Eugene weekly., May 13, 2004, Page 6, Image 6

BY DON ST. CLAIR AND FIORA STARCHILD
The Kucinich Factor
The progressive candidate may be the
only hope for the Democratic Party.
D
ear Kerry supporters in Oregon, I have a message for you from progres-
sives and Greens both within and outside the Democratic party. The best
way you can help elect John Kerry President in November is: Vote for
Dennis Kucinich in the May 18th Oregon primary.
Huh, you say? Well, listen carefully.
This is truly one of the most divisive and crucial elections in modern U.S. histo-
ry. George Bush and his henchmen have given us a brutal unjustified war and an
unparalleled assault on the environment, the constitution, everything. One can
only shudder to imagine Bush truly set loose once he can operate without concern
for re-election. It is almost a given that we all understand that.
However, Kerry has some significant baggage and problems with the left. He is
a member of the centrist DLC, albeit perhaps its most liberal member. He is pro
NAFTA/WTO. He voted for the initial authorization for Bush to go to war in Iraq.
Now he must run to the center to pick up those crucial swing votes, as all presi-
dential candidates must do in the fall.
Nader and/or the Green Party (it’s a little complicated as Nader is not likely the
GP nominee this year but there will be one) are already polling at 6 percent, and if
you were listening to the left the way we are, you would be worried. You would see
there are plenty of people who are as adamantly opposed to the two-party system
now as there were in 2000. Here in Oregon, Gore squeaked by with just 6,000 last
minute votes (0.44 percent)! If you are not alarmed at the prospect of a repeat of
2000, you are not paying attention.
So why Kucinich? Besides the wonderful things he stands for, peace, justice, lib-
erty — all the good things the Democratic party supposedly represents — there is
one key thing you must understand: Only Dennis Kucinich can hold together the
left. Kucinich’s campaign has been a breath of fresh air to us weary progressives
and Greens, and he has drawn an amazing amount of support from staunch Green
Party activists.
However, the progressive/Green left is already splintering, just as it did in 2000,
and for the same reasons. John Kerry must play to the center to garner the swing
vote of the moderate middle. This is diminishing his ability to also instill belief in
the progressive/Green left that he will be significantly different from a Republican
president.
If the Democratic party cannot somehow assure progressives and Greens that
their concerns will be part of a Kerry presidency, it will be a disaster for all who
want to see Bush gone. If the left splits off to third parties, we will be facing, again,
an electorate almost equally split among the major parties that the Republicans
will find all too easy to steal. If we in Oregon, a state that has often led the country
in adopting environmental and progressive standards, vote strongly for Kucinich in
the primary, we send a very important message — and messenger — to the
Democratic National Convention without in any way diminishing Kerry’s ability to
gain the nomination.
We send the message that environmental and socially progressive issues must,
once again, be an important part of the Democratic Party platform that John
Kerry will then be empowered to address in the remaining campaign. Kucinich
could very well be the one person who can hold the left for Kerry, thus helping to
do the most important thing — get Bush and his gang of thieves out of power.
Giving Kucinich the delegates to take to the convention may be the only way to
keep progressive/Green votes from hemorrhaging over to a Nader candidacy. So, if
you love this country and hate what’s happening to it, if you want John Kerry to
win the White House and send Bush and his minions packing, vote for Dennis
Kucinich in the Oregon primary and then go out afterwards and work like the dick-
ens for the Democratic nominee.
Don St.Clair and Fiora Starchild are founders/directors of the Green Democratic Alliance, http://www.greende-
mocraticalliance.org
A VOICE FOR CHANGE
LOUIS GOMEZ
- FOR LANE COUNTY SHERIFF -
AS ONE WE CAN SUCCEED . The revolving door at the jail needs to stop now! Reactive policing is
not effective and we must become proactive problem solvers and develop partnerships with the communities of
Lane County. I will look at all positions within the Sheriff's Office and restructure the department to fill the void
in the jail and criminal patrol. I will also be fiscally responsible and reevaluate the purpose of the traffic teams.
PA I D F O R B Y L O U I S G O M E Z F O R L A N E C O U N T Y S H E R I F F - P. O . B O X 4 5 6 , O A K R I D G E , O R E G O N 9 74 6 3
6 MAY 13, 2004