Kucinich - He's walked a mile in our moccasins . . .

The headlines these days are filled with the ongoing nightmares of the collapsing mortgage industry, of a health care system that is draining the lifeblood of American citizens, of violence no matter which direction we turn, and of the bone-deep corruption in our government.  

Congressman Dennis Kucinich is intimately familiar with all of these issues on a personal level.  He's dedicated his entire life to bettering the world and standing in opposition to those who think might and money are the ultimate powers.

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Dennis knows about being homeless.  He's been there.  As he stated in his speech to the DNC last week, there were times when his family lived in their car. As an adult, he had another brush with that situation:

However, this was a very difficult period for Kucinich financially. Without a steady paycheck, Kucinich fell behind in his mortgage payments, nearly lost his house in Cleveland, and ended up borrowing money from friends, including MacLaine, to keep it. On his 1982 income tax return, Kucinich reported an income of $38. When discussing this period, Kucinich stated, "When I was growing up in Cleveland, my early experience conditioned me to hang in there and not to quit. . . It's one thing to experience that as a child, but when you have to as an adult, it has a way to remind you how difficult things can be. You understand what people go through."  Wikipedia®  

Dennis knows about dealing with health issues. He's been there. It wasn't until 1995 that he was able to overcome his lifelong battle with Crohn's disease.

In 1995, Dennis finally conquered his Crohn's disease when he took his health into his own hands, on the advice of his friend Yelena Boxer, and eliminated a diet of meat and dairy in favor of plant-based, vegan whole food. That together with Chinese herbal medicine allowed Dennis to achieve the full level of health as an adult that he never experienced as a child.  Decision 2008  

Dennis knows about people who use violence to remove 'obstacles'. He's been there.  

On December 15, 1978 the banks, having rejected every other form of payment, demanded the sale of Muny Light to a private utility company in which the banks had financial interests. The sale of Muny Light became the banks' precondition for extending the city's credit on loans the previous mayor had taken out. As the chairman of the lead bank tried to coerce the young mayor to sell, Dennis' thoughts went back to the time he watched his parents counting their last pennies at the kitchen table to pay their utility bill. Knowing that electricity rates in Cleveland would increase substantially if the private utility gained a monopoly, Dennis said "no" to the sale. The financial establishment which had pressured the mayor to sell Muny Light would have profited directly from the sale given their many business ties to the private utility. Their plans having failed, the banks plunged the city into fabricated financial default. It was an event without precedent in American history. Despite several assassination attempts, Dennis had singlehandedly thwarted all efforts to force the sale of Muny Light, but at great risk to his political career.  Decision 2008  

Dennis knows about how governmental corruption can destroy the public's trust.  He's been there.  

By holding to his promise and putting principle above politics, Kucinich lost his re-election bid and his political career was temporarily derailed. But today, Kucinich stands vindicated for having confronted the Enron of his day, and for saving the municipal power company. "There is little debate," wrote Cleveland Magazine in May 1996, "over the value of Muny Light today. Now Cleveland Public Power, it is a proven asset to the city that between 1985 and 1995 saved its customers $195,148,520 over what they would have paid CEI." He also preserved hundreds of union jobs.  Congressional Website - Bio Page

This is a man, who on a visceral level, understands the everyday needs of each citizen.  He has steadfastly clung to his belief that America is, at it's heart, the People.  I have no doubt that he will bring his experience, political savvy, compassion, and focused dedication to making our Nation a true reflection of our Founder's original intent.  

I'll be voting for Dennis. He's shown me, without a doubt, he'll BE there! And he'll be right the first time.