While the supporters of Dennis Kucinich grumble about his exclusion fron what's likely to be the most boring debate ever today, Clevescene has a must-read on his race-baiting past in Cleveland politics and his changes in substance, if not style, over the years.
Kucinich's constituents weren't fans of black people in general, and feared their emerging power would focus the city's resources on black wards, just as white ethnic politicians had always done with their own wards.
Kucinich fed their distrust, constantly denouncing Stokes for reverse racism. "[Kucinich] learned to play dirty pool," John Metcalf, a longtime Plain Dealer copy editor, was quoted as saying in a 1977 Cleveland magazine article. "Hell, there are a lot of ethnics out there who want to keep the niggers on their side of the river. There are a lot of bigots in that district, and someone has to represent them, let's face it."
With his run for president, Kucinich is no longer catering to the blue-collar West Side, but the American left. He's no longer anti-gay, anti-abortion Cleveland Catholic, but a pro-choice, anti-war vegan bent on being the most liberal of the Democratic field. Ask supporters for his greatest accomplishments, and they'll inevitably raise the myth of Muny Light. But Kucinich carefully avoids the rest of his past, claiming it never happened: "I find it offensive that you just said I have a history of race-baiting."
Instead, he continues to polish the modern version of Dennis Kucinich — still the working man, the fighter, the enemy of his constituents' enemies — only this time painted in softer hues.
Also worth a mention: Jodie Foster, is finally, officially out, thanking a partner of 14 years at an awards show. This reduces my chances with Jodie from negative infinity to some number even lower than that.
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