Green Party Watch

Louisiana turned out one of the better showings for Cynthia McKinney on November 4, which may have been due to her embracing of the Reconstruction Platform and strong post-Katrina positions.

Malik Rahim is the living embodiment for post-Katrina reconstruction. In the days following Hurricane Katrina he founded the Common Ground Collective, a grassroots organization dedicated to bringing food, medicine and services to the people of New Orleans, supported by a grassroots network of donations and support. Malik Rahim was born and raised in New Orleans, and is dedicated to the people of New Orleans, including the hundreds of thousands of refugees who left the city and have yet to return.

Because of this year’s hurricanes, the election for U.S. Congress in the second district was postponed to December 6. Malik Rahim, the Green Party candidate, faces off against incumbent Democrat Bill Jefferson, who has been indicted on 16 counts of corruption. Also running are Joseph Cao, Republican, and Gregory Kahn, Libertarian.

This is the kind of race that Greens across the nation can get behind. It is local, it is about social and economic justice, it is about grassroots activism and about electing a representative to Congress that would truly represent and fight for his constituents.

If you are disappointed with the results of the Presidential campaign, put some energy and love into the Malik Rahim campaign for Congress. Greens across the nation are already donating and supporting this December 6 race. Please contribute and spread the word.

Green Party Political Director Brent McMillan is the guest on today’s Green Party Watch Radio. He will be discussing the election results of November 4th, the coming election in New Orleans, and other things as they come up.

Malik Rahim, Green Party candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in Florida’s 2nd Congressional District, will not be on the ballot Nov. 4. Because of Hurricane Katrina Rita Ike, the election will actually be on December 6. That gives Malik Rahim an extra month to organize and get the word out.

Malik Rahim’s race is a featured race for the Green Party, his work following Hurricane Katrina was an example of Green Values in Action. His role as a keynote speaker at the Chicago GPUS Presidential Nominating Convention was no accident, and his message is strong.

From his website:

Malik Rahim, born and raised in New Orleans’ Algiers neighborhood, has worked as an organizer for decades around housing and prison issues. During Hurricane Katrina, Malik stayed to assist the community and has been speaking out about racism and the failures of government exposed by the Katrina disaster.
read more »

This is essentially little more than a series of links to stories about Greens running for Congress.

Wanda Sabir writes about New Orleans based Green Malik Rahim and his campaign for Congress from his New Orleans district.

Perhaps candidates like Rahim who believe in a sustainable economy and true social justice will change the tenets of a party that is more on the page than the other two, which aren’t even in the right chapter.

Christine Anne Piesyk writes about Tennessee Green John Miglietta who is running for Congress from the 5th District. She writes at Clarkesville Online about his fundraising to date, and his campaign plans in general.

Campaigns must focus on issues. Miglietta and the Green Party call for the public financing of elections and an end to corporate special interest funding of elections.

Over at PolitickerMD the Green Party candidate for Congress from that state’s 8th District lays out his case against burning more oil. The candidate, Gordon Clark says that changing the climate in Washington must come before saving the global climate.

“The last thing we need now is a debate between the President and Congress about where to do more oil drilling.”

Thank you to Kim Wilder for putting these videos together!

From the video Description: Malik Rahim is an activist, who works with groups in New Orleans to support the rebuilding effort. Malik Rahim is now a candidate for Congress, U.S. House of Representatives for Louisiana, District 2. In this video, Malik Rahim speaks to the 2008 Green Party Presidential Convention in Chicago, Illinois. Malik is introduced by Brenda Konkel, a Green Party Elected Official from Madison, Wisconsin. To support the non-partisan, grassroots effort to rebuild New Orleans, please go to http://www.commongroundrelief.org. Videographer: Ian Wilder. Director: Kimberly Wilder. http://www.onthewilderside.net