Regular readers know I'm pro Democrats appearing on Fox. But going on the payroll? Not so much. But even before the news came out that Dennis Kucinich joined Fox News as a paid contributor, I've had my concerns about Kucinich's appearances on Fox.

I don't doubt Kucinich's liberal bona fides. But he seems ridiculously blind to or else unconcerned about the ways that Fox uses him to bash Democrats.

For example, in 2005, Fox hosted Kucinich to discuss his proposal to bring home the troops in Iraq - and then immediately smeared him with a banner saying, "Dennis the Menace." Yet, in an appearance on The O'Reilly Factor in 2010, Kucinich made a point of disavowing ObamaCare rather than using his time to aid his party, the Obama administration or even the left-wing faction of the party that Fox is trying to take down. As recently as November 2012, Kucinich sounded like a Republican as he joined the Fox News fixation on demanding answers about Benghazi.

In a statement about Kucinich's hire, FNC Chairman Roger Ailes said:

I've always been impressed with Rep. Kucinich's fearlessness and thoughtfulness about important issues. ...His willingness to take a stand from his point of view makes him a valuable voice in our country's debate.

No doubt.