To Say or Not To Say
So on the message boards of my intro to conflict resolution class, an article about Kucinich was posted with a request for input and thoughts from the class. Since I know this is so near and dear to my sister's heart, I will post the article and then my response.
(CNN) - Strong words from Democratic presidential contender Dennis Kucinich may be
nothing new, but his comments to a newspaper Tuesday questioning President Bush’s
mental health are raising a few eyebrows.
“I seriously believe we have to start asking questions about his mental health," the Ohio
congressman told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "There's something wrong. He does not seem
to understand his words have real impact."
Kucinich's comments were in reference to the president's recent remarks on Iran, in
which he suggested World War III could occur if the country obtained nuclear
capabilities.
“I've told people that, if you're interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you
ought to be interested in preventing them from having the knowledge necessary to make
a nuclear weapon," Bush said at a news conference earlier this month.
The Democratic presidential candidate later said he does not consider questioning the
Bush's mental health inappropriate, according the Inquirer's Web site.
“You cannot be a President of the United States who's wanton in his expression of
violence," Kucinich said. "There's a lot of people who need care. He might be one of
them. If there isn't something wrong with him, then there's something wrong with us.
This, to me, is a very serious question."
A Republican National Committee spokesman called the comments "absurd and
irresponsible."
- CNN Political Desk Managing Editor Steve Brusk
I find it significant that with all the mudslinging around elections regarding a candidate's
character, the fact that Obama has been told that he won't be able to win the election
without some mudslinging and the negative press he gets for attempting to run his
campaign that way is completely flipped about by the media for the comments that
Kucinich made. This is not to say that I believe Kucinich is "slinging mud" rather that he
is bringing to light certain possibilities that appear to be relevant to the current state of the
union as well as upcoming elections. Isn't that what all the candidates do? (Insert tongue
in cheek here) I am glad to finally see a public figure who will ask the hard, relevant
questions and expect answers, and expect US to expect answers.
Carolyn, having spent a lot of time reading and listening to Kucinich, I do not believe this
is specifically a campaign strategy. It will probably do well to get him media coverage,
which won’t hurt his campaign, however, my personal opinion of the man and the
statement is that he would have said it regardless of his choice to run for office. The
difference with him saying it while running for President is that he does have the media
coverage.
My questions in regard to conflict resolution are:
Regarding Mr. Bush, Is it not the nature of the society he grew up in and lives in that
constantly reinforces his decisions and creates the mindset by which he operates? I think
that is part of what Kucinich is getting at here. If it is the society that is reinforcing it, is
there something wrong with us?
Does that make Mr. Bush mentally unstable or is he just a mirror to the country?
On a side note, I was boarding a plane a week ago and heard a couple talking about
voting for the Presidential Election. The man said, “My first choice is Kucinich, but I
want to vote for someone who will win this time.”
I wonder how many people feel that way…