News Headlines
Silencing democracy: Greens excluded from Debates
This year, local- and state-level Green candidates are running notably
stronger campaigns: many have years of experience as elected officials, are
in touch with the values and needs of their constituents, and are willing
and eager to do the grassroots organizing necessary to challenge the status
quo. Yet in many major markets, they are notably absent from debates-because
Democrat and Republican candidates are running scared.
Maybe the two corporate parties see the writing on the wall when they read
reports of recent polls, which show voters leaving both parties to register
as independents? Perhaps they are afraid that when voters presented with
Green solutions to today's problems the talking points of the two pro-war,
corporate parties do not stack up with the values of regular (not
corporate!) citizens.
Aaron Dixon with supporters outside of King-5 TV -photo by Wendy Call After
arriving at Seattle's King-5 TV station with 75 campaign volunteers and
supporters holding signs saying "Let Dixon Debate," police arrested Green
Party Senate candidate Aaron Dixon for trying to enter the studio. Dixon had
hoped to take part in what would later be described as the "Millionaire's
Debate"-so called because co-sponsors KING-5 and the Seattle Times made
raising $1 million a requirement for participation. While recent polls
indicate that voters are six times more likely to support Dixon than
Libertarian candidate Bruce Guthrie, Dixon was barred from participating
because he failed to meet the $1 million campaign chest requirement.
(Guthrie, on the other hand, met the 7-figure hurdle by taking out a
mortgage on his house.) All this after operatives from Democrat incumbent
Maria Cantwell tried, unsuccessfully, to bribe Dixon into withdrawing his
candidacy.
Illinois Radio Network invited top gubernatorial candidates to a televised
debate scheduled on October 2, including Green candidate Rich Whitney. After
learning he would have to debate Rich Whitney, the Democrat candidate Rod
Blagojevich backed out, leading the station to cancel the debate. Despite
being shut out of the debates, Rich Whitney's poll numbers are steadily
rising. He is currently at 14%-more than any statewide candidate from a
nationally organized third party has received in Illinois in over 100 years.
In New York and Wisconsin, the League of Women Voters, an organization with
a history of facilitating open and democratic debates, withdrew their
sponsorship when Green Party candidates were shut out of the debates, citing
their organization's commitment to nonpartisanship. In Connecticut, Green
Governor Candidate Cliff Thornton purchased advertising time to air a
campaign promotion during the very debate that he was denied entry to! Green
Party candidates have won almost 40% of their elections this year. When
given the opportunity, more and more voters are choosing to vote for a party
that represents their values. Peter LaVenia, co-chair of the New York Green
Party pointed out that "a growing number of voters find the artificial
restriction of debates to Democratic and republican candidates a complete
sham. When alternative candidates are included, both viewership and voter
turnout increase. When Independent candidate Jesse Ventura was included in
the Minnesota gubernatorial debates, he went form 10% in the polls to over
30% in just a few weeks. And then he became governor. That would never have
happened had he been excluded from the debates. This is why major party
candidates strive to keep the public from hearing alternative candidates."
Tell the media that excluding Green Party candidates from debates is an
attack on democracy and the public's right to make informed choices! Go to
the Action Page here.
http://www.gp.org/action/index.shtml
Dems bring in big names to fight Greens in Maine
Powerful Democrats are stumping in Maine, where Green candidates like Pat
LaMarche http://www.pat2006.com for Governor and Benjamiin Meiklejohn
http://www.benmeiklejohn.com for the house seat in District 120 are running
very strong campaigns. Both qualified for 'clean election' funds by securing
$5 donations from supporters. Dem heavyweight Howard Dean engaged in a
door-to-door photo opp in District 120 where Meiklejohn is gaining strength.
His Democratic opponent is virtually missing in action, while Meiklejohn has
been busy talking to his neighbors in district 120 and continues to canvas
the area. In 2001, Meiklejohn became the first Green elected in Portland,
where he currently serves on the school board.
Dennis Kucinich and Bill Clinton have also shown up to bolster the
Democratic Governor John Baldacci's chances for re-election. Pat LaMarche,
Green Party Vice-Presidential candidate in 2004, is running against duopoly
candidates.
"The Democrats are trying to rally their base by using the War in Iraq and
anti-Bush sentiment as a means to garner support for Democrats at all levels
but the public is not fooled. Campaigns for State Representative have little
to do with the War in Iraq, and that the Republican is not even running in
my House district is very telling. They must have got a hold of some polling
data that shows I am handily winning as a Green Independent over the
Democrat, otherwise they would not be bringing in big guns like Howard Dean
and Bill Clinton," Meiklejohn told the Portland Press Herald. "The truth is,
they are very worried, and are using Democratic opposition to Republicans as
a rallying cry to get support for a Democrat over a Green in a race where
there isn't even a Republican running."
Benjamin Meiklejohn
"I've always heard, 'Why are you Green? You can't win.' Yet I do win. And I
do succeed," Meiklejohn told Green Line. "Don't listen to the naysayers-if
you put in the hard work, you've got a better chance than a Democrat or
Republican riding their party's coattails."
Cindy Sheehan supports Green Party Peace Slate
Renowned peace activist Cindy Sheehan has thrown her support behind a number
of Green Party candidates for the fall elections. In a recent interview she
said "Malachy is a man of courage and integrity. The people of NY want
peace. They are tired of politics as usual." endorsing the Green Party of NY
gubernatorial candidate Malachy McCourt. During the same interview, she also
endorsed Michael Berg, running as a Green for US Congress in Delaware. (To
watch a video of Cindy Sheehan's endorsement of McCourt and Berg, go to
www.gp.org) Sheehan also recently endorsed Todd Chrétien, CA, Kevin Zeese,
MD and Howie Hawkins, NY all running for US Senate as Greens. Thanks for
your support Cindy!
http://www.gp.org/
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