Dennis Kucinich For President In 2008

Update: No longer in the race for Democratic nomination 

Environmental issues (more specifically, climate change) have a real presence in the upcoming presidential election. According to a survey conducted by the Sacred Heart University Polling Institute, 93.1% of respondents said they would be more likely to support a candidate whose platform includes a plan to improve the environment. But where do each of the candidates stand? Because, let's face it...some will be champions for the environment. And others will not be.

Dennis Kucinich (D)

Summary: Supports an 80% reduction in carbon emissions and an increase in car fuel economy to 33 mpg. Believes the US should lead efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Believes a sustainable and renewable energy economy will create jobs and reduce energy consumption at home.

The Candidate Says: "I see the world as being an integrated whole. I understand the world as being interconnected and interdependent. And that the choices each one of us makes affects all of us....And when you come from that understanding you know the great responsibility that each one of us has, individually. And responsibility that we have collectively as Americans to try to engage in what Thomas Barry called 'the great work of our lives,' to repair our relationship with nature and to repair the planet....I will go to the developing nations and tell them that for the first time they'll have an American president who's a partner in dramatically reducing our greenhouse gases and rallying the American people so we can reduce our carbon footprint. There is a moral issue here about the effect of our conduct on others." (Interview with Living on Earth, 14 December 2007)

If Elected, The Candidate Would...:

• Would immediately put the US in the forefront of solving the global warming crisis by rejoining the Kyoto accord and implementing its recommendations
• Institute a "Global Green Deal" that would enable the introduction of $50 billion of new solar projects around the world and provide jobs at home
• Support development of renewable energy and independence from foreign oil
• Establish Works Green Administration, which would build a sustainable and renewable energy economy

In The Past:

• Sponsored a resolution after Hurricane Katrina, requesting that the President submit to Congress all documents in his possession relating to the anticipated effects of climate change on coastal regions of the US
• Signed statement in 2005 urging Congress to reject any proposal to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration
• Voted yes on an amendment to the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which would have raised car fuel standards to 33 mpg by 2015

Current Status:

• Placed consistently in 4th and 5th place (other than in Iowa where he placed 8th and Michigan where he placed 3rd)
• Dropped out of the race on January 25, 2008

Other 2008 Presidential Candidates:

Democrats

• Joe Biden
• Hillary Clinton
• Christopher Dodd
• John Edwards
• Mike Gravel
  
• Barack Obama
• Bill Richardson

Republicans:

• Rudy Giuliani
• Mike Huckabee
• Duncan Hunter
• John McCain
• Ron Paul
• Mitt Romney
• Tom Tancredo
• Fred Thompson