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==Career==

==Career==

===Early Life===

===Early life===

Kucinich was born in Cleveland in 1946 and attended local Catholic schools and [[Cleveland State University]]. He received a masters degree in Speech and Communications from [[Case Western University]] in 1974. At the age of 23, Kucinich began his political career by running for Cleveland City Council.

Kucinich was born in Cleveland in 1946 and attended local Catholic schools and [[Cleveland State University]]. He received a masters degree in Speech and Communications from [[Case Western University]] in 1974. At the age of 23, Kucinich began his political career by running for Cleveland City Council.

===Mayor===

===Mayor===

He won the election for City Council, and in 1977 ran for mayor of Cleveland and won the election, becoming the youngest person ever to lead a major American city<ref> http://kucinich.house.gov/Biography/</ref>. Kucinich married Sandra Lee McCarthy, whom he divorced in 1986<ref>http://www.nndb.com/people/763/000024691/</ref>. When he took over the Mayor’s office in Cleveland, he received a city in disastrous economic conditions, all of which would be compounded under his administration. Under his administration, Cleveland would be the first city to go bankrupt since the [[Great Depression]]. Kucinich refused to grant a major bank in Cleveland, [[Cleveland Public Power]], request for the city to sell one of their municipal utility into the private sector. The disagreement between the bank and the mayor led to greater economic problems, causing the city to become the first to city to fall into [[default]] since the [[Great Depression]]<ref name="PBSBiography">{{cite web |last1=Silverman |first1=Cheryl |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106005946/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2004/primaries/kucinich_bio.html |title=Biography: Dennis Kucinich |work=[[PBS]]}}</ref>. Mayor Kucinich appointed a 19 year old into a key position of office and also placed a 24-year-old, with less then a year experience as a [[stockbroker]], in office as city [[finance director]]. Kucinich also got into a fight with the popular Cleveland Police Chief, whom he fired on live TV for insubordination. The [[Cleveland Police Department]] later went on strike protesting the Mayor’s budget cuts. The public outraged at his policy, gave him the nickname of, "Dennis the Menace,” and called for a recall election<ref>http://www.nndb.com/people/763/000024691/</ref>. In 1978, as Kucinich threw out the first pitch wearing a bullet proof vest, nearly all 75,000 fans at the opening of [[Cleveland Municipal Stadium]] booed him. The recall took place and Kucinich barely survived the recall, by only 236 votes.<ref name="PBSBiography" />

He won the election for City Council, and in 1977 ran for mayor of Cleveland and won the election, becoming the youngest person ever to lead a major American city.<ref>http://kucinich.house.gov/Biography/</ref> Kucinich married Sandra Lee McCarthy, whom he divorced in 1986.<ref name="nndb.com">http://www.nndb.com/people/763/000024691/</ref> When he took over the Mayor’s office in Cleveland, he received a city in disastrous economic conditions, all of which would be compounded under his administration. Under his administration, Cleveland would be the first city to go bankrupt since the [[Great Depression]]. Kucinich refused to grant a major bank in Cleveland, [[Cleveland Public Power]], request for the city to sell one of their municipal utility into the private sector. The disagreement between the bank and the mayor led to greater economic problems, causing the city to become the first to city to fall into [[default]] since the [[Great Depression]].<ref name="PBSBiography">{{cite web |last1=Silverman |first1=Cheryl |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106005946/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2004/primaries/kucinich_bio.html |title=Biography: Dennis Kucinich |work=[[PBS]]}}</ref> Mayor Kucinich appointed a 19 year old into a key position of office and also placed a 24-year-old, with less then a year experience as a [[stockbroker]], in office as city [[finance director]]. Kucinich also got into a fight with the popular Cleveland Police Chief, whom he fired on live TV for insubordination. The [[Cleveland Police Department]] later went on strike protesting the Mayor’s budget cuts. The public outraged at his policy, gave him the nickname of, "Dennis the Menace,” and called for a recall election.<ref name="nndb.com"/> In 1978, as Kucinich threw out the first pitch wearing a bullet proof vest, nearly all 75,000 fans at the opening of [[Cleveland Municipal Stadium]] booed him. The recall took place and Kucinich barely survived the recall, by only 236 votes.<ref name="PBSBiography" />

===Congress===

===Congress===

===Foreign Affairs===

===Foreign Affairs===

Kucinich has said that he supports diplomatic foreign policy but not militaristic. He stated in an NBC News Democrat debate that, “I [am] opposed [to] the idea of using war as a matter of policy. I don't think it reflects America's greatness..”<ref>NBC News Debate Transcript, http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/stories/wcnc-042607-krg-debate_part1.1023b3ba.html</ref> He calls Bush’s war on terrorism an excuse for aggressive action, similar to the position held by [[John Edwards]]. He said that, “Because the fact of the matter is that the global war on terror has been a pretext for aggressive war. As president of the United States, I intend to take America in a different direction, rejecting war as an instrument of policy, reconnecting with the nations of the world, so that we can address the real issues that affect security all over the globe and affect our security at home: getting rid of all nuclear weapons, the United States participating in the chemical weapons convention, the biological weapons convention, the small arms treaty, the landmine treaty, joining the International Criminal Court, signing the Kyoto climate change treaty”. <ref>Votes and statements on foreign policy, http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Dennis_Kucinich_Foreign_Policy.htm, NBC News Debate Transcript, http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/stories/wcnc-042607-krg-debate_part1.1023b3ba.html</ref>

Kucinich has said that he supports diplomatic foreign policy but not militaristic. He stated in an NBC News Democrat debate that, “I [am] opposed [to] the idea of using war as a matter of policy. I don't think it reflects America's greatness..”<ref name="wcnc.com">NBC News Debate Transcript, http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/stories/wcnc-042607-krg-debate_part1.1023b3ba.html</ref> He calls Bush’s war on terrorism an excuse for aggressive action, similar to the position held by [[John Edwards]]. He said that, “Because the fact of the matter is that the global war on terror has been a pretext for aggressive war. As president of the United States, I intend to take America in a different direction, rejecting war as an instrument of policy, reconnecting with the nations of the world, so that we can address the real issues that affect security all over the globe and affect our security at home: getting rid of all nuclear weapons, the United States participating in the chemical weapons convention, the biological weapons convention, the small arms treaty, the landmine treaty, joining the International Criminal Court, signing the Kyoto climate change treaty”.<ref>Votes and statements on foreign policy, http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Dennis_Kucinich_Foreign_Policy.htm, NBC News Debate Transcript, http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/stories/wcnc-042607-krg-debate_part1.1023b3ba.html</ref>

===War in Iraq===

===War in Iraq===

Unlike many of his Democratic opponents, Kucinich has opposed the [[Operation Iraqi Freedom|War in Iraq]] since its beginning. He is a member of the Get out of Iraq Caucus. He has proposed a cut-n-run strategy in which the United States withdraw from the Iraq war and a [[United Nations]] task force move in.<ref>US out of Iraq, UN in, http://iraq.kucinich.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=1</ref> Kucinich's bill would, as he stated, “call on the international community to provide peacekeepers and security forces that will move in as our troops leave. But we can’t do that until we determine we’re going to end the occupation. And we will do that when we stop the funding.” <ref>NBC News Debate Transcript, http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/stories/wcnc-042607-krg-debate_part1.1023b3ba.html</ref> In 2007, Kucinich said that former [[Vice President of the United States of America|Vice President]], [[Dick Cheney]], should be impeached for ‘lying about Iraq.’ <ref>On the Issues, http://www.ontheissues.org/Government_Reform.htm#Dennis_Kucinich</ref>

Unlike many of his Democratic opponents, Kucinich has opposed the [[Operation Iraqi Freedom|War in Iraq]] since its beginning. He is a member of the Get out of Iraq Caucus. He has proposed a cut-n-run strategy in which the United States withdraw from the Iraq war and a [[United Nations]] task force move in.<ref>US out of Iraq, UN in, http://iraq.kucinich.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=1</ref> Kucinich's bill would, as he stated, “call on the international community to provide peacekeepers and security forces that will move in as our troops leave. But we can’t do that until we determine we’re going to end the occupation. And we will do that when we stop the funding.” <ref name="wcnc.com"/> In 2007, Kucinich said that former [[Vice President of the United States of America|Vice President]], [[Dick Cheney]], should be impeached for ‘lying about Iraq.’ <ref>On the Issues, http://www.ontheissues.org/Government_Reform.htm#Dennis_Kucinich</ref>

===[[Afghanistan War]]===

===[[Afghanistan War]]===

===Trade===

===Trade===

Kucinich does not support free trade agreements such as [[NAFTA]]. He has stated that as President, one of his first acts would be to end NAFTA. He also said that he wants to end other trade agreements such as the [[World Trade Organization]] and [[GATT]]. He says that free trade agreements must end because of United States citizen’s jobs are lost by the trade agreements, and also the lack of worker right provisions in the agreements.  In replacement of the multilateral trade agreements, Kucinich supports bilateral trade<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Dennis_Kucinich_Free_Trade.htm</ref>. Kucinich was one of the supporters of the [[Occupy Wall Street]]-movement.

Kucinich does not support free trade agreements such as [[NAFTA]]. He has stated that as President, one of his first acts would be to end NAFTA. He also said that he wants to end other trade agreements such as the [[World Trade Organization]] and [[GATT]]. He says that free trade agreements must end because of United States citizen’s jobs are lost by the trade agreements, and also the lack of worker right provisions in the agreements.  In replacement of the multilateral trade agreements, Kucinich supports bilateral trade.<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Dennis_Kucinich_Free_Trade.htm</ref> Kucinich was one of the supporters of the [[Occupy Wall Street]]-movement.

===[[Gun Control]]===

===[[Gun Control]]===

In 2003, Kucinich was given an F by the [[National Rifle Association]] in regards to gun control, indicating a pro-gun control record. Kucinich voted no on prohibiting suing gun makers and seller for gun misuse, he also voted no on decreasing gun waiting period from three days to one<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Dennis_Kucinich_Gun_Control.htm</ref>.

In 2003, Kucinich was given an F by the [[National Rifle Association]] in regards to gun control, indicating a pro-gun control record. Kucinich voted no on prohibiting suing gun makers and seller for gun misuse, he also voted no on decreasing gun waiting period from three days to one.<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Dennis_Kucinich_Gun_Control.htm</ref>

===Energy and Oil===

===Energy and Oil===

Kucinich support the raising of [[CAFÉ]] standards from 27.5 mpg to 40 for cars and 40 mpg for SUV’s. He voted no on opening [[ANWR]] for oil drilling. He supports the use of renewable sources to replace fossil fuels, he stated, “I would lead this country on a new energy initiative. In the same way that President Kennedy decided to bring the academic and spiritual resources of this country to reach the moon, I intend to have a journey to planet Earth about sustainable and renewable energy. By the year 2010, I'll call upon Americans to assist in creating a program, not only of conservation, but of moving to renewable energy, away from oil, nuclear and coal, and towards wind and solar and geothermal, green hydrogen and biomass.”<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Dennis_Kucinich_Energy_+_Oil.htm</ref>

Kucinich support the raising of [[CAFÉ]] standards from 27.5 mpg to 40 for cars and 40 mpg for SUV’s. He voted no on opening [[ANWR]] for oil drilling. He supports the use of renewable sources to replace fossil fuels, he stated, “I would lead this country on a new energy initiative. In the same way that President Kennedy decided to bring the academic and spiritual resources of this country to reach the moon, I intend to have a journey to planet Earth about sustainable and renewable energy. By the year 2010, I'll call upon Americans to assist in creating a program, not only of conservation, but of moving to renewable energy, away from oil, nuclear and coal, and towards wind and solar and geothermal, green hydrogen and biomass.”<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Dennis_Kucinich_Energy_+_Oil.htm</ref>

===Immigration===

===Immigration===

In 2004, Kucinich said that, “We also ought to agree that there ought to be amnesty for anyone who has been working in this country and would otherwise be denied rights.” He got a 0% rating from the [[Federation for American Immigration Reform]], mostly because of his ardent support for a path for citizenship for illegal immigrants. Kucinich also does not support the building of a fence between [[Mexico]] and the United States border. He also voted against a bill that would help in hospital’s reporting of illegal alien’s treatment<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/Dennis_Kucinich_VoteMatch.htm</ref>.

In 2004, Kucinich said that, “We also ought to agree that there ought to be amnesty for anyone who has been working in this country and would otherwise be denied rights.” He got a 0% rating from the [[Federation for American Immigration Reform]], mostly because of his ardent support for a path for citizenship for illegal immigrants. Kucinich also does not support the building of a fence between [[Mexico]] and the United States border. He also voted against a bill that would help in hospital’s reporting of illegal alien’s treatment.<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/Dennis_Kucinich_VoteMatch.htm</ref>

==Democratic Primary Campaign==  

==Democratic Primary Campaign==

===Support===

===Support===

On December 11, 2006, Dennis Kucinich announced that he would again run for the Democrat presidential nomination. Seen as a lower tier candidate, Kucinich lashed out at his Democrat opponents, calling them hypocritical for funding the [[Iraq War]], “Trust in the Democratic Party is on the line... What kind of credibility will our party have if we say we are opposed to the war, but continue to fund it?” Despite his push for the liberal base, Kucinich still remains as a lower tier candidate, poll numbers show that only 1% of Democrats voters support him<ref>Poll Numbers, http://www.pollingreport.com/wh08dem.htm</ref>.

On December 11, 2006, Dennis Kucinich announced that he would again run for the Democrat presidential nomination. Seen as a lower tier candidate, Kucinich lashed out at his Democrat opponents, calling them hypocritical for funding the [[Iraq War]], “Trust in the Democratic Party is on the line... What kind of credibility will our party have if we say we are opposed to the war, but continue to fund it?” Despite his push for the liberal base, Kucinich still remains as a lower tier candidate, poll numbers show that only 1% of Democrats voters support him.<ref>Poll Numbers, http://www.pollingreport.com/wh08dem.htm</ref>  

===Funding===

===Funding===

In first quarter fundraising Kucinich raised $756,567, more then 25 million behind the first quarter leader [[Hillary Clinton]]<ref>http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/democrat-obama-nears-clinton-first-quarter/story.aspx?guid=%7B841BDC61-B47D-4A74-87DB-1D3D49961CF4%7D</ref>. The second quarter fundraising for Kucinich was not released by his campaign. [[Chris Dodd]] and [[Mike Gravel]] also did not release fund raising estimates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/tag/second-quarter-fundraising/ |title=Second quarter fundraising |work=[[CNN]] }}</ref>

In first quarter fundraising Kucinich raised $756,567, more then 25 million behind the first quarter leader [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/democrat-obama-nears-clinton-first-quarter/story.aspx?guid=%7B841BDC61-B47D-4A74-87DB-1D3D49961CF4%7D</ref>  The second quarter fundraising for Kucinich was not released by his campaign. [[Chris Dodd]] and [[Mike Gravel]] also did not release fund raising estimates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/tag/second-quarter-fundraising/ |title=Second quarter fundraising |work=[[CNN]] }}</ref>

===Primary Debates===

===Primary Debates===

==References==

==References==