The Kucinich India Connection

Posted on by

The Washington Post has a rather odd profile of Congressman Dennis Kucinich and his wife, Elizabeth. It’s essentially an account of how a 61 year old midwestern Congressman with political views considerably left of the American mainstream (and, yes, a history of spotting UFOs) got together with a 30 year old British woman who, in the reporter’s words, “looks like Botticelli’s Venus, only with clothes on.”

It’s a bit weird that people are paying all this attention to Elizabeth Kucinich’s looks, rather than her husband’s political views. The WaPo piece acknowledges the oddity of the hype (including the bit that ran on The Daily Show a few weeks ago), but in some ways this piece adds to it instead of moving past it.

The style of the writing does get on my nerves at times:

He says: It was an ordinary day in May 2005. There he was, Dennis Kucinich, congressman, twice divorced, looking for love, as always. He was on the floor of the House, doing ordinary congressman things.

“Tell her about the morning,” Elizabeth says helpfully.

“Ooh! That’s right!” Kucinich says. Here’s the amazing part. (Things involving Elizabeth generally tend to be amazing.) That very morning, believe it or not, guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who teaches peace through meditation and rhythmic breathing, had come to town. Dennis and Ravi have known each other for a long time. Ravi asked about Dennis’s love life. Dennis said he was still looking for that special someone.

“And his response was, ‘Stop looking and then she will appear,'” Dennis says. “And I said, ‘Okay, I’m going to stop looking.’ I said that. And that afternoon — “

“I walked through the office door,” Elizabeth finishes. (link)

On the one hand, this reads like political coverage as filtered through Danielle Steel (“looking for love… and doing ordinary congressman things” ?! Is this the same Washington Post E.J. Dionne writes for?).

On the other hand, if the Kuciniches really do say stuff like this in public, it’s a bit hard to truly feel sorry for them.

There’s more India a bit further on:

Her first inkling that Kucinich might be different from the run-of-the-mill congressman was the presence of two Indian nuns from the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University in Kucinich’s reception room. She chatted with the nuns about India and felt herself being “opened” up by the conversation.

Then she and Zarlenga were called into Kucinich’s office.

Dennis watched the young woman’s eyes. First they went to a bust of Gandhi sitting on his bookshelf. Then they went to a picture given to him by the Hindu nuns — a burst of brightness against an orange background meant to depict “conscious light.” Then her eyes went to his.

“That was it,” Dennis says now. “One, two, three.” He knew.

“As soon as I met him I knew my life had changed,” Elizabeth says. “I knew that he was my husband.”

On the couch, they lean in for a kiss. (link)

Cho… Chweet.

Seriously, though — what do you make of the role of these smatterings of Hindu spirituality in the Kucinich Romance? Does this apparently sincere interest in a certain Hippie-fied version of Hinduism lead you to like the Kuciniches more or less?

One does eventually learn some interesting things about Kucinich in the Washington Post piece (veganism, Crohn’s disease, high school football…), but not without being subjected to more gushy commentary from the reporter about hot Elizabeth and her pierced tongue:

The world can be cynical, which is all the more reason why a long-shot presidential candidate must be pure and unwavering in his faith, must be unmoved by the vagaries of the public and the media — by its interest in the superficial, in things like height and tongue studs.

“It’s pathetic,” Elizabeth says of the nation’s fascination with her piercing. “I really wish people would — “

She stops.

“Actually, it works okay with the young people,” she says. She says some time back she was out in Los Angeles, visiting an organization that works with at-risk youth and former gang members.

“This young lad was taking me around, Hispanic chap. And he was really nervous,” she says. “We just, like, chatted initially, and at some point I laughed and he said, ‘Oh my God, you’ve got a tongue ring! That’s so cool! I’m going to get everyone to vote for your husband!'”

“Ha!” says Dennis Kucinich, looking amazed.

The happiest presidential candidate laughs and laughs. (link)

(…and the reader squirms and squirms.)

57 thoughts on “The Kucinich India Connection”

  1. In a democracy, it is important for a leader to have that leadership vibe(with the assumption that the leaders you are choosing from are competent or better). You do not just hire the most competent beauracrat if he can’t sell an agenda to the public. Dennis Kucinich’s candidacy has been hampered in part by his looks in the past. I am not saying that his views alone were good enough to make him a frontrunner. But he would not have beeen the marginal candidate he is if he was a tall charismatic looking guy. He does speak well in public. And just as it is fair game to understand why his small stature has hampered him in the past, nothing wrong in playing up a hot young wife to improve his stud factor in the public perception.

  2. Or sample this (the Churchlands) vis-a-vis Kuciniches:

    One afternoon recently, Paul says, he was home making dinner when Pat burst in the door, having come straight from a frustrating faculty meeting. “She said, ‘Paul, don’t speak to me, my serotonin levels have hit bottom, my brain is awash in glucocorticoids, my blood vessels are full of adrenaline, and if it weren’t for my endogenous opiates I’d have driven the car into a tree on the way home. My dopamine levels need lifting. Pour me a Chardonnay, and I’ll be down in a minute’.”

    I have no issue with how Dennis describes himself falling in love, though I probably wouldn’t describe myself falling in love quite that way, and neither would I use terms that the Churchlands use in their daily conversation. Different strokes.

    What matters is Kucinich’s policy and his voting record. But he’s a bit like Ron Paul – speaking certain truths, not in the mainstream, and probably a very long shot at winning, if at all.

  3. Amardeep: “Seriously, though — what do you make of the role of these smatterings of Hindu spirituality in the Kucinich Romance?”

    India is the in thing now, and as long as the New Age desi wannabes don’t caricaturize my religion, I take their love affair with India in a positive light. The constant reference to Hindu “nuns” is a little annoying, but that’s the fault of the reporter from the Post, not the couple’s. The tongue ring thing is horrendous, almost as much as the Kuciniches themselves.

    Amardeep, an A+ on your composition.

  4. I don’t see how believing one saw a UFO is dumber than people believing in Adam and Eve or that Hanuman built a bridge between India and Sri Lanka or any of these prophets/messiahs hearing God speak to them.

  5. I like this guy. He is small and fugly and still gets hot chicks. I respect that more then anything Romney has ever done.

    The most surprising thing about all of this campaigning 4 years before the election stuff, is that I actaully would vote for Hukabee over all of them, including the democrats.

  6. Does this apparently sincere interest in a certain Hippie-fied version of Hinduism lead you to like the Kuciniches more or less?

    Less.

    M. Nam

  8. oh this is so exciting.. my first ever tip (however boring!) to SM got a post!! this made my afternoon :o)

  9. oh this is so exciting.. my first ever tip (however boring!) to SM got a post!! this made my afternoon :o)

    S_ch, thanks for the tip — though I should note that I didn’t actually see it. (I got the idea for this post from reading a hard copy of the actual newspaper.)

  10. I would be impressed if he has an apadravya to complement hot Elizabeth and her pierced tongue.

  12. oh this is so exciting.. my first ever tip (however boring!) to SM got a post!! this made my afternoon :o) S_ch, thanks for the tip — though I should note that I didn’t actually see it. (I got the idea for this post from reading a hard copy of the actual newspaper.)

    Come on Amardeep…couldn’t you let him/her have that one? All that Friday afternoon excitement, now gone to waste.

  13. she’d definitely make an entertaining 1st lady. not as entertaining as Bill, but entertaining nonetheless.

  14. pindusa:

    this guy gives me hope…

    This guy wants to put a stop to all H1B/L1B visas – for good! What are you hoping for – that the means by which 90% of desis came to America should end?

    M. Nam

  15. This guy wants to put a stop to all H1B/L1B visas – for good! What are you hoping for – that the means by which 90% of desis came to America should end?

    Nothing so policy-oriented– more like the hot girl/shorter guy hope.

  17. Nothing so policy-oriented– more like the hot girl/shorter guy hope

    slaps forehead

    M. Nam

  18. This guy wants to put a stop to all H1B/L1B visas – for good! What are you hoping for – that the means by which 90% of desis came to America should end?

    I wouldn’t worry about Kucinich much, the probability of his being elected is very close to zero. I think Puli means is that Kucinich gives hope to guys who are not hunks of landing a great looking gal.

    Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong Puli.

  20. Sorry for the repetition, I should have refreshed my browser button.

    Not at all, I liked your variation 😉

    That and I always feel a little guilty when I see your handle…because the first thing I hear in my head is, “Hey Booboo…let’s go get some pick-a-nick baskets!”. I’m a bad, bad desi, I know.

  21. That and I always feel a little guilty when I see your handle…because the first thing I hear in my head is, “Hey Booboo…let’s go get some pick-a-nick baskets!”. I’m a bad, bad desi, I know.

    funny. i thought the same thing..

  24. I gather it’s been a beauty contest ever since Kennedy-Nixon, and Nixon refused powder. When you’re not pretty enough to be Queen of People’s Hearts, you can go to war.

    Elizabeth Kucinich is no ordinary Essex girl, and she does absolutely make the Dennis look prettier than before, and I guess she can’t go around sticking out her tongue to show the stud, but didn’t wonkette or one of her people call Obama a tall drink of man candy? I’m okay with hippy dippy as long as they don’t do Desi style-ish activities and claim it has nothing to do with.

  25. That and I always feel a little guilty when I see your handle…because the first thing I hear in my head is, “Hey Booboo…let’s go get some pick-a-nick baskets!”

    Anna, I didn’t get that…

  27. Actually, Elizabeth Kucinich’s India connection seems a bit more direct. She seems actually to have been there:

    Mrs. Kucinich’s work has taken many forms. She is engaged in policy and humanitarian issues such as human and animal rights…It was in India where she began to develop strategies to bring about change. In a community divided by social castes, Elizabeth created an educational project providing a welcome space for children of all backgrounds to socialize and learn together; a place to break down the barriers that separated them.

    Link

    Also, Kucinich’s more significant India connection is his policy stance on H-1B/L-1s:

    I am advocating a new policy to replace our current H-1B and L-1 visas, a policy that does not put skilled American workers in the high-tech industry at risk

    Link

    And BTW, on the couple themselves, I had read she was much younger, but not that he is twice divorced, and that he is also a good bit shorter than her… The pictures always compose them to look about the same height… And I think the marriage says much more about her idealism than anything too much about him as an individual.

    And Amit, are the Churchlands really so well known that you can drop their names without explaining? That reference had even me thinking for a brief second 🙂

  28. Yogi:

    Besides often speaking in rhymes, Yogi Bear is well-known for a variety of different catchphrases, including his pet name for picnic baskets (“pic-a-nic baskets”) and his favorite self-promotion (“I’m smarter than the average bear!”), although he often overestimates his own cleverness. He also liked to say, “Hey there, Booboo!” as his preferred greeting to his humbler sidekick.
  29. pictures always compose them to look about the same height… And I think the marriage says much more about her idealism than anything too much about him as an individual.

    that sentence is awesome. as i was clicking on those links, i was thinking “that guys the shiznit” then i read the rest of your sentence, and thought “damn!”.

  30. Seriously, though — what do you make of the role of these smatterings of Hindu spirituality in the Kucinich Romance? Does this apparently sincere interest in a certain Hippie-fied version of Hinduism lead you to like the Kuciniches more or less?

    Definitely more.

    No doubt about it.

    Especially because, Elizabeth Kucinich is involved. Dennis, even fringe, has a small core group in America that deeply believe in his message.

    Finally, last thing in my life, I want to be a self-styled “defender of the faith“, what Pope Benedict was previously in official capacity.

    Beatles (especially George Harrison) were hippiefied hindus for a while (george for almost all his life), and I like them too.

    Hare Rama, Hara Krishna, Hare, Hare……….

  31. Besides often speaking in rhymes, Yogi Bear is well-known for a variety of different catchphrases, including his pet name for picnic baskets (“pic-a-nic baskets”) and his favorite self-promotion (“I’m smarter than the average bear!”), although he often overestimates his own cleverness. He also liked to say, “Hey there, Booboo!” as his preferred greeting to his humbler sidekick.

    Wow, I am famous and I have a sidekick, that’s cool!

  32. And Amit, are the Churchlands really so well known that you can drop their names without explaining? That reference had even me thinking for a brief second 🙂

    🙂 I thought about linking their name, but then decided against it – I wanted to see if anyone would google it to find out, or ask a question. Thanks for providing the links. Tom Ashbrook had a very interesting conversation with them on On Point a while ago.

  33. Beatles (especially George Harrison) were hippiefied hindus for a while (george for almost all his life), and I like them too.

    the hare krishna temple in watford (UK) used to be george’s estate, which he donated to them…

  34. Wow, I am famous and I have a sidekick, that’s cool!

    Even more famous than Yogi Bear is Yogi Berra – legendary baseball player, and known for his quotes.

    Another guy who even a Jew took Hinduism very seriously is American Prometheus – Robert J. Oppenheimer.

  35. Seriously, though — what do you make of the role of these smatterings of Hindu spirituality in the Kucinich Romance? Does this apparently sincere interest in a certain Hippie-fied version of Hinduism lead you to like the Kuciniches more or less?

    I’m not offended at all. Very many people who check “no formal religion” on American religious surveys have dharmic beliefs. Some twenty million people attend yoga classes. Upwards of a quarter of the population believes in reincarnation. From the perspective of the Enlightenment, their beliefs are no more zany than believing, say, an Aramaic-speaking man was born of a virgin 2000 years ago. Also both AOL and Brahma Kumaris are mainstream organizations in India, with many Indian-born adherents/sympathizers.

  37. Upwards of a quarter of the population believes in reincarnation.

    When it comes to reincarnation, there’s been some research done on exploring this phenomenon using scientific methods by Dr. Ian Stevenson.

  38. Seriously I knew about Yogi the Bear and Yogi Berra too

    AOL and Brahma Kumaris are mainstream organizations in India

    really, because but I have no idea who they are, the only AOL I know is America Online but then again I am probably in some sidestream and not the mainstream.

  39. Can you imagine if Dennis was Hillary’s VP and they get elected. Bill Clinton would be dreaming about Elizabeth all day. He would be making up agendas for the spouses of the Pres and VP to get together.

    NOthing wrong with sampling Hinduism. It’s history was never one of a single unified religion. And it had no problem appropriating from other faiths at times.

  40. really, because but I have no idea who they are, the only AOL I know is America Online but then again I am probably in some sidestream and not the mainstream.

    You are clearly in need of a newer and faster modem.

    Wow, I am famous and I have a sidekick, that’s cool!

    And maybe a hard drive too.

  41. you are clearly in need of a newer and faster modem.
    And maybe a hard drive too.

    whatever you say brahmakumari.

  42. I personally don’t care about how the Kuciniches relate to Hinduism, but I don’t think it’s so much a Hindu angle their love story presents so much as a ‘mystical Eastern’ angle, i.e. these mystical brown people enabling their love. Ultimately I don’t care too much, I just thought it was worth pointing out.

  43. somebody has to say it once per thread, so this time i’m going to be the first:

    I’d hit that.

  44. Ha, Kucinich always makes me laugh.

    India is the in thing now

    That is very true. I know quite a few people who are obsessed with Indian things (ex. henna, clothes, food, etc.).

  45. She’s not even that hot. I’ll take Jeri Thompson any day of the week. Romney’s wife isn’t bad either.

  46. well, she is pretty good looking. but why should i care if the presidential candidate is married to a tall, good-looking stopped on the streets person? and why the heck is it on the front page of the washingtonpost web site (on the day it appeared in print?).

    the “liberal” american media continues to hit new lows each day.

  47. dennis is the only honest man left in american politics.

    have you ever heard him talk, seen his arguements, his demands, his persistance to keep the right, center and left, in america straight.

    sepia mutiny should endorse him

  49. dennis is the only honest man left in american politics.

    then how do you explain oprah endorsing obama huh? i won’t sit idly by while someone disparages oprah. of course, gennifer flowers, who’s never been known to lie, may endorse big hill. what to do?

    i’m just waiting to see if mike jones goes for haggard or craig.