4A the university daily kansan opinion thursday, february 19, 2004 DEMOCRATS IN DETAIL Kucinich campaign uncovered Dennis Kucinich remains positive. Positive, he said, that he will win the Democratic presidential bid and contest George W. Bush to November. COMMENTARY Travis Metcalf opinion@kansan.com campaign based strongly on anti-war rhetoric and support of same-sex marriage. Kucinich is easily the most liberal of all the Democratic candidates vying to face Bush. He has built a In Bowling, Green, Ohio, on a public affairs television show, Rep. Kucinich (D-Ohio) said he expected to be the nominee. But with only two electoral delegates, he's got a long way to go. Kucinich's political career dates back to 1977 when he was elected mayor of Cleveland at the age of 31. He was and is the youngest person to be elected mayor of a major United States city. After about 20 years out of politics, he was elected representative of Ohio's 10th congressional district in 1996, which consists of Cleveland. Since he has been in congress, Kucinich voted against the Homeland Security Act and against the use of force in Iraq. If elected president, he said one of his first priorities would be to bring the troops home from Iraq. He also wants to form a new cabinet position, the Department of Peace. He wants to end the United State's participation in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). In his campaign, Kucinich has been unwavering in his support for same-sex marriage. Other than Rev. Al Sharpton, Kucinich is the only candidate who is taking a strong stand on same-sex marriage. Kucinich is a vegan, a person who doesn't eat anything that comes from animals. He takes pride in bringing far left-leaning Democrats back into the party. Democrats. "I can bring Greens, Natural Law followers...I can bring the blue-collar Democrats back who went with Ronald Reagan years ago," Kucinich told the Austin American-Statesman. Kucinich grew up poor. He hasn't forgotten that. Though Kucinich doesn't tell tales of his unfortunate upbringing, the Austin American-Statesman reported that Kucinich used to live in cars. That is a stark difference between Kucinich and most of the other candidates in the race. Kerry has always been a person of wealth. Sharpton may not be rich, perse, but he has friends in high places who help provide for him. According to a New York Times profile on Gov. Howard Dean (D.Vt.) he grew up in the Hamptons, an area known for its expensive housing. Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) did not grow up in a wealthy household, but after years of work as an attorney Edwards has Kucinich's bank account beat. Kucinich has always taken the optimistic road, and his bid for the presidency is no different. Although Kucinich's support does not win him states, so far, he remains positive. Perhaps that's his biggest strength: he is the definition of persistence. POLITICS UP CLOSE The columns on this page are part of a series the Kansan is publishing, "Democrats in detail." The columns are meant to provide a closer look at each of the Democratic candidates still in the race for the presidential nomination. For more information on these candidates, check out the opinion section on www.kansan.com. Responses to this series will be printed next week. Metcalf is a Wichita senior in journalism Paul Whittemore for The University Daily Kansan Democratic options lacking upcoming election will suffer WAKE UP! The Democrats' choices for a presidential candidate are starting to dwindle down to the last man standing, which would appear to be Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). But just because Kerry will more than likely receive the nomination does not mean he is the right man for the job. COMMENTARY Brandon Cobb opinion@kansan.com That being said, I do commend voters in the Democratic Party for rallying its support behind one person so that it can focus on the bigger picture: defeating Bush. Kerry has to know he is enjoying success in the primaries because he won the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary. If any other candidate had won those contests it would be safe to assume that major support would have shifted in that candidate's favor. When former Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun (D-Ill.) dropped out of the race, she threw her support to front-runner Howard Dean (D-Vt.). Similarly, Gen. Wesley Clark gave his support to the front-runner when he dropped out of the race, only this time the front-runner was Kerry. In my short voting career I have voted in every local and state election, as well as the 2000 presidential election. I cannot express enough the importance of voting. After participating in election history — the 2000 Presidential Election — and witnessing Americans voice concern over disenfranchisement and the Electoral College, I thought there would never come a time in my life when I would not vote in an election. However, I am so disappointed by this year's candidate choices, I may not vote in November's election. I think that this year's presidential election has the potential to be the driest presidential campaign in United States history. The Bush and Kerry camps are already starting to take shots at each other, and I do not want to hear more senseless mudslinging. Our country is at war, jobs are leaving America, and sending jabs back and forth isn't going to benefit this country in the least. Kerry's favorite campaign slogan is, "Bring it on." Bring what? Kerry appears to be welcoming a good ol' dirty fight. In the past few weeks, Bush's military credentials have been a major subject of debate. The opposition is questioning whether Bush actually served in the National Guard during 1972 to 1973. "Those of us who were in the military wonder how it is that someone who supposedly serving on active duty... can miss a whole year of service without even explaining where it went," Kerry said in a 2000 Associated Press article. Who cares? Kerry certainly did not have a problem with President Clinton not serving in the military. When Kerry finished his service in Vietnam, he was a decorated soldier that was ironically opposed U.S. involvement in Vietnam. He was an outspoken leader for a group called Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Kerry even wrote a controversial book called The New Soldier that depicted Vietnam veterans hoisting an upside down U.S. flag on the cover. Kerry knew first-hand what it felt like to fight a useless war, having lived through Vietnam and decided to vote for supporting the troops in President Bush's useless war in Iraq anyway. But he wants you to believe that he would do things differently than Bush. What a hypocrite. There are many places around the world with growing tensions that will require U.S. involvement in some way, whether it be through diplomacy or military intervention. The leader chosen in this year's election will definitely need to choose this country's battles wisely. The reason I briefly touched on Bush and Kerry's military experience is because this will be the most talked about subject during the early part of the campaign. The media as well as the Bush and Kerry camps will use the military as a political tool in this year's election. Cobb is a Kansas City, Kan., senior in political science. wearing a brown belt with black shoes is like driving a Honda Civic. There is just no excuse. Free for All Call 864-0500 Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Karsan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded. For more comments, go to www.kansan.com Screw engineering. I am changing my major to pornography. Can I do that? Is it just me or does campus smell unusually fowl today? Where's my Whataburger in Lawrence? --wearing a brown belt with black shoes is like driving a Honda Civic. There is just no excuse. There are more pot holes than pot heads in this town. I just lost a tire in one of the pot holes on the wonderful streets of Lawrence. I was wondering if they would reimburse me for that? They laughed at me when I ordered a pepperoni and pineapple pizza. Damn, that pizza was good. Blood will flow freely if my cell phone does not turn up in the lost and found. Uhhh. Put that sigh in there too. it will kill you." 图 五 图 it will kill you." Is anyone watching American jdol? Man, the judges are reaming them. it will kill you." My life just hit a new low. America's Next Top Model has just made me sob uncontrollably. The best farm ever is the Garden of Eden. I was just at Anschutz Library and that place is too damn noisy. Be quiet we are trying to study, its like a bunch of chattering chipmunks in there. Zip it. I think Yellow. Sub should be open 24 hours and everybody at the library needs to be quiet. I am trying to study. Rock Chalk Jayhawk. I am so glad that my tuition money helped pay for a student recreation center, but I can't use it because there is nowhere to park. If it wasn't for local programming and local commercials I would have nothing to laugh at. it will kill you." So why is it that the Free For All never prints my slanderous statements? it will kill you." 图 I can't believe it. The Sophos stuff from ResNet is in German. How am I suppose to read German. And I thought Missouri had bad roads. This is pathetic. it will kill you." it will kill you." I have just witnessed a crime of fashion. The perpetrator: A young, long-haired guy. The crime: He was wearing a white head band. Where is Stan Kramer when you need him? 图 The city of Hutchinson pledges its full support for parking spots being based on GPA. It is exhausting to walk to class and be smarter than everyone. Al Sharpton is, without a doubt, one of the most outspoken candidates vying for the Democratic presidential nomination. COMMENTARY Jonathan Reeder opinion@kansan.com Sharpton's response during last May's debate in South Carolina is a prime example of "the Rev's" style. To a question about President Bush's tax cut he said, "It's like Jim Jones giving you Kool-Aid. It tastes good, but Sharpton stance revealed The native New Yorker is a long-time activist for civil rights. He was a preacher at the age of 4, and was ordained as a Pentecostal minister at 10. In 1971, Sharpton went on to found the National Youth Movement, an advocacy group for inner-city children. Twenty years later, he founded the National Action Network, a civil rights organization. This is Sharpton's fourth bid for political office. Sharpton lost the New York Senate Democratic primary in 1992 and 1994. Each year, he garnered more support. In 1997, he nearly forced a run-off in the New York City mayoral primary, with 32 percent of the vote. GUEST COLUMN GUIDELINES Sharpton has said that he believed that Democrats and Republicans have become too similar. Sharpton told CNN that Democrats have taken on conservative traits: "I do believe that the Party has a bunch of elephants running around in donkev clothes." **Maximum Length:** 650 word limit **Include:** Author's name Class, hometown (student) Position (faculty member) **Also:** The Kansan will not print guest columns that attack another columnist. HOWTO SUBMIT Sharpton's highest finish to date was in the Washington D.C. primary on Jan. 13, when he finished with 34 percent of the vote. He came in second, behind Howard Dean, in the Feb. 14 Washington D.C. caucus. Sharpton came in third in South Carolina this February, where he defeated Dean, Gen. Wesley Clark and Joe Lieberman. To date, Sharpton has won only 16 delegates, placing him a distant fourth in the running. Reeder is an lola senior in journalism. Sharpton's campaign is based on a strong civil rights, education and tax relief platform. His campaigns Web site, www.sharpton2004.org, features "Rev. Al Sharpton's Top Ten" reasons for running for president. LETTER GUIDELINES Early in his campaign, Sharpton spoke in favor of abortion rights and sex-sex marriage rights, despite his religious convictions. He is against the war in Iraq and supports U.N. involvement in the country's reconstruction. Sharpton's goals include improving voter registration and involvement. He also wants to increase voter awareness and activity, as well as confer statehood or state voting rights to Washington D.C. Sharpton also supports three suggested amendments to the Constitution. One would make access to an education a constitutional right. The second would guarantee equal access to high quality health care regardless of income. The third would reconfigure the voting process to give every voter an equal voice. Maximum Length: 200 word limit Include: Author's name Author's telephone number Class, hometown (student) Position (faculty member) SUBMITTO KANSAN Michelle Rornbeck editor 864-4854 or mburhn@kansan.com E-mail: opinion@kansan.com Andrew Vaupel managing editor 864-4854 or vaupel@kansan.com Meghan Brune and Johanna M. Maska opinion editors 864-4924 or opinion@kansan.com Danielle Bose business manager 864-4358 or addirector@kansan.com Stephanie Graham retail sales manager 864-4356 or adsales@kansan.com Hard copy: Kansannewsroom 11 Stuaffer-Flint Matt Fisher sales and marketing adviser 864-7668 or mfisher@kansan.com Malcolm Gibson general manager and news adviser 864-7667 or mgibson@kansan.com categorical board members Kendall Dix Amanda Flott Lynzee Ford Laura Francigliola Anne Gregory Amy Hammontree Kelly Hollowell Teresa Lo Staminae Kally Holtowin Teresa Loe Stephanie Lovett Mindy Geborne Greg Holmquist Ryan Scarrow Sara Behnunek Kevin Flaherty Brandon Washney Halsey Alex Hoffman Katie Kaynard Army Kelly Cameron Koehler Courtney Kuhen Brandi Mathlesen Travis Metcalf Mike Norris Jonathan Reeder Rin Erifrey Alea Smith Kari Zimmerman 4 9