[Pnp-wg] Introductory Comments

[Jeff Peterson]

I don't think anyone is saying that a candidate "'must' come from our 
ranks" -- but some of us are quite firm that any candidate we support 
must, at the very least, be willing to accept our nomination (if not 
join the party). Supporting an independent candidate may help keep our 
message out there, but I'm not sure how we ensure that it is linked in 
the public's mind with the Green Party. From what I've observed, even 
Greens who run as independents or Democrats tend to downplay their Green 
affiliation in order to appeal to the widest possible constituency. 
Cynthia McKinney might be an excellent progressive candidate, but unless 
she runs as a Green there's no way she's going to help build the Green 
Party simply because we might choose to endorse her. 

Jeff Peterson
Wisconsin

Forrest Hill wrote:

> I am very committed to working on local campaigns as my number one 
> priority (I am current working to get the first Green African American 
> women elected to City Council in Oakland). We have grown big enough as 
> a party to win local elections. But at the national level we are not 
> there yet. Let us begin by dropping our chauvinism that our 
> presidential candidate "must" come from our ranks. A candidate who can 
> raise money without massive support from Green Party members means we 
> can put more time and resourses into our state and local races, while 
> keeping the Green Party message relevant at the national level.
>
> Best-
> Forrest
>
>