KUCINICH on Dean/Kerry spat over American Military Pre-eminence and expenditures
[Democrats are never going to get anywhere with Greens, if they keep insisting that the U.S. must continue to spend more money than everyone else to maintain military dominance. -Thomas]
Message: 25
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 20:28:52 EDT
From: ProudLiberal7@aol.com
Subject: FROM THE KUCINICH FOR PRESIDENT CAMPAIGN
FROM THE KUCINICH FOR PRESIDENT CAMPAIGN
For Immediate Release: Monday, April 28
“They’re Both Wrong”
A debate has recently erupted between rival Democratic campaigns, with
one candidate quoted as saying “We wonīt always have the strongest
military,” and a rival campaign responding that the candidate had
implied he “would compromise or tolerate an erosion of Americaīs
military supremacy.”
—
Tonight, Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich, the ranking Democrat on the
Government Reform subcommittee that monitors the Pentagon, issued the
following statement:
“Theyīre both wrong. The U.S. military is the strongest in the world by
far, and will remain so. But Democrats cannot lead the nation without
being strong enough to confront the bloat and waste in the Pentagon
budget.
“Our military budget is almost as big as that of all other countries
combined. While we have unchallenged superiority in military strength,
we also have more people without healthcare than any other advanced
industrial country — and Democrats must be bold enough to say the two
issues are linked.
“I donīt agree with other Democrats that we can continue to increase
military spending, and still deliver on our domestic agenda for middle
class and working Americans. We canīt. Thatīs voodoo budgeting.
“In this campaign, I plan to make a major issue of hometown security –
healthcare, jobs and education for all — and misspent Pentagon dollars,
even as other Democratic candidates join President Bush in pressing for
still more exorbitant military budgets.”
