Dennis Kucinich

The "Far Left" always has to have a knight in shining armor. In past years it was Ralph Nader. This year the mantle has fallen to Congressman Kucinich. This was painfully made aware last night at the LOGO cablecast for six Democrats running for president. Melissa Etheridge could not contain herself when she announced that she was trying not to "fawn" all over the Ohio representative. Kucinich seems to be a sincere fellow and should be applauded for his strong stands on ending the Iraq war and his calling for full legalization of gay marriage. However, the left needs to get things in reality. Kucinich has no chance of winning the Democratic nomination. In a pure world, yes, this would be possible. But our world is not pure. The great majority of Americans are not "progressives". They are concerned about abortion, gayness, gun rights, etc. Thankfully more and more are forming opinions that progressives would applaud. But America is a big country and the president must represent everyone. Candidates like Clinton and now even Obama, realize that change can only come in incremental steps. Civil unions with full rights is a move forward. If people on the left want to see progress than they have to be more realistic as they approach the candidates. By being "too pure" enough abandoned Al Gore for Nader's pie in the sky and got Bush in the White House. Be smart and move towards the center while holding on to the ideals that hopefully will one day be accomplished.