Kucinich’s Statement on Ahmadinejad Proves That He Needs a Congressional Primary Challenge
Apparently there is no leading Washington Democratic politician who will call out Dennis Kucinich over this outrage (HT Writes Like She Talks and The View from Out Here, who notes the flailing, and failing, attempt at a backtrack):
Dennis Kucinich, the colorful Cleveland congressman and longshot presidential candidate, has outraged Jewish leaders in Northeast Ohio by insisting that Iran’s anti-Zionist leader is not seeking to exterminate Israel.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is regarded by many in the western world as a menace with nuclear ambitions, who recently called for supporters of Israel to, among other things, “burn in the fire of the Islamic nations’ fury.” Kucinich, however, says another translation of that and other statements is that Ahmadinejad merely wants regime change in Israel, not death to its people and supporters.
Yeah — everybody got the translation wrong except “colorful” Dennis (”colorful” is Old Media for “he’s a raving lib-left moonbat but we don’t have the will to call him what he really is”).
Oh, and Ron Paul. Yeah, Denny’s in bed with Ron Paul on this one. That should be an editorial cartoonist’s dream come true.
Four years ago, he took leave of his prolife views in a strongly Democratic but prolife district. Now he’s taken leave of his senses. So when is someone in his district going to mount a credible challenge?
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UPDATE: I see the “Ahmadinejad didn’t say what he said” crowd consists of Dennis, Ron Paul and a few folks from Lew Rockwell and antiwar.com. Nice try, guys; no sale –
When he says “this regime occupying Jerusalem,” he is quoting a phrase familiar to Iranians. It was coined and used by his popular spiritual leader, the Ayatollah Khomeini. Its meaning is crystal-clear to his listeners. To many, it is a painful reminder of the occupation of Jerusalem, including some of Islam’s most holy places by non-believers. Yet it avoids uttering the hated word, “Israel.” As to the ending of that inflammatory statement, “must vanish from the page of time” is metaphorically equivalent to “wipe off the map.” Both refer to a conclusive termination (of Israel): the first in time, the second in space.
Oh, and I suppose this NY Times translation isn’t accurate either (10th para) — “Our dear Imam said that the occupying regime must be wiped off the map and this was a very wise statement.” Give me a break.
Actually, Ron Paul did not debate the meaning of the words. He even said so the first time he voted against a bill like this a couple years ago.
The recent bill insisted on legal action against Ahmadinejad and sanctions against Iran for developing nuclear power, both of which were intended to provoke war.
Comment by Scott — July 13, 2007 @ 4:58 pm
As I wrote in a comment on my blog, in response to someone else, if this is code for Kucinich wanting to say that there’s no basis to take military action and he wants more facts first, fine - but then for goodness sakes just say that. Don’t make up some ridiculous linguistic excuse. It’s insulting, to say the absolute very least. If, on the other hand, he actually believes that Ahmadinejad wants to share his life on Earth with the several million Jews in Israel, well then I’d say to Dennis - show me the facts on that.
Comment by Jill — July 13, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
Please read the following links:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/reese/reese368.html
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/norouzi.php?articleid=11025
Then apologize for smearing Rep. Kucininch.
Comment by Mark StC — July 13, 2007 @ 5:23 pm
#3, see update.
Apologize, aschmologize.
Comment by TBlumer — July 13, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
Is it just me? Us provoke him to war? This is like the siblings where one starts it but the parents don’t see anything until the one who was provoked has become the aggressor. Remember the Iranian detention of the British seamen just a few months ago?
Please.
Ahmadinejad is a legend in his own mind as well as many others. He suffers from numerous psychoses all of which equal a very difficult to deal with leader who intimidates an entire nation, even though many are able to live on with little effect miraculously.
Don’t you just know that he probably speaks perfect English, maybe even Hebrew too and loves watching people turn into pretzels over what he’s said?
Comment by Jill — July 13, 2007 @ 10:47 pm