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.
Dems bring in big names to fight Greens in MainePowerful 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.
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“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.”
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Benjamin Meiklejohn
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“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!
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