Kucinich at CPAC.JPG
Former Cleveland Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich joins GOP Rep. Steve King of Iowa on the stage at the conservative CPAC convention, where the pair were interviewed by journalism students.
(Sabrina Eaton, Northeast Ohio Media Group)
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- An unlikely liberal from Cleveland took to the stage on Friday afternoon at the American Conservative Union's CPAC convention.
Former Cleveland Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich joined Iowa Republican Rep. Steve King in the organization's main ballroom to be interviewed by journalism students who were trying to win an internship at the Washington Times newspaper.
Kucinich, who ran for president in 2004 and 2008, told the students he's not running for president again in 2016. He defended his efforts to impeach former President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney and suggested that the United States needs to fight terrorism from ISIS by freezing the group's funds, not by sending troops to the Middle East.
Now working as a commentator on Fox News, Kucinich told the students he does not believe either political party is "really delivering" for the American people, and said he does not have confidence in Hillary Clinton as a Democratic candidate in 2016. He said he's not on board with any of this year's presidential candidates.
Kucinich, who regularly appears at liberal political events, said this is his first trip to CPAC. Even though it was an event for conservatives, several audience members asked to pose for pictures with Kucinich after his onstage appearance.
"I feel comfortable here," Kucinich said, noting that he worked with both political parties in Congress. "I feel comfortable being anywhere."