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key: National Politics / Government |
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| Hello |
Tomorrow |
| Intro Kucinich |
Goodnight |
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Founders |
| Kucinich Part #2 |
Tonight 10:00 |
| Kucinich Part #3 |
key: National Politics / Government |
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| Hello Return to index of stories... |
Hello and welcome. I'm Mike Nikitas from NECN. New England Cable News, guest hosting tonight on NH Outlook. |
| Intro Kucinich Return to index of stories... |
The New Hampshire Presidential Primary is almost here-- it's less than three weeks away. And between now and then, New Hampshire Outlook is expanding its coverage with a series of in-depth interviews with the candidates. In this program -- Representative Dennis Kucinich. |
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Rep. Dennis Kucinich: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON YOUR SHOW. P MIKE NIKITAS: YOU'RE WELCOME. DID YOU KNOW WHEN YOU SIGNED UP FOR THIS CAMPAIGN YOU WOULD GET 90 DAYS YOU WOULD HAVE TO CAMPAIGN IN. P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: IN CLEVELAND WE CALL IN A WALK IN THE PARK. P MIKE NIKITAS: IT'S THAT MUCH COLDER IN CLEVELAND, OHIO. LET'S JUST START AT THE BEGINNING. WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE PRESIDENT? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: I THINK I CAN LEAD US TO PEACE AND ROSS PERFECTITY, I CAN GET US OUT OF IRAQ, HEALTH CARE FOR ALL, EDUCATION FOR ALL. THIS IS A MOMENT IN TIME WHEN WE NEED TO ACHIEVE YOU'RE HIGHER ASPIRATIONS AS A NATION. AND THEY'RE NOT TO BE FOUND IN COMBAT IN IRAQ. THEY'RE TO BE FOUND IN REACHING OUT TO THE WORLD COMMUNITY AND COOPERATESING WITH THE WORLD COMMUNITY TO MAKE THIS NATION MORE SECURE, TO MAKE THE WORLD MORE SECURE, AND TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES BACK HERE AT HOME TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PROBLEMS HERE AT HOME. P MIKE NIKITAS: HOW ARE YOU GOING TO IF ELECTED QUICKLY EXTRACT THE UNITED STATES AND ITS FORCES FROM IRAQ. P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: I'VE HAD A PLAN ON MY WEBSITE AT KUCINICH.US SINCE OCTOBER 9 AND THAT PLAN IS FOR THE U.S. TO CHANGE ITS POLICY DIRECTION, GO TO THE U. N., GIVE UP ANY AMBITIONS FOR UNILATERALISM AND ASK THE U. N. TO HAND TELL OIL ASSETS OF IRAQ UNTIL THE IRAQI PEOPLE BECOME SELF GOVERNING. FOR THE U.S. TO GIVE UP ANY INTEREST IN CONTROLING THE CONTRACTS IN IRAQ, NO FOR BEAT HEART DEALS, NO MORE CORRUPT CONTRACTS, TO ASK THE U.S. WOULD GIVE UP ANY INTEREST IN PRIVATIZING IRAQ, WHICH FRANKLY IT'S ILLEGAL FOR US TO BE DOING THAT. SO WE NEED TO RENOUNCE INTERESTS IN PRIVATIZATION OF IRAQ. IF WE TAKE THIS APPROACH WE CAN GAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY, GET THEM TO COMMIT TROOPS THROUGH THE UNITED NATIONS AND BRING THOSE TROOPS INTO IRAQ AND BRING OUR TROOPS HOME. RIGHT NOW WE'RE APPROACHING 500 AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN CASUALTIES, 500 PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES THERE. WHAT IS ENOUGH ENOUGH? WHEN ARE WE GOING TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE A NEW A PURCHASE? WE CAN HELP PAY FOR A U. N. PEACEKEEPING MISSION, WE CAN HELP PAY TO REBUILD WHAT WE BLEW UP IN IRAQ AND REPARATIONS TO THE INSPECT CIVILIANS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES. OTHER CANDIDATES ARE SAYING WE'RE STUCK. I SAY THAT'S THE WRONG APPROACH, WE CAN BRING THE U. N. PEACE KEEPERS IN AND BRING THE U.S. TROOPS HOME. AND FRANKLY, MY ELECTION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WILL BE A REFERENDUM ON THIS WHOLE ISSUE OF THE U. N. PRESENCE IN IRAQ. P MIKE NIKITAS: WHERE DO YOU SEE THAT REFERENDUM GOING THEN, DO YOU FEEL THAT THE PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SUPPORT YOU IN THE WAY YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: NOW THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A CANDIDATE WHO CAN LEAD THE WAY OUT, YES. I'M A RANKING DEMOCRAT ON THE INVESTIGATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT HAS JURISDICTION OVER NATIONAL SECURITY. I'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE ON THIS ISSUE, AND I KNOW WE MUST TAKE STEPS TO GET OUT. ALL THESE OTHER CANDIDATES WHO ARE SAYING WE'RE THERE FOR THE LONG TERM, WE'RE STUCK, THEY'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF U.S. CASUALTIES, THE PERHAPS OVER A TRILLION DOLLARS IN EXPENSES THAT WILL WRECK OUR DOMESTIC ECONOMY AS WELL AS THE INNOCENT IRAQI CASUALTIES WILL COME ABOUT AS A RESULT OF OUR PRESENCE IN IRAQ. WE NEED TO CHANGE AND NOW IS THE TIME TO BEGIN AND MINE IS THE CANDIDACY THAT CAN HELP EFFECT THAT. P MIKE NIKITAS:WON'T THERE BE A VACUUM IN IRAQ IF THE UNITED STATES LEAVES IN A QUICK FASHION AND THE UNITED NATIONS TAKES OVER? SEEMS TO ME WE'VE HAD ENOUGH FIGHTING THERE ALREADY. WHY WOULD IT LESSEN WHEN WE LEAVE? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: U. N. IN, U.S. OUT. THERE IS NOVAK I'M WITH THE U. N. IN ON A TEMPORARY BASIS UNTIL THE IRAQI POOL CAN BECOME SELF DETERMINING. WHAT WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT THE CONTINUING U.S. PRESENCE IS GIVING STRENGTH TO AL QAEDA. IT'S MORE OF A FACTOR IN IRAQ TODAY THAN THEY WERE BEFORE THE INVASION. SO WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR PRESENCE THERE IS LEADING TO FURTHER INSTABILITY, PLUS OUR TROOPS ARE AT RISK. NO ONE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS, BUT I WILL. WE HAVE 10,000 TROOPS, THERE'S 25 MILLION IRAQIS, 15 MILLION OF WHICH ARE SHIITE MUSLIMS AND THE SHIITE MUSLIM LEADER, HAS SAID OPENLY, LOOK, THE U.S. IS GOING TO HAVE TO CONSIDER FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS BECAUSE THE IRAQIS WANT TO GOVERN THEIR OWN FUTURE. AND IF THEY DON'T, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN THIS IMPLICATION OF AN UPRISING. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO OUR TROOPS, LOOK AT THE ODDS. WE REALLY HAVE TO WORK ON GETTING OUR TROOPS HOME. NOW WITH THE NEW HAMPSHIRE NATIONAL GUARD UNITS BEING SENT OVER THERE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE NATIONAL GUARD BEING SENT, TROOPS BEING TOLD THEY CAN'T LEAVE AFTER THEIR TERM HAS BEEN UP, WE'RE IN A MESS, AND WE NEED TO GET OUT OF AND IT THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT IS THROUGH THE U. N. P MIKE NIKITAS: WE DON'T KNOW WHERE OSAMA BIN LADEN IS AND I GUESS WE PRESUME HE'S ALIVE AT THIS POINT. SHOULD WE BE TRYING TO TRACK HIM DOWN? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: OF COURSE. YOU BET WE SHOULD. |
| Kucinich Part #2 Return to index of stories... |
P MIKE NIKITAS: IF WE LEAVE IRAQ, HOW ARE WE GOING TO TRACK HIM DOWN IN EITHER IRAQ, PAKISTAN OR AFGHANISTAN WITH OTHER ASSETS, OTHER MEANS? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE OSAMA BIN LADEN IS. BUT ONE THING FOR SURE, WE CAN'T BE SENDING OUR TROOPS EVERYWHERE TO FIND HIM. THE ONLY WAY WE CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF TERRORISM WHETHER IT'S APPREHENDING HIM OR GOING AFTER ANY OF HIS COLLEAGUES, HOW WE FIND HIM IS THROUGH INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION. IF I COULD TELL YOU WHERE HE WAS, THEN YOU WOULDN'T NEED A C.I.A., AN ARMY, A PRESIDENT AT THIS TIME. P MIKE NIKITAS: WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: THROUGH THE UNITED NATIONS. WE MISSED A CHANCE RIGHT AFTER 9/11, WHEN THE ENTIRE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAD ITS HEART OPEN TO THE UNITED STATES OVER OUR LOSS. THAT'S THE MOMENT THAT WE SHOULD HAVE GONE TO THE WORLD COMMUNITY AND SAID LOOK LET'S HAVE A NEW EFFORT TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF TERRORISM IN THE WORLD AND TO DO IT THROUGH INTERNATIONAL POLICE ACTIONS SO WE TRACK PEOPLE DOWN, THE KIND OF DECK WORK WHICH FOR YEARS NAZI HUNTERS WERE TRACKING DOWN PEOPLE THEY WOULD FINE THEIR PERSON IF IT TOOK TEN, 20 YEARS AND THEY DID IT WITHOUT WIDESPREAD BLOODSHED. P MIKE NIKITAS: IF WE LEAVE, ALL RIGHT, AND WE TURN THIS THING OVER TO THE U. N., FINDING OSAMA BIN LADEN, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO DO IT? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: FIRST OF ALL, WE DON'T KNOW THAT OSAMA BIN LADEN IS IN IRAQ. AND WE DON'T -- IRAQ, PAKISTAN OR ELSEWHERE. P THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT OSAMA BIN LADEN, WE HAVE 130,000 TROOPS THERE. AND THEY'RE IN IRAQ BECAUSE THIS COUNTRY WAS TOLD THAT IRAQ HAD WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. LEAST WE FORGET WHY WE'RE THERE, WE WERE TOLD THAT IRAQ HAD WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THEM. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH 9/11. HE DID NOT. SO WE'RE WERE LED INTO IRAQ BASED ON LIES, IT WAS WRONG TO GO IN AND IT'S WRONG TO STAY IN. THE ONLY WAY WE CAN EXTRICATE OURSELVESINGS AND WE MUST, I KNOW YOU'RE INTERVIEWING ME, BUT I WOULD RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST, WHAT'S OUR ALTERNATIVE HERE. MOST DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING NOW FOR THE LONG HAUL, I THINK NOT. IF WE ARE, THEN WHO'S GOING TO TELL THE PARENTS OF THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS LIVES ON THE LINE, BECAUSE AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES I'M GOING TO TELL THOSE PEOPLE, I'M GOING TO BRING YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS HOME BY GOING TO THE U. N. WITH A WHOLE NEW PLAN WHICH PUTS THE U.S. IN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT ROLE IN THE WORLD, NOT AS THE POLICEMEN OF THE WORLD, NOT AS A COUNTRY THAT STANDS ABOVE THE WORLD COMMUNITY, BUT AS A COUNTRY THAT WORKS WITH THE WORLD COMMUNITY IN THE CAUSE OF MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. P MIKE NIKITAS: ALL RIGHT. LET'S CHANGE GEARS FOR A MOMENT. YOU HAD THIS FROM WHAT I CAN UNDER READING ON YOUR WEBSITE A GRAPE FUNDRAISER A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. WILLIE NELSON, BONNIE RAITT. HOW DID THAT GO? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: I WENT WAS TERRIFIC WE HAD WILLIE NELSON, BONNIE RAITT, MICHAEL MCDONALD FROM THE DOOBIE BROTHERS, AND PAT SIMMONS. ALSO MICHELLE SHOKT. TIM REYNOLDS FROM THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND. WE HAD A WONDERFUL TURNOUT FROM THE ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY AND WE RAISED A LOT OF MONEY, AND WE HAD MATCHING FUNDS WITH THAT TOO, SO AUSTIN, TEXAS WAS A TERRIFIC SUCCESS WITH THAT CONCERT. AND I THINK THE CONCERTS, I THINK WE'RE POSTING ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT IT WAS JUST A LOT OF FUN. WILLIE HAS BEEN A GREAT SUPPORTER RIGHT FROM THE START, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR HIS FRIENDSHIP AND HIS SUPPORT. P MIKE NIKITAS: NOW, SPEAKING ABOUT MONEY AND THE CAMPAIGN, LAST MONTH THERE WAS THIS DEBATE ON ABC, AND RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING TED COP SPELL ASKED THIS QUESTION, BASICALLY SAYING WHY ARE YOU AND A COUPLE OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES STILL IN THE RACE AND DON'T YOU KNOW THAT IT'S OVER AND YOU SHOULD BE GETTING OUT SOONER. AND YOU GAVE HIM A MINOR TONGUE LASHING WHICH CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF SOME PEOPLE LATER ON AFTER THE DEBATE AND THE NEXT DAY SAYING HEY LOOK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. WHY DID YOU SAY THAT AT THAT TIME? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: WELL, YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, HE WAS JUST ABOUT INVITING ME TO LEAVE THE STAGE, WHICH WAS INAPPROPRIATE FOR HIM TO DO. IT'S NOT THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA TO EXCLUDE PEOPLE FROM PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES OR TO TELL THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY WHO THEIR CANDIDATES SHOULD BE AND SHOULDN'T BE. AND I POINTED THAT OUT TO MR. KOPPEL, FOR WHOM I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT. THE MEDIA'S PROPER ROLE IS TO LET EVENT UNFOLLOW AND NOT TRY TO GUIDE THEM. THE RESPONSE I RECEIVED FROM PEOPLE ACROSS NEW HAMPSHIRE WAS PRETTY STRONG, THEY LIKED THE FACT THAT SOMEONE WOULD STAND UP TO ONE OF THESE TITANS OF THE MEDIA AND CHALLENGE THE REAL ARROGANCE THAT WAS REPRESENTED, AND THE ATTEMPT TO JUST DIVERT THE DEBATE TO POLLS, MONEY RAISED, AND ENDORSEMENTS. WHICH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF TAKES IT AWAY FROM IRAQ, HEALTH CARE, JOBS, THE KINDS OF CONCERNS WHICH PEOPLE HAVE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. P MIKE NIKITAS: YOU THINK MEDIA HAS BEEN FAIR IN COVERING THIS ELECTION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE BOTH NATIONAL AND LOCAL? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: I THINK THAT WE'RE IN AN ERA WHERE THERE'S A HEIGHTENED SENSITIVITY EVERYWHERE TO THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN OUR SOCIETY. AND THAT THERE'S A GREATER DEMAND ON THE PART OF THE PUBLIC FOR THE MEDIA TO BE RELEVANT, FOR THE MEDIA TO COVER THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT. AND IN A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN THE MEDIA HAS A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY. SO I THINK THE BAR NEEDS TO BE SET HIGHER FOR MEDIA PERFORMANCE. AND I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN THE MEDIA, NOT JUST AS SOMEONE WHO WORKED AS A COPY BOY AT A NEWSPAPER AND A COPY READER AT THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL" AND HAVE HAD MY OWN RADIO SHOW, MY OWN TV PRODUCTION COMPANY, AND WORKED AT CHANNEL 8 IN CLEVELAND AS A TV REPORTER, BUT ALSO AS SOMEONE WHO TAUGHT ME THE RELATED COURSES AT BOTH CLEVELAND STATE AND CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY. I UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN SOCIETY, AND FRANKLY THE MEDIA NEEDS TO DO BETTER. THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934 SAID THAT THE BROADCAST MEDIA IS TO SERVE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY. OFTEN OUR BROADCAST MEDIA OUTLETS FALL SHORT OF THAT. THEY DO BETTER ON A LOCAL LEVEL, BUT AS YOU GO INTO NATIONAL BROADCAST MEDIA, IT ENDS UP BEING MORE AND MORE ABOUT PROFIT AND LESS AND LESS ABOUT COMMUNITY. P MIKE NIKITAS: LET'S TAKE YOU BACK TO AN ISSUE. THE PRESIDENT HAS PROPOSED A CHANGE IN OUR IMMIGRATION POLICY. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HIS PLAN? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: I DON'T THINK THAT HIS PLAN IS REALLY FAIR TO THOSE IMMIGRANT WORKERS. IT STILL KEEPS CONTROL OF THE IMMIGRANT WORKERS LIVES IN THE HANDS OF THEIR EMPLOYERS. IF THEY LOSE A JOB, 45 DAYS LATER THEY CAN BE DEPORTED. I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IMGRANT WORKERS HAVE A WAY, A PATH TOWARDS CITIZENSHIP, TOWARDS LEGALIZATION, TOWARDS AMNESTY. I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE IMGRANT WORKERS HAVE PROTECTION OF U.S. LABOR LAW, THE FAIRLY STANDARDS ACT AND OCCUPATIONAL AND SAFETY ACT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEIR CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, AND THEIR WIVES IF THEY'RE PREGNANT. WE HAVE HAD A TWO-TIERED SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY WITH RESPECT TO IMGRAND WORKERS, PARTICULARLY FROM MEXICO. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT IMMIGRATION ISSUES, IMGRAND WORKERS FROM MEXICO REPRESENT ONE ISSUE. THE OTHER ISSUES DEAL WITH H 1 B VISAS. WE HAVE CORPORATIONS TO ARE GAMING THE SYSTEM, WHO ARE SENDING IN PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY, WHERE THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF AMERICAN WORKERS, AND TAKING OVER, WORKERS JOBS, OR TRAINING TO DO WORKERS JOBS IN THIS COUNTRY AND THEN HAVING THEM WORK OUTSOURCE WHEN PEOPLE GO BACK. THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO USE OUR TRAY LAWS TO PROTECT AGAINST, AND I WILL. P MIKE NIKITAS: IMMIGRATION FROM LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES AS YOU WELL KNOW IS EXPLODING OVER THE LAST FIVE TO TEN YEARS IN SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE IT'S INCREASING AS WELL, ALTHOUGH LAGGING BEHIND SOME OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY K. HOW DO YOU VIEW THAT? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: WELL, I VIEW IT IN THE WAY THAT I VIEW THE HISTORY OF ALL IMMIGRATION TO THIS COUNTRY. I MEAN, AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PATH FOR PEOPLE TO PURSUE A DREAM. AND WHEN YOU READ THE POEM AT THE BASE OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR, YOUR HUDDLED MASSES, YOU KNOW. AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THIS BEACON OF HOPE FOR PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD. WE CAN'T STOP BEING THAT, OR WE'RE NOT AMERICA ANY MORE. SO THE FIRST MOTTO OF OUR COUNTRY, E PLURIBUS UNIM, OUT OF MANY, ONE, EXPRESSES OUR ONENESS AND OUR DIVERSITY. SO, AS PRESIDENT I WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE AMERICA TAKE AN OPEN HEARTED APPROACH AND WELCOMING PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. WE CAN NEVER FEAR THE IMMIGRANT, BECAUSE IN MANY WAYS WE ARE OF THOSE IMMIGRANT FAMILIES. |
| Kucinich Part #3 Return to index of stories... |
P MIKE NIKITAS: I WAS ALSO READING ON YOUR WEBSITE HOW MUCH YOU CARE ABOUT AND HAVE WORKED ON SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PROJECTS. AND IT'S INTERESTING THE LAST FIVE TOING A YEARS WE'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF CAR COMPANIES COME OUT WITH HYBRID CARS, AND THINGS ARE CHANGING AS FAR AS CARS GO. DO YOU ENVISION THE AUTOMOBILE CHANGING AT ALL IN THE NEAR FUTURE, AND WHAT ROLE IF ANY SHOULD GOVERNMENT HAVE IN YOUR GOVERNMENT, IF YOU'RE ELECTED, IN STEERING THAT TECHNOLOGY? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: WELL, THE GREAT CAUSE OF MY GOVERNMENT IN CREATING TRANSITIONS IN ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT WILL BE TO RALLY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PORTFOLIO OF 20% BY THE YEAR 2010. WE MUST MAKE A TRANSITION FROM OIL, FROM COLE, AND NUCLEAR POWER, AND WE MUST TAKE THE TRANSITION TO SOLAR, HYDROGEN, WIND, GEOTHERMAL, BIOMASS. WE HAVE TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR SUCH A TRANSITION. WE MUST MAKE A COMMITMENT TO RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THAT IS TO HAVE A GREAT CALL IN THIS COUNTRY FOR THAT, WHICH I INTEND TO LEAD. WE COULD DEVELOP ALL NEW TECHNOLOGIES SO THAT WE CAN MOVE OUR CARS ALONG THE ROADS WITH THE KIND OF OPTIONS WHICH ARE TODAY, EXCEPT THEY NEED TO BE QUICKENED AND MOVED ALONG. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT HYBRIDS WHICH EXIST TODAY WHICH CAN RESULT IN TREMENDOUS SAVING OF FUEL, AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS, WE NEED TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP AMERICA MAKE A TRANSITION WHERE WE'RE NO LONGER DEPENDENT ON OIL. P MIKE NIKITAS: YOU ARE SOMETHING WHO EATS NO ANIMAL PRODUCTS WHAT SO EVER, A VEGAN. HOW HAS THAT SHAPED YOUR OUTLOOK ON LIFE? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: WELL, FIRST OF ALL IT'S GIVEN ME THE BENEFIT OF TREMENDOUS HEALTH, I MEAN, THIS MIGHT BE UNIQUE TO ME, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT MY DIETARY CHOICES HAVE ENABLED ME TO HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF STAMINA, TO BE ABLE TO PUT IN PRY EASILY 16, 18 HOURS A DAY. SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. TO HAVE A SENSE OF NOT JUST ENERGY BUT JOY. AND VERY FEW VISITS TO A DOCTOR FOR MUCH OF ANYTHING. I'M IN GREAT HEALTH. SO MY FOOD CHOICES ENABLE ME TO BE THE BEST I CAN BE. AND I THINK THAT'S ALL ANY OF US CAN ASK OF OUR FOOD CHOICES. I DON'T MIND SHARING MY EXPERIENCE WITH ANYONE IN THAT, BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU THERE WAS A TIME WHEN MY HEALTH WASN'T PARTICULARLY GOOD, AND WHEN MY DIETARY CHOICES, YOU KNOW, FOR BREAKFAST I MIGHT HAVE STEAK AND EGGS AND SIX DONUTS AND GOD KNOWS WHAT ELSE. I KIND OF CLEANED UP MY ACT IN TERMS OF WHAT I EAT. P MIKE NIKITAS: AS FAR AS YOUR HELD GOES, IS THERE ANYTHING AT ALL IN YOUR HEALTH HISTORY, IN YOUR MEDICAL CONDITION THAT WOULD AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: NO. IN MY HISTORY, LOOK, WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, WHEN I WAS A YOUNG ADULT, I HAD A LOT OF HEALTH PROBLEMS. AND NOW I FIND OUT THAT MANY OF THEM COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO DIET. BUT SINCE I CHANGED MY DIET TEN YEARS AGO, I'VE BEEN IN PERFECT HEALTH. AND I'VE BEEN, AS THE YEARS GO ON, INSTEAD OF FEELING THAT I'M GETTING WEAKER, I FEEL AS THOUGH I'M GETTING STRONGER. SO THE CONDITION THAT I HAVE TODAY IN TERMS OF THE STATE OF MY HEALTH IS THE BEST IT'S EVER BEEN IN MY LIFE. P MIKE NIKITAS: THAT'S A GREAT FEELING. P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: IT IS A GREAT FEELING, BECAUSE THERE'S A DEGREE OF, WELL, THERE'S GREAT CLARITY, AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SENSE OF JOY THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE HEALTH. P MIKE NIKITAS: IT'S GOT TO BE A CHALLENGE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, YOU GO TO A PANCAKE AND A SAUSAGE BREAKFAST, WHAT DO YOU DO THERE? YOU CAN'T HAVE THE SAUSAGE, YOU CAN'T EVEN HAVE THE PANCAKES BECAUSE THEY HAVE BUTTER OR WHATEVER IN THEM. P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: YOU KNOW THE GREAT THING, THERE ARE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WHO ARE THERE WITH FOOD, IT'S REALLY REMARKABLE. SO I NEVER REALLY HAVE TO WORRY, BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE, IT'S LIKE A NETWORK, THE NATIONAL VEGAN NETWORK THAT PUTS OUT AN ALERT WHEN I'M IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I ALWAYS GET THE KIND OF SUPPORT THAT I NEED. AND IT'S REALLY NICE, BECAUSE PEOPLE DO WANT TO SUPPORT THIS. AND PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY SUPPORT EACH OTHER, AND THERE ARE LOT OF STORES AROUND. WHEN I WAS IN EXETER I STOPPED AT THE BLUE MOON THERE AND HAD A TERRIFIC LUNCH. AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PLACES AROUND NEW HAMPSHIRE THAT CATER TO VEGETARIANS AND VEGANS. P MIKE NIKITAS: I SAW YOUR CAMPAIGN COMMERCIAL, I THINK IT'S YOUR NEWEST ONE, IT SAYS FEAR ENDS AND HOPE BEGINS. CAN YOU BRIEFLY FLESH THAT OUT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: OH, WELL, LOOK, EVERY AMERICAN IS FULLY AWARE OF HOW FEAR HAS DROPED ACROSS THIS COUNTRY LIKE A BLANKET. LOOK AT OUR HOLIDAY SEASON, TERROR ALERTS, LOOK AT THE GOVERNMENT WHICH PASSED A PATRIOT ACT AND ERODED OUR CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE PROCESS. AND THE ATTACK ON IRAQ, WHICH WAS TOTALLY FEAR BASED. FEAR IS DRIVING OUR PENTAGON BUDGET. FEAR IS DRIVING OUR PRESENCE IN IRAQ AND FEAR IS DRIVING AMERICA'S PRESENCE AND ITS POLICY IN THE WORLD. AS PRESIDENT, THAT'S WHAT I MEAN, MY ELECTION MEANS THE END OF THAT FEAR. AND THE BEGINNING OF A NEW HOPE FOR AMERICA, HOPE WHICH WILL TAKE US IN THE DIRECTION AWAY FROM WAR, AWAY FROM AN EXPANDED PENTAGON BUDGET AND TOWARDS ELEVATING THE CONDITIONS OF EDUCATION AND HEALTH, AND HOUSING, AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPECT FROM THEIR GOVERNMENT. SO YES, MY ADMINISTRATION WILL BE ABOUT THE END OF FEAR, THE BEGINNING OF HOPE, THE END OF FEAR THROUGH ELIMINATION OF THE PATRIOT ACT. I'LL GO TO FEDERAL COURT, WE'RE GOING TO OVERTURN THAT PATRIOT ACT AS BEING A VIOLATION OF OUR BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. SO I HAVE AN APPROACH TOWARDS GOVERNMENT WHICH CALLS ON THE ESSENTIAL COURAGEOUSNESS OF AMERICANS. YOU KNOW WHEN FRANCIS SCOTT KEY WROTE THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER, HE MADE A CONNECTION BETWEEN BRAVERY FREEDOM, OVER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND HOME OF THE BRAVE. FREEDOM AND BRAVERY, COURAGE AND DEMOCRACY ARE CONNECTED. SO WHEN WE REMIND AMERICANS OF THAT, WE ARE ESSENTIALLY A COURAGEOUS PEOPLE AND THAT'S THE WAY WE APPROACH THE FUTURE, CONFIDENTLY AND THAT'S THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP I'LL BRING TO THIS COUNTRY, TO REUNITE OUR PEOPLE IN THE CAUSE OF THE COURAGEOUS POSITION WE SHOULD BE TAKING AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING WITH THE WORLD TO MEET THE CHALLENGES WHICH LIE AHEAD. P MIKE NIKITAS: THE COMMERCIAL I THINK AT THE END OF YOUR COMMERCIAL, I THINK I'VE SEEN THIS ON JUST ABOUT EVERY COMMERCIAL THIS ELECTION CYCLE, I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE, AT THE END THEY SAY, I'M DENNIS KUCINICH AND I APPROVE THIS COMMERCIAL. WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT. OF COURSE YOU APPROVE THE COMMERCIAL, RIGHT? WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: THAT IS AN ELECTION LAW REQUIREMENT, WHERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR VOICE AND YOUR FACE. LOOK AT ALL THE COMMERCIALS, HAVE YOU TO HAVE YOUR VOICE AND YOUR FACE ON. SO YOU HAVE TO OWN WHAT YOU SAY, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S SUCH A BAD IDEA. THINK ABOUT IT. WE SHOULD OWN WHAT WE SAY. THAT WAY THERE ISN'T ANY APPROACH WRITE WOULD BE A BACK HANDED APPROACH. IT'S OKAY TO BE DIRECT, AND I'M KIND OF A DIRECT PERSON. SO IT SUITS ME FINE. P MIKE NIKITAS: I WAS CHECKING THE LATEST TRACKING POLL AND THERE ARE A DOZEN OF THEM OUT THERE TODAY, THAT HAD YOU AT 2%. CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN AND AL SHARPTON HAD ZERO, JOHN EDWARDS HAD 3. THIS IS JUST ONE POLL I SAW TODAY AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM OUT THERE. I THINK THERE WAS SOMETHING TO THE QUESTION TED KOPPEL ASKED YOU, AT WHAT POINT DO YOU SAY I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ABOVE 8%, 10%, I HAVEN'T FINISHED SECOND, THIRD OR FOURTH, AGAIN THESE ARE JUST POLLS, MAYBE MY HOPE IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. AT WHAT POINT ARE YOU GOING TO LOOK AT YOURSELF AND SAY MAYBE IT'S TIME TO GET OUT? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: WHY DON'T WE LET THE PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE HELP MAKE THAT DECISION, INSTEAD OF CNN, ABC, NBC, TIME WARNER, WHO EVER. WHY DON'T WE LET THE PEOPLE OF IOWA MAKE THE DECISION, WHY DON'T WE LET THE PEOPLE OF OHIO MAKE THE DECISION. THIS IT'S WHAT'S WRONG WITH OUR POLITICAL PROCESS. IT'S VERY EASY TO TRY TO DIVERT THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION AWAY FROM THEIR OWN CONCERNS. MY CAMPAIGN IS ABOUT GETTING OUT OF IRAQ. SO LET'S SEE WHAT THE PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE THINK ABOUT THAT, ABOUT SUPPORTING A CANDIDATE WHO ACTUALLY HAS A PLAN TO GET OUT. OR IF THEY WANT IT TO STAY THERE FOR, YOU KNOW, THERE'S CANDIDATES WHO WILL HELP DO THAT TOO. BUT THIS IS THE TIME FOR PEOPLE TO DECIDE WHO THE CANDIDATES ARE, NOT THE MEDIA, NOT POLLS. AND I THINK THAT WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT AS MY CAMPAIGN CONTINUES TO ARISE, PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT THEY HAVE A CHOICE. AND IF PUBLIC'S ATTENTION STARTS TO FOCUS AS WE GET CLOSER TO AN ELECTION, AND A PROGRAM LIKE THIS WILL HELP DO IT TOO, AND I THINK AS PEOPLE SEE THE CANDIDATES IN AN UNFILTERED WAY, WHICH IS WHY I'M GRATEFUL TO BE ON THIS SHOW, I THINK THEY GET AN IDEA AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS PERSON CONNECT WAS HAIR ASPIRATIONS. SO I'M CONFIDENT THAT AS I GO FROM PRIMARY TO PRIMARY, MY SUPPORT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO RISE, IT WILL BE LIKE SEA BISCUIT COMING FROM BACK OF THE PACK, AND AS WE REACH THE HOPE STRETCH OF THE PRIMARIES, I'M MOVING UP. P MIKE NIKITAS: ALL RIGHT. SO IN IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE YOU DON'T GET OVER 5%, DO YOU STAY IN THE RACE? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: I'M NOT GOING TO LET ANYBODY SET THAT BAR FOR ME. THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE MEDIA ARE SET THAT BAR SO LOW FOR ME THAT I COULD JUST KIND OF STEP OVER IT AND IF I HAVE A HEART BEAT ON ELECTION DAY THEY'RE GOING TO DECLARE THAT I HAD A MAJOR VICTORY. P MIKE NIKITAS: DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU'VE STEERED THE DEBATE OVERALL IN ANY PARTICULAR DIRECTION IN AREAS IT WOULDN'T HAVE GONE? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: I FEEL THAT I CONTINUE TO DO THAT, NOT ONLY WITH RESPECT TO IRAQ, BECAUSE MY CAMPAIGN NOW GIVES PEOPLE A CHANCE TO HAVE A REFERENDUM ON IRAQ. BUT ALSO IN THE AREA OF UNIVERSAL SINGLE PARENT HEALTH CARE, BECAUSE I HAVE A BILL THAT WOULD ESTABLISH UNIVERSAL SYSTEM OF CARE THAT TAKES US AWAY FROM A SYSTEM OF CORPORATE CONTROLLED HEALTH CARE TO HEALTH CARE FOR ALL. AWAY FROM PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE TO A NATIONAL HEALTH CARE PLAN. AND ALSO I'VE CALLED FOR GETTING OUT OF NAFTA AND THE WTO AND RETURNING TO BY LATERAL TRADE, CONDITIONED ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND QUALITY PRINCIPLES. P MIKE NIKITAS: WE HAVE LESS THAN 30 SECONDS LEFT. LET'S ASSUME YOU'RE ELECTED AND YOU'RE LOOKING BACK AFTER ONE TERM REFLECTING ON WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISHED. WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU COULD ACCOMPLISH IN THAT FIRST FOUR YEARS? P Rep. Dennis Kucinich: GETTING OUT OF IRAQ, WORKING TO STABLIZE IRAQ, WORKING WITH THE WORLD COMMUNITY, TO ACHIEVE NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION, SIGN THE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION, THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION, THE LAND MINE TREATY -- SIGN THE, INSTITUTE A PLAN FOR UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE, CREATE A NATIONAL JOBS PROGRAM TO REBILL OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. HOW'S THAT FOR STARTERS. P MIKE NIKITAS: THAT'S A GOOD START. DENNIS KUCINICH, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. |
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Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. It's our Friday Edition. As journalists from around the state discuss the week's top stories. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
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NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 01/08/04 22:00 HOST: Mike Nikitas Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, The New Hampshire Presidential Primary is almost here-- it's less than three weeks away. And between now and then, New Hampshire Outlook is expanding its coverage with a series of in-depth interviews with the candidates. In this program -- Representative Dennis Kucinich. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Mike Nikitas NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Rep. Dennis Kucinich\Democratic Presidential Candidate |
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Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. . Tonight at 10pm on New Hampshire Public Television. |