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2008-01-21

by Ed Rampell

Poli-wood: Dennis Kucinich

Summary

Introducing a new column where politics and Hollywood meet

Article

The “American Evolution” and How Left is Left?

As the Golden State gears up for the February 5th primary, it’s time for Californians to take a close look at the presidential race, especially as Hollywood remains a cash cow for Democrats seeking the White House.

Illinois senator Barack Obama may have Oprah Winfrey, but his rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, has activist/actors such as Sean Penn and Viggo Mortensen, as well as screenwriter/novelist/essayist Gore Vidal in his corner. Lest we forget, Winfrey played a dubious role during California’s gubernatorial recall race (as the new doc Running With Arnold reminds us), while Vidal is arguably America’s preeminent man of letters. His screen credits include 1964’s quintessential political convention drama The Best Man, starring Henry Fonda and Cliff Robertson as dueling candidates. A former lefty candidate for California’s U.S. Senator, Vidal has also long been an establishment gadfly and eminence grise of the Left, who had the temerity to discuss socialism on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show.

Vidal was the celebrity draw to a December Kucinich for president fundraiser that featured the contender and his wife Elizabeth at the private home of Jerry Manpearl and Jan Goodman in the People’s Republic of Santa Monica. The sunny Sunday SoCal event took place outdoors on the spacious, shaded grounds of the posh house surrounded by trees, bushes and flowers, which seemed to cut the property off from the outside world. Indeed, the approximately 200 attendees were in a world of their own as they listened raptly to the Kuciniches, Vidal, local politicos and organizers.

Progressive Democrats of America’s Advisory Board Chair Mimi Kennedy (who played a character named after Abbie Hoffman on the Dharma & Greg sitcom) and Lydia Cornell (who co-starred with Ted Knight on the Too Close for Comfort sitcom) were on hand. The activist/actresses were joined by other proverbial “usual suspects” -- members of Code Pink, World Can’t Wait, KPFK, longtime Democratic Party stalwart Stanley Scheinbaum (whose august Brentwood home has hosted many a fundraiser, book launching), etc. The happening was produced by the publicist extraordinaire for Tinseltown’s liberals, Ilene Proctor, who also produces the “Great Minds” series presenting thinkers, movers and shakers like Vidal, The Nation’s John Nichols, peace mom Cindy Sheehan, etc., in soirees at swanky Beverly Hills manses.

Kucinich, who is running on a “strength through peace program” that calls for the establishment of a Department of Peace, has arguably been the most leftwing leaning of the Democratic presidential aspirants. That is, with the possible exception of former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel, whose gruff manner and tough talk about U.S. imperialism got him bounced early on from the televised debates. (On January 10, Gravel’s website declared: “I’m still in it!” and this contender who fell through the media cracks still appears on the primary ballot in numerous states.) ABC, NBC, MSNBC and CNN also found Kucinich to be too far outside of the envelope and, in reprehensible moves smacking of totalitarianism excluded the Democrat from a crucial pre-New Hampshire debate, as well as debates in other states where Dennis is on the ballot.

Lord of the Rings co-star Viggo Mortensen protested: “When a television network has the power to decide which candidates are ‘worthy’ of addressing the American people, it robs the American people of their most precious right to the free flow of information and dissenting points of view.” Kucinich also publicly raised the specter of the role of NBC/MSNBC’s parent company, GE, as a defense contractor as a motivation in keeping the peace-nik off the airwaves.

But the Cleveland congressman was able to hold forth and get his humanitarian message out unfiltered at the Santa Monica fundraiser, where he took the stage with his British-born wife Elizabeth and Vidal. Kucinich proved himself to be quite a philosophical orator, if not exactly a rabble-rouser, as he railed against torture, Iran and the Bush regime’s other ills while engaging Vidal in a dialectical dialogue. Dennis asked Al Gore’s distant cousin if “we’ve had a period in American history when the Constitution has been quite as imperiled?"

The renowned author of historical fiction about figures such as Abraham Lincoln replied, “I don’t know if we’re going to get the constitution back… We’ve lost habeas corpus, we’ve lost Magna Carta… [R]epublics once lost don’t really come back easily. Just look at what’s been done to the courts – we’ve got some very peculiar people on the high judiciary… very strange people… It’s as if somebody’s got a plan… Enough of the jolly talk,” Vidal, the noted wit and wag added.

“We’re at a point,” rejoined a not-so-merry Dennis, “where we understand the urgency… that our democratic principles are being destroyed… and [that] we have an obligation to do something about it. My candidacy is really not just a restoration – because that would imply that what we had before was acceptable; it wasn’t – but it’s really about American evolution, about evolving beyond the conditions which tolerated preemptive war, unilateralism, first strike. Beyond the philosophy of American imperia or Pax Americana, and towards understanding the essentiality of human unity, [which] is the imperative, not a glib ‘War on Terror.’ Human unity is the antithesis of a ‘War on Terror,’ [it] is understanding that we’re interdependent and one…

“We stand for international law… getting rid of all weapons of mass destruction [and] that part of our consciousness that is separate from one another… Unity was… implicate in our motto, ‘E Pluribus Unum’ – ‘out of many we are one’… This campaign becomes the vehicle to really… reclaim our democratic principles… To start from that point of reclaiming and then move from there to evolve to… where we stand for… basic rights in a democratic society to healthcare, education and employment. Where we challenge the underlying religion of the time… a crass consumerism – ‘I’m gonna get mine and the heck with all of you’... We can still reclaim our country. In the words of [Lord Alfred] Tennyson: ‘Come my friends, ’tis not too late to seek a newer world.’ So, I’m hopeful, although I’m not unaware of the challenges,” said the philosopher-congressman (although a peacenik’s quoting of the poet who penned The Charge of the Light Brigade is eyebrow-raising).

Vidal contended that Kucinich’s campaign was a movement rallying the nation and that “the people were waking up.” He pointed out that Dennis was “bringing charges of impeachment against the vice president,” which triggered applause. “It proves that the constitution, even in tatters, is still there. If not by the ‘dawn’s early light,’ by the light of reason.” Dennis went on to say he’s “working on a 55 page document which includes about 30 counts of impeachment” against Bush, which caused a standing ovation as citizen Kucinich added, “The truth shall set ye free.”

(Following January 8’s New Hampshire primary, wherein there was a wide discrepancy between polls’, pundits’ and reporters’ expectations and indications and the announced electoral results, Kucinich called for a recount.)

A human rights activist in her own right, Elizabeth Kucinich described her husband’s campaign as “rallying the power of the people… to restore America to have a government of the people, by the people and for the people.” The raven-haired beauty is half Dennis’ age and would surely be our most elegant and eloquent First Lady since Jacqueline Kennedy if her spouse gets elected.

Other speakers at the event included L.A. City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, Kennedy, the hosts, and organizer Don White, who has served on KPFK’s board. There was also a limited Q&A, and Rosendahl read and gave to Vidal – who left early to attend a funeral -- a certificate of appreciation proclaiming him to be “a living landmark for the City of Los Angeles.” Here, here! White, a veteran of countless Pacifica pledge drives, went on to pass the hat and raise even more money than the admission fee attendees had already paid to be at the fundraiser. White could wring rum out of a teetotaler, and according to Proctor the fundraiser generated $40,000 for Kucinich’s campaign. Not too shabby for an afternoon’s work in La-La-Land’s sunshine.

I asked one attendee, Shelia Dean, “If the Democratic Party’s corporate forces won the nomination, should the Kucinich wing of the party split off and join up with World Can’t Wait and other progressive organizations and independents and start a new party not beholden to corporate interests?” The student organizer replied: “It’s a good idea, definitely something to think about.”

But Kucinich himself didn’t think so. Towards the end of the candidate’s clambake, in the kitchen with mike in hand I approached the contender, who was flanked by an aide/handler/flunky or whatever, and asked, “Congressman, have time for a quick question for the Los Angeles Journal?” After Dennis assented I began: “If your candidacy is not successful and the corporate wing of the Democratic Party” –

Like any politician seeking spin control he icily cut me off, asserting: “I’m not going there. I’m not talking about my campaign not being successful.”

During his discussion with Vidal, Kucinich had groused about “This issue of viability. I hear all over the country: ‘Boy, we love you Dennis but you can’t win’… There is this presidential sweepstakes… it’s already occurred in the media, where they’ve anointed two people. And if anyone else tries to break that consensus, shame on you, or you’re a non-person.”

I can understand how annoying it must be to be constantly bombarded with negativism, and to have to constantly defend your constitutional right to run for office, instead of answering questions about the issues. Poor Dennis, he’s received more press coverage concerning UFOs and his recommendation that his Iowa backers support a competitor if they don’t meet the 15 percent caucus threshold than for being the only Democratic candidate who actually voted against authorizing Bush to go to war with Iraq. It must be frustrating, but Dennis’ viability really wasn’t my point, and as a First Amendment fanatic, I hate it when any politico tries to control the press, so I pressed on:

“Would you favor the Kucinich wing of the Democratic Party splitting off and joining with independents to create a new progressive party?”

The U.S. Representative responded: “Right now, I’m thinking about unity, not division. We need to unite to redefine the Democratic Party, so that it isn’t a party of complicity in war… and destruction of our civil liberties. We need the Democratic Party to be a true second party, instead of a pathetic mimicry of another party. We need the Democratic Party to show up and be Democratic.”

Although Kucinich’s sidekick tried to stop me from asking a follow-up, the candidate did anyway once he heard it. “You used the phrase ‘a workers’ White House’ in one debate. Do you think there’s any place for… socialism in America?”

“You know what?” the Democrat replied. “I think we need a government that stands for education… healthcare… jobs for all. To me, that’s a Democratic government. I gotta go right now.” It was late in the day and the candidate still had more stumping to do.

One of the Democratic faithful, Dennis refuses to discuss leaving a party he himself condemns, even if the reactionary elements in it continue to prevail. Dennis also declines to make a break with the capitalist system, opting instead to reform it. So, if Dennis is the most left-leaning Democratic presidential candidate, then how left is left?

In terms of foreign policy, another Congressman – Texan Ron Paul – may be even more critical of foreign policy than Dennis. Like Dennis, Paul was excluded from a pre-New Hampshire Fox News presidential debate – even though he’d resoundingly outscored rival Rudy Giuliani in the Iowa caucuses. (Interestingly, even though he was included in Fox’s debate, Giuliani only managed to edge Paul out by one percentage point in New Hampshire’s primary.) It’s true that the libertarian has wacky domestic and social policies, and his newsletter has been accused of printing racist language in the past (which Paul recently disavowed). but when it comes to the Iraq War, Paul uses words like “empire,” “imperialism,” and “blowback” far more than Dennis does. (Please correct me if I’m wrong, Dear Reader). Via adept Net roots trolling online, Paul has also probably raised much more money, and perhaps more voters, than Dennis.

The mantra of this election is “change.” When this is reported, the media, as well as the candidates (particularly Republicans) generally don’t have the courage to specify what this means. First and foremost, change from the policies and administration of President Bush, the Calamity George of American history who walks around with a cloud over his head, bringing doom and gloom wherever he goes. The people’s desire for change is also due to the failure of the 2006 midterm elections -- which led to a slim Democratic majority in the House and Senate -- to end the Iraq War and bring about a more equitable, just America.

Those on the Left – which begins where the Kucinich faction of the Democratic Party ends – should assess the situation and keep their eyes on the prize. The masses’ thirst for change presents historic opportunities, because if the Democrats again fail to fulfill the people’s aspirations, this won’t make the majority’s craving for a better world go away: it will only deepen it. Continuing imperial adventures abroad and a worsening economy at home could present those waiting in the wings with no stake in the current system and its parties with their chance. Those advocating a program of sweeping, fundamental change based on scrapping the military-industrial-media complex, the reordering of our national priorities to meet human needs and radical redistribution of wealth will be the real change agents. Then we’ll have a true workers’ White House, where the people are the executives in the executive mansion, losing their chains as they gain that better, “newer world.”