The Contenders: on Homeland Security

Barack Obama: Don’t allow our politics to be driven by fear of terrorism

A statement most Democrats will make only in progressive precincts, the one he couldn’t quite get out when asked what he would do if American cities were attacked: “The threat that we face now is nowhere near as dire as it was in the Cold War. We shouldn’t allow our politics to be driven by the fear of terrorism.” Source: The Contenders, by Laura Flanders, p. 82 Nov 11, 2007

Chris Dodd: Co-sponsored “Restoring the Constitution Act” to ban torture

On civil liberties, Dodd co-sponsored the “Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007,” which restores Habeas Corpus rights, bars evidence gained through torture of coercion, and reinstates US adherence to the Geneva Conventions in order to protect the nation’s military personnel abroad. Source: The Contenders, by Laura Flanders, p.173 Nov 11, 2007

Hillary Clinton: 2001: Called for wrath on those who attacked America on 9/11

Within hours of two planes crashing into two New York towers on 9/11/2001, Hillary Clinton’s closest advisor, Bill, urged her to come out strong. It was he who encouraged her to show that she had the requisite boldness and guts to lead the nation and protect her people. The very next day, Hillary delivered a call to arms that hailed “wrath” on those who harbored terrorists. While others were modeling a different style of leadership by holding firm for global cooperation, criminal prosecution, and a reassertion, rather than a shedding of international jurisprudence, Clinton channeled Thatcher, Britain’s “Iron Lady,” and delivered a bombastic speech in which she described the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon as an “attack on America.” Clinton called for punishment for those responsible, the hijackers, and their ilk and vowed that any country that chose to harbor terrorists and “in any way aid or comfort them whatsoever will now face the wrath of our country.” Source: The Contenders, by Laura Flanders, p. 18-19 Nov 11, 2007

Mike Gravel: 1960s: Wept openly in Senate because US is dragged in mud

It could be argued that Gravel’s so-called tirades, especially on the Iraq War, result not from naivete, but from a kind of experience that none of the other candidates share.

Until the debates, Gravel’s low-budget campaign may have been nearly invisible. Yet to older progressives, Gravel is hardly an unknown. During the 1960s, he was often in the news as one of Congress’s fiercest opponents of the Vietnam War. In his most famous act, Gravel helped make public the Pentagon Papers by carrying them into the Senate in two suitcases and reading them into the record--for a time, with tears streaming down his face.

In a television interview he said, “I wept because it hurts to see our nation dragged in the mud... to be part of a nation that is killing innocent human beings.” Gravel is also credited with mounting filibusters and cutting legislative deals that helped stop the draft, and later with fighting nuclear testing and nuclear power.

Source: The Contenders, by Laura Flanders, p.194 Nov 11, 2007

*The above quotations are from The Contenders, by Laura Flanders, Dean Kuipers, James Ridgeway, Richard Goldstein, and Elizabeth Sanders, published Aug. 2007.* Click here for definitions & background information on Homeland Security. Click here for other issues (main summary page). Click here for more quotes by Dennis Kucinich on Homeland Security.
*Candidates and political leaders on Homeland Security:*
*Incoming Obama Administration:* Pres.:Sen.Barack Obama V.P.:Sen.Joe Biden State:Hillary Clinton Staff:Rahm Emanuel Treas.:Tim Geithner DoD:Robert Gates A.G.:Eric Holder DHS:Janet Napolitano DoC:Bill Richardson	*Outgoing Bush Administration:* Pres.:George Bush V.P.:Dick Cheney A.G.:John Ashcroft(2005) DEA:Asa Hutchinson(2005) USDA:Mike Johanns(2007) EPA:Mike Leavitt HUD:Mel Martinez(2003) State:Colin Powell(2005) State:Condoleezza Rice HHS:Tommy Thompson(2005)	*2008 Presidential contenders:* AIP: Frank McEnulty Constitution: Chuck Baldwin GOP: Sen.John McCain GOP VP: Gov.Sarah Palin Green: Rep.Cynthia McKinney Independent: Ralph Nader Liberation: Gloria La Riva Libertarian: Rep.Bob Barr NAIP: Amb.Alan Keyes Socialist: Brian Moore
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