| Des Moines, Iowa -- STAR*PAC (Stop The Arms Race Political Action Committee of Iowa) announced today at a news conference at the University of Iowa's Memorial Union that its Central Committee has voted to endorse the candidacy of Dennis Kucinich for President of the United States.
Chet Guinn announced "I am here today to present enthusiastically and wholeheartedly STAR*PAC's endorsement of Dennis Kucinich for President of the United States in 2004." Guinn said that Kucinich could be 'the first President of the new millennium to stand for peace' and noted that "Dennis Kucinich's campaign commitments constitute a significant alignment of purpose with the goals and mission of STAR*PAC. They emphatically set this candidate apart from the field and most closely represent the views and aspirations of STAR*PAC's mission."
Guinn outlined the mission of STAR*PAC as "working to educate Iowans and others on peace issues, influence legislation in Congress and actively support candidates who are dedicated to peace." In past elections, Guinn said, the organization has supported peace candidates through direct endorsements, candidate forums on peace issues, sponsorship of speaking tours featuring nationally known military experts and peace advocates, media campaigns, direct contributions and get out the vote efforts.
Guinn called Kucinich "a visionary, but not an idle dreamer. He sets out practical and reasoned ways to achieve peace. He demonstrates vision and holds aloft a glimpse of what a renewed commitment to peace could mean for our nation's people, our economy, our reputation in the world, for regaining our place as a respected world leader... not just because of our military might but because of our heart. He reminds us that America's civil liberties and Democracy should be a model for the rest of the world. And that Democracy can be nurtured but never imposed from the outside."
Guinn noted that Kucinich's long term plan for peace "makes sense and is based on building relationship, on collaboration, on understanding how our nations has come to be perceived as an aggressor, as a bully, and what we can do to regain the collaboration and respect of the rest of the world."
Citing Kucinich's understanding of the world, his experience in the legislature, and a deep empathy for the struggles of 'the common man', Guinn set forth components of Kucinich's campaign which won STAR*PAC's endorsement
including:
. his early and consistent opposition to the war in Iraq
. his call for an inquiry into an Administration deception regarding
weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and Iraq's ability to imminently threaten America
. his commitment to disengage from the dangerous and rash 'pre-emptive
strike' strategy of this Administration.
. his call for real intelligence and for substantive changes in how we
dismantle terrorism
. his provision for a strong military, but not at any cost. He vows
to
cut $60 billion from the $400 billion proposed 2004 military budget, which would still mean that our military would far exceed the capabilities of every one of our perceived 'enemies' and the next (in size) 30 nations combined. He vows to distribute those dollars to essential human services, decaying infrastructure, Homeland Security, universal healthcare and education services inside the United States.
. his intent to strengthen Homeland Security without sacrificing
America's
essential civil liberties which are a model for the rest of the world.
Kucinich promises to cancel or re-write the controversial US Patriot Act.
. his vow to return to Congress the right to thoughtfully review
groundbreaking changes in constitutional law and strategies for war... a check our founders realized would ultimately protect America from rash and unjust actions
. his call for early withdrawal of American troops from Iraq
. his commitment to a collaborative international rebuilding and
peace-keeping mission in Iraq that shares lucrative rebuilding contracts with our allies
. his vow to address world poverty and the desperation that makes
terrorists out of people denied a voice in their own future. Kucinich notes that no country should practice terrorism and that we 'must all refrain from condoning some acts of violence as justified while similar actions by others are dismissed as 'terrorism'.
. his promise to cancel NAFTA and boldly change US policy supporting
the
World Trade Organization, both of which have only served to increase global poverty, deepening one of the most virulent causes of terrorism.
. his assertion that world opinion can be turned to America's
advantage
once again by an understanding that "We share this fragile planet and we are our brother's keeper".
. his commitment to raise salaries and benefits of our military and
their
families while reducing funding for unnecessary new weaponry systems.
. his determination to reduce world tensions without relaxing our
guard.
. his call for a cabinet level, pro-active Department of Peace to
promote
peaceful conflict resolution and peace-keeping as an alternative to the primitive choices of war and violence for settling differences at home and abroad.
. his promise to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty again to
reduce
the global threat of nuclear weapons to our environment, our health, our planet and people.
. his promise to end the use of landmines and sign the international
treaty to do so.
. his recommitment of US support for the United Nations, the
Declaration
of Human Rights and multi-lateral approaches to diplomacy and conflict resolution, promises to sign the Kyoto Treaty on Global Warming and to ratify the International Criminal Court
.
his vow to end government underwriting and promotion of weapons
sales,
along with severe limitations on selling the US's latest high tech weaponry. This deadly cycle of creating the most devastating weapons, selling them to others, then calling for escalating development of even more devastating weapons must end.
. his commitment to stop exporting small arms to the world's poorest nations whose people plead for bread and jobs but get guns instead.
"Kucinich's approach to peace is a holistic approach" Guinn noted, "moving our nation systematically and on many levels in a new direction... the direction of peace. It is a practical, long term plan that makes sense and is based on building relationship, on collaboration, on understanding how our nation has come to be perceived as an aggressor, as a bully, and what we can do to regain the collaboration and respect of the rest of the world.
Guinn noted that the Central Committee of STAR*PAC had used statements from all the candidates, campaign materials, speeches, and their responses to a STAR*PAC candidate questionnaire as the basis for their decision to endorse Dennis Kucinich. He said they would be actively promoting his candidacy in many ways. He asked that people interested in learning more about STAR*PAC's endorsement and their efforts for Kucinich should contact the organization's Des Moines office at 515-282-5111 for more information, to donate or to volunteer. "Within a couple days folks can also check the STAR*PAC website for the full content of STAR*PAC's endorsement speech and record of the questionnaire responses", Guinn promised.
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