Kucinich, Independents, and Applause

Dennis Kucinich received rousing applause this Sunday, at a conference sponsored by the New Hampshire Association of Independent Voters. Kucinich addressed the conference, along with Mike Gravel and Jacqueline Salit; executive editor of The Neo-Independent magazine and president of the Committee for a Unified Independent Party, which:

mounts political, legal, legislative and organizing challenges to partisan control of the political process. It has pioneered methods of organizing independents without a political party, creating independent voter associations to project the voice of the 35% of the electorate that considers itself independent

Voters registering as non-partisan, independent are steadily growing in numbers as dissafected Republican and Democratic party members steadily withdraw. Staunchly against the Iraq war/occupation, dissillusioned with the corrupting influence of special interests, alienated through political partisanship, and pursuing genuine reform, the Independent Vote is gradually becoming more and more critical in deciding elections. As, Pew research Center reported about the Democratic sweep in 2006:

In an election that proved to be a referendum on Bush and Iraq, political independents cast the deciding votes.

While registered independents now account for more than 35% of U.S. voters, nowhere has the increase been more significant than New Hampshire. As Salit noted:

registered independents in New Hampshire, for instance, have increased from about 28 percent of total voters several years ago to roughly 45 percent today...

"Why are so many (voters) becoming independents?" Salit asked. "Because by declaring ourselves independents, we're saying we don't like what the political parties are doing to our country.

Dennis Kucinich, who is the only candidate consistently opposing this war, free from special interest corruption, aggresively pursuing reforms, and instituting policies in the best interests of Americans rather than political party, is the ideal "Independent Democrat" in this race. And, keeping in mind those 2006 elections, Kucinich let them know it:

"The Democrats have learned nothing since 2006," he said. "Back then, the Democrats promised that if they were put back in control (of the House and Senate) that the war in Iraq would end. Now (estimates) predict there won't be an end until at least 2013."

"I want a Democratic party that's responsive to the needs of all Americans . . . (politicians) shouldn't be called upon to be loyal to one political party, we're elected to be loyal to something with much more power – the Constitution," he said to a round of applause.

That could serve as the most self-evident, sober and important campaign slogan this election, but, sadly, it is only Kucinich who can back it up through his actions and campaign platform; something that could well get the Independents behind him.

Independents could well decide this election and, let me say, that they have a unique ability in deciding it for Kucinich. For there is one thing that stands in Kucinich's Democratic nomination; a single word word which continually dogs his whole campaign: electability. But, I tell you, these Independents stand outside party lines and have been dogged by too many words, too many labels throughout their political struggle. They have proved they will take a stand and they may stand for Dennis Kucinich. If they do Kucinich's candidacy will explode. If you get Kucinich up to 10% in the polls(which Independents could easily accomlish), with a little more money to invest, the lightning is out of the bottle. This country is only waiting...