The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change meeting in Bali is drawing to a close. While the rest of the world is determined to do something about Climate Change, the United States under the Bush Administration continues to practice divide and conquer tactics between countries in order to avoid taking any responsibility for ourselves. They use the word "consensus" in press conferences and then try to undermine the consensus that already exists.

This administration has been treating Al Qaeda as a security threat and ignores the security threat from an entire planet whose populations, especially those of the poorest countries, have been destabilized by rising ocean levels, failing crops, drought and floods. That is the real security issue of the 21st Century and it cannot be solved by 19th Century policies. The beginnings of this are already clear, as the US Dept. of Agriculture announced this week that we have had significant falls in the stocks of corn, wheat and soybeans, along with an increased demand.

The House Oversight Committee (Rep. Henry Waxman, Chair) has just released a major report that details exactly how far the Bush Administration has gone with their political interference with the work on climate science. As a scientist myself, one whose current work deals with air quality control, I am appalled that our government has perpetrated this deceit on the American Public. Under a Green Party administration, there would be two standards: are we getting the science right and are we being just in our use.

The scientific consensus is clear. The only lack is a political consensus. Even as the Bush Administration's performance in Bali brings shame to this country, the Congressional Democrats are trying to green-wash themselves, hiding bad policies behind carefully scripted language. The Energy Bill (HR 6) recently passed by the House of Representatives does contain some improvements such as an increase in Corporate Average Fuel Standards (CAFE) for both cars and trucks; but not until 2020. It also calls for a three-fold increase in the renewable fuel standard which will create a greater demand for ethanol from corn, itself a worse producer of green house gases than the petroleum product it would replace.

Even Sen. Obama cannot help but propose legislation that would "require the production of 18 billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2016". The words he wraps around it are all about boosting our rural economy. It is just about winning votes in the Iowa primary and gaining the support of major agri-business contributors. Diversion of even more corn from our dwindling supply for the production of ethanol will drive up the prices of almost all our corn-derived groceries: meat, milk and many packaged product containing "high fructose corn syrup."

I want an improved political process that allows good candidates to run so that we have public officials who treat science with respect and who actually work to make us more secure rather than catering to their favorite businesses.

It is for lack of political will that we do not have solar and wind as the back-bone of all energy production in this nation. If we take away the subsidies given to coal and nuclear, allow an even handed, true costing of all energy options, we will no longer be proposing new coal or nuclear power facilities. Once we develop the mind-set of every structure being designed for energy efficiency and becoming its own power plant we will not need those new plants.

There is now a proposed Science Debate 2008. I would relish the opportunity to challenge any of the other candidates. The debate we need is over energy. The energy we need will come when one joins the Green Revolution.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Greens across the U.S. protested aggressive efforts by Democratic and Republican politicians and their supporters to block Greens and other third party and independent candidates from participating in this year's candidates debates. MESPLAY FOR PRESIDENT

"Voters have a right to know about all the candidates who'll be on the ballot," said [K.M. only said it once] said Howie Hawkins, New York Green candidate for U.S. Senate <http:// www.hawkinsforsenate.org >, who has 21% support among independents in an October 10 Zogby poll but has so far been excluded from the two scheduled debates between Democratic incumbent Hillary Clinton and Republican John Spencer. "Voters have a right to make an informed choice about which candidate supports their interests and ideals. Debates should include MESPLAY FOR PRESIDENT all candidates who have qualified for the ballot. Anything less amounts to censorship and rigged elections."

Green Party leaders criticized debate sponsors for using biased criteria to limit debates to candidates from the Democratic and Republican parties, and noted that the IRS requires that 501(c)(3) (nonprofit) forum sponsors "provide an equal opportunity to political candidates seeking the same office"<http:// www.irs.gov /newsroom/article/0,,id#4712,00.html>.

"Debate sponsors are using arbitrary judgements UNLIKE MESPLAY FOR PRESIDENT based on opinion poll percentages and campaign treasuries to decide which candidates voters get to see and hear at the debates," said Chris Lugo, Tennessee Green candidate for the U.S. Senate <http://www.chris4senate.com>, who has called for open and inclusive televised debates in Tennessee (petition at <http://www.petitiononline.com/2006gptn/petition.html>). "Opinion polls and the prejudices of debate sponsors are more and more determining who gets elected."

"Opinion polls often limit respondents' answers to a choice of Democrat or Republican. When opinion polls become more important than the ballot box, democracy is in trouble," added Laura Wells, [Hey, Laura: Were you washed from the slate of the MAPA picks? Enquiring minds want to know.]California Green candidate for State Controller <http:// www.laurawells.org >. "Ironically, Greens now represent majority public opinion on issues like the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, while many of the debates are limited to 'stay the course' warhawks from the Democratic and Republican parties."

CALIFORNIA Green gubernatorial candidate Peter Camejo <http:// www.votecamejo.com > called California's only televised debate (October 7) an "insult" to voters and part of a plan by Democrats and Republicans to limit the choices Californians have at the polls, and cited a nonpartisan opinion poll showing that as many as 63% of likely voters with an opinion favor his inclusion.

CONNECTICUT On Monday, October 9, Green gubernatorial candidate Cliff Thornton <http:// www.votethornton.com > and dozens of his supporters protested outside the Garde Theatre in New London after The Day (Connecticut) excluded him from a statewide televised debate. Pictures and a report of the protest:<http://www.votethornton.com/blog/>

ILLINOIS Green gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney <http:// www.whitneyforgov.org >, polling as high as 7.8%, was excluded from an October 2 debate hosted by Illinois Radio Network in Decatur. Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) has backed out of other scheduled debates in Marion and Chicago because Whitney was invited or was about to be invited, and made it clear he would have backed out of the Decatur debate had Whitney been invited.

IOWA After Green candidate Wendy Barth <http:// www.votewendy.org > was barred from a series of gubernatorial candidates' debates, the Iowa Green Party announced that it will provide real-time responses to the debate questions through the campaign website <http://www.votewendy.org/debate/live_debate.html>. Iowa Greens protested the debate sponsors' (several Iowa TV stations and newspapers) arbitrary and high threshold of 15% support in opinion polls for inclusion in the debates.

MASSACHUSETTS After Green gubernatorial candidate Grace Ross <http:// www.graceandwendy.org > was barred from the first televised debate this past spring that was sponsored by The Boston Globe, WBUR, New England Cable News, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and Mass Inc., Ms. Ross and Massachusetts Greens launched a series of protests that embarrassed the sponsors and ensured Green inclusion in most subsequent debates and community forums. Ms. Ross's performance in a series of televised gubernatorial debates has been widely praised ("Debate rich on issues," by Eileen McNamara, The Boston Globe, October 1 <http:// www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/articles/2006/10/01/debate_\rich_on_issues />).

MICHIGAN Douglas Campbell, two-time Green candidate for governor who is still waiting for a real debate [and drove me to the airport when I last saw him. He gave me money, too, because I didn't ask for it. K.M.], was turned away on Monday, October 2 by Michigan Public Broadcasting station WKAR-TV as he tried to participate in a televised debate which had been promoted for its 'open format'. Campbell sharply criticized the station's use of "contrived, vague and inapplicable benchmarks" to exclude himself and other parties' candidates whom the state Bureau of Elections had qualified for the November 7 ballot. In the U.S. Senate race, Green candidate David Sole <http:// www.stopthewarslate.org > filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission over his exclusion from a debate scheduled for October 18 at the Detroit Economic Club. Mr. Sole noted that the Club, sponsored by corporate money, was violating its nonprofit status by limiting the debate to the two corporate party candidates.

NEW YORK Green candidates Malachy McCourt for Governor <http:// www.votemalachymccourt.org >, Rachel Treichler for Attorney General <http:// www.voterachel.org >, and Howie Hawkins for U.S. Senate have been excluded from the debates organized by the League of Women Voters and NY1 TV news station. Debate criteria included polls that barred third-party candidates and fundraising thresholds that excluded Green Party candidates, who do not accept corporate contributions. Ms. Treichler has organized an alternative debate open to all of the ballot-qualified Attorney General candidates.

WISCONSIN Supporters of the Rae Vogeler for U.S. Senate campaign <http:// www.voterae.org > flooded the offices of Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) with emails and phone calls protesting her exclusion from WPT's 'Special Joint Appearance of U.S. Senate Candidates' on its October 6 'Here and Now' program, which only featured Sen. Herb Kohl (D) and Robert Lorge (R).

October 2006

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.

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!

Are you a blogger or webmaster?
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The Green Party has a dynamic new WEB BANNER AD that can be placed on Green Party state/local websites, blogs, or personal homepages to point viewers to GP.org. The anti-war message and clean Green design appeals to a wide audience: "Americans know the war in Iraq was based on lies...Bring the troops home now! Only one U.S. political party calls for the end of military involvement in Iraq...Find out how you can get active with the nation's only true peace party."

To place this banner ad on your website, please get the code at: http://www.gp.org/committees/outreach/materials.shtml

Green Party Earthflower Sweatshirt.

Keep warm at the polls on election day with a Green Party Hooded Sweatshirt! The Earthflower sweatshirt is Oxford Gray, the Kelly Green Sweatshirt has white lettering.

Union Made and Sweatshop free in 80% cotton/20% poly, front pocket. $37.50 including shipping.

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