Dennis Kucinich on Civil Rights Democratic Representative (OH-10); Democratic Candidate for President

Civil marriage is not necessarily between a man & a woman

KUCINICH: No. There's a question of civil marriage, and there's a question of marriage as performed by the church. We're talking about civil law here.

Allow gays and lesbians to marry

A: I would help to create a culture in America so that people could be whoever they are, because if America is about anything, it has to be about a chance for people to live out their dream and to express their own authenticity. And so, gays, lesbians, bisexual, transgender people under my administration would have full participation, and they would also have the right to marry.

Reparations for slavery should take form of social programs

A: The Bible tells us we must be "repairers of the breach". The institution of slavery created a breach in our society, which still remains today. That breach is evident in the disparities which exist in educational opportunities, health care, employment opportunities, housing and other critical areas for people of color. The question is not whether or not there should be reparations. There must be. The question is what form will such reparations take? I believe a broad based program of social and economic reforms which consciously works to lift the conditions for people of color will lift up everyone. It is said a rising tide lifts all boats. We must create the advancing tide with health care for all, jobs for all, educational opportunities for all, housing opportunities for all.

Repeal the PATRIOT Act: stop being driven by fear

Must challenge rationale of USA PATRIOT Act

Same sex couples deserve equal domestic benefits

Affirmative action is necessary & right & must be preserved

Voted against the misnamed "Patriot Act"

A: I am the only presidential candidate to vote against the misnamed "Patriot Act." I am proud of that vote. As President, I will push to revoke it. I will challenge any Patriot II sequel. I argued that the "Patriot Act" and related measures had effectively revoked half of the ten amendments in the Bill of Rights. I am now drafting a bill to repeal the "Patriot Act" and restore civil liberties essential to a functioning democracy.

Prayer for America: Why put aside Constitutional justice?

I offer this prayer for America.
• Let us pray that our nation will remember that the unfolding of the promise of democracy in our nation paralleled the striving for civil rights. That is why we must challenge the rationale of the Patriot Act. We must ask, Why should America put aside guarantees of Constitutional justice?
• How can we justify in effect canceling the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments?
• We cannot justify widespread wiretaps and Internet surveillance with judicial supervision, let alone without it.
• We cannot justify secret searches without a warrant.
• We cannot justify giving the attorney general the ability to designate domestic terror groups.
• We cannot justify giving the FBI total access to any type of data which may exist in any system anywhere, such as medical records and financial records.
• We cannot justify giving the CIA the ability to target people in this country for intelligence surveillance.

Focus on jobs instead of pitting people against each other

A: I would rather concentrate on creating more decent jobs for everyone, discriminating against no member of our society, rather than get involved with pitting Americans against one another.

Voted YES on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration.

Voted YES on Constitutional amendment prohibiting Flag Desecration.

Voted NO on banning gay adoptions in DC.

Voted YES on Amendment to prohibit burning the US flag.

Voted NO on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions.

Constitutional Amendment for equal rights by gender.

Title: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to equal rights for men and women. Summary: States that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Rated 64% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record.

The mission of the ACLU is to preserve protections and guarantees America’s original civic values - the Constitution and the Bill of Rights:
• Your First Amendment rights-freedom of speech, association and assembly. Freedom of the press, and freedom of religion supported by the strict separation of church and state.
• Your right to equal protection under the law - equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin.
• Your right to due process - fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake.Your right to privacy - freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs.

Our ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization's preferred position.