Wednesday, August 27, 2003

By James O'Toole Post-Gazette Politics Editor

U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, won the cheers of a union crowd yesterday with a fiery call for universal heath care.

Kucinich's 40-minute address to a convention of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers was shot through with criticisms of his better-known rivals for the Democratic nomination for president. The former Cleveland mayor repeatedly maintained that the front-running contenders were shortchanging their party with a timid debate characterized by "narrow choices and false choices."

Speaking in the ballroom of the Omni William Penn Hotel, Downtown, Kucinich also confronted the common political wisdom that has relegated him to a second tier of Democratic hopefuls.

"This race has not taken shape yet," he insisted. "It's still early."

The Ohio populist denounced incremental approaches to the health care issue, maintaining that universal, single-payer health care was the only appropriate Democratic policy in a nation where 41 million people lack health insurance.

He criticized Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor, for proposing a more gradual approach to expanding health care. Referring to Dean's background as a physician, he said, "We need a second opinion."

"Unless a Democratic candidate is willing to step forward and challenge this [health care] system, he has no business carrying the banner of this party," Kucinich said.

The Ohio congressman also drew applause with a promise to turn the nation away from free trade agreements.

"As president, my first act in office will be to cancel NAFTA and the [World Trade Organization]," he said.

He charged that Rep. Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., who is also known as a skeptic on trade agreements, would be ineffective in correcting their defects.

"You can't fix NAFTA," he said. "This promise of free trade is an illusion."

Kucinich didn't reserve all of his criticism for his fellow Democrats. He denounced the Bush administration for "lies and deception" in making the case for the war in Iraq, a war, he said, "that we didn't need to be in."

At the end of his spirited remarks, Kucinich received a standing ovation. The response of one delegate from the left-leaning union suggested the appeal and the challenges of the Kucinich candidacy.

"I agree with everything he says," said Diana Alexander-Jones, a delegate from Philadelphia. "Is he new? I've never really heard anything about him before."

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