democratic National Convention]].

===Press coverage===

On [[December 10]][[2003]], the [[American Broadcasting Company]] (ABC) announced the removal of its correspondents from the campaigns of Kucinich, [[Carol Moseley Braun]] and [[Al Sharpton]].<ref name="Coverage">[http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03/12/12/1657250&mode=thread&tid=25 "Kucinich & Braun Blast ABC For Reducing Campaign Coverage."] ''[[Democracy Now!]]'' [[December 12]][[2003]]. Accessed [[July 24]][[2007]].</ref>

The announcement came one day after a Democratic presidential debate hosted by ABC News' [[Ted Koppel]], in which Koppel asked whether the candidacies of Kucinich, Moseley Braun and Sharpton were merely "vanity campaigns," and Koppel and Kucinich exchanged uncomfortable dialog.<ref name="zmag">Robinson, Josh and Lorna Tychostup. [http://zmagsite.zmag.org/Feb2004/tychostup0204.html "How the Media Picks the Candidates."] February 2004. ''Z Magazine''. [[July 24]][[2007]].</ref>

Kucinich, previously critical of the limited coverage given his campaign, characterized ABC's decision as an example of media companies' power to shape campaigns by choosing which candidates to cover and questioned its timing, coming immediately after the debate.<ref name="Coverage" />

[[ABC News]], while stating its commitment to give coverage to a wide range of candidates, argued that focusing more of its "finite resources" on those candidates most likely to win would best serve the public debate.<ref name="zmag" />

===Polls and primaries===

In the [[U.S. Democratic presidential nomination, 2004|2004 Democratic presidential nomination race]], national polls consistently showed Kucinich's support in single digits, but rising, especially as [[Howard Dean]] lost some support among peace activists for refusing to commit to cutting the Pentagon budget. Though he was not viewed as a viable contender by most, there were differing polls on Kucinich's popularity.

He placed second in [[MoveOn.org]]'s primary, behind Dean. He also placed first in other polls, particularly [[Internet]]-based ones. This led many activists to believe that his showing in the primaries might be better than what Gallup polls had been saying. However, in the non-binding [[Washington, D.C.]] primary, Kucinich finished fourth (last out of candidates listed on the ballot), with only 8% of the vote. Support for Kucinich was most prevalent in the [[caucus]]es around the country.

In the [[2004 Iowa Democratic caucuses|Iowa caucuses]] he finished fifth, receiving about 1% of the state delegates from [[Iowa]]; far below the 15% threshold for receiving national delegates. He performed similarly in the [[New Hampshire primary]], placing sixth among the seven candidates with 1% of the vote. In the [[Mini-Tuesday]] primaries he finished near the bottom in most states, with his best performance in [[New Mexico]] where he received less than 6% of the vote, and still no delegates. Kucinich's best showing in any Democratic contest was in the [[February 24]] [[Hawaii]] caucus, in which he won 31% of caucus participants, coming in second place to [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[John Kerry]] of [[Massachusetts]] and winning [[Maui County]], the only county won by Kucinich in either of his presidential campaigns. He also saw a double-digit showing in [[Maine]] on [[February 8]], where he got 16% percent in that state's caucus.

On [[Super Tuesday]], [[March 2]], Kucinich gained another strong showing with the [[Minnesota]] caucus, where 17% of the ballots went to him. In his home state of Ohio, he gained 9% in the primary.

Kucinich campaigned heavily in [[Oregon]], spending 30 days there during the two months leading up to the state's [[May 18]] [[U.S. presidential primary|primary]]. He continued his campaign because "the future direction of the Democratic Party has not yet been determined"<ref>Rick Lyman, "[http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0517-11.htm Down But Not Out, Kucinich Keeps Fighting]", ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[May 17]][[2004]].</ref> and chose to focus on Oregon "because of its progressive tradition and its pioneering spirit."<ref name="kgw">[http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_051704_news_election_roundup.1d1202a0b.html "Kerry visits spotlights Oregon's state primary."] [[May 18]][[2004]]. kgw news. Accessed [[July 25]][[2007]].</ref> He even offered to campaign jointly with Kerry during Kerry's visit to the state, though the offer was ignored.{{fact|date=February 2007}} He won 16% of the vote.

Even after Kerry won enough delegates to secure the nomination, Kucinich continued to campaign until just before the convention, citing an effort to help shape the agenda of the Democratic Party. He was the last candidate to end his campaign. He endorsed Kerry on [[July 22]], four days before the start of the Democratic National Convention.<ref>David Halbfinger, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D03EFDB163DF930A15754C0A9629C8B63 "The 2004 Campaign: Campaign Briefing -- The Democrats; Kucinich Endorses Kerry"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[July 23]][[2004]].</ref>

==2008 Presidential campaign==

{{main|Dennis Kucinich presidential campaign, 2008}}

[[Image:Dennis Kucinich speaking at SEIU event, January 26, 2007.jpg|thumb|right|Kucinich speaking on the campaign trail, January 2007.]]

On [[December 11]][[2006]] in a speech delivered at Cleveland City Hall, Kucinich announced he would seek the nomination of the Democratic Party for President in 2008.

His platform<ref>[http://www.dennis4president.com/go/issues/ dennis4president.com - Issues<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> for 2008 included:

*Creating a [[single-payer health care|single-payer]] not-for-profit system of [[universal health care]] that provides full coverage for all Americans by passage of the [[United States National Health Insurance Act]].

*The immediate, phased withdrawal of all [[Military of the United States|U.S. forces]] from Iraq; replacing them with an international security force.

*Guaranteed quality education for all; including free [[Pre-Kindergarten|pre-kindergarten]] and college for all who want it.

*Immediate withdrawal from the [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO) and [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] (NAFTA).

*Immediate repeal of the [[USA PATRIOT Act]].

*Fostering a world of international cooperation.

*Abolishing the [[capital punishment|death penalty]].

*Environmental renewal and [[green energy|clean energy]].

*Preventing the [[privatization]] of [[Social Security (United States)|social security]].

*Providing full [[social security]] benefits at age 65.

*Creating a [[United States Cabinet|cabinet-level]] "[[Department of Peace]]"

*Ratifying the [[Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty|ABM Treaty]] and the [[Kyoto Protocol]].

*Introducing reforms to bring about [[instant-runoff voting]].

*Protecting a woman's right to choose while decreasing the number of [[abortion]]s performed in the U.S.

*Ending the [[War on Drugs]].

*Legalizing [[same-sex marriage]].

*Strongly promoting workers' rights.

*Ending the [[H-1B visa|H-1B]] and [[L-1 visa]] Programs

*Restoring [[Types of rural communities|rural communities]] and [[family farm]]s.

*Strengthening [[gun politics|gun control]].

*Legalizing medicinal [[marijuana]] and decriminalizing non-medical possession.

Kucinich described his stance on the issues as mainstream.<ref>{{Citation |last=Naymik |first=Mark |title=Many Kucinich backers are out there – way out |url=http://www.cleveland.com/kucinich/plaindealer/index.ssf?/kucinich/more/1047214686213910.html |accessdate=2007-10-14}}</ref> "My politics are center for the Democratic party," he said in an interview before an [[AFL-CIO]] sponsored debate.{{Fact|date=January 2008}}

Kucinich told his supporters in Iowa that if he did not appear on the second ballot in any caucus that they should back [[Barack Obama]]:

<blockquote>

"I hope Iowans will caucus for me as their first choice ... because of my singular positions on the war, on health care and trade," Kucinich said. "But in those caucus locations where my support doesn't reach the necessary threshold, I strongly encourage all of my supporters to make Barack Obama their second choice."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gDC1l7fRNVdFdgW4JsjBd03lUOIAD8TTD8M00 |title=Kucinich Asks Supporters to Back Obama |accessdate=2008-01-02 |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |work=[[Google News]] }}</ref>{{dead link|date=February 2008}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/kucinich-urges-supporters-to-back-obama-on-second-iowa-ballot/ |title=Kucinich Urges Supporters to Back Obama on Second Iowa Ballot |accessdate=2008-01-05 }}</ref>

</blockquote>

At a debate of Democratic presidential candidates in [[Philadelphia]] on [[October 30]][[2007]], [[NBC]]'s [[Tim Russert]] cited a passage from a book by [[Shirley MacLaine]] in which the author writes that Kucinich had seen a [[UFO]] from her home in [[Washington]] State. Russert asked if MacLaine's assertion was true. Kucinich confirmed and emphasized that he merely meant he had seen an ''unidentified'' flying object, just as former US president [[Jimmy Carter]] has.<ref name=Eaton>{{Citation |last=Eaton |first=Sabrina |title=Kucinich at debate: I did see a UFO |url=http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/10/kucinich_at_debate_i_did_see_a.html |accessdate=2007-11-28}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=National Public Radio |title=When Democrats Attack |url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15799851 |accessdate=2007-11-28}}</ref> Russert then cited a statistic that 14% of Americans say they have witnessed a UFO.<ref name=Eaton/>

On [[November 16]][[2007]], [[Larry Flynt]] hosted a fundraiser for Kucinich at the [[Los Angeles]]-based [[Hustler]]-[[Larry Flynt Publications|LFP]] [[headquarters]], attended by Kucinich and his wife, which has drawn criticism from Flynt's detractors. Attendees included such notables as [[Edward Norton]], [[Woody Harrelson]], [[Sean Penn]], [[Robin Wright Penn]], [[Melissa Etheridge]], [[Tammy Etheridge]], [[Stephen Stills]], [[Kristen Stills]], [[Frances Fisher]], and [[Esai Morales]]. Campaign spokesmen have declined to comment.<ref>{{Citation |last=Jones |first=Chris |title=Larry Flynt Hosts Fundraiser For Dennis Kucinich |url=http://www.bloggernews.net/111743 |accessdate=2008-01-03}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Katz |first=Jackson |title=Dennis Kucinich Endorses Hustler |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jackson-katz/dennis-kucinich-endorses-_b_77226.html |accessdate=2008-01-03}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Dufour |first=Jeff |title=Flynt gets behind Dennis Kucinich |url=http://www.examiner.com/blogs/Yeas_and_Nays/2007/11/19/Flynt-gets-behind-Dennis-Kucinich |accessdate=2008-01-03}}</ref>

In December 2007, author [[Gore Vidal]] endorsed Kucinich for president.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-nation/gore-vidal-for-dennis-kuc_b_71779.html The Nation: Gore Vidal for Dennis Kucinich: A farsighted populist and pacifist. - Off The Bus on The Huffington Post<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Kucinich's 2008 [[Political campaign|presidential campaign]] was advised by a steering committee including [[Progressive Democrats of America]] (PDA) Founder Steve Cobble, long-time Kucinich [[press secretary]] Andy Junewicz, former Carter Fundraiser Kenneth Brandon, [[Ani DiFranco]] [[Tour Manager]] Susan Alzner, [[United States Military Academy|West Point]] Graduate and former Army Captain Mike Klein and [[New Jersey]]-based [[Political consulting|political consultant]] Vin Gopal. The campaign was seen as a platform to push progressive issues into the Democratic Party, including a [[Non-profit organization|not-for-profit]] [[health care system]], same-sex marriage, increasing the [[minimum wage]], opposing capital punishment and impeachment.

On Monday, [[January 7]][[2008]] actor [[Viggo Mortensen]] endorsed Kucinich's presidential campaign in [[New Hampshire]].<ref>[http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=267005 TheNation.com - The Return of the King... for Kucinich]</ref> On Thursday, [[January 10]][[2008]], Kucinich asked for a New Hampshire recount based on discrepancies between the machine-counted ballots and the hand-counted ballots. He stated that he wanted to make sure "100% of the voters had 100% of their votes counted."<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22608231/-Kucinich Asks for New Hampshire Recount]</ref>

On Tuesday, [[January 15]][[2008]], Kucinich was "disinvited" from a Democratic presidential debate on [[MSNBC]]. A ruling that the debate could not go ahead without Kucinich was overturned on appeal.<ref>[http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gDnNS8D2ehuX_-DVhFZ3z3WK1vtgD8U6M5V00 Court: MSNBC Can Bar Kucinich]</ref> Kucinich later responded to the questions posed in the MSNBC debate in a show hosted by [[Democracy Now!]].<ref>[http://www.democracynow.org/2008/1/16/breaking_the_sound_barrier_democracy_now Breaking the Sound Barrier: Democracy Now! Re-Hosts NBC Las Vegas Debate to Include Kucinich After NBC Wins Appeal to Exclude Him]</ref>

Kucinich dropped his bid for the Democratic nomination on Thursday, [[January 24]], [[2008]], and is not endorsing any other candidates.<ref>Naymik, Mark and Kavanoaugh, Molly. [http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/01/kucinich_drops_presidential_bi.html Kucinich drops presidential bid]. ''[[The Plain Dealer (newspaper)]]'', January 24, 2008.</ref>

<ref>Cillizza, Chris. [http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/01/kuncinich_drops_out_why_now.html Why Kucinich Dropped Out Now]. ''[[The Washington Post]]'', January 24, 2008.</ref>

On Friday, [[January 25]], [[2008]], he made a formal announcement of the end of his campaign for president and his focus on reelection to congress.<ref>Kucinich, Dennis. [http://www.dennis4president.com/go/homepage-items/kucinich-withdraws-from-presidential-race/ Kucinich withdraws from Presidential race]. January 25, 2008.</ref>

==Congressional campaigns==

Kucinich has always been reelected to Congress by sound margins in his strongly Democratic-leaning district. Kucinich has so far won primary challenges against him for the Democratic nomination convincingly. In the most recent general election (2006), Kucinich defeated another Democratic primary challenger by a wide margin and defeated Republican [[Mike Dovilla]] in the general election with 66% of the vote.

===2008 re-election bid===

His opponents include [[Cleveland]] City Councilman [[Joe Cimperman]] and [[North Olmsted]] Mayor [[Thomas O'Grady]]. In February Kucinich had raised around $50,000 compared to Cimperman's $228,000 <ref>[http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/02/congressional_candidate_rosema.html 10th Congressional candidate Palmer raised $133,300 in '07 - OPENERS - Ohio Politics Blog by The Plain Dealer<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, but through a [[YouTube]] money-raising campaign he managed to raise $700,000, surpassing Cimperman's $487,000.<ref>[http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1203672761265370.xml&coll=2 Dennis Kucinich raises nearly $700,000 in six weeks in bid to keep seat in Congress - cleveland.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>.[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LehCxhHPXQ8</ref>

Cimperman, who was endorsed by the [[Mayor of Cleveland]] and the [[Cleveland Plain Dealer]], criticized Kucinich for focusing too much on campaigning for president and not on the district. Kucinich accused Cimperman of representing [[corporation|corporate]] and [[real estate]] interests. Cimperman described Kucinich as an absentee congressman who failed to pass any major legislative initiatives in his 12-year [[United States House of Representatives|House]] career. In an interview, Cimperman said he was tired of Kucinich and Cleveland being joke fodder for late-night talk-show hosts, saying "It's time for him to go home".<ref>[http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/52064 American Chronicle | Is Dennis Kucinich Getting McKinney´d<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB120364487659384883-V6ua29cOYO_J_kQ_X_vD15fLe1Y_20080322.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top Long Shots Could Pay High Price - WSJ.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> An ad paid for by Cimperman's campaign claimed that Kucinich has missed over 300 votes, but by checking the ad's source the actual number was 139.<ref>[http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/house/vote-missers/ House members who missed votes | 110th Congress | Congress votes database | washingtonpost.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/house/vote-missers House members who missed votes | 110th Congress | Congress votes database | washingtonpost.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> However, Kucinich is well known for his constituency service.<ref>[http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/03/03/kucinich/print.html Cleveland to Dennis Kucinich: Phone home | Salon News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

A report suggested that representatives of [[Nancy Pelosi]] and [[American Israel Public Affairs Committee]] would "guarantee" Kucinich's re-election if he dropped his bid to impeach [[Dick Cheney]] and [[George W. Bush]], though Kucinich denies the meeting happened.<ref>[http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/106922.html Breaking News - JTA, Jewish & Israel News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2008/02/371899.shtml portland imc - 2008.02.06 - Kucinich throws reps from Nancy Pelosi and AIPAC out of his office<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> It was also suggested that Kucinich's calls for [[universal health care]] and an immediate withdrawal from [[Iraq]] made him a thorn in the side of the Democrats' congressional leadership, as well as his refusal to pledge to support the eventual presidential nominee.<ref>[http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/52064 American Chronicle | Is Dennis Kucinich Getting McKinney´d<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Kucinich took part in a debate with the other primary challengers. [[Barbara Ferris]] criticized him for not bringing as much money back to the district as other area legislators and authoring just one bill that passed during his 12 years in Congress. Kucinich responded "It was a Republican Congress and there weren't many Democrats passing meaningful legislation during a Republican Congress."<ref>[http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1202808813169900.xml&coll=2 U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, 4 challengers debate - cleveland.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Kucinich won the primary, receiving 68,156 votes out of a total of 135,589 cast to beat Cimperman 52% to 33%.<ref>[http://www.newsnet5.com/news/15495659/detail.html Kucinich Wins Chance To Keep U.S. Rep. Seat - WEWS Cleveland]</ref>

Kucinich will face former [[Ohio House of Representatives|State Representative]] [[Jim Trakas]] in the [[United States House of Representatives elections, 2008|general election]].

== Positions ==

===Plan for Iraq===

On [[January 8]][[2007]] Dennis Kucinich unveiled his comprehensive [[Exit strategy|exit plan]] to bring the troops home and stabilize Iraq.

His plan includes the following steps:<ref> "Dennis Kucinich's 12 Point Plan to End the Iraq War."''Kucinich for President Volunteer Organizing Site - DK2008.us'' Kucinich For President. [[July 24]][[2007]] <http://dk2008.us/endthewar> </ref>

# Announce that the US will end the occupation, close the [[military base]]s, and withdraw.

# Announce that existing funds will be used to bring the troops and the necessary equipment home.

# Order a simultaneous return of all US contractors to the US and turn over the contracting work to the [[Politics of Iraq|Iraqi government]].

# Convene a regional conference for developing a security and stabilization force for Iraq.

# Prepare an international security [[peacekeeping]] force to replace US troops, who then return home.

# Develop and fund a process of national reconciliation.

# Restart programs for reconstruction and creating jobs for the [[Demographics of Iraq|Iraqi people]].

# Provide reparations for the damage that has been done to the lives of Iraqis.

# Assure the political sovereignty of Iraq and ensure that their oil isn't stolen.

# Repair the [[Economy of Iraq|Iraqi economy]].

# Guarantee economic sovereignty for Iraq.

# Commence an international [[Truth and reconciliation commission|truth and reconciliation]] process, which establishes a policy of truth and reconciliation between the people of the US and Iraq.

=== Space Preservation Act of 2001 ===

Kucinich introduced the first [[Space Preservation Act]] on [[October 2]][[2001]], with no cosponsors. The bill was referred to the [[United States House Committee on Science and Technology|House Science]], the [[United States House Committee on Armed Services|House Armed Services]], and the [[House International Relations committee]]s. The bill died in committee ([[April 9]][[2002]]) because of an unfavorable executive comment received from the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]].<ref name="LOC2001">[http://thomas.loc.gov/ Library of Congress (Thomas)]</ref>

===Impeachment proceedings against Dick Cheney===

{{Wikinews|Democrat submits resolution to impeach Cheney}}

{{Wikisource|US House Resolution 333|US House Resolution 333}}

On [[April 17]][[2007]], Kucinich sent a letter to his Democratic colleagues saying that he planned to file [[impeachment]] proceedings against [[Dick Cheney]], the [[Vice President of the United States]].<ref>{{cite web| last =Ann Akers| first =Mary| title =Articles of Impeachment To Be Filed On Cheney| publisher =The Washington Post|date=[[April 17]][[2007]]| url =http://blog.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2007/04/articles_of_impeachment_to_be.html| accessdate =2007-04-30}}</ref> Kucinich planned to introduce the impeachment articles on [[April 24]][[2007]], but in light of Cheney's doctor's visit to inspect a [[Thrombus|blood clot]], Kucinich decided to postpone the scheduled [[News conference|press conference]] "until the vice president's condition is clarified."<ref>{{cite web|title =Cheney returns to work after leg check-up| publisher =Reuters |date=[[April 24]][[2007]]| url =http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN2439727520070424| accessdate =2007-04-30}}</ref>

Kucinich held a press conference on the evening of [[April 24]][[2007]], revealing [[US House Resolution 333]] and the three [[articles of impeachment]] against Cheney. He charges Cheney with manipulating the evidence of Iraq's weapons program, deceiving the nation about Iraq's connection to [[al-Qaeda]], and threatening aggression against Iran in violation of the United Nations charter. Kucinich opened his press conference by quoting from the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]], and stated: "I believe the Vice President's conduct of office has been destructive to the founding purposes of our nation. Today, I have introduced House Resolution 333, Articles of Impeachment Relating to Vice President Richard B. Cheney. I do so in defense of the rights of the American people to have a government that is honest and peaceful."<ref>{{cite web| title =Kucinich Introduces Impeachment Articles Against Cheney| publisher =The Washington Post|date=[[April 24]][[2007]]| url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/24/AR2007042401542.html| accessdate =2007-11-07}}</ref>

During the first Democratic Presidential debate at [[South Carolina State University]],<ref>{{cite web| last =Johnson| first =Alex| title =Democrats seek to seize initiative on Iraq| publisher =MSNBC|date=[[April 26]][[2007]] | url =http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18326264 | accessdate =2007-05-01}}</ref> none of the other candidates' hands went up when the moderator, [[Brian Williams]], asked if they would support Kucinich's plan to impeach Cheney. In response, Kucinich retrieved a pocket-sized copy of the [[United States Constitution|U.S. Constitution]] from his coat and expressed the importance of protecting and defending Constitutional principles.

{{quote|This is a pocket copy of the Constitution which I carry with me, because I took an oath to defend the Constitution. We've spent a lot of time talking about Iraq here tonight and America's role in the world. This country was taken into war based on lies. This country was taken into war based on lies about weapons of mass destruction and Al Qaeda's role with respect to Iraq, which there wasn't one at the time we went in. I want to state that Mr. Cheney must be held accountable. He is already ginning up a cause for war against Iran. Now, we have to stand for this Constitution, we have to protect and defend this Constitution. And this vice president has violated this Constitution. So I think that while my friends on the stage may not be ready to take this stand, the American people should know that there's at least one person running for president who wants to reconnect America with its goodness, with its greatness, with its highest principles, which currently are not being reflected by those who are in the White House.|Dennis Kucinich|[[New York Times]], [[April 27]][[2007]]<ref>{{cite web| title =The Democrats' First 2008 Presidential Debate| publisher= [[The New York Times]]|date=[[April 27]][[2007]]| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/27/us/politics/27debate_transcript.html?pagewanted=18&_r=1|}}</ref>}}

As of [[January 29]][[2008]], 24 other Congressional representatives have become cosponsors.<ref name="THOMAS-Summary">Library of Congress, [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HE00333:@@@L&summ2=m& ''H.RES.333, Summary as of: 04/24/2007 — Introduced''], [[THOMAS]]</ref> Six of these are members of the [[House Judiciary Committee]]: [[Tammy Baldwin]], [[Keith Ellison (politician)|Keith Ellison]], [[Hank Johnson]], [[Maxine Waters]], [[Steve Cohen]] and [[Sheila Jackson-Lee]]. In addition, Congressman [[Robert Wexler]], supported by Representatives [[Luis Gutierrez]] and Tammy Baldwin, have begun openly calling for impeachment hearings to begin.

====Cheney impeachment articles introduced====

On [[November 6]][[2007]], Kucinich used special [[parliamentary procedure]] and moved for a vote on impeaching the Vice President.<ref name="Bulletin">{{cite web| title =Brady Supports Kucinich Move to Impeach Cheney| publisher= The Philadelphia Bulletin|date=[[November 7]][[2007]]| url=http://www.thebulletin.us/site/news.cfm?newsid=18997962&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=576361&rfi=6|}}</ref> The measure was opposed by [[Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives|House Majority Leader]] [[Steny Hoyer]] and [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|House Speaker]] Pelosi, who stood by previous comments that, "impeachment is not on our agenda", and they initially moved to table the bill. When that attempt failed, Mr. Hoyer quickly moved to refer the bill to the House Judiciary Committee. That motion succeeded.<ref name="Bulletin"/>

=== Opposition to H1B/L1 visa programs===

Kucinich has been a vocal opponent of the H1B and L1 visa programs. In an article on his campaign website, he states:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dennis4president.com/go/resources/dennis-on-outsourcing-american-jobs/ |title=Dennis on outsourcing American jobs |work=Kucinich for President 2008 }}</ref>

{{quote|The expanded use of [[H-1B visa|H-1B]] and [[L-1 visa|L-1]] visas has had a negative effect on the workplace of Information Technology workers in America. It has caused a reduction in wages. It has forced workers to accept deteriorating working conditions and allowed U.S. companies to concentrate work in technical and geographic areas that American workers consider undesirable. It has also reduced the number of IT jobs held by Americans.}}

===Plan to ban handguns===

In the aftermath of the [[Virginia Tech massacre]] in [[Blacksburg, Virginia|Blacksburg]], [[Virginia]], Kucinich proposed a plan that he says will address violence in America. Kucinich is currently drafting legislation that includes a ban on the purchase, sale, transfer, or possession of handguns by civilians.<ref name="kucinich-16">{{cite press release |url=http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=62819 |title=Kucinich Offers Comprehensive Plan to Address Violence in America |publisher=Dennis J. Kucinich |date=2007-04-18 }}</ref>

The congressman has pushed for gun control, even as a city councilman. He did carry a handgun for a period of time in 1978 (under the recommendation of the police) when he was the target of a [[Mafia]] plot.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/04/kucinich_packed_heat_after_197.html |title=Kucinich packed heat after 1978 Mafia death plot |author=Eaton, Sabrina |date=2007-04-27 |publisher=The Plain Dealer Politics Blog }}</ref>

===Support for reinstating the Fairness Doctrine===

Kucinich is also involved in efforts to bring back the [[Fairness Doctrine]], requiring [[radio station]]s to give liberal and conservative points of view [[Equal-time rule|equal time]], which he and other critics of talk radio claim is not presently the case. He is joined in this effort by fellow Democrat [[Maurice Hichney]], among others, as well as Vermont's independent Senator [[Bernie Sanders]].<ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/news/viewstory.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200701/NAT20070117a.html Fred Lucas: Democrats' New 'Fairness' Push May Silence Conservative Radio Hosts, Critics Say, January 17, 2007]</ref> Conservatives have criticized these plans, alleging that what they believe to be a liberal-dominated [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]], [[academia]], [[new media]], and [[Mass media|mainstream media]] would not be subject to these regulations.<ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=17793 John Berlau: Is the Fairness Doctrine on its Way Back?, [[October 31]][[2006]]]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=960F8E19-3048-5C12-0091F4C92C213AF7 |author=Hunter, Derek |title='Fairness Doctrine' Anything but Fair |date=2007-05-17 |publisher=The Politico }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/35081 |first=George F. |last=Will |title=Fraudulent 'Fairness' |publisher=Newsweek |date=2007-05-07 }}</ref>

=== Animal welfare ===

Kucinich addresses the issue of [[factory farming]] in his policy encouraging independent, family-owned, and [[organic farming]]. This would help lead to "the meat that we consume coming from happy and healthy [[Free range|free-range]] animals", Kucinich states on his campaign website.<ref name="animalrights">''[http://kucinich.us/issues/rightsanimal.php Animal Rights]{{dead link|date=February 2008}}'', Kucinich for President 2008, Inc. [[November 16]][[2006]].</ref>

Kucinich is one of the few [[vegans]] in Congress.<ref name="PDF" /> He has maintained a diet for many years that excludes animal products in accordance with his conviction that "all life on our Earth [is] sacred."<ref name="animalrights" /><ref name="vegan">Jennifer Duck, ''[http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3139687 Kucinich Brings Home the Bacon, Vegan-Style]'', ABC News. [[May 4]][[2007]].</ref>

=== Free Market Drug Act ===

Kucinich believes that the prices for [[patent]]ed [[drug]]s are unreasonably high, and that patent [[monopoly|monopolies]] have created a restricted, unfree drug market. "Simply put, if drug manufacturers were operating in a free market like most other businesses in the US, drug prices would be significantly lower." On September 29, 2004, he introduced H.R. 5155, the ''Free Market Drug Act''; a system where the [[National Institutes of Health]] would fund research, thus disconnecting the manufacturing of drugs from research and increasing competition among private manufacturers. <ref name="freedrugs">''[http://kucinich.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=1461#Free%20Market%20Drug%20Act]'', Kucinich for patent free drugs.</ref>

=== Bush Impeachment Articles Introduced ===

{{See also|Movement to impeach George W. Bush}}

On [[July 10]], [[2008]], Kucinich introduced one article of impeachment against President [[George W. Bush]] for misleading Congress into war. <ref>http://www.opednews.com/articles/What-Dennis-Has-Done-by-David-Swanson-080710-738.html</ref><ref>rtsp://video1.c-span.org/15days/e071008_kucinich.rm</ref><ref>http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/34684</ref>

On [[June 9]] [[2008]], Kucinich gave notice of his intention to introduce 35 articles of impeachment against President [[George W. Bush]] on the floor of the House of Representatives.<ref name="PelosisTable">{{cite web |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25068638/ |title=Rep. Kucinich introduces Bush impeachment resolution |accessdate=2008-06-10 |date=2008-06-10 |publisher=AP/MSNBC}}</ref><ref>http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iE21FOVAfMfEbAE5LDwiYm8fGh4QD916SHJ01</ref> [http://metavid.ucsc.edu/wiki/index.php/Stream:House_proceeding_06-09-08_01/0:01:26/0:48:09 video]{{update}}

He officially offered his resolution the next day and the Clerk spent just under four hours reading the resolution into the House record. After the Clerk had finished reading the resolution, Kucinich moved to refer the resolution to the [[House Judiciary Committee]]; the House voted on June 11 to refer the resolution.

Calling it "a sworn duty" of Congress to act, Robert Wexler co-sponsored and signed, on [[June 10]] [[2008]], Kucinich's [[Articles of impeachment]] for President Bush, and stated: "President Bush deliberately created a massive propaganda campaign to sell the war in Iraq to the American people and the charges detailed in this impeachment resolution indicate an unprecedented abuse of executive power."<ref>[http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flb3bdigest06113sbjun11,0,5100560.story sun-sentinel.com, U.S. Rep. Wexler calling for impeachment of President Bush]</ref> Democratic leaders [[Steny Hoyer]] and [[Nancy Pelosi]] opposed it and she announced that “she would not support a resolution calling for Bush's impeachment, saying such a move was unlikely to succeed and would be divisive.” The testimony will be offered on [[June 20]] by former Bush press secretary [[Scott McClellan]].<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/11/kucinich.impeach/ cnn.com, Kucinich introduces Bush impeachment resolution]</ref>

On [[July 14th]], [[2008]] Kucinich introduced a new resolution of impeachment against George W. Bush with only one count. Kucinich charged Bush of manufacturing evidence to sway public opinion in favor of the war in Iraq. Speaker Pelosi said in a [[CBS]] interview on [[July 14th]] that this resolution of impeachment should be looked at more closely. On [[July 15th]] the resolution was sent to the judiciary committee. According the [[associated press]] the judiciary committee is expected to hold at least one hearing on the issue and will hear testimony from washington insiders, and experts.

==Electoral history==

{{main|Electoral history of Dennis Kucinich}}

==See also==

*[[Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008|2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries]]

*[[2008 Democratic presidential candidates]]

*[[United States presidential election, 2008]]

* [[List of United States Representatives from Ohio]]

*[[The Kucinich Resolution]]

==References==

{{reflist|2}}

==External links==

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{{Sisterlinks|Dennis Kucinich}}

* [http://www.kucinich.house.gov/ Congressman Dennis Kucinich] official U.S. House website

* [http://campaigns.wikia.com/wiki/Dennis_Kucinich Campaigns Wikia - Dennis Kucinich]

* [http://www.thepeacealliance.org/ The Peace Alliance]

*{{dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Society_and_Culture/Politics/Candidates_and_Campaigns/Presidential/2008/Candidates/Kucinich,_Dennis}}

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[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:Liberal politicians]]

[[Category:Mayors of Cleveland, Ohio]]

[[Category:Members of Cleveland City Council]]

[[Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio]]

[[Category:Ohio Democrats]]

[[Category:People from Cleveland, Ohio]]

[[Category:Social Progressives]]

[[Category:United States presidential candidates, 2004]]

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