Think Progress

Kucinich’s convention speech edited.

By Amanda Terkel on Aug 27th, 2008 at 1:33 pm

Kucinich’s convention speech edited.

The Hill reports that the Obama campaign has, at times, been “tightening the reins on campaign speeches and stressing that speakers emphasize a rags-to-riches theme.” Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) had one line redacted from his speech, which suggested some conservatives need to serve time in prison. The original line read: “They’re asking for another four years — in a just world, they’d get 10 to 20.”



65 Responses to “Kucinich’s convention speech edited.”

  1. EugeneDebs says:

    Great line. Dems should cowboy up and say things EXACTLY like that. Exactly in that they are TRUE. Dennis is the MAN. I wish Obama had his guts.


  2. Rich H says:

    How come his speach wasn’t on MSNBC – I missed it. Got to love Dennis. He speaks the truth.


  3. Max-1 says:

    .

    This would mean impeachment investigations would include Speaker Pelosi…
    … Amd Democrats can’t have that!

    .


  4. drumwhore says:

    that’s sad. they really should have left that in its true. the republicans would of course try to use that against them but thats all part of the game. Dems have long needed to step up to that plate and learn how to out-republican republicans. play their game.



  5. DRxJ says:

    “They’re asking for another four years — in a just world, they’d get 10 to 20.”

    Dennis, truer words have never been spoken.

    True dat!


  6. Buckie Boy says:

    Dennis is a true patriot – I have noticed just how the speakers are steering away from “sensitive” subjects, like abortion rights and the present criminal administrations actions.

    Just wish we had more like Dennis and my rep. Jim McDermott, Senator Patti Murray.


  7. raynman says:

    I know that the Democrats want this to be a positive image of the future of the country…but you gotta remember and emphasize just how far down the toilet we are and McCain represents that final flush….


  8. krazeeinjun says:

    For that line all I have to say is — is it too late to nominate Dennis for President??

    Just saying . . .


  9. hussein toasterhead says:

    Rich H Says:

    How come his speach wasn’t on MSNBC

    Got to love Dennis. He speaks the truth.

    August 27th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
    _______

    Looks like you answered your own question there.


  10. Uncle Ho says:

    Redacted or not, Dennis speaks the truth.

    Some ‘conservatives’ DO need to serve time in prison.


  11. Shayne says:

    If all voters were like posters here Dennis might have gotten the nomination. But since most voters are “low information” types they need to not be scared away.


  12. Dharma says:

    They don’t want the “low information” folks to start screaming for impeachment because Nancy will probably go down with the USS BushCo.


  13. EugeneDebs says:

    Tanqueray Says:

    Well really no one cares. Why do you bother? You are an ignorant piece of garbage without a shred of decency. At first I could laugh at the free clown show but now you are just so sad and pitiful


  14. DRxJ says:

    Did a poster referencing to a brand of Gin post something?


  15. A Patriot Acting says:

    Dennis Kucunich for Speaker of the House in 2009!


  16. A Patriot Acting says:

    mea culpa, s/b Kucinich of course!


  17. shoeless says:

    I sent a contribution to Kucinich’s Congressional campaign, even though he isn’t my Congressman. The Republicans and their corporate masters would love nothing more than to sack Dennis.


  18. Kay says:

    Of course, Day One of Obama’s Great Change arrived when he caved on FISA….


  19. McWars says:

    A Patriot Acting Says:

    Dennis Kucunich for Speaker of the House in 2009!

    YES! That would be wonderful for our democracy!


  20. A Patriot Acting says:

    fee fi fum foal
    I smell the shite of a c-list troll!


  21. Shayne says:

    This is why Republicans win. A congressman is given the opportunity to speak, not all are, and because one line is edited it’s used to badmouth the party and the candidate. We’ll have much bigger worries if McCain wins the election.


  22. Kay says:

  23. Shayne says:

    I hate to sound trollish but I’d heard that Obama voted for the bill because as a constitutional scholar he knew that the bill was written so poorly it wouldn’t hold up and didn’t want them firming it up before the next vote. But Kay, have you met RHF he’s around here somewhere.


  24. Bilbo Hussein Baggins says:

    As usual, the Hill’s reporting is slanted. Obama’s editing of people’s speeches has nothing to do with “rags to riches” and has everything to do with not offending the electorate. I think he was right to ask Kucinich to take the line out of his speech. It would have drawn immediate attention by the righties (as will happen anyway thanks to the Hill) who will start screaming about how vengeful the Democrats are going to be when they get elected.


  25. tom says:

    This would mean impeachment investigations would include Speaker Pelosi . . . and Democrats can’t have that!

    I suspect that Pelosi had her red pen out when she reviewed Dennis’ speech. This has her name written all over it.

    The first order of business for the next Congress is to replace all leadership — Pelosi, Hoyer and Reid. Give President folks that he can work with and give us the leadership we demand and deserve.


  26. Kay says:

    Do you think Obama, once elected, will prosecute BushCo. for all the Federal crimes committed?


  27. Kay says:

    I personally wouldn’t bet the farm on it! As long as Nance is still around…


  28. hussein toasterhead says:

    Kay Says:

    Of course, Day One of Obama’s Great Change arrived when he caved on FISA….

    August 27th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
    _______

    I don’t think this was much of a change. Perhaps a change in the way people perceive him, but not in his actual policy. Obama’s not as progressive as people like to pretend – he’s still a free-trader and a Chicago Boy, after all. Not a neocon by any stretch, but still…


  29. Bilbo Hussein Baggins says:

    A Patriot Acting Says:
    Dennis Kucunich for Speaker of the House in 2009!

    Now that would be amazing. Then give us Russ Feingold as Senate Majority Leader and I’ll be a very happy camper!


  30. mary says:

    Why would that be tangerine? Were you trying to say something inflammatory?


  31. Bilbo Hussein Baggins says:

    shoeless Says:
    I sent a contribution to Kucinich’s Congressional campaign, even though he isn’t my Congressman. The Republicans and their corporate masters would love nothing more than to sack Dennis.

    They gave it a good try, but Dennis prevailed. The right wing heavily funded a primary opponent but the guy lost pretty good.


  32. Uncle Ho says:

    Kay @ 2:02 pm;

    I hope and pray for just exactly that.


  33. Styve says:

    I made a sign in 2006 that was along the same lines…

    BUSH NEEDS A TIME-OUT,
    20 – 30 YEARS SHOULD DO!!


  34. Bilbo Hussein Baggins says:

    Tanqueray Says:

    Isn’t that the problem here? THE WORDS WEREN’T SPOKEN!! Barry muzzled the KOOK!

    IMPEACH Barry America!! He’s no longer my guy.

    Like he ever was.

    Go McKinney(I-outerspace)

    Works for me if you vote for McKinney since it will not be a vote for McBush. But then, I expect you will really vote for McBush when the time comes.

    Darn, I really thought they had $hit canned Tanq. Too bad they didn’t.

    This is awaiting moderation?

    Apparently not, to our misfortune.


  35. Saint Augustine says:

    I think the Obama campaign knows better than to provide fuel for a fire of prosecution until after the election. I think the day after the election would be a good day to begin rounding up the republiscum criminals, starting with Darth and Chimpy’s impeachment.


  36. 5th Estate says:

    I just saw the re-reun of Kucinich’s speech. I always liked him once I new who he was, courtesy of his candidate run, but he last night he nailed so many important issues last night adn not with vitriol but with positive enthusiasm and brilliant rhetoric (kudos to all those who crafted the words he delivered). It was such a pleasure to watch and to listen-to.


  37. House of Roberts says:

    Kay at 2:02 pm & 2:03 pm

    “Do you think Obama, once elected, will prosecute BushCo. for all the Federal crimes committed?”

    “I personally wouldn’t bet the farm on it! As long as Nance is still around…”

    Obama could appoint his own DOJ prosecutors. He wouldn’t need Congress, just the courts.


  38. Kay says:

    What other Representative is fighting for the forgotten first responders/figher fighters than Kucinich? Townsend of the EPA said the air in NYC was ok to breathe after 9/11.

    Over 200 responders have died.

    The reason I have gallons of respect for this man is because he always speaks the truth. Plus he abides by the Constitution and The Bill of Rights.


  39. Frosty Cupcake says:

    Kay Says:

    Do you think Obama, once elected, will prosecute BushCo. for all the Federal crimes committed?

    _______________________________________________________________

    No.

    And yes I’ve given money and done volunteer work for the campaign as Obama would be light years ahead of McCain, but he will still do nothing to prosecute the criminals who have been allowed to prosper these last 8 years.


  40. Zimzone says:

    Speaking of Ohio, Strickland did a pretty good job last night.

    I hope an Obama administration recognizes the qualities Kucinich brings to the table. As a Constitutional lawyer, Obama must realize Kucinich’s defense of such is far more important than today’s ‘news cycle’.


  41. EugeneDebs says:

    Tanqueray Says:

    Tanqueray Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
    Wow! I guess some people are just too sensitive!
    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    And other people are ignorant beyond belief say YOU for instance


  42. Shayne says:

    Kay Says:

    What other Representative is fighting for the forgotten first responders/figher fighters than Kucinich? Townsend of the EPA said the air in NYC was ok to breathe after 9/11.

    Over 200 responders have died.

    The reason I have gallons of respect for this man is because he always speaks the truth. Plus he abides by the Constitution and The Bill of Rights.

    What did Senator Clinton do to help the first responders in her state?


  43. fletc3her says:

    And why is this news? And why is this interesting to progressives? A joke was removed from a Kucinich speech. Alert the media!


  44. Bob says:

    Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
    It would have drawn immediate attention by the righties (as will happen anyway thanks to the Hill) who will start screaming about how vengeful the Democrats are going to be when they get elected.

    I figure they are going to do this no matter what any democrat says. Isn’t that exactly why Pelosi took impeachment off the table? Since the republicans have nothing to run on, they have to convince everyone that the ds will bring gov’t to a halt investigating the last eight years. I look for this to be an issue forced to the ‘front pages’ in the next couple months. Especially if McCain has a string of ’senior moments’ that no amount of spin can make it look like Obama’s fault or weakness.


  45. Buckie Boy says:

    Just listened to Dennis’ speech, WOW, it was awesome, we need more of this kind of enthusiasm and passion from our speakers…but don’t want to upset the LIV people, oh nosss.


  46. wizard2000 says:

    Just like Pelosi, Hoyer and Reid taking impeachment of Bush and Cheney off the table, it looks like the Blue Dogs running Obama’s campaign are taking any mention of holding accountable any other culture of corruption Republicans off the table, too.

    Which means that if Obama is elected president and begins early next year appointing “Democrats” to replace all the criminal Republicans currently running federal agencies…into the ground, then he’ll no doubt appoint a whole lot of Blue Dog Democrats to replace the Republican scoundrels (after these appointees have been vetted ala Monica Goodling’s search engine).

    I hope I’m wrong. Hopefully a bunch of liberal, progressive Democrats will be selected by a President Obama to replace all the criminal, corrupt conservatives, primarily so we can return honor, honesty and integrity to our federal government. Otherwise, stating that one is for “change” while keeping a bunch of conservatives in charge (i.e. Blue Dog Democrats) is just empty words, and will continue the downward spiral of our nation.

    The conservative Blue Dog Democrats running the convention are running it just like they’ve been running Congress…blocking attempts by patriotic liberal progressives to hold all the Fascist Republicans accountable while at the same time the Blue Dogs bend over backwards to accommodate the culture of corruption Republicans and their corporate puppetmasters.


  47. stefan says:

    I think it’s a great line, and stuff like that should be said repeatedly – but on the talk shows. At the convention it’s a all about presenting Obama and the campaign with a dignified image. It’s PR. If Kucinich said that (though he’d be exactly right) suddenly the Message would switch from “How Great Obama Is”, to “Oh Those Democrats, So Divisive”.

    From a talk show perspective it’s great. From a PR perspective it’s not. The convention is all about PR.


  48. hussein toasterhead says:

    wizard2000 Says:

    I hope I’m wrong. Hopefully a bunch of liberal, progressive Democrats will be selected by a President Obama to replace all the criminal, corrupt conservatives, primarily so we can return honor, honesty and integrity to our federal government. Otherwise, stating that one is for “change” while keeping a bunch of conservatives in charge (i.e. Blue Dog Democrats) is just empty words, and will continue the downward spiral of our nation.

    August 27th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
    _______

    On the other hand, if he selects all these progressives from Congress, then the House and Senate will lose their liberal factions and will be run by the Blue Dogs.

    Personally, I’m hoping to see a cabinet drawn from academia, the NGO community, and the socially-conscious private sector. Joe Stiglitz for Treasury, Paul Farmer for HHS, that sorta thing


  49. Paul W says:

    It figures that the do nothing Democrats would edit out what’s probably the best and most appropriate line from his speech.

    http://progressiveworldreview.com


  50. DvlsAdvocat says:

    Yeah, that line should absolutely have been left in. In fact, I hope it was cut so it could be used in Obama’s speech, since that is when everyone will be watching.


  51. RUCerious says:

    As a candidate whose main premise is “bring the nation together”, putting the perps in prison would be the just thing to do, put not the politically savvy thing to get the other side of the aisle to meet somewhere in the middle.

    That said, I think Obama will be real surprised when he extends his hand across the aisle and the Republics shake his hand with a woodchipper.


  52. WaltTheMan says:

    The Legislative Branch is like a septic tank, it’s the sh|t that rises to the top.


  53. freeman says:

    Dennis Kucinich is a real patriot , one of only a very few in either party !


  54. JustJohn says:

    Anybody got time to do a Republican Convention Agenda??? This is an email going around….

    Agenda for the 2008 Democrat National Convention (Just Released)

    7:00 pm Opening flag burning
    7:15 pm Pledge of Allegiance to the U.N. in Spanish
    7:20 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
    7:25 pm Nonreligious prayer and worship with Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton
    7:45 pm Ceremonial tree hugging
    7:55 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
    8:00 pm How I Invented the Internet – Al Gore
    8:35 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
    8:40 pm Our Troops are War Criminals – John Kerry
    9:00 pm Saddam Memorial Rally – Cindy Sheehan and Susan Sarandon
    11.00 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
    11:05 pm Collection for the Osama Bin Laden kidney transplant fund – Barbara Streisand
    11:15 pm Free the Freedom Fighters from Guantanamo Bay – Sean Penn
    11:30 pm Oval Office Affairs – William Jefferson Clinton
    11:45 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
    11:50 pm How George Bush Brought Down the World Trade Towers -Howard Dean & Rosie O’Donnell
    12:15 am ‘Truth in Broadcasting Award’ – Presented to Dan Rather by Michael Moore
    12:25 am Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
    12:30 am Satellite address by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
    12:45 am Nomination of Barrack Hussan Obama by Nancy Pelosi
    12:50 am Speech and toast by Hugo Chavez to the departure of The Great Satan’, ‘W’ Bush
    12:50 am Hillary proposes a toast to our millions of new Illegal Alien voters
    1:00 am Ted Kennedy proposes a toast to the extinction of the Republican party.
    1:05 am Coronation of Barrack Hussan Obama
    1:30 am Ted Kennedy attempts to proposes his final toast
    1:35 am Bill Clinton asks Ted to drive Hillary home


  55. Steaming Pile says:

    Has anyone seen Citizen Kane? What was the thing that brought down Kane’s campaign for governor? That’s right; direct threats against his opponents. The time for that would be Wednesday, November 5th.

    Unlike Gov. Schweitzer’s speech, which was truly remarkable, I bet the MSM delighted in replaying DK’s antics. I would have cut that performance from the convention agenda altogether.


  56. Marie says:

    I thought C-Span would be covering everything on stage, but they are not. In fact, I see a lot of Republican interviews, the Republican platform committee — whose convention is this?


  57. Rich H says:

    Thanks for posting the speach. I’ve noticed how some are saying Pelosi should be impeached as well. So be it. Anyone from either party who broke the law should go. That would make it 10% Democrat and 90% Republican out the door. I can live with that.
    Great speach too. I can’t wait till we unleash on them – the we can hear the Republicans true colors – crybabys all the way.
    No offense to babies.


  58. freeman says:

    The threat of justice should be just swept under the rug ?wow talk about taking off the gloves .


  59. leonine says:

    I love Dennis. He’s one of the few reasons for not giving up entirely on the Dems.


  60. freeman says:

    Dennis kucinich’s speach was the finest moment in the last 8 years for the democrats !The truth is unstoppable , and not to be denied !


  61. freeman says:

    forgive my typo I’m just a little excited .


  62. Keith says:

    CNN went to commercials just before Dennis came on, so I missed half (?) his speech. I gotta stop watching CNN.



  63. Brain From Planet Arous says:

    Well, first off, Joe “I Am A Zionist” Biden was pushing for an invasion of Iraq before Bush, and has always been for surveillance of innocent Americans, except in the last FISA vote. Also, Pelosi, and all of the other AIPAC hoes are as responsible for Iraq as much as Bush.

    This election is a sham, and when when Obama wins, they will not pull the plug on women’s rights, Social Security, and Medicare, but most likely will continue Perpetual War, albeit in a different location. Both Obama and Biden have told half-truths and information cleansed the Invasion by Georgia of South Ossetia so as to bring back the 1950s bogey man, The Ruskies.

    Kucinich is the most intelligent and truthful of all the politicians, but is truly antiwar, which does not sit well with the New Breed of Warriors and Militarizers.



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