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Kucinich Withdraws as Palm Beach County Democratic Keynoter Amid Uproar over His Israel Stance
U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich lasted less than 24 hours as headliner for the Palm Beach County Democratic Party's annual fundraising dinner after some of the party's elected officials blasted the Ohio Democrat's stance on Israel and threatened to skip the event.
Dennis Kucinich Kucinich, who has a history of criticizing the actions of the Israeli government and opposing congressional resolutions in support of Israel, withdrew Friday as the keynote speaker for next week's dinner after being announced Thursday.
The liberal former presidential candidate had been called in as a last-minute replacement for moderate Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu. Landrieu was dropped as keynoter this week because party activists were upset by her refusal to commit to blocking a Republican filibuster of health care overhaul legislation.
While Landrieu was the target of behind-the-scenes grumbling, Kucinich sparked public revolt.
State Rep. Kevin Rader, D-Delray Beach, said Friday he was withdrawing his pledge to buy a $1,500 table for the dinner and would encourage other Democrats to boycott the event because of Kucinich's record on Israel.
State Sen. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, who's running for the seat that U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler is vacating, called Kucinich "someone whose position on Israel stands in total opposition to the conscience of this community."
County Commissioner Burt Aaronson called the selection of Kucinich "an absolute horror" and said he would refuse to share the podium with him.
Kucinich has opposed sanctions against the anti-Israel government of Iran. In January, he was one of only five House members to vote against a resolution condemning Hamas rocket attacks on Israel and reaffirming Israel's "right to act in self-defense to protect its citizens against Hamas's unceasing aggression."
Kucinich said Friday in an e-mail to county Democratic Chairman Mark Alan Siegel that he supports the Jewish state and its right to defend itself and said his critics are "falsely characterizing me as 'anti-Israel.' "
But Kucinich said he did not want the controversy surrounding him to hinder the party's ability to raise money, so he would "humbly withdraw."
Siegel said the decision to invite Kucinich was made by a "leadership circle" of about 20 people and no one raised concerns about Kucinich's record on Israel.
Siegel heard those concerns Friday.
"People feel he's anti-Israel. I don't read it that way, but the leadership of AIPAC (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee) and other elements of the Jewish community do and I don't want to get into an argument with them," said Siegel, who is Jewish.
Siegel said he doesn't know who the party will get as a keynote speaker for the dinner, which is scheduled for Nov. 14 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.
The event has traditionally been called the Jefferson-Jackson dinner, but the name was changed this year to the Truman-Kennedy-Johnson dinner because of qualms among party activists about Thomas Jefferson's slave ownership and Andrew Jackson's Indian-removal policies.
Siegel said the nixing of two keynote speakers this week shows party leaders are listening to the concerns of Democrats.
"In both cases, the same thing happened," Siegel said. "We responded to complaints from important elements of our constituency and neither one of them is speaking."
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144 Comments so far
Show Alluncle charlie,
"If Kucinich had any courage he would've remained as the keynote speaker for this ghastly event. And if he weren't a coward he would start his speech by saying, "good evening, Israel is the greatest terrorist state in the history of the Middle East and you and I are paying for it."
DK, Dennis has already proven his courage. It is courageous to be willing to speak truth to power, knowing one is vilified for doing so. And as I said above, he would not be a person likely to throw stones at others. He would never want to say or mean what you wrote he should say.
He may have had reasons for his past support for the Democrats, and I agree with you it is now going to be problematic for his credibility if he continues past his term. From what I have seen of him I trust his integrity.
It is not a lie to say one "supports the Jewish state" while supporting a "Palestinian state" if his opinion is that could work. Again, Dennis could not "oppose" anyone, as a man of peace, who would see ANY conflict as an OPPORTUNITY for a peaceful solution. I can't judge but I don't think Dennis is a fake. I also prefer his rhetoric to rhetoric that condemns anyone.
dupe.
dope.
another cheap soundbite attacking the messenger, not the message.
Please, just HOW has Kucinich proven his courage? By writing pretty articles, by giving nice speeches? Like I wrote in another thread, is he really exposing Obama for committing the same war crimes Bush had committed for 8 years? Is he exposing the Democrats and demanding long-overdue investigations of all the illegal wiretapping, no-bid contracts, 9/11, Katrina, Valerie Plame, bailouts and now the giveaway to health insurers that Democrats have either allowed and/or perpetrated in the last 9 years?
A man of peace does not support someone like Obama, who as a Senator had proven to be a war monger and profiteer. DK supported Obama for president, so don't call him a man of peace.
He paid his dues long ago, Charlie. He paid for a lifetime membership in the Brave Politicians club --in which he and Cynthia McKinney are nearly the only members left alive-- by the price he paid to save Muni Light as he promised.
Please do not EVER put Cynthia McKinney and Kucinich, a Democrat, in the same sentence. Cynthia McKinney has more BALLS as a woman than Kucinich prancing around with his trophy wife will ever have. Cynthia McKinney quit the War Party and denounced them as the corrupt Repugnant clones that they are. When exactly did Kucinich do that?
I don't have the day it would take to respond to something so narrow and sexist as that, so I won't respond at all. Carry on.
lol you don't respond because you can't argue, but nice try. Kucinich can't hold a candle to McKinney. Kucinish is the fraud while McKinney's the real thing.
Uncle Charlie my admiration for you grows I love Cynthia ,the jury is out about Dennis.ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS!
Actually Dennis probably hasn't forgotten Paul Wellstone fate
Sorry_uncle_charlie, the drama queen, setting-up strawman arguments?
Please, do you always attack the messenger when you can't handle the message?
Bring America Back !!!!
****What is obvious is that this powerful Zionist coalition kept Jebby Bush in power as Governor for 2 terms, and no doubt voted brother King George over John Kerry when it came to keeping him re:elected.
****So, How can they call themselves Democrats when they
are much worse than the Blue Dogs--They are Red Dogs !!
You Go, Dennis, Kucinich for President !!!!
Are you saying that King George was actually elected? Wow! You learn something new every day...
I am not speaking for Dennis, but I believe Dennis does not "oppose" Israel because he truly is a man of peace. To be truly a man of peace means he is "for all" to live in peace. So to criticize policies is not the same as "to oppose."
To ignore his real message is to be in denial. The truth is not always convenient in the short run but isn't it always the way to freedom in the long run? The truth sets everyone free.
Dennis could be a modern Ghandi figure if a significant number of Americans would rally with his voice. He could help bring about a much more peaceful and stable world of prosperity and happiness. If not now, when it is too late?
Dennis is regularly and systematically CENSORED. Not on CSpan-- maybe PTB think hardly anyone watches-- but everywhere else. Therefore, my voice is censored in our society too. I and others have been censored, or marginalized as a token of fake democracy, ever since speaking our concerns about invading Afghanistan and Iraq, and more. I am taxed with no representation, officially!
As far as his continued support for the Democratic Party, at this time, I cannot figure it out. Perhaps he feels obligated to complete his term for which he was elected. Perhaps he feels that duty is in reforming toward the good that was supposed to be the system. Maybe he thinks he will be able to get that Department of Peace created. I sure wish he would cut away and go independent, and I add my vote if he does.
This is just MHO, but I also think we in the USA ought not castigate "Zionists" while we could be pointing fingers at ourselves for ongoing atrocities. Pressure on our government to stop arming conflict, yes, however how can we tell someone else what they ought to do? How can we preach? WE are the manufacturers of the weapons and bombs.
Tonight at a peace forum I am going to proudly wear my Kucinich '08 shirt.
Until U.S. Jews are convinced that unmitigated support for the right-wing acts of Israeli forces is detrimental to their wealth, until it is crystal clear that they will face humiliation, or at least ostracizing, when they try to spin the atrocities occurring, the world will be a very unstable place. Whether you believe that this is the only choice, and that without arming Israel with nuclear bombs, the U.S. will lose that spot in the middle of South Western Asia, never has been the Middle East, or if you think that because they seem more fit, it's okay for Israeli Jews to take land and kill innocents, Israel will be the proximal cause for the final end for this lost people. Once Jews reach the tipping point, once more people quit buying their act, it will slide into a hell no one has ever seen before and nothing will help them. If Jews want to coerce and pay for "loyalty" they will learn it will never last forever. They are scared, rightfully so. They are hated, at their own doing. When you broadcast how you want your children to only marry your own kind and when you practice apartheid or worse to those who don't have power, you are living on borrowed time.
I will not sit here and listen to this anti-Croatian bashing.
Dennis Kucinich is a proud Croatian, and was the youngest Mayor of a major American city. I want CommonDreams to apologize, formally and prominently, for insinuating that this Congressman and former Democratic Presidential Candidate is in any way, shape or form AGAINST International Law. I want to see a disclaimer appended to this article showing the Congressman Kucinich is ONLY against countries that violate International Law, and is in no way, shape or form "anti" ANY country for arbitrary ethnic, religious or culinary reasons.
Thank you and good day.
You will be hearing from my attorneys.
Herodotus,
This article is posted under the News section of CD, not the Views section. CD collects these news pieces and editorials on a daily basis and sends them out to subscribers of their site...
That's it. That's pretty much what CD does. They didn't write the piece. I'm sure they thought it would be of interest to visitors to their site since it involves one the most prominent progressive pols in the country.
Therefore, no one at CD owes you anything.
And I read the whole piece and missed the Croatian bashing. Perhaps you'll enlighten me on that one.
It seems like a pretty straight-forward piece of reporting to me. Of course, that doesn't mean I necessarily agree with the Florida state Dems under the thumb of AIPAC who boycotted him. In fact, I think they're vile. But I'm glad I read the story and know what happened. That's what news is...
Don't be so naive.
That's like a newspaper reporting on the Wall St. financial scandals and saying *Bernie Madoff* is a cold-blooded, lying bastard who stole $billions. Or saying *Richard Fuld* who kept $480 million after running *Lehman* Brothers into the ground and helping to cause the Great Recession of 2008 is anti-American.
These "news" stories are obviously anti-Semitic, the code is so obvious a disclaimer should be required to tell the ADL there is no other way to write the story.
Now here's *Dennis Kucinich* being told he is not welcome among 'oldschool' Florida Democrats. Do they have to spell it out for you ? What, Rudy Perpich, Michael Stepovich, Michael Bilandic and George Radanovich have to be asked to leave a fundraiser the same DAY for you to connect the dots ? Do they ask Joe Lieberman to leave a fundraiser because he is anti-Vatican ?
The Sons of Zagreb will not stand for this anti-Croat libel. Just claiming "I didn't WRITE the story, I am just spreading it around" is no defense. SOZ will fight vigorously to see all Hate Crime laws are enforced.
"Sons of Zagreb?" That sounds like something Dwight from "The Office" would pull out of his ass.
Are you serious?
Herodotus, I think your satire went over a few heads. Good though!
Palm Beach County in an uproar over Dennis Kucinich's Israel stance? That only means one thing: Bernie Madoff didn't do a good enough job of sending those Palm Beach County cannibals straight back to their humble begginings.
Those of us who respect Dennis and are on his side, will only appreciate him all the more for this. Of course, going forward he knows that he can't schedule anything in any of two continental provinces of Israel: Palm Beach and Brooklyn.
Not so much an Israel issue as a wealth issue.
For I keep telling everybody the bottleneck is the upper 50% with
all the wealth who want no change, people all tell me no,
its only the top 3% who have all the wealth, and
I reply that more than just 3% have two nice cars in the garage.
So how has your approach worked out?
"Two nice cars" isn't wealth, John -- very few cars ever grow in value with age. "Wealth" is that which makes money, e.g., business ownership. 85% or more of *all* wealth is owned by 10% of the country, and most of that by the richest 2%. See Edward Wolff's work at NYU for details.
for starters, rochefellow masters = 100 mansions,70 mile driveways/HELLicopters arriving at the various mansions/ cmon get real.duck Cheney living in DUBAI dining and putting cronies up at the only 7 8 or 9 star Hotel in DUBAI in the world. Ditzy glitzy Pelosi and spouse eeking out a living from subsidiary of HALLIBURTON, KBR The million dollar per minute war war addiction of the one or two or three per cent of the world's filthyist enriched.Don't split hairs here! It is what it is.A giant slave scam and guess who the slaves are supposed to be.
Is this McCarthysim 2009? In the past year I've been called a Socialist, a Communist and now - perhaps an Anti-Semite? Shame on you Congressman Ted Deutch, State Rep. Kevin Rader, D-Delray Beach, County Commissioner Burt Aaronson, Democratic Chairman Mark Alan Siegel and the Palm Beach County Democrat Steering Committee. Your constituencies are populated by multiple nationalities. How dare you take one side over the other? Politically motivated, fact-free attacks, slurs and name calling only serve to discredit the name callers. Step outside of your political suit and ties and try to see the big picture. The blood of Palestinians, Iranians, Israelis and Americans pour out from gunfire all the same.
As far as I know Dennis Kucinich is just anti war, NOT anti-semitic. I have met him and had no issues. I am more concerned about a UFO comment that he made. Truth is I am anti-UFO. This whole anti-semitic controversy was brewed up by a crowd that wears horse blinders and uses a $1500 per table price tag to make themselves look good to their constituents. I dont think any of the sides have behaved appropriately.
I think sanctions should be brought against all players involved until they get *it*. Palestinian Israali and Iranian blood pours out from gun shots all the same. Children are dying on all sides. This fighting affects everyone. Someone started an anti-Kucinich smear for their own political purposes out of sheer ignorance.
Im willing to support a propeace rally this weekend in Palm Beach County with Palestinians Israelis Iranians Americans who want Peace with each other. if you are interested contact me at http://www.facebook.com/anacampos
Annual PBC Democratic Party
Truman - Kennedy - Johnson Dinner
Saturday, November 14th from 7:00pm until 11:00pm
at Palm Beach Convention Center
650 Okeechobee Blvd., WPB, FL 33401
For the Democratic party of Palm Beach to single out an innocent man as being an anti Semite encourages Hate Among different nations. Lets encourage peace and communicating.
Curious, but are you anti-alien or just anti the sighting of UFOs? Many people have seen UFOs which simply means unexplained, unidentified flying objects -- not necessarily aliens at all.
Obviously this is used to discredit people, which is odd in itself as it is a rather innocuous observation. On the other hand, the First Lady of Japan purports to have flown to Venus.
I believe the problem is that the conservative republicans and the right are absolutely terrified about this congressman who has a conscience and is anti-war and what we're hearing and seeing here is the beginning of attempts to corrupt Congressman Kucinich's image and character before he gets even more popular--but I still praise him for his anti-war views and his philosophies in general. He is a good man and definately NOT anti-Israel and I will follow this man and hope that he gets a chance at presidential nomination!
Like they were afraid of Paul Wellstone
Because it claims to speak for all Jews, the existence of the Zionist entity, Israel, puts all Jews at risk, not just in the settler-state but in the good old U.S.A. as well. Even anti-Zionist Jews, whose numbers are rapidly increasing, are threatened by Israel's existence, because, sooner or later, Americans are going to wake up to the fact that it's U.S.- supported Israeli aggression against Palestine & its neighbors that's responsible for the fear & hatred that underlies all the violent messianic movements in the Mideast & elsewhere, including al Qaeda & the Taliban.. And once Americans are aware of this, their first reaction is going to be, "Hey, what's the Palestine-Israel struggle got to do with me anyway", followed a few seconds later by "Enough of this dual allegiance, decide Jewish-American, on whose side, Israel or America? And best make up your mind quickly, cause I'm mad as hell at what my government has put upon me by way of its ties with Israel." And then even anti-Zionist Jews will be at risk, because how many people are going to believe an American-Jew who says he or she opposes Israel, let alone supports justice for Palestine. Why would they, considering how many times they'd heard Zionists claim that israel speaks for all Jews. Which is why Jews who understand that Zionism not only is racist, but that by way of its potential for undermining the trust that non-Jews have in the patriotism of Jewish-Americans, is inherently anti-Semitic as well. The answer, of course, is for Jewish-Americans to stand up and say, "Oh no, Israel, you don't speak for us, you speak only for Zionists, which we are not. What's more, we support justice for Palestine, attainable once Palestinian and Jewish-settler sit down together for the purpose of figuring things out, based on one equals one & with liberty and justice for all. Do that & only that & gain our support.
[What's more, we support justice for Palestine, attainable once Palestinian and Jewish-settler sit down together for the purpose of figuring things out, based on one equals one & with liberty and justice for all.]
This is not sufficient. It's very easy to interpret the words democracy, freedom, justice, to achieve any goals you desire. Thus, the US has invaded Afghanistan to support democracy, freedom, and justice.
So, here is what is sufficient - to be an anti-Zionist you must explicitly denounce the existence of Israel as a Jewish state, that is, you must support the dismantling of the Jewish government in Israel, and replacing it with a plurilist democratic government that included all of Palestine, this is commonly known as the one-state solution.
When you get right down to it, even the one state solution is Zionist. The Jews will have their homeland, although they will not have exclusive control of the government.
Consider this, a burglar breaks into your house and throws you and your family into the street. The Likud Zionist says that the burglar gets to keep the house and the adjacent houses on the block as well. The 'humanist' Zionist says that the burglar gets to keep only the one house. The one-state solution Zionist says that the original occupants of the house should be re-admitted, and all can share. A true non-Zionist would say that the burglars have to get the hell out of the house.
Many good points but wouldn't a true not just non-Zionist but anti-colonialist say that it's up to the Palestinians as to who can stay & who must leave their house?
PDFTT
I have a problem with the term "anti-Semite" because not all Semites are Jews AND not all Jews are Semites. From the Oxford English Dictionary, the term means "a member of a people speaking a Semitic language, in particular the Jews and Arabs." To use the term "anti-Semite" to mean someone is anti Zionist, is to ignore the fact that the Palestinians are Semites. I support equal rights for the Palestinians. I do not support the militarized, Zionist State of Israel.
But then, I have not supported the past 50 years of wars around the world that have been fought by the United States, in the name of "democracy, freedom and security".
I do not oppose the existence of Israel, but I oppose the control of Israel by a minority of militants who continue to oppress the people who were there for generations before the formation of the State of Israel. I have never fully understood the history of _why_ the Jews were brought there after WW-II. Yes, there are Jews who have an ancestral connection to that region, but there are many who do not. What right did _anyone_ have to decide that the Jews should be brought there AND that the Palestinians who were already there should be displaced?
Much of the recent violent history of the Middle East is a direct result of VERY BAD DECISIONS that were made by the British early in the 20th Century. Those mistakes were compounded by the forced takeover of Palestinian homes by the Zionists.
Part of my view of Israel is influenced by the attack on the USS Liberty during the 1967 Arab-Israeli conflict. The son-in-law of my neighbors was killed in that attack, leaving his wife and a young son. Israel has _never_ admitted that they KNEW it was an American ship, or that they committed a WAR CRIME when they attacked us.
I favor the withdrawal of Israel to the pre-war boundaries ... which is a requirement of a United Nations Resolution, which Israel continues to ignore.
Once again, Kucinich is CORRECT.
We SHOULD be criticizing Israel. They are a miniscule little country that dominates their part of the world, simply based on the fact that the United States sends them $Billion$ in unbudgeted arms aid, _above_and_beyond_the_Congressional_ AID_appropriations_.
They DOMINATE our part of the world too!
Dennis always speaks truth to power.... and power doesn't like it one little bit.
GO GET 'EM DENNIS!