MN Greens split on presidential candidate

by Eric Makela

Paul Bunyan got a jolt of alternative presidential politics this weekend when the Green Party of Minnesota descended on the city of Bemidji for back-to-back endorsing and biennial conventions.

A plurality voted not to run a presidential candidate, a decision that could put the state at odds with other Greens at the national convention, being held in Milwaukee later this month.

Leaders of the party’s national organization, the Green Party of the United States, have publicly stated the party will likely back Ralph Nader or the lesser-known David Cobb, even though Nader is not interested in being the party's official nominee.

For three days, more than 100 party members, representing more than 3,000 statewide members, came together to elect delegates to the national convention, hear from candidates and make modifications to their state platform.

Joel Sipress of the Duluth Area Greens spoke on behalf of the “No Candidate” option before the selection of delegates took place.

“We are a party that's fighting for social transformation,” said Sipress. “We need to focus on community organizing, on building from the bottom up by electing people to local office.”

Sipress said he did not regret his support of Ralph Nader in 2000, but argued that the party's interest was to stay out of the presidential race this year.
“We need to focus on community organizing, on building from the bottom up, by electing people to local office,” he said. “By always running someone for the highest office, we send the message that all we care about is making a statement.”

Sipress added, however, that if the party did endorse a candidate, it should be a member of the Green Party — a reference to Nader, who never joined.
Although the consumer advocate decided in December that he wouldn't seek the “nomination” of the Green Party, he has said that he would welcome an “endorsement,” and the rules at the national convention have been set up to allow for such a possibility.

State party leaders were not clear about what that distinction would mean, but it appears that endorsement on its own would carry fewer legal obligations on the part of candidate and the GP.

Nader did not attend the Bemidji meeting, but his supporters were there to argue in favor of a third endorsement. The consumer advocate, who was endorsed last month by the Reform party, has also announced his intentions to seek both the nomination of the newly-formed Populist Party and the backing of other third parties.

Advocates of a 2004 Green presidential ticket were buoyed by the speech made by David Cobb, a party activist who claims to have a strategy for defeating George Bush while building the Greens. He criticized John Kerry, citing the senator's support of “destructive policies” and his ties to major corporations. While he respects the efforts of those who supported Democrats like Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton, Cobb didn't mince words when it came to that party's presidential primary process, calling it “a place where genuine progressive politics goes to die.”

Cobb also took issue with those who are angry at the Green Party for considering entering into another national race, saying, “what some people call spoiling, we call participation.”

“We are not the problem, the voting system is the problem,” he continued.
To cheers from the audience, Cobb said that Greens want to work with Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians and others to implement instant runoff voting, or IRV, a system where voters can rank their choices of candidates.

The Green Party has supported IRV for many years, arguing that by allowing voters to list their first, second and third preference on the ballot, the spoiler effect disappears and the interests of the people are more clearly expressed.

Of the 28 delegates that were elected to represent Minnesota at the national convention, nine will be carrying the ‘No Candidate’ banner. The reasons varied, with a few mentioning that it is time for the party to support a viable female candidate.

Five delegates support Cobb, two want to run Nader, and three are representing the undecided and can make their own decision in Milwaukee. Eight delegates will be representing each of the state’s congressional districts, while one will represent the membership at large. Several of the delegates will also be lobbying for issues like reproductive freedom and demilitarization.

Besides electing delegates to the national convention, party members also heard from several local candidates.

Bemidji City Council candidate Audrey Thayer spoke about the powerful effect Green politics has had on her life, especially since the loss of her son, who died a year ago in a construction accident.

Thayer also advocated running more women for public office. In addition to Thayer, the Greens are running Rebecca Smith for the Minnesota State House in Southeast Minneapolis (59B) against incumbent Democrat Phyllis Kahn.

Tom Taylor, candidate for the State House in Northeast Minneapolis (59A) spoke about the “hard core environmental problems” in his district, and said the corporations that caused the problems are not repairing the damage. He called on Greens to “part the veil of corporate personhood to hold these corporations accountable,” referring to the protections corporations receive as persons under the law. Taylor is seeking the seat that is being vacated by Democrat Len Biernat.

Jay Pond, running for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 5th District against Martin Sabo (DFL), said his main priorities are wind energy, the creation of a Department of Peace, same-sex marriage and single-payer universal health care.
The Green Party's national convention will be held on June 23-28 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.gp.org/convention or call 866-41GREEN. For details on the Green Party of Minnesota, visit www.mngreens.org or call 612-871-4585.