Changes

===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 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 than 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" />

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/https://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 than 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===

===ACORN===

===ACORN===

The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to defund ACORN, 345-75 on September 17, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pergram |first1=Chad |last2=Turner |first2=Trish |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/17/congress-votes-strip-acorn-federal-funding/ |title=Congress Votes to Strip ACORN of Federal Funding |work=[[Fox News]] |date=November 17, 2009 }}</ref> Seventy-five Democrats including Kucinich stood with [[ACORN]] and voted no.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mentrek |first1=Mike |url=http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2009/09/house_votes_to_deny_all_federa.html |title=House votes to deny all federal money to ACORN; Kucinich opposes move |work=[[The Plain Dealer]] |date=November 17, 2009 }}</ref> This despite their nationwide attention related to voter fraud and recent revelation of ACORN's ties to prostitution including child trafficking and defrauding the IRS.

The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to defund ACORN, 345-75 on September 17, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pergram |first1=Chad |last2=Turner |first2=Trish |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/17/congress-votes-strip-acorn-federal-funding/ |title=Congress Votes to Strip ACORN of Federal Funding |work=[[Fox News]] |date=November 17, 2009 }}</ref> Seventy-five Democrats including Kucinich stood with [[ACORN]] and voted no.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mentrek |first1=Mike |url=http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2009/09/house_votes_to_deny_all_federa.html |title=House votes to deny all federal money to ACORN; Kucinich opposes move |work=[[The Plain Dealer]] |date=November 17, 2009 }}</ref> This despite their nationwide attention related to voter fraud and recent revelation of ACORN's ties to prostitution including child trafficking and defrauding the IRS.

==Political Positions==

==Political Positions==

===Abortion===

===Abortion===

Kucinich’s position on abortion has been somewhat of a “flip-flop.” During Kucinich’s first three terms at congress he compiled a consistently pro-life record; this earned him a 95-percent approval rating from the [[National Right to Life Committee]] in 2000. Kucinich stated that he believed that “life begins at conception.”<ref name="Enrich">{{cite web |last1=Enrich |first1=David |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/205977/kucinichs-choice-david-enrich |title=Kucinich’s Choice |work=[[National Review]] |date=February 20, 2003 }}</ref> However, in 2003, he changed his position, stating that he was “pro-choice” and  promised before an Iowa campaign crowed in 2003, "as president, I would protect that right [to abortion], and I would also make sure that appointees to the [[Supreme Court]] protected that right."<ref name="Enrich" /> The President of the National Abortion Rights Action League, [[Kate Michelman]], stated that, “[Kucinich] understands that this [abortion] is a fundamental freedom. Do I think that's sincere? Yes I do." His support of abortion seems to correspond directly with the amount of campaign funding he gets from the abortion lobby.

Kucinich’s position on abortion has been somewhat of a “flip-flop.” During Kucinich’s first three terms at congress he compiled a consistently pro-life record; this earned him a 95-percent approval rating from the [[National Right to Life Committee]] in 2000. Kucinich stated that he believed that “life begins at conception.”<ref name="Enrich">{{cite web |last1=Enrich |first1=David |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/article/205977/kucinichs-choice-david-enrich |title=Kucinich’s Choice |work=[[National Review]] |date=February 20, 2003 }}</ref> However, in 2003, he changed his position, stating that he was “pro-choice” and  promised before an Iowa campaign crowed in 2003, "as president, I would protect that right [to abortion], and I would also make sure that appointees to the [[Supreme Court]] protected that right."<ref name="Enrich" /> The President of the National Abortion Rights Action League, [[Kate Michelman]], stated that, “[Kucinich] understands that this [abortion] is a fundamental freedom. Do I think that's sincere? Yes I do." His support of abortion seems to correspond directly with the amount of campaign funding he gets from the abortion lobby.

===Health Care===

===Health Care===

Like the majority of the Democratic primary candidates, Kucinich supports a type of socialized universal healthcare. He co-sponsored “Medicare for All Act”, with Congressman [[John Conyers]], this bill would create a [[universal healthcare]] system. The healthcare system would create a government program that would eliminate private health insurance, and buy prescription drugs in large amounts, the estimated cost for Kucinich’s plan would cost the United States about $2.2 trillion a year. until 2013.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Suarez |first1=Ray |url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june03/kucinich_05-29.html |title=Candidates’ Rx: Dennis Kucinich |work=[[PBS]] |date=May 29, 2003 }}</ref>

Like the majority of the Democratic primary candidates, Kucinich supports a type of socialized universal healthcare. He co-sponsored “Medicare for All Act”, with Congressman [[John Conyers]], this bill would create a [[universal healthcare]] system. The healthcare system would create a government program that would eliminate private health insurance, and buy prescription drugs in large amounts, the estimated cost for Kucinich’s plan would cost the United States about $2.2 trillion a year. until 2013.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Suarez |first1=Ray |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june03/kucinich_05-29.html |title=Candidates’ Rx: Dennis Kucinich |work=[[PBS]] |date=May 29, 2003 }}</ref>

===Foreign Affairs===

===Foreign Affairs===

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

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

In March 2010, Kucinich sponsored a bill in the House for the complete withdrawal of American forces within 30 days, arguing, "Unless this Congress acts to claim its constitutional responsibility, we will stay in Afghanistan for a very, very long time, at great cost to our troops and to our national priorities."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/10/house-rejects-bid-end-afghan-war/ |title=House Rejects Bid to End Afghan War |work=[[Fox News]] |date=March 10, 2010 }}</ref> Five Republicans including [[Ron Paul]] supported Kucinich's efforts, but the measure was defeated 356-65.

In March 2010, Kucinich sponsored a bill in the House for the complete withdrawal of American forces within 30 days, arguing, "Unless this Congress acts to claim its constitutional responsibility, we will stay in Afghanistan for a very, very long time, at great cost to our troops and to our national priorities."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/10/house-rejects-bid-end-afghan-war/ |title=House Rejects Bid to End Afghan War |work=[[Fox News]] |date=March 10, 2010 }}</ref> Five Republicans including [[Ron Paul]] supported Kucinich's efforts, but the measure was defeated 356-65.

=== [[Libyan War]] ===

=== [[Libyan War]] ===

===Funding===

===Funding===

In first quarter fundraising Kucinich raised $756,567, more than 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 than 25 million behind the first quarter leader [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>https://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===

He has withdrawn from the race and will pursue his seat in Congress.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127144214/http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/24/kucinich-drops-presidential-bid/ |title=Kucinich Drops Presidential Bid, Sets Sights on Keeping House Seat |work=Fox News |date=January 24, 2008 }}</ref>

He has withdrawn from the race and will pursue his seat in Congress.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127144214/http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/24/kucinich-drops-presidential-bid/ |title=Kucinich Drops Presidential Bid, Sets Sights on Keeping House Seat |work=Fox News |date=January 24, 2008 }}</ref>

During the primary, the press asked Kucinich about seeing UFO's. Actress Shirley MacLaine says Kucinich saw a UFO in the 1980s while visiting her Washington state home. MacLaine wrote "He saw a gigantic triangular craft, silent and observing him. It hovered for about 10 minutes or so and sped away with a speed he couldn't comprehend. He felt a connection in his heart and heard directions in his mind."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,306616,00.html |title=Rep. Dennis Kucinich Acknowledges UFO Sighting |work=[[Fox News]] |date=October 31, 2007 }}</ref> He said ""I saw something."

During the primary, the press asked Kucinich about seeing UFO's. Actress Shirley MacLaine says Kucinich saw a UFO in the 1980s while visiting her Washington state home. MacLaine wrote "He saw a gigantic triangular craft, silent and observing him. It hovered for about 10 minutes or so and sped away with a speed he couldn't comprehend. He felt a connection in his heart and heard directions in his mind."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,306616,00.html |title=Rep. Dennis Kucinich Acknowledges UFO Sighting |work=[[Fox News]] |date=October 31, 2007 }}</ref> He said ""I saw something."

== Criticism ==

== Criticism ==