Democrats Beware: The Green Party Convention Cometh!

CHICAGO -- Like a mythical beast haunting the imagination, in recent years the Illinois Green Party has re-emerged on election day to the consternation of local Democratic party officials. Though as is often the case in Illinois, the Democratic challenger, (who now happens to be the city's homestate senator Barack Obama), would most certainly make quick work of winning the state come November.

Nevertheless, bothersome chatter from the far left is noise the Dems probably wish to drown out if they can leading to the general election, when the party aims to draw in moderates and independents and so-called "Reagan Democrats". The Green Party national convention, scheduled to open here in a little more than two weeks, will certainly produce exactly that kind of needling chatter.

Although the story is out in the blogosphere that Obama may have centrist underpinnings, to anti-war and left wing voters this reads like a headline from "Life"magazine: old news.

In addition, many locals on the left remain cautiously skeptical about the senator's ties to Democrat officials such as six-term Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. Daley is said to wield enormous influence over the city and its future. Many left voters are understandably wary and seem concerned over how much power and influence Daley would gain with Obama in residence on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Richard M. Daley was elected mayor of the city in 1989 and is the son of Richard J. Daley, the the notoriously powerful Democratic Party deal maker columnist Mike Royko described in his book "Boss". The Daleys make other family political dynasties seem subtle by comparison. In Chicago, the idea that one could virtually christen one's own offspring with political positions is nothing new or surprising.

Further examples include Todd Stroger, current Cook County Board President, who stepped in to fill the position his father vacated after he suffered a stroke, only days before the primary election held. In addition, the state's current Governor, Rod Blagojevich, is the son-in-law of a man many describe as the most powerful alderman in Chicago, Richard Mell of the 35th ward.

When I grew up on the city's northside, Mell's name was a fixture on campaign yard signs in my family's 33rd ward neighborhood as far back as I can remember. The message of the signs was evident. Imposing at nearly 4 feet high and almost as wide with bold yellow letters on dark blue spelling out the single word: MELL. Party affiliation and office were understood.

In a few short weeks, the Green Party's 2008 nominating convention will be be held in downtown Chicago at the Palmer House Hilton -- though you'll find little about the event from local media until at best the convention commencement on July 10th.

Granted, many people still snicker at the idea of a Green Party exerting any real influence in the United States, but the environmental ideals of the party's platform are gaining currency as the eco movement becomes increasingly mainstream. Since Gore's loss in 2000, the Green Party has also worked hard to put the Ralph Nader spoiler myth to rest, focusing instead on building the party through state races.

The Green Party has made a few inroads in Illinois' well-oiled Democratic machine locally. As of 2006, when downstate lawyer Rich Whitney took 10 percent of the general election vote in his bid for governor, the Green Party earned established party status in the state and now enjoys the same ballot access as the Republican and Democratic parties do. Despite reports of suspect voting "irregularities" during the Feb. 5th 2008 primary in which Green Party ballots were either non-existent or altered in several area polling places, their candidate numbers are growing.

Now, if some Illinoisans know little about the Green Party, it's also no secret that there are many who know little about Obama as a politician. After all, he has not been our state senator for all that long and local papers rarely cover routine Senate votes avoiding the nitty gritty of issues such as war funding and surveillance measures.

In his defense, Obama has said a few things activists and environmentalists, who lobbied hard against Chicago transit cuts, want to hear. But when the senator continues to vote to fund the war under the pretense that he is for the troops, but not the war, anti-war voters and many of these same activists scoff.

In the past month, state ballot challenges facing the Illinois Green Party have been attributed to the state Democratic party. This month four candidates from the Green Party have been removed from the Illinois general election ballot. The Green Party has called foul placing the blame squarely on Democratic election officials.

In the weeks leading up to the Green convention, one thing is certain: Illinois Green Party activists and supporters will turn up the heat on local, state and national Democratic leaders, perhaps drawing in wider circles of the left in the process. Obama and city Democratic party bosses may work to contain that influence, hoping their problems just blow away, as political troubles so often do in the Windy City.

Follow Christine Escobar on Twitter: www.twitter.com/greenparentchgo

Comments

[SanityClaus]

I'm a-scurred! The Greens is comin"!

How telling that this article is NOT titled "Republicans Beware." For this bullsh!t only helps our true common enemy, the Christianofascist Right.

[TrevorAlan]

I have to say that while I don't plan to vote for them I'd like to see a strong, coherent Green Party emerge rather than occasional cranks as nader unfortunately devolved into. I'd certainly love to see them win a couple US House or Senate races.

[nonconformist2]

You would think that people would have learned from the 2000 election, how important it is not to "throw" you vote away. A vote for anyone other than Obama, is a vote for McCain. It is that simple.

[ceti]

The events of the past week show exactly why so many Democratic congressmen and senators are execrable Republican-lite types and need to be tossed before their appeasement does any more damage to the Republic. In a country where a duopoly of power has increasingly taken on the trapping of corporate remote controlled democracy, the Green Party has an important role to play.

[PigLipstick]

Don't underestimate the Green Party !

Like many political outsiders, they watched the Neocons ascend to power over 30 years by getting elected to every local position starting with dog catcher. They achieved their goal and have kept the Democrats pinned firmly to the mat since the Reagan Administration. It has led to such insurmountable control that the Democrats have had to solicit corporate America just to maintain the status quo.

Considering the mutual admiration society that both majority parties have now formed to serve their corporate masters, don't underestimate the discontent of the voters who could finally discover a brain cell and, for a change, vote for their own interests and re-establish our former Republic through traditional Democratic means !

[KELLI2L]

I predict that if Obama and the DNC succeed in keeping Nader off the ballot in Illinois - many fair minded people will NOT vote for Obama for sure. . . . .

[iLogos]

Is Nader willing to actually follow the rules to be put on the ballot? If he is, is he willing to put his principles to the test he failed in 2004 when he realized he was severely lacking in any support for a candidacy he turned to Republicans to get himself placed on the ballot?

As much as the author would like to say the Greens have been focusing on state races, it simply isn't true. Look at how many state legislators in this country or Greens. Look how many in the West, about as eco friendly a region as you are likely to find. How many have won Congressional races.

NO third party in the history of American politics has ever been able to ascend to a top position without the simultaneous descent of one of the top two.

Nader will never be elected president. Period. Your best chance is to develop and nurture some young candidates. Grow them from the ground up running for city council, mayor, senate, and then governor or congress.

The problem is much the same with the far left wing of the DNC and the far right wing of the GOP, fringers like to talk big and slam others as appeasers or too middle of the road, but 1. a significant amount of the country is the middle of the road, and 2. criticizing others and then getting in the trenches and doing the planning and work yourself is VERY different.

[KELLI2L]

The DNC is corrupt - how dare they take choice away from the PEOPLE because they don't want the completition !!!!!!

[PigLipstick]

Former and current third party candidates tell stories of DNC Lawyers keeping them tied up in court over contrived ballot petition issues. This drains critical campaign finances that eventually keeps third party candidates off the ballot. Pat Buchanan, Ralph Nader, and others have run on third party tickets in the past and all have criticized this corrupt and illegal activity that avoids prosecution.

Of course, the two majority parties are given a free pass to skip this pesky and financially burdensome process. With both of these parties all but separate branches of the same organization that represents corporate interests, our government has become a two-party duopoly no different than any other authoritarian dictatorship; a rubber stamp government promoting endless war and imperialist conquest.

We can only hope that the voters finally wake up, realize the fact that their Grandfather's party has been hijacked by private financial interests, and vote for an appropriate third party candidate to retake control of their Republic !

[iLogos]

Heaven forbid they hold people accountable for not breaking the law and actually qualifying to be on a ballot according to the laws of the state and federal constitution.

I hate it when people make me abide by the rules!

[KELLI2L]

IMO - Obama blows with the wind and his only true mandate is winning the presidency !!!!

[KELLI2L]

Finally - (the Green Party candidate) a REAL candidate for change !!!!!

[Strain]

Irregardless of who is our next president, what I'd really, really like to see, is Americans marching on Washington and saying. "WE'VE HAD ENOUGH, AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!"
I'm going to vote for Mr. Obama because I like what he says, and because I'm afraid of McCain. Afraid he'll continue to do "business as usual" as per George Bush.
And Please, Mr. Obama.....­no troops to Iran.....l­et's talk, talk, talk. Please!

[KELLI2L]

What you just stated (in part): "your going to vote for Mr. Obama because I like what he says" -
From my point of view thats the problem, he is full of words but not substance. . . . . .
I'm sure you've heard that TALK IS CHEAP !!!!!

[davidpeace]

Know what the difference is between a democrat and a republican? The republican will screw you and the democrat will say "I love you" before he screws you.

A vote for Nader in 2000, or any other time for that matter, is a vote for Nader, not anyone else. The reason people vote third party is because they begin to realize the above.

Vote Green!

[ATL78]

I have a lot of respect for Cynthia McKinney. I wonder why the PUMA folks and other disgruntled Clinton supporters would pick John McCain over her? Doesn't she embody the femist movement?

[sky2blue]

Things that make you go hmm?

1-Why the PUMA folks and other disgruntled Clinton supporters, especially women like Geraldine Ferrarro, would pick John McCain over Cynthia McKinney.

2-Why was this post written without reference to Cynthia McKinney? GIT, HuffPo! (Get it together!)

[WorkingClass]

RIGHT McCain----­--Hillary-­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­--------Mc­Kinney LEFT

[sky2blue]

I'm not asking about "conservative Democrats.­" I'm talking about all those screaming that sexism was the reason Clinton lost.

[rubyrubyruby]

Obama is a centrist? Center of attention that's all.

[nanoscare]

I have two words for this article, Roberts and Alito.

[cyberfarer]

Barack McBush For More of the Same in '08