Friday’s New York Times has a substantial story on the Green Party’s presidential candidate, Dr. Jill Stein. FINALLY corporate mainstream media is giving some serious print attention if not air time to the Green Party candidate for President of the United States as a viable alternative.
Susan Saulny addresses anecdotally one of Stein’s main challenges: NAME RECOGNITION. When Keith Brockenberry, a cook, wandered into a Stein meet-and-greet in Roxbury, MA, he was charmed by Stein, but had to inquire blankly, “For president of what?” “For president of the United States,” supplied a supporter. Brockenberry shot back: “Get out of here!"
Dr. Stein is doing all she can to change this scenario. She has been campaigning very hard throughout the country to generate support as well as non-corporate funding.
Saulny:
When she officially accepts the nomination at the Green Party’s convention this weekend in Baltimore, she will be the party’s first candidate to have qualified for federal matching funds — a milestone for this 11-year-old alternative party and potentially a major boost for a campaign that does not accept corporate donations.
The Green Party of the United States expects to be on the ballot in at least 45 states and to spend about $1 million on its campaign. At the moment, it has secured ballot access, an organizational test in itself, in 21 states, including the battlegrounds of Colorado, Florida, Michigan and Ohio, where the major party candidates, President Obama and Mitt Romney, who are raising tens of millions of dollars every month, are locked in a tight race.
Saulny builds a profile of Dr. Stein. Stein is 62. A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School. She is a general internist. She is married to a surgeon. She has two adult sons. She lives in Lexington, MA but originally comes from the Chicago area. Saulny also supplies that Jill Stein grooves on organic cooking and “was not too long ago the lead singer of a folksy rock band.”
Stein confesses that she became a citizen candidate when as a doctor she “grew impatient with the social and environmental roots of disease”. She asserts: “I’m now practicing political medicine because politics is the mother of all illnesses.”
The attractive and stylish appearance of Dr. Stein (“sporting bright scarves and slim pant suits” according to Saulny), and her graceful, thoughtful speaking manner belie a tough, passionate and knowledgeable candidate. Stein is capable of deft political zingers. When asked what she learned from debating Mitt Romney in 2002 during the governor’s race, Stein shot back, “It’s easy to debate a robot!” Presumably re: Obama: “We need to have people in Washington who refuse to be bought by lobbyist money and for whom change is not just a slogan!”
Saulny explores Stein’s challenge of increasing citizen awareness of herself and her platform:
She longs to be included in the nationally televised debates, a high hurdle for any third-party candidate. According to the Commission on Presidential Debates, a candidate must have “a level of support of at least 15 percent of the national electorate” as determined by five national polling organizations.
Ms. Stein’s problem, then, is of the chicken-and-egg variety: to get national name recognition, she needs television exposure in debates. But she does not qualify for debates because of a lack of national name recognition.
She thinks that is by design, to benefit major parties.
“If they actually have to debate a living, thinking, informed person, it’s very hard for them,” Ms. Stein added, referring to Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney. “They have kind of a mutual agreement, which you can see evident in the nature of their debate right now. If it’s important, they won’t go there. Many issues are not on the table.”
Ms. Stein says she emphasizes issues like ecological sustainability, racial and gender equality, and economic justice. The centerpiece of her platform is a Green New Deal, a twist on the Roosevelt-era programs intended to stimulate job growth and the depressed economy. It could be paid for by ending the presence of American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the campaign says, and by eliminating waste in the health care system. Beyond that, Ms. Stein favors a progressive income tax that would raise rates on the wealthy.
Jill Stein's slogan certainly says it all. She is for PEOPLE, PEACE AND PLANET! Can either of the legacy party candidates possibly claim the same thing with a straight face? Wait a minute. As masters of mendacity of course they can. But they would be L-Y-I-N-G!
Here is a link to a video interview by Amy Goodman of Democracy Now of Dr. Stein at the Green Party convention in Baltimore this weekend.
Stein’s recently disclosed VP running mate is activist Cheri Honkala. Here is a short profile from Democracy Now about Honkala with more on the Green Party platform:
Dr. Jill Stein’s Green Party vice-presidential running mate, Cheri Honkala, is a single mother who has firsthand experience with homelessness. In 2011, she ran as the Green Party candidate for sheriff of Philadelphia on a platform of ending foreclosures and halting evictions. "Large sections of the population are just sitting out. ... It’s not just because they’re not interested in what’s happening in this country. They just don’t see that their vote actually matters," Honkala says. "But our campaign gives an opportunity for people to see themselves, because we represent the 99 percent." Her Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign is one of the country’s largest movements led by the poor and homeless. We speak with Honkala and Dr. Stein about their campaign for the White House and the challenges they face as a third party in a two-party political system. If elected, Stein says she would work to repeal the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling. "There are so many strategies that a president could bring into play to help draw public attention to not only the problem, but how we can solve it with a constitutional amendment to make clear that corporations are not persons and money is not speech."[cross-posted at correntewire and sacramento for democracy]
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Federal matching funds is good. Odd how the "radical" propositions we campaigned for in 1990 have become mainstream today.
This is great news, it looks like she's gaining momentum. I understand the fear people have of stepping out of their comfort zones but someone has to get beyond fear. Many people said Obama couldn't win... but he did.
For me it's simple, I'm going to vote for her because she's the type of President I want. I still want change! If enough people voted for her, she would win. It's possible.
For me it's simple, I'm going to vote for her because she's the type of President I want. I still want change! If enough people voted for her, she would win. It's possible.
Libby, are their many Green candidates are running for Congress? She would need legislative support in order to govern.
I will be voting for Stein. Unfortunately, it will be difficult to get into the debates because they are controlled by the 2 corporate parties.
I was impressed by Cheri Honkala when I heard her speak in DC during Stop the Machine/Occupy DC
I was impressed by Cheri Honkala when I heard her speak in DC during Stop the Machine/Occupy DC
I meant to add that I worked at a newspaper in Virginia with John Kelly, half-brother of Petra Kelly, who founded the German Green Party and served as the party's first representative in the Bundestag, West Germany's parliament. I never had the good fortune to meet her, as she'd returned to her native Germany before I arrived in Virginia.
jmac, this matching funds qualification should be BIG news considering the Citizens United horror, but corporate media doesn't want to give any kind of nod to Green Party or Dr. Stein. Gamesmanship uber alles. What happened to real journalism, non-cronied? Just attempts in old Frank Capra movies? But it used to be better than this. News did used to make it at least to some degree. I watch MSNBC and I cringe. So much shilling for Obama it is like 24/7 ad propaganda.
Bleue, Stein reminds me of the energizer bunny or the ant that moved rubber tree plants or the little engine that could. there is a a marathon stamina she seems to have and when I got to meet her in NYC at a fund-raiser she invited me to talk as she listened and then wasn't just glad-handing me, she deepened the conversation with her own questions and rich comments. At one point I thought why am I going on and on but I couldn't help myself, she was so interested and respectfully curious about what concerned me as a citizen. As she left the event and so many people were calling out to her I simply yelled out among the choruses how much it meant to all of us to have her speaking up for our needs. She stopped suddenly and turned to me and said, "It's an honor!" I was surprised she had heard and was so passionate as she emphasized that. Not a tired candidate shaking hands and nodding behind a mask, biting the bullet of endurance. She was dynamic and responsive. Someone who clearly embraced responsibility -- had a sense of it ... had "the ability to respond"!
toritto, thanks! as I said to Bleue she is awesome at dialoguing about serious issues and would sweep the debate stage with both Obama and Romney. I hope and trust she will get her 15% popularity to qualify. Also, if the pollsters will be honest after all her and the Green Party's hard work! Sigh.
Hey Chicken Maan, good question. Here is what I could find out from googling:
2012 Press Information for Green Candidates
Arkansas 2012
Jacob Holloway
U.S. Congress | Jonesboro, Arkansas
California
Kent Mesplay
President | San Diego, California
Jack Lindblad
State Assembly | North Hollywood, California
Anthony Vieyra
U.S. Congress | Los Angeles, California
Ben Emery
U.S. Congress | Nevada City, California
Carol Brouillet
U.S. Congress | Palo Alto, California
Colorado 2012
Karyna Lemus
County Commissioner | El Paso, County, Colorado
Misha Luzov
U.S. Congress | Colorado Springs, Colorado
Connecuticut 2012
Remy Chevalier
State Senate | Westport, Connecticut
Colin Bennett
U.S. Congress | , Connecticut
Nicholas Payne
State Representative | New Milford, Connecticut
David Bedell
State Representative | , Connecticut
Rolf Maurer
State Representative | Stamford, Connecticut
Melissa Schlag
State Senate | Higganum, Connecticut
Delaware 2012
Andrew Groff
U.S. Senate | Wilmington, Delaware
Florida 2012
Henry Lawrence
County Commissioner | Panama City
Karen Morian
State Representative | Jacksonville
Illinois 2012
Nancy Wade
U.S. Congress
Chicago
Indiana 2012
Andrew Straw
U.S. Congress
Goshen
Maryland 2012
George Gluck
U.S. Congress | Potomac
Massachusetts 2012
L. Scott Laugenour
State Representative | Lenox
Michigan 2012
Cary Neuville-Justice
State Representative | Linden
Pat Timmons
U.S. Congress | Traverse City
Minnesota 2012
Doug Mann
School Board | Minneapolis
Laura Libby
City Council | Crystal
Ohio 2012
Elaine Mastromatteo
U.S. Congress |
Howard Markert
County Commissioner | Mahoning County
Joe DeMare
U.S. Senate | Bowling Green
Anita Rios
U.S. Senate | Toledo
Rich Stevenson
U.S. Congress | Cincinnati
Bob Fitrakis
U.S. Congress | Franklin County,
New Jersey 2012
Ken Wolski
U.S. Senate |
New York 2012
Anthony Gronowicz
U.S. Congress | The Bronx
Carl Lundgren
State Senate | The Bronx
Evergreen Chou
U.S. Congress | Queens
Colia Clark
U.S. Senate | New York City
Ursula Rozum
U.S. Congress | Syracuse
Hank Bardel
U.S. Congress | Staten Island
Colin Beavan
U.S. Congress | Brooklyn
Trevor Archer
State Assembly | The Bronx
Drew Langdon
State Assembly | Rochester
Texas 2012
Complete list of candidates from Texas
Ed Lindsay
U.S. Congress | Fort Worth
Virginia 2012
Audrey Clement
County Board | Arlington
AP -- That is so good to hear about Cheri H. Actually how smart to have her as an advocate and representative of the 99%. Stein is all for the people, but as a successful doctor she has not experienced the economic and social challenges of Cheri H. as a single mother and someone who had to endure the horror of homelessness herself. I mean she is a lot more than just a non-millionaire candidate!! How refreshing!!! And two women who have strong wills and empathetic hearts. Stein is determined to put back on the table what Obama horrifyingly has removed and that which Romney would also not prioritize!!!
best, libby
Bleue, Stein reminds me of the energizer bunny or the ant that moved rubber tree plants or the little engine that could. there is a a marathon stamina she seems to have and when I got to meet her in NYC at a fund-raiser she invited me to talk as she listened and then wasn't just glad-handing me, she deepened the conversation with her own questions and rich comments. At one point I thought why am I going on and on but I couldn't help myself, she was so interested and respectfully curious about what concerned me as a citizen. As she left the event and so many people were calling out to her I simply yelled out among the choruses how much it meant to all of us to have her speaking up for our needs. She stopped suddenly and turned to me and said, "It's an honor!" I was surprised she had heard and was so passionate as she emphasized that. Not a tired candidate shaking hands and nodding behind a mask, biting the bullet of endurance. She was dynamic and responsive. Someone who clearly embraced responsibility -- had a sense of it ... had "the ability to respond"!
toritto, thanks! as I said to Bleue she is awesome at dialoguing about serious issues and would sweep the debate stage with both Obama and Romney. I hope and trust she will get her 15% popularity to qualify. Also, if the pollsters will be honest after all her and the Green Party's hard work! Sigh.
Hey Chicken Maan, good question. Here is what I could find out from googling:
2012 Press Information for Green Candidates
Arkansas 2012
Jacob Holloway
U.S. Congress | Jonesboro, Arkansas
California
Kent Mesplay
President | San Diego, California
Jack Lindblad
State Assembly | North Hollywood, California
Anthony Vieyra
U.S. Congress | Los Angeles, California
Ben Emery
U.S. Congress | Nevada City, California
Carol Brouillet
U.S. Congress | Palo Alto, California
Colorado 2012
Karyna Lemus
County Commissioner | El Paso, County, Colorado
Misha Luzov
U.S. Congress | Colorado Springs, Colorado
Connecuticut 2012
Remy Chevalier
State Senate | Westport, Connecticut
Colin Bennett
U.S. Congress | , Connecticut
Nicholas Payne
State Representative | New Milford, Connecticut
David Bedell
State Representative | , Connecticut
Rolf Maurer
State Representative | Stamford, Connecticut
Melissa Schlag
State Senate | Higganum, Connecticut
Delaware 2012
Andrew Groff
U.S. Senate | Wilmington, Delaware
Florida 2012
Henry Lawrence
County Commissioner | Panama City
Karen Morian
State Representative | Jacksonville
Illinois 2012
Nancy Wade
U.S. Congress
Chicago
Indiana 2012
Andrew Straw
U.S. Congress
Goshen
Maryland 2012
George Gluck
U.S. Congress | Potomac
Massachusetts 2012
L. Scott Laugenour
State Representative | Lenox
Michigan 2012
Cary Neuville-Justice
State Representative | Linden
Pat Timmons
U.S. Congress | Traverse City
Minnesota 2012
Doug Mann
School Board | Minneapolis
Laura Libby
City Council | Crystal
Ohio 2012
Elaine Mastromatteo
U.S. Congress |
Howard Markert
County Commissioner | Mahoning County
Joe DeMare
U.S. Senate | Bowling Green
Anita Rios
U.S. Senate | Toledo
Rich Stevenson
U.S. Congress | Cincinnati
Bob Fitrakis
U.S. Congress | Franklin County,
New Jersey 2012
Ken Wolski
U.S. Senate |
New York 2012
Anthony Gronowicz
U.S. Congress | The Bronx
Carl Lundgren
State Senate | The Bronx
Evergreen Chou
U.S. Congress | Queens
Colia Clark
U.S. Senate | New York City
Ursula Rozum
U.S. Congress | Syracuse
Hank Bardel
U.S. Congress | Staten Island
Colin Beavan
U.S. Congress | Brooklyn
Trevor Archer
State Assembly | The Bronx
Drew Langdon
State Assembly | Rochester
Texas 2012
Complete list of candidates from Texas
Ed Lindsay
U.S. Congress | Fort Worth
Virginia 2012
Audrey Clement
County Board | Arlington
AP -- That is so good to hear about Cheri H. Actually how smart to have her as an advocate and representative of the 99%. Stein is all for the people, but as a successful doctor she has not experienced the economic and social challenges of Cheri H. as a single mother and someone who had to endure the horror of homelessness herself. I mean she is a lot more than just a non-millionaire candidate!! How refreshing!!! And two women who have strong wills and empathetic hearts. Stein is determined to put back on the table what Obama horrifyingly has removed and that which Romney would also not prioritize!!!
best, libby
"Politics is the mother of all illnesses." She's got my vote. R
Simple THANK YOU, Libby -- for the information and for your long ongoing work on behalf of Dr. Stein and the Green Party. I've never before voted for "a third party candidate" -- for all the standard reasons, but now you've put a (much needed) "fire in my belly" to work to get her on the ballot here. If anyone has any idea (i.e. pull) how to get more of this kind of coverage (yours, and that of Susan Saulny and the NY Times), please post! My computer goes into the shop today but I hope it'll be back "in a flash".
R+
R+
I suspect the NY Times coverage most likely relates to recognition by the mainstream media that the majority of the electorate despises the two major party candidates and will stay home in droves in Nov. The NZ Green Party noticed a similar pattern. The first step was getting media coverage - a lot of it portraying us as a bunch of pot-smoking loonies. Now the Labour Party is doing so poorly that the mainstream media comes to us (rather than Labour) for an "opposition" opinion on stuff the government is doing.
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