Dennis Kucinich in 2007 Democratic primary debate at Drexel
On Education:
Cut the Pentagon budget 15% for tuition-free college
If we cut the Pentagon budget 15%, $75 billion will go into a universal pre-kindergarten program so our children ages 3, 4 and 5 will have access to full-time day care and more money would go into elementary and secondary education. Our college-age
students need to know that with a Kucinich administration they’re guaranteed a two- or four-year college, tuition free, and it’ll be paid for by the government investing in our young people. That’s the kind of approach I’ll take to education.
Source: 2007 Democratic debate at Drexel University
Oct 30, 2007
On Health Care:
Insurance companies make money by NOT providing health care
As long as you have the private insurance companies in involved in providing health services, people aren’t going to get care. Doctors know that the insurance companies want to substitute their judgment for their practice.
Everyone knows that the insurance companies make money not providing health care. I’m standing for Medicare for all. Just because you say it’s universal doesn’t mean it’s not-for-profit. Even the insurance companies want a universal health care system.
Source: 2007 Democratic debate at Drexel University
Oct 30, 2007
On Principles & Values:
This debate is total flop for ignoring practical aspirations
Why shouldn’t Democrats stand for universal, single-payer, not for profit with 46 million Americans uninsured and 50 million Americans under-insured? I want to tell you something. There’s got to be people watching this at home saying, “Hey, you haven’t
talked about me losing my job because of NAFTA.” Well, I’ll cancel NAFTA & the WTO and have trade that’s based on workers’ rights--human rights and environmental quality principles. Somebody’s got to be saying, “Wait a minute. Who’s talking about whether
I’m going to have health care?“ I’ve introduced the bill, H.R. 676. You have somebody worried about losing their home. We need to cancel Bush’s tax cuts and flip them so we give the benefit to the 80%, while currently it’s going to the top
1%, so people will have more money so they can save their homes. We have to talk about people’s practical aspirations here. If we don’t do that tonight, this debate is a total flop.
Source: 2007 Democratic debate at Drexel University
Oct 30, 2007
On Principles & Values:
Sighted a UFO in Washington State
Q: The godmother of your daughter, Shirley MacLaine, writes in her new book that you’ve cited a UFO over her home in Washington state, that you found the encounter extremely moving, that it was a triangular craft silent and hovering, that you felt a
connection to your heart and heard direction in your mind. Now, did you see a UFO?A: I did. It was unidentified flying object, okay, it’s unidentified. I saw something. Now, to answer your question,
I’m also going to move my campaign office to Roswell, New Mexico. You have to keep in mind that Jimmy Carter saw a UFO, and also that more people in this country have seen UFOs than,
I think, approve of George Bush’s presidency.
Q: 14% of Americans say they have seen UFOs.
A: What was that percentage?
Q: Fourteen.
A: Thank you.
Source: 2007 Democratic debate at Drexel University
Oct 30, 2007
On War & Peace:
There’s no basis for an Iran military resolution
We need to adamantly reject any kind of a move toward war with Iran. There’s no basis for it whatsoever. We have a number of enablers who happen to be Democrats who have said over the last year, with respect to Iran, all options are on the table.
When you say all options are on the table, you are licensing Bush. I’m the only one up here on the stage who not only voted against the war in Iraq, voted against funding the war, but also led the effort against Bush’s drive toward war.
Source: 2007 Democratic debate at Drexel University
Oct 30, 2007
On War & Peace:
Impeach Bush for violating international law on preemption
The problem is: These policies of preemption license a war. Preemption, by virtue of international law, is illegal. Bush has already violated international law. The war in Iraq is illegal. Even planning for the war against Iran is illegal.
We’re here in Philadelphia, the birthplace of democracy. I want to know when this democratic Congress is going to stand up for the Constitution and hold the president accountable with Article II, Section 4, an impeachment act. Our democracy is in peril.
Source: 2007 Democratic debate at Drexel University
Oct 30, 2007
On War & Peace:
The war against Iraq was about oil
Everyone knows that the war against Iraq was about oil. The Bush administration was trying to gain control of Iraq’s oil, with the help of Congress. It’s time we had a president who stood for the Constitution and international law. That’s exactly what
I’ll do. Everyone knows that the saber-rattling against Iran is driving up the price of oil. We have to stop the war in Iraq, bring our troops home, end the occupation, and have an international security and peacekeeping force move in as our troops leave
Source: 2007 Democratic debate at Drexel University
Oct 30, 2007
On War & Peace:
Urge Iran to let go nuclear and abolish nuclear in the US
We don’t want to be put in a position where we are taking this country to the threshold of war. The media did play a role in taking us into war in Iraq. I’m urging members of the media restraint upon you & our president, whose rhetoric is out of control.
I would go to Iran and urge Iran not just to not have nuclear weapons, but also nuclear power because it is the most expensive type of power there is. It is not a sustainable type of power because of the costs of it. It is unsafe. I would also do
something further. It is time that the US government enforced and participated in fully the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which calls for the abolition of all nuclear weapons. We must have a president who understands the danger of these nuclear weapons
and have the US lead the way among all nations towards nuclear abolition. When we do that, we will have the credibility to go to an Iran and any other nation that may have desires for nuclear power to say, “Look, we want to take it in another direction.”
Source: 2007 Democratic debate at Drexel University
Oct 30, 2007
Page last updated: Nov 30, 2018