Juneau Democrats welcome Rep. Kucinich

Juneau Democrats received Rep. Dennis Kucinich enthusiastically on Thursday, as the Ohio congressman expounded on what he called the evils of the Bush administration, U.S. involvement in Iraq and the Patriot Act.

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Kucinich is the last remaining challenger to Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry for the Democratic nomination for president. He told Juneau audiences that while he knows Kerry will receive the nomination, he is staying in the race to show progressive Democrats that there is room for them in the party.

"This candidate before you right now represents the ability to reach out to people who would otherwise support (independent candidate) Ralph Nader," Kucinich told a crowd of about 100 at the Bill Egan Forum, a weekly Democratic gathering. "We need to bring those principals inside the Democratic party."

Kucinich received two standing ovations at the forum. He also addressed about 75 Juneau-Douglas High School students Thursday morning, spoke at a Native issues forum at the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall and attended a packed reception at the Hangar Ballroom in the late afternoon. He was scheduled to speak at the University of Alaska Southeast in the evening.

"I think it's great anytime a presidential candidate will come to Alaska," said state Rep. Beth Kerttula, D-Juneau.

Kucinich's platform includes pulling troops out of Iraq and putting in United Nations peacekeepers, repealing the Patriot Act, withdrawing from the North American Free Trade Agreement and establishing a national, universal health care plan. He noted that Kerry supported going into Iraq and the Patriot Act.

"(Going into Iraq) was a blunder, and more than a blunder, it was a misuse of government," Kucinich said. "Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, nothing to do with al Qaida."

At the Native issues forum, Kucinich was asked about his position on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He avoided saying outright that he opposes drilling, but noted he has a different perspective than Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who supports it.

"There is no guarantee that any oil out of ANWR is going to make that big of a dent in the market," he said. "This has an environmental impact that might far exceed the benefits oil has in any country."

Juneau resident Richard Listowski, who asked the question, said later he was impressed by Kucinich, but that he disagrees with his stance on ANWR and plans to vote for Kerry in tomorrow's Democratic caucus.

"I don't support Kucinich's stand on how we should deal with the Iraq situation. I don't have the confidence in the United Nation that he has, and now that we are in Iraq, we have to ensure we complete the job. We can't just pull out," Listowski said.

Kucinich campaign volunteer Amy Paige said she thinks Kucinich would have had a much better chance at capturing the nomination if the media had given him more coverage.

"His message has a broad appeal if you listen to it," she said. "We need to get the progressive platform, get the Democratic Party to recognize its progressive wing."

• Masha Herbst can be reached at masha.herbst@juneauempire.com.