News Headlines

Watch Cynthia McKinney on C-SPAN
Sunday, Sept. 14 - "Road to the White House"

Greta Bruner, CSPAN interviewer, has confirmed that C-SPAN will be airing the Cynthia McKinney interview on "Road to the White House" in it's usual time slot this Sunday, September 14, at both 6:30 and 9:30 pm. Included will be footage of the Ron Paul event where he supports 3rd Party candidates for President.

NYC, under it's charter revision initiative law, has the jurisdiction to create a commission to investigate 9/11 events in NYC. Cynthia McKinney, as a leader in the call for the investigation, calls for support for the ballot initiative. She talks about the government lies and what we must do to investigate the truth.

View the NYC Ballot Initiative Press Conference with Cynthia McKinney Green Party Presidential Candidate here:

Show your friends and neighbors that they can vote for a presdidential ticket that represents them. McKinney/Clemente gear is now available for purchase on-line. These union-made, sweatshop free t-shirts, bumper stickers, and buttons are sure to be a hit at your next McKinney meet-up or house party. Supplies are limited, so order yours today in the campaign store click here.

To get involved in the McKinney campaign- check it out at www.votetruth08.com. While you are there consider making a donation or how about signing up as a volunteer. We can use your help!

Virginia Greens Rock!

The Green Parties of Ohio and Virginia made headlines in August with stunning ballot access wins! In Ohio, the Green party won a lawsuit forcing the Secretary of State to recognize the party's base of support and put the McKinney/Clemente ticket on the ballot in November. In Virginia, the Green Party overcame long odds and submitted sufficient signatures to win ballot access in November. "We could not have done it without the help of many of you," noted Tamar Yager, who helped coordinate the GPVA effort, "including petitioners and donors."

So far, the McKinney/Clemente ticket will be on 32 ballots. A petition drive is still underway in Vermont. Many other states allow voters to write in the McKinney/Clemente ticket. This year's ballot access is a record for the Green Party of the United States in a Presidential election year.

We still need your generous support to cover expenses from this year's efforts. With your help, the Ballot Access Committee raised over $10,000 to supplement our budget for this year, and is still working to build our resources for 2009 and beyond. Please visit the Ballot Access Committe's webpage at www.gp.org/committees/ballot/ or click here to make a contribution. You can also volunteer for future petition drives or to help win ballot access through lawsuits or by lobbying for fair ballot access laws at the state level.

Congratulations to Ohio and Virginia and all our volunteers who helped win record ballot access in 2008!

Jean de Smet - Windham, CT Green Selectwoman

"Republicans are for big businesses, Democrats are for big government, but we the Greens are for big citizenry" Jean de Smet, Selectwoman, Windham, CT.

In May, Jean de Smet became the first ever Green elected to the position of Selectwoman beating the incumbent Democrat in a town with a clear Democratic majority. When asked what made her campaign a success, de Smet stressed the need for cooperation across partisan lines. She ran with a so-called "bottom-line slate", a non-partisan group of candidates that include both former Democrats and Republicans, and appealed voters on a platform of efficiency, professionalism and "better government". She credits her 2007 electoral victory to her record as an active citizen of the community for more than 20 years and the strong name recognition she enjoyed throughout the town. "I was involved in many groups and activities, people knew who I was", she says.

Windham, CT is an old mill town struggling in the post-industrial era. The community is concerned with revitalizing the economy, long-term strategic planning, and supporting small businesses. As selectwoman, de Smet has implemented programs to promote renewable energy, recycling programs, and building a sustainable economy for Windham.

De Smet offers a vision of Green values that resounds with voters. "Republicans are for big businesses, Democrats are for big government, but we the Greens are for big citizenry." The ideal of Citizens actively engaging in the community, curbing the excesses of both the governmental power and big financial and industrial interests, is a mainstream value that appeals to the American public.

She values the New England tradition of Town Meeting democracy, which reflects the Green value of grassroots democracy. "The feeling that my opinion really counts, is what motivated me to politics", she said. As a Selectwoman, she has made community engagement a top priority in her administration. "We need to work with community members".

De Smet sees a "big challenge" for the Green Party to flourish in the long-term. An undemocratic election system, punitive ballot access laws and the corporate media bias all pose major challenges. However, she is fundamentally optimistic about the future of the Green Party. "I think there 's going to be a momentum that change needs to happen, towards a green, "solidarity economy"". She believes that we need to present our platform in a way that inspires people, and national candidates who can communicate such messages. But this needs to be balanced with local outreach "Door knocking, talking to people and putting green issues on their mind, contributed to my success. Before I won, I ran for the office three times and lost every time; we need to be persistent. It can be a long process".

Start a Green Party Chapter on your Campus

School is starting and we need to promote the McKinney/Clemente ticket and our hundreds of state and local candidates on campus this year. Now is the time to get in touch with your Green friends and start planning events, fundraisers, debates, and voter registration drives.

One excellent way to help organize the Green Party in your area is to start a Green Party chapter at your school. Just like the College Democrats and Republicans, Greens work to organize students, hold events on campus, win ballot access, and help train the next generation of Green Party leaders. E-mail campus@gp.org if you would like to start or join a campus Green Party chapter at your school.

If a Green Party chapter already exists on your campus, please let us know! Call 1-866-41-GREEN or e-mail campus@gp.org.

Are you a Blogger???
The Green Party Wants You!

Attention bloggers! Do you blog on behalf of your state or local Green Party or Green candidate? Do you write about the Green Party in your personal blog? Do you read and comment on Democratic blogs, progressive blogs, or even conservative blogs? Join our Blogging Team! We want to get stories about the Green Party on your blog and in the comments of all political blogs. E-mail brian@gp.org to join the GPUS blogging effort.

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