Ecological Wisdom * Social Justice * Grassroots Democracy * Non-Violence
>> Green Party of Michigan <<
http://www.migreens.org
>>> ---------------- <<<
>>> News Release <<<
>>> ---------------- <<<
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
---------------------
July 12, 2004
For More Information Contact:
----------------------------
Marc Reichardt -- Chair/GPMI
chair@migreens.org
Paul Felton -- Co-Chair/Detroit Green Party
pdf111@comcast.net
>> Michigan Greens Back Access for Nader, Choices for Voters <<
>> ========================================================= <<
> Call on Both Major Parties to End Hypocrisy, Let Nader on Ballot <
> in State, US; "Why Not Two Candidates for Peace and Equality?" <
The Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) is taking time out from the support
of its own Presidential ticket -- David Cobb and Pat LaMarche -- to
declare its respect for Ralph Nader and its disgust with the two major
parties' interference with Nader's access to the ballot here and across
the country.
In a statement issued today, GPMI praises Nader's integrity and his posi-
tions on issues. "In particular, at a time when many Americans oppose
the continued occupation of Iraq, a position that is not represented by
the two major-party candidates, Mr. Nader's presence in the national
political debate is especially welcome."
"We already have two candidates for war and inequality in the race,"
states Paul Felton, Detroit Green Party local co-chair. "Why not have
two candidates for peace and equality?"
The statement calls on both major parties to "Let the voters have more
choices and voices on Election Day! And on November 3rd, we will add
together the votes cast for Nader/Camejo with the votes cast for our
own ticket of Cobb/LaMarche for a tally of how many people overcame
fearmongering and voted for progressive change in this country."
GPMI is "proud of our selection" of David Cobb and Pat LaMarche -- people
who will "build the Green Party organizationally while speaking out for
our values," as the statement puts it.
"At the same time, GPMI wishes to express our profound respect for Ralph
Nader and our support for his right to run for President, as well as our
disgust with the tactics employed by the two major parties to attempt to
deny ballot access to non-Democrat, non-Republican campaigns -- not just
in Michigan, but throughout the nation."
"Given the name of the Democratic Party, we find it appalling that they
would be engaged in such a concerted effort to deny basic democracy --
the ability to vote for which candidate you favor, rather than against
the one you don't favor -- to the American public", says GPMI party chair
Marc Reichardt.
"In a free society, choice is essential. One would think that the Demo-
crats should have enough confidence in their own candidates and platform
that they could try to win at the ballot box, rather than at the
Secretary of State's office."
But the statement also opposes the hypocrisy of Republicans supporting
Nader's ballot access hoping he will be a spoiler: "The belief that one
candidate 'steals' votes from another is based on the presumption that
only Democrats and Republicans are entitled to those votes."
And it concludes that "this situation further demonstrates the need for
electoral reform in our state and nation. Instant-Runoff Voting, long
supported by the Green Party, is one step toward resolving this issue."
For more information on instant-runoff voting, its possible use in
Ferndale, and the many leaders of various political parties who support
IRV, please visit:
http://www.firv.org
or the Center for Voting and Democracy:
http://www.fairvote.org/irv/
For more information about GPMI, its platform and public positions on
issues, its candidates for President and Vice President and the 22 other
candidates it has already nominated for the November 2004 ballot, and
the county caucuses where local Greens will nominate more candidates
over the next two weeks, please visit our Web site:
http://www.migreens.org
# # #
Green Party of Michigan * 548 S. Main Street *
* Ann Arbor, MI 48104 * 734-663-3555
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The Green Party of Michigan was formed in 1987 to address environmental
issues in Michigan politics. Greens are organized in all 50 states and
the District of Columbia. Each state Green Party sets its own goals
and creates its own structure, but US Greens agree on Ten Key Values:
Ecological Wisdom * Grassroots Democracy
Social Justice * Nonviolence
Community Economics * Decentralization
Feminism * Respect for Diversity
Personal and Global * Future Focus/
Responsibility Sustainability
created/distributed using donated labor
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENT ON INTERFERENCE WITH NADER CANDIDACY
----------------------------------------------
The Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) urges voters to support the Cobb/
LaMarche ticket. At the same time, we wish to express our profound
respect for Ralph Nader and our support for his right to run for
President, as well as our disgust with the tactics employed by the
two major parties to attempt to deny ballot access to non-Democrat,
non-Republican campaigns -- not just in Michigan, but throughout the
nation.
The national Green Party convention in Milwaukee felt that the best
strategy was to nominate people who would build the Green Party
organizationally while speaking out for our values, and we nominated
a team that will do just that, David Cobb and Pat LaMarche. We are
proud of our selection.
But given the unprecedented attacks on Mr. Nader's character and on
his right to run, GPMI finds it necessary to issue this public state-
ment. We respect Mr. Nader's integrity, as well as his stands on the
major issues of the day. In particular, at a time when many Americans
oppose the continued occupation of Iraq, a position that is not repre-
sented by the two major-party candidates, Mr. Nader's presence in the
national political debate is especially welcome.
GPMI calls for an end to the concerted efforts by those who wish to
frustrate Mr. Nader's attempts to gain ballot access. Let the voters
have more choices and voices on Election Day! And on November 3rd, we
will add together the votes cast for Nader/Camejo with the votes cast
for our own ticket of Cobb/LaMarche for a tally of how many people
overcame fearmongering and voted for progressive change in this
country.
GPMI also calls for an end to the Republican hypocrisy of supporting
Nader's access to the ballot as a means to disrupt the Democratic
candidate's success in Michigan via the so-called "spoiler" effect.
The belief that one candidate "steals" votes from another is based on
the presumption that only Democrats and Republicans are entitled to
those votes.
Aside from the base attempts at manipulation of the ballot by both
Republicans and Democrats, this situation further demonstrates the
need for electoral reform in our state and nation. Instant-Runoff
Voting, long supported by the Green Party, is one step toward
resolving this issue.
Other Contacts:
Green Party of Michigan
548 S Main St
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-663-3555
info@migreens.org
posted to web 15 July 2004