Watch Full Show
Related
Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio is retiring from Congress at the end of this term after losing his longtime Ohio seat under Republican-mandated redistricting at the end of the year. Kucinich joins us to discuss Kucinich Action, a “new organization dedicated to empowering individuals to engage with the political process.” He also comments on Tuesday’s Republican Senate primary in Texas, where the Tea Party-backed Ted Cruz has defeated Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. [includes rush transcript]
Related Story
StoryDec 19, 2024“Rape Club” Prison in California: U.S. Gov’t to Pay Record $116M to 103 Women Who Sued over AbuseTranscript
AMY GOODMAN: Congressmember Kucinich, I wanted to ask you about a couple other quick issues. In Texas, the Tea Party-backed candidate, Ted Cruz, has defeated Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst in a runoff for the Republican Senate nomination. Cruz had once been considered a long-shot candidate but surged in the polls to beat out Dewhurst, who had won the backing of Texas Governor Rick Perry. Dewhurst was considered conservative; Cruz, the Tea Party candidate. The significance of this?
REP. DENNIS KUCINICH: Well, you know, the Tea Party remains organized. And who’s ever organized obviously has an advantage in an election, allowing that the organization also is funded. So, you know, the Tea Party is a powerful force—can’t be denied.
AMY GOODMAN: And your plans, Congressmember Kucinich? You will be leaving the Congress. What do you plan to do next?
REP. DENNIS KUCINICH: Well, I—it’s a range of things. I mean, I’m accelerating towards the finish line and just doing everything I can to use the available time to keep championing the concerns of the American people. But I’ve already established an organization called Kucinich Action, which is at KucinichAction.com, which will hold our political activity as a constant factor in helping people organize at all levels, but to keep our focus also trained on matters of war and peace, on jobs, on the environment. So, KucinichAction.com is goign to be part of my political activity. Beyond that, there’s a number of different options I’m looking at. I’m really doing everything I can to stay as focused on the duty at hand in Washington, including, of course, trying to work with others to save this Postal Service.
AMY GOODMAN: Congressmember Kucinich, I want to thank you very much for being with us.
REP. DENNIS KUCINICH: Thank you.
AMY GOODMAN: And Chuck Zlatkin of the New York Metro Area [Postal] Union, thank you very well—thank you very much for being with us, as well.
This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The War and Peace Report. When we come back, we’re going to cover the court-martial of those involved with the death of Private Danny Chen and also go inside a Broward jail to speak with a young activist who’s trying to find out about immigrants inside who should not be deported. Stay with us.
Top
Media Options