Ohio Congressman and Democratic Presidential Candidate Dennis Kucinich

My question to Dennis Kucinich: I agree with just about everything you've said - the need for a department of peace, withdrawal from NAFTA and the WTO, etc. I know I am not alone. But when I talk to Democrats and Independents about voting for you, they frequently come back with the argument that they want to vote for someone they think can win the general election. I counter by saying that if we don't vote our beliefs in the primary how is the Democratic party to ever hear our voice. What do you think can be done to further our causes within the party and how can we push the more centralist candidates to at least provide a more tolerant and hopefully accepting environment for these views?

I am Dan Clark in Muscatine, Iowa. A couple weeks ago I told Dennis I consider him best on many issues. Sadly, however, he has no organization in our state and must be declared Missing In Action as a contender for ANY showing whatsoever in the January 3 caucuses. I regret to predict he'll tie with Gravel in last place with a score of zero. That's because they need a minimum of 15 percent for "viability" in a precinct.

New Hampshire is surely a different story, but Iowans are asking how Dennis can be considered credible as a candidate for president unless his campaign has a chance of "catching fire" in New Hampshire and Nevada. How does it look from out there?

Greetings to all. On the subject of universal health. There is an estimated 47 million(?)Americans without any health coverage. Are there any figures listing all the TAXPAYER provided health care to Americans by the federal,state,county and local taxpayers for elected,hired and entitlements i.e. Medicare,Medicaid & disability benefits? All TAXPAYER funded through the one-payer government system. A wonderful idea.

The fairest proposal would state: THERE SHOULD BE NO TAXPAYER FUNDED HEALTH CARE UNLESS THE TAXPAYER IS ENTITLED TO THE SAME MAXIMUM BENEFITS.

Mr. Kucinich. You have made manv courageous and controversial proposals during your terms in your various political service. Would you be willing to present this proposal in fairness to all the UNINSURED TAXPAYER HEALTH PROVIDERS

Thanks and best to all sincere government workers and candidates.
Vinny in Maine

Laura,
Hang in there. I think Dennis is being hostile and unprofessional in his responses to your questions and his patronizing attitude (i.e. "Laura, Laura, Laura..." at the beginning of the show). You are remaining professional and doing a great job.
Amanda Loud
Holderness, NH

Side-by-side comparison. I do not support any of the candidates Congressman Kucinich
compares himself to, eg. Clinton, Obama and Edwards. Would you
please compare your Iraq policies with the candidate in whom I am
most interested, Gov. Bill Richardson? He has a great deal of
experience in international affairs and a commitment to bring troops
home immediately. How do your policies compare?

Congressman Kucinich,

You are the only candidate who has proposed universal single payer health care for all. Sounds great, but you have yet to explain anywhere -- on your website, in debates, or while campaigning -- as to HOW you propose to get this accomplished when private health insurance companies are so entrenched in our current system. Do you put them all out of business from Day 1, and what will be the fallout from this?

Wendy from Tamworth

Hello,

I listened to the broadcast this morning and must disagree that Kucinich was being confrontational. It seemed to me Laura was uncharacteristically agitated. I've been listening to the exchange for many years and have never had this impression from any other interview. With respect,

Jaime Grady

Why is it that the interview process is so generic? Questions to Congressman Kucinich regarding his polling numbers and whether or not he is angry, falls so predictably into the cookie cutter school of broadcasting. Kucinich in his own words turned the tables on the polling question, however, considering our current dire political climate, the question of anger should perhaps be set aside to make room for issue questions voters require answers to. What is passion to one individual, may be anger to another but does time need to be wasted asking these type of "human interest" drivel questions?