“I object to any immunity for telecommunications companies and demand a full accounting of these companies’ involvement to Congress and to the American public. When corporations cooperate with the government to strip people of their Constitutional rights, that is a text book description of fascism. There must not be any place in America for this type of conduct.”
-Dennis Kucinich
And, so wandered Dennis Kucinich; alone again; alone into that uncharted 2008 Presidential Candidate territory, called courage; called clarity; called "getting to the heart of an issue and speaking about it honestly"!
This is Kucinich territory; the place where only he would confront the lies to go to war and oppose it for what it actually was: a war for oil. This is the same place that he now stands alone, in speaking out and providing leadership against agressive actions against Iran. It's that oh, so lonely, place in this election where Kucinich finds himself the only candidate willing to address the real problem of our current health care system; the extreme waste of the for-profit system; and offer a truly universal not-for-profit system. It is the place that roots out the cause of our $800 Billion trade deficit, human and worker's rights abuses, and environmental ruin by repealing our trade agreements; speaks out out about Iraqi exploitation and oil privatization; cuts the bloated Pentagon budget for universal education, K-College; takes the Declaration of Independence at its word and gives equal rights to all Americans instead of only some; and considers the Constitution the first and final reason to stand up to this Administration to begin an impeachment investigation.
It really is amazing that so many "common sense", and "common good", positions could be held by him alone, yet they are. Speaking for, and taking action in the name of, the American people, always trumps "politics" for Kucinich and he's proven it, again and again. Yet, how sad that there is a difference between the two! The whole idea behind Representative Democracy is speaking and taking action for the people. But, what other Democrat, besides Kucinich is willing to choose the poeple over politics? What other candidate is willing to take on the war machine and reject war as an instrument of policy; take on insurance and pharmaceutical companies to offer not-for-profit health care, take on corporate power involved in our trade agreements; take on this Administration?
Kucinich's above quote was in response to the Senate Intelligence Committee vote to immunize telecommunications companies from civil lawsuits for tapping Americans’ phones and computer without court approval. He has already sent letters to
the Chairmen and CEOs of the nation’s largest telecommunications companies in May 2006, demanding they reveal to Congress their dealings with the National Security Agency (NSA).
The letters sent to the heads of Verizon, Qwest, BellSouth and AT&T specifically ask if NSA employees forced telecommunications companies, through coercion, to comply with the NSA illegal domestic spying program.
“It is imperative the telecommunications companies reveal everything they and their employees know about this illegal request,” Kucinich stated in the letter. “You have a responsibility to safeguard our democracy by revealing potentially illegal activities of the NSA to Congress.
“In light of these allegations, I urge you to reveal to Congress the nature of (your) discussions with NSA. Specifically, did any NSA official make coercive statements to any of your employees? Did the NSA make any legal arguments for their request of this information? And did the NSA suggest it was your company’s patriotic duty to adhere to such a request?” Kucinich also asked in the letter.
We know Kucinich will continue to stand up for the American people:
“Why should telecommunications companies be held above the law? If we permit our constitutional rights to be watered down out of fear, we have given up important foundations of our democracy. Congress must stand firm and defend the Constitution.”
“I want to get to the bottom of this Administration’s aggressive abuse on Americans’ civil liberties.”
And now we need to stand up as well. We need to get rid of the fear. We need to get back to America. We need to support Dennis Kucinich!
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