Presidential hopeful U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich speaks to members of the media outside Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Gate 1 following a meeting with union representatives Thursday. At right is Kucinich’s wife, Elizabeth Kucinich. Photo by Rich Beauchesne

Dennis Kucinich (D) Representative, OH Born: 10/08/1946 Birthplace: Cleveland, OH Home: Cleveland, OH Religion: Catholic >> Website >> Forum >> Related Stories Coming Events

KITTERY, Maine — Congressman and presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich said to make America a better country, it must be rebuilt, and that not only involves strengthening the economy and providing more jobs for Americans, but finding strength through peace.

With talk of the Bush administration setting the stage for war in Iran, Kucinich said the president may be deceiving Americans and creating an unnecessary police state in the United States.

On Thursday, Kucinich appeared at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to tour the yard and talk with fellow supporters about his policies on rebuilding America, which he said will strengthen the U.S. economy and provide jobs for Americans.

Kucinich later spoke in Dover.

Kucinich said his first act, if elected president, would be to withdraw the United States from the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization.

"We need to rebuild America and restore it to its state before NAFTA and the WTO," said Kucinich. "On behalf of American workers, I will fight to reopen factories and bring manufacturing back to the U.S. to create jobs."

Kucinich said he also plans to help rebuild America by putting more funds into infrastructure.

"There are trillions of infrastructure needs," said Kucinich, and by using funds to rebuild schools, roads and bridges, for starters, Kucinich said, Americans will have ample job opportunities to make good wages.

"Workers are entitled to a president they can call their own," said Kucinich. "Everyone wants a president that stands by their word."

In Dover, Kucinich said that the White House is "turning military assets against our own citizens" as it sets the stage for war by using spy satellites and aircraft sensors to expand domestic surveillance, which has largely been restricted to foreign surveillance in the past.

Kucinich also responded to the report that the Bush administration is planning to designate Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. Kucinich said this move is attempting to deceive Americans into yet another war and "will set the stage for more chaos in the region because it undercuts all of our diplomatic efforts."