Kucinich Wakes up America--and the Convention Hall

by Jeff Glaze, Drake Politics and Journalism

(speech quotations verified at swamppolitics.com, part of the Tribune Co.)

Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich delivered a fiery speech Tuesday afternoon at the Democratic National Convention. Kucinich took the stage and enthusiastically announced, “We Democrats are giving America a wake-up call!” Kucinich strongly critiqued the direction of our country in his anti-war speech. The Ohio Congressman angrily stated that “[We] borrowed money to bomb bridges in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. No money to rebuild bridges in America. Money to start a hot war with Iran. Now we have another cold war with Russia.” Kucinich continually called on Americans to “wake up”, and as the speech went on, he became increasingly animated, practically jumping behind the podium. The Pepsi Center was half empty at the time the speech was delivered, but those who were there to witness it cheered wildly. Reporters and photographers who had been paying little attention to the other speeches rushed in to listen to Kucinich’s rant.

Then Kucinich changed the tone of his speech from angry to hopefully in a matter of seconds. “Wake up, America. This is not a call for you to take a new direction from right to left. This is call for you to go from down to up. Up with the rights of workers. Up with wages. Up with fair trade,” he said. “Up with health care for all. Up with education for all. Up with home ownership. Up with guaranteed retirement benefits. Up with peace. Up with prosperity. Up with the Democratic Party. Up with Obama-Biden. Wake up, America. Wake up, America. Wake up, America.” Kucinich finished to a standing ovation from the entire hall. As Kucinich walked off, he covered his heart and waved in a gesture of his sincerity.