Green Party Watch

In an article at OpEdNews, Amee Chew makes a compelling case for the Cynthia McKinney / Rosa Clemente vote:

The Green Party Presidential ticket of Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente brings something special and unprecedented to U.S. politics. Not only are they the first all women-of-color ticket for President and Vice President. These women take racial justice seriously, and have made strides to put gender at the center of a progressive agenda. For these two, it’s more than skin deep.

They’re the Presidential ticket that talks about amnesty for undocumented workers, that opposes guest worker programs as riddled with abuses, because they believe a just immigration reform means addressing the trade and economic policies fueling poverty and migration. They’re the ticket that demands reparations in the form of federal investment in low-income families and communities of color, to end racial disparities in health, housing, education, and incarceration. They call for the right of return for Katrina survivors; an end to prisons for profit, to the War on Drugs. And they speak of reproductive justice – not just the right to abortion, but actual healthcare access; of freedom from coerced or uninformed medication and sterilization.

Very well said, and the article continues to emphasize the “movement building” aspect to the Power to the People campaign and the Green Party.

Unfortunately, she also brings up the dreaded “safe states strategy” that tormented the Green Party for years, but I’ll pretend that those 6 sentences were interjected to appeal to Obama supporters driven by fear.

The rest of the article itemizes the blackout of the McKinney / Clemente message by not only the main stream media but by the traditional “progressive” organizations such as NOW, AntiWar.com, and Comedy Central’s Indecision2008 (although I wouldn’t consider that “progressive” per se…)

The article is worth a read.

Cynthia McKinney’s Power to the People Campaign hits Illinois with just a week to go before the election, returning to where her campaign kicked off at the Green Party National Convention in July. Illinois, which is running a record 54 candidates from Congress down to local races, has demonstrated its Green voting potential after Green Party Gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney took over 10% of the vote in 2006.

McKinney will campaign in Chicago, Naperville, Springfield, and Alton, alongside Illinois Green Party candidates for Congress. See the below press release for details.
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Steve Welzer, Green Party candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in New Jersey, is responding to the treatment he received by the Asbury Park Press in their article following a round table discussion between the Republican incumbent, Democratic challenger, and Green Party challenger with the Asbury Park Press Editorial Board.

The portrayal of that event in the Asbury Park Press apparently revealed the bias that paper had against Welzer’s campaign. They diminished his participation by stating only that “…Welzer stayed out of the fray for the most part,” and “…he often read directly from the Green Party platform.” Welzer took some heat for the way the paper presented him, so his response is appropriate and justified.

Below is what Steve Welzer wrote to Green Party Watch, followed by the Letter to the Editor he sent the Asbury Park Press.
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Cynthia McKinney is campaigning in Seattle today, but will be heading to Texas later this week. Cynthia McKinney and running mate Rosa Clemente will be meeting up in Texas to tour areas ravaged by Hurricane Ike, and speak to people about their Power to the People campaign for President.

Cynthia McKinney, former Congresswoman who lead the investigation into the federal government response to Hurricane Katrina, will be in Galveston for a Press Conference on Thursday, October 30th. A follow-up Press Release will give specifics.

Beginning 10 days after Hurricane Katrina ravaged parts of the south, Rosa Clemente provided on the ground reporting as an independent journalist to independent radio stations and mainstream media outlets all over the world. Friday, October 31st she will travel to Galveston.

On October 30th and 31st, voters in Texas will hear what these women have to say about current issues impacting our local communities and those that continue to be put on the back burner during every election season – class struggle, the prison industrial complex, media justice, gentrification, a just immigration policy, police brutality, war crimes and impeachment proceedings being levied on those responsible in high office, and addressing the Palestinian perspective in the Middle East.

Rounding out their Tejas Tour, Rosa Clemente speaks in San Anto Oct 30th at Ruta Maya Cafe and at HallowGreen in Houston, Oct 31 at the Houston Institute for Culture. Cynthia McKinney will be speaking at the S.H.A.P.E. Center in Houston, October 30th, be interviewed Oct. 31st on on KHVN-AM Radio (97.0) from 12-1PM, and participate in a free, public Candidate Forum in Plano, Oct 31, at the MAS Youth Center.
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5th District Green Party Candidate Wages Campaign Of Principle

Published in the Hartford Courant

Harold A. Burbank II

This year, for the first time, the Green Party of Connecticut is fielding a full slate of congressional candidates: Stephen Fournier in the 1st Congressional District, Scott Deshefy in the 2nd, Ralph Ferrucci in the 3rd and Richard Duffee in the 4th.

Burbank, 51, a lawyer from Canton, is seeking to oust 5th District Rep. Christopher Murphy. Burbank voted for the freshman Democrat two years ago. But a 2007 forum at New Britain High School changed Burbank’s mind.

The subject was Iraq, and Burbank wanted to know why Murphy didn’t support an effort by Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, to impeach President George W. Bush.

“I went down and took the microphone, and I said, ‘Mr. Murphy, you and I seem to agree that Mr. Bush has lied to the American people regarding weapons of mass destruction,’” Burbank recalled. “Why are you not joining your colleagues who are [drafting] articles of impeachment?”

Read the rest of the article here.

Green Party Vice Presidential nominee Rosa Clemente has confirmed her appearance on Green Party Watch Radio today from 3 to 3:30 PM. To listen live, or later if that is more convenient, simply click here.

Paloma Andrade, Green Party candidate for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk, is featured in an article in Chicago’s Daily Herald as part of a series of articles on the candidates running in this race.

In 2007, Andrade ran as an Independent for Chicago’s 14th Ward alderman seat against Democratic incumbent Edward Burke, who has held that seat for 39 years. On Nov. 4, she takes on Democratic incumbent Dorothy Brown and Republican candidate Diane Shapiro for the position of circuit court clerk, who’s responsible for maintaining the files of the largest consolidated court system in the world.

“I’m an activist,” said Andrade, a bilingual special education teacher and mother of four, who ran against Burke to give voice to the ward’s Latino residents. “I don’t consider myself a politician.”

Read the entire article.

Sent in by Tom Abram, the Champaign County Greens in Illinois are hoping to build on a growing green trend at the home of the University of Illinois. With three candidates running for County Board, they have a strong local platform, good candidates, and…a commercial!

By Tom Abram:

The Prairie Greens are a local based in Champaign County, Illinois – home of the University of Illinois. We’ve been running candidates locally for the election cycles. In years past, we’ve run candidates for County Board and State Representative, with encouraging results. In 2004, our three County Board candidates established the party in those districts and received as high as 19% in a three way race (from a 19 year old college student no less!) In 2006, we ran another three County Board candidates and a State Representative candidate. The percentages climbed higher, with a maximum of 25% against two incumbents for two seats. We’ve also contributed significantly towards statewide petitioning efforts, including Rich Whitney’s run for governor.

This year, we’re focused on winning some County Board seats and think we have a good chance. Joe Futrelle, who received the highest vote percentage in 2006, is making another run. This time, the incumbent has stepped down and he’s facing a Democrat with little political experience. Mike Lehman is a former union organizer and coordinated a successful living wage campaign. He was recently endorsed by the local AFSCME union. He faces a conservative Democrat without much support from the party. Neither Futrelle nor Lehman’s opponents are doing much campaigning. Walter Pituc is a student at the University of Illinois running against two Democrats and two Republicans for two open seats. The dynamics in the race are unpredictable, with a large portion of voters unhappy with at least one of the Democratic or Republican choices. There has been some indication that Walter might benefit from this dissatisfaction by picking up the second choice, in addition to his own supporters. Yard signs for our candidates populate the neighborhoods and in some areas it’s difficult to find our opponents’ signs. We are also hoping to tap into the student population, which will be voting in much higher numbers in this cycle than the last one.
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This extensive interview is conducted and posted on OpEd News by Kevin Gosztola a student pursuing a career in documentary film:

If Jesse Johnson were to win, his presence as governor of West Virginia would surely be felt in Washington, D.C. Powerful corporate and special interests would shudder at a man who has the fortitude and courage to put people before profits and stop the wrongful economic destruction being perpetrated on the people of Appalachia.

Once you think about the effect his win could have on Washington in terms of policy change, it becomes evident that this is one of many state and local elections Americans should be following closely.

More info on Gosztola:

Kevin Gosztola goes to Columbia College in Chicago where he is studying film. He hopes to become a documentary filmmaker. He is currently working as a production assistant on a documentary called “Seriously Green” which traces the development of the Green Party throughout the 2008 election. He has a passion for journalism and writes articles or press releases in his spare time. Kevin Gosztola is also a student activist who believes in questioning the way America’s systems work(its electoral system, its military-industrial complex, its foreign policy of American exceptionalism, its media which has become the Fourth Branch of government,etc.)
His ambitions have him currently organizing and raising money for a Chicago Conference for Media Reform in April or May of 2009. It will be organized by college students to promote youth involvement in media reform and justice. Those interested in attending or helping with the organization of the program should contact him.

Read the rest of the interview.

Here in Utah, one of the reddest states in the nation, third parties have a really rough time making a go of it. (Even though there is a significant movement here  for the Obama campaign, the election this year in Utah is almost certain to go to McCain.)  Out of the 4 Utah third parties, two are on this year’s ballot.   When Cynthia McKinney came to Utah to file for President the media just barely mentioned this historical event.  No newspapers showed up.  One tv station and one local radio station appeared to interview her at the press conference and take footage as she filed and one had to really dig to find the mention those media outlets made of her visit to Utah.

So imagine my excitement when the interview from a questionnaire with which I assisted in completing for the McKinney campaign appeared in this week’s issue of Utah’s widely read alternative newspaper, the Salt Lake City Weekly! The article appears on page 12 of the print issue and is on its online version:

Cynthia McKinney appears on the Washington Journal, C-SPAN

Watch Cynthia McKinney Washington Journal in News Online  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Thanks to Independent Political Report for bringing it to our attention!
And C-SPAN Junkie for posting it!

I am not the only one that has been trying to come up with a list of the hottest Green Party races to watch on November 4. There are so many! There are over 200 Green Party candidates on the ballot around the nation. What criteria can you apply to determine a race is “hot” – and what does “hot” mean anyway? High profile races (Governor, U.S. Senate, President), races with a (slim, good, great) chance of winning, races that have got our attention for some other reason?

The Green Party of the United States has identified a handful of Green Party candidates to watch on November 4. I was brainstorming with the people at Green Change and they have put together a list of 20 “featured” races to watch. But I want more!

What are your favorite races? Which races do you think the Green Party might be able to return a surprise victory? Where are the dark horses? What’s happening in your state or region that isn’t getting enough attention? Will we be caught by surprise when “Lilly Paddy” is elected to some State Assembly seat?

Below the fold, GPUS’s list, and Green Change’s (tentative) list. And in the comments – your list of Green Party candidates to watch.
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The Jewish Chronicle last month interviewed Jewish activists with the Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians. In this piece, two Jewish Wisconsin Greens write their views on the Green Party, what it stands for and why Jews should consider voting Green. I encourage you to read the piece entitled “Green Party Seeks to Defend Everyone’s Rights” in the Jewish Chronicle by Mike Bootzin and Ruth Weill.

Probably the highlight – and most controversial – portion is on the Green Party’s positions on Israel and the Middle East. It deserves reprinting here. It is well written, careful, but honest and serious.

Position on Mideast

As Jewish Greens, we take special interest in Middle Eastern affairs, especially when pertaining to Israel/Palestine.

Back in 2005 the Green Party approved support of the Divestment in Israel campaign. Many in the Jewish community saw this as anti-Semitic, an act hostile to the existence of the state of Israel. We disagree.
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Cynthia McKinney released a video statement (below) regarding the “Third Party” Debate scheduled for tonight. In an accompanying statement, further details emerge:

LOS ANGELES – Green Party Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney released a statement this morning regarding the hastily scheduled debate announced for this evening in Washington D.C.

The event scheduled for this evening was organized Monday by Christina Tobin of Free and Equal; details were announced yesterday (October 21). Tobin was Ralph Nader’s national ballot access coordinator this year. According to sources, she is on leave from the campaign.

Ms McKinney bristled at the fact that her name was announced when she was not consulted as to her availability; the entire event was presented – time, date, location, format and moderators – as a fait
accompli, with no input from McKinney.

Video of her statement is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9V_mpSyGms
and video of her discussing last week’s independent debate at www.breakthematrix.com
is avaiable here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv9rAyp3mOI