Cleveland comedy
You wouldn’t expect an Ohio congressman to pack in the Hollywood star power, but Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, is doing just that as he faces a more vicious campaign than the he’s seen during his previous reelection bids.
Musician Melissa Etheridge recently hosted a fundraiser for Kucinich at the Cleveland Public Theatre and, now, Kucinich has enlisted the help of British comedian Eddie Izzard. On November 2, the two will have lunch at the PlayhouseSquare in Cleveland with contributors, followed by an interview of Kucinich by Izzard (tickets start at $20).
Izzard told Yeas & Nays that he got to know Kucinich through his wife, Elizabeth. “She seemed to be into my comedy and she dragged him along one night,” said Izzard. “I kind of liked his spirit.”
But just because Izzard thinks Kucinich is a good candidate doesn’t mean that he’d necessarily make a good comedian. “He’s very serious in his job so I haven’t been in a situation where we’ve really been cracking jokes,” said Izzard.
For Izzard, much of Kucinich’s appeal lies in the fact that like Izzard, he’s, well, kinda European.
“The more I’ve looked into him, the more of his positions are quite European,” said Izzard, citing Kucinich’s call for universal health care as one example. “He’s someone who has a global view.”
