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Kucinich had lunch in the basement of a West Toledo Mexican
restaurant Monday with some Latino leaders, seeking their
support. Kucinich was accompanied by former Toledo Public
Schools board member Robert Torres, now an economic
development consultant in Cleveland, and Lorain native
Richard Romero. The luncheon group included Lourdes
Santiago, newly appointed director of Toledo’s Dept. of
Neighborhoods; Gary Johnson, business owner and vice
chairman of the Lucas County Democratic Party; Hernan Vásquez,
business owner and board member of the Northwest Ohio Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce, as well as about a half-dozen other
prominent Toledo Latinos.
While the two veteran Democrats are well-known for their liberal
stances on issues, the pair is starting to emphasize their
political differences on recent votes—particularly on
immigration. While Kucinich voted “yes” with many fellow
Democrats in the U.S. House on the DREAM Act, Ms. Kaptur
surprised many in her own party by casting a “no” vote on the
legislation.
“I think Latinos are very important citizens to the future of
America,” said Kucinich, as he switched back-and-forth between
English and fluent Spanish to emphasize his point.
“Every group should be treated fairly,” countered Ms. Kaptur.
“No one should be given special privilege and no one should be
singled out and targeted.”
The DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien
Minors) would have provided conditional permanent residency
to certain undocumented immigrants who graduate from U.S. high
schools, arrived in the U.S. as minors, and lived state-side for
five continuous years. Others having served in the military or
attended an American college or university, each for two years,
would qualify for temporary residency for a six-year period.
Some studies cited such amnesty as generating new tax revenue
and reduced federal deficits as a result of the legislation.
“My role, as a member of Congress, is to bring people together,”
said Kucinich. “It has always been to reach to diverse groups,
some of which would be at the margins of society, and some of
which need more recognition. It’s time to say let’s work
together, united.”
The Democratic congressman pointed out that as a Cleveland city
councilman, he fought for the Miranda rights that police read to
suspects to be printed in Spanish, so immigrants knew what they
were facing. He stated he wanted police who were “sensitive to
the fact that there is a language barrier.” Kucinich also stated
he led an effort in the Ohio Senate in 1995 against a bill that
would have declared the state as an English-only zone. His
argument: the need to “protect the language, the culture, the
literature, the dance—every aspect of the Latino culture.”
“My support of the DREAM Act is based on a heartfelt commitment
to the Latino community, to the rights of immigrants, to human
rights, to the possibility that children will be able to get an
education, to stopping policies that separate families,” said
Kucinich.
The congressman explained his stance as one that should keep
US-America as a welcoming place for immigrants, just as
generations before them were able to enter the country. He
likened current immigration policy to a sign saying they are
unwelcome. He stated the future of the U.S., economically and
otherwise, depends on it.
“I fought for immigration policies for Amistad
(friendship), to give people a chance to be able to live the
dream of a full participation in our American society,” Kucinich
said. “We all are families of immigrants.”
The congressman explained the DREAM Act goes hand-in-hand with
the concerns of many of his constituents, especially education
and economic development. He also pointed out he was “fully
engaged,” actively working to convince other congressmen to vote
for the legislation, because he “understands the deeper meaning
of this” bill.
“But what happens if a child can’t get the education because
they’re barred from being able to get the educational benefits
because the law says no, you can’t have those benefits because
your parents aren’t fully documented?” Kucinich wondered aloud.
“What is going on in this society when we make children pay a
price and then society-at-large pays a price? So the DREAM Act
becomes a vehicle by which people are able to move to full
participation in society, to realize their potential, to become
productive members of the society, help grow this economy, and
to make their families proud. Our young people, owe that to
them.”
Kucinich even pledged to actively challenge Republican
presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, who has vowed to veto the
DREAM Act, if he wins his bid for the White House.
“I’m the one who will take the challenge to Mr. Romney, as a
member of Congress, and also to appeal to him not to follow up
on this promise that he has made,” said Kucinich. “Because he
has to understand there are tens of millions of Americans who
are affected by this. These are solid Americans. These are
Americans who have connections in this country going back
generations. What are we doing? Why are we pitting people
against each other?”
Ms. Kaptur, on the other hand, took a much more measured
approach to the DREAM Act while explaining her stance on
immigration overall. But she quickly pointed out she went to
Ward 14 in Cleveland over the three-day weekend, which she
stated is about half Latino.
“I think as time goes on, people will realize that what this
country needs is comprehensive immigration reform,” said
Ms. Kaptur. “No one group targeted, no one group subjected to
more investigation than any other group. I think people will
respect my vote.”
The congresswoman made reference to the recent immigration
controversy involving the owner of Wei-Wei Noodles in the
Reynolds Corners neighborhood of South Toledo.
“He’s not Hispanic. There are Asians, Arab-Americans, there are
East Europeans, there are Africans, and there are Latinos who
have issues with the immigration service,” she said. “My basic
view is this is a community that doesn’t build walls. We should
be building bridges.”
But Ms. Kaptur’s stance has clearly angered some local Latinos.
Some of those attending the lunch with Kucinich were staunch
Kaptur supporters in the past, including members of the Lucas
County Latino Democratic Caucus. But the congresswoman was clear
in her belief that it will take a bipartisan effort to solve the
immigration problem and the dilemmas of undocumented Americans.
“We don’t need any more piecemeal efforts. We don’t need any
more political efforts,” said Ms. Kaptur. “We need to treat the
American people with more respect.”
The two congressional representatives also attended a Nuclear
Regulatory Commission hearing last week on the Davis-Besse
nuclear plant in the western part of the district, long
considered home turf for Ms. Kaptur. Kucinich– a long-time
consumer advocate and opponent of plant operator FirstEnergy–
proposes to close the troubled nuclear power station, while Ms.
Kaptur wants to keep Davis-Besse open, but under close NRC
supervision.
The two incumbents have tentatively agreed to debate each other
next month in Sandusky, along with a third Democratic candidate
for Congress, Cleveland video production company operator
Graham Veysey. The debate, to be hosted by the Sandusky
Register, is tentatively set
for 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 23. A location has not yet been
announced.
The two long-time legislators each even intend to open campaign
offices in Lorain, as they court a large bloc of Democratic
voters. That city is seen as a strategic location to reach
potential supporters in the western suburbs of Cleveland. The
two candidates have enjoyed tremendous union support, so leaders
of organized labor groups may have a tough decision on whom to
back.
Kucinich is expected to focus on his career as a liberal
crusader during his eight terms in Congress, while Kaptur will
talk about her seniority and close ties to the district. Both
Democrats are 65 years old.
“I think there are many people in Toledo who are familiar with
me,” said Kucinich, who pointed out he made some “unannounced”
campaign visits in the Glass City during the past few weeks.
Kucinich, also a former Cleveland mayor, has achieved the
national spotlight on occasion, outspoken in his efforts to cut
funding on what he called “immoral wars” in Iraq and Afghanistan
and his two unsuccessful runs for president. He has even
proposed a Cabinet-level Department of Peace. The congressman
pointed out he has proposed legislation for universal
healthcare.
“(I am) someone who is not afraid to stand up and speak out and
challenge a system that is working against people,” he said. “I
understand the kind of challenges that people in Toledo have.
They want jobs. They want healthcare. They want education for
their children. They want retirement security and economic
development.”
Ms. Kaptur, meantime, is known for her seat on the powerful
House Appropriations committee, as well as her ability to “bring
home the bacon,” which some critics decry as pork-barrel
politics.
Over her 11 terms in Congress, she has secured more than $1.1
billion in federal funds for projects in her district, including
a new Lucas County Veterans center, and the Glass City Veterans
Memorial Skyway bridge, the largest project in state
transportation department history.
The pair is expected to wage a relatively clean, if not
expensive, campaign. Kucinich and Ms. Kaptur each stated they
intend to run on their individual records, while trying to
maintain their friendship beyond the campaign trail. Ms. Kaptur
even introduced her congressional colleague at the MLK Unity Day
celebration when she took the podium to speak. Kucinich did not
make any remarks at the event.
“It is incumbent upon me to tell people who I am, not to try to
characterize another candidate,” he said. “I think what people
are fed up about politics is the attempts to disparage another
person without regard to the sensibilities of the electorate,
which really wants to know what are you going to do? Both of us
have a responsibility to proceed in a way that respects the
voters and respects our friendship.”
“I think, so far, we’re both running on our positions,” said Ms.
Kaptur. “I’m trying very hard across the coast to show
effectiveness and caring representation, representation that has
real results. He’ll campaign on whatever he believes is
important. I think we have a great record to show and a lot of
seniority at stake.”
Political experts have speculated the Kaptur-Kucinich race could
be an expensive primary, with as much as $3 million raised and
spent. Ms. Kaptur already is running radio ads in the Lorain
area. But both candidates suggested they will cover the
five-county area (Lucas, Ottawa, Erie, Lorain, and Cuyahoga)
quite often over the next six weeks.
“There will be a well-worn path up and down (Interstate) 90,”
joked Kucinich. “I know how to get to Toledo. I really don’t
need a map to get here.”
“I think we need an RV. I think we need a bunk. I think we need
restroom facilities to be able to move in all these
communities,” Ms. Kaptur joked. “It’s a very odd map.”
The congresswoman pointed out that the district’s population is
split roughly into thirds: 30 percent in Cuyahoga County, 34
percent in Lorain and Erie counties, and 36 percent in Ottawa
and Lucas counties.
The Ninth District congressional map went through a couple of
changes before a final version was crafted in a compromise that
was approved by the Ohio General Assembly last month. That final
map restored much of Toledo to Ms. Kaptur’s district, which
political experts maintain gives her a distinct advantage in the
primary race.
However, Ms. Kaptur still has expressed dissatisfaction with the
final map, because it splits Toledo and Lucas County into two
congressional districts, the western part of the Glass City and
suburbs now belonging to Republican Fifth District Congressman
Bob Latta.
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