ACLU Rating:
Dennis Kucinich has an 89% lifetime rating from the ACLU, and a perfect 100% rating for the 2006-2007 legislative session. His ACLU rating is by far the highest of any 2008 presidential candidate.
Abortion and Reproductive Rights - Pro-Choice by Conversion:
Although Kucinich has earned an 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America in recent years and currently votes a consistently pro-choice record, he had an anti-abortion voting record for his first few years in office. In both 1999 and 2002, he supported a bill that would have made it a felony for any person other than a parent to take a minor across state lines to have an abortion--a necessity for some teenagers living in abusive households in states that have parental notification laws. He voted to support a ban on live intact D&X ("partial birth") abortions in 2000, but against it in 2003.
Death Penalty - Abolitionist, Leading Candidate:
Kucinich has consistently opposed the death penalty, and has promised to ban it if elected president.
The First Amendment - Serious Concerns:
Kucinich's record on free speech issues is in some respects the most problematic aspect of his candidacy, and the only area in which he parts company in any serious way with the ACLU. Kucinich has been a consistent supporter of campaign finance reform, and is the only 2008 Democratic candidate to have voted in favor of a constitutional amendment banning flag desecration.
Immigrants' Rights - Generous, But Supports Limits:
Kucinich supports a citizenship path for immigrants, but has expressed concerns about guest worker programs. He has also voted to limit L-1 and HB-1 worker visas, expressing a concern that non-U.S. technology workers are taking positions that U.S. workers could fill.
Lesbian and Gay Rights - Full Equality, Leading Candidate:
Kucinich is one of only two major-party 2008 presidential candidates to support same-sex marriage. Like other Democratic candidates, he also supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), federal hate crime legislation that includes sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories, and the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." Read more...
Race and Equal Opportunity - Extremely Strong Candidate:
Kucinich is the only major-party 2008 presidential candidate to support reparations for slavery, and also has strong positions on other civil rights issues such as affirmative action.
The Second Amendment - Worst Candidate:
Kucinich holds an F rating from the NRA. He supports all of the gun control initiatives that one would expect a liberal Democratic candidate to support, but he also holds the distinction of being the only major-party 2008 presidential candidate to support a national ban on handguns.
War on Terror - Fiercely Libertarian, Leading Candidate:
Kucinich is the only major-party 2008 presidential candidate to have voted against the original USA PATRIOT Act in 2001, and has opposed any and all counterterrorism legislation that threatens American civil liberties.
Tom's Take:
The pundits don't take Kucinich seriously, but there are times when he seems like the only candidate in the race who has any fresh ideas. Those fresh ideas aren't always good, mind you; if your main concern is free speech or Second Amendment rights, he's a terrible candidate. But if you're looking for a candidate who wants to abolish the death penalty, legalize same-sex marriage, grant reparations for slavery, or consistently oppose War on Terror human rights abuses, Kucinich isn't just the best candidate in the race--he's practically the only candidate in the race. I have heard many progressives say that they wish the United States were more like Canada. What they're really saying is that they're Kucinich supporters--they just don't know it yet. If you want radical progressive reform in 2009, this is your candidate. Compared to Kucinich, the rest of the Democratic contenders are all moderates.
