As you read this, the Columbus Dispatch is engaged in one of the most despicable character assassination series of articles against populist Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dennis Kucinich that I’ve ever seen. In the Dispatch’s latest smear piece, they claim “Kucinich ‘has a track record of helping to spread … disinformation.’” Ironically the Dispatch, while accusing Kucinich of doing it, has been busy spreading disinformation about him.

The Dispatch has been busy trying to scare progressive Democrats away from Kucinich into supporting his mainstream Dem opponent Richard Cordray. Because Kucinich does not believe in the neo-con position that the U.S. military should be used to overthrow the sovereign heads of other nation, just following the mandates of international law, his detractors are describing him as pro-Assad, the Syrian dictator. The Dispatch is attacking Kucinich for attending a peace conference at Cambridge in the UK last year, sponsored by the European Center for the Study of Extremism. Those worried that Kucinich might beat Cordray in this May’s primary know just how extreme they need to be in defaming him to push the buttons of hardcore progressives. Also at the peace conference was the Archbishop of Canterbury and members of the British House of Lords.

Similar attacks were leveled against Kucinich when he proposed a Department of Peace in the U.S. to counter the Pentagon and our permanent war economy. Kucinich has consistently been one of the leading voices for peace, not only in the United States, but in the world. When virtually no Democratic politicians would stand up to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney’s illegal attack on Iraq, former Congressperson Kucinich organized a peace conference in Columbus, Ohio. He prophetically spoke out against the human suffering he knew was likely to result. If you want a feel for the real Dennis Kucinich, read his “A Prayer for America.”

When in Congress, Kucinich had the courage to introduce Articles of Impeachment against both Bush and Cheney. If you carefully read his 35 Articles, you will see how he spells out the offenses against the Bush administration – from torturing enemy combatants and domestic spying and wiretapping to their questionable electoral tactics in the 2004 election. The Fifteen of the Articles directly indicted Bush for his conduct as Commander in Chief during the Iraq War.

The Dispatch also reported he worked with libertarian Congressperson Ron Paul. What the daily monopoly won’t tell you is that, while other representatives cowered, Kucinich and Paul worked to try to fight the new COINTELPRO, to stop torture, to end illegal domestic surveillance, to fight the draconian so-called “Patriot Act,” and to restore traditional U.S. Constitutional values like the 4th Amendment requirement that search warrants should be issued based on probable cause.

It’s no surprise that the coordinated attacks on Kucinich between the Cordray campaign and the Dispatch began once it was revealed that Cordray had a “A” rating from the National Rifle Association and Kucinich was tied with him in polls. Oh, and for another point of view, you may want to read the Cleveland Plain Dealer – who endorsed Kucinich for governor.