Ohio's Dennis Kucinich: New Jersey Green Chair Says He's Hillary's Puppet

CLEVELAND (TDB) -- The chairman of New Jersey's Green Party is no fan of Cleveland U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, and is dismissing the Ohioan's 2008 presidential campaign as nothing more than smoke-and-mirrors meant to keep progressives in the Democratic Party.

George DeCarlo's assessment is a smack down that belittles Kucinich as a witting ally of New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. DeCarlo told PoliticsNewJersey.com's Max Pizaro that the Clevelander was little more than a prop.

"Kucinich is there for one purpose. He's there to keep peace activists, greens -- note the small 'g' -- in the party. Kucinich is willingly being used. It keeps them there, but out of fear. Of course the nominee is going to be Hillary (Clinton), who voted for the war and is a top money receiver from the pharmaceutical industry."

The New Jersey Greens chief had a softer spot in his heart for Republican maverick Ron Paul, who also voted against the war. DeCarlo clearly has issues with the Clintons, saying Bill's economic sanctions on Iraq were deadlier than George Bush's war.

"Clinton killed more people in Iraq by the sanctions he imposed on that country. All this business about Bush being an incompetent failure, an idiot and a dope -- it's nonsense. Bush has done everything he said he was going to do."

In years past, Kucinich had friends among the Greens. The New Hampshire Green Party endorsed his 2004 presidential campaign, and said the Clevelander deserved the support of all who cared about peace, social justice and environmental issues. This time around, things are different.