Green Party 2004 Presidential Strategy
By David Cobb
Introduction
The Green Party is the electoral arm of a growing worldwide movement
for peace, social justice, ecology and democracy. The fundamental
question facing us is one of sovereignty. Who shall rule - "We the
People" by shared public decision-making or unelected and unaccountable
corporate executives in private boardrooms?
The seriousness of the question cannot be overstated. Unrestrained
corporate power is literally destroying the earth, and creating an unjust
and ultimately unsustainable world with the plunder. Against this
somber backdrop the Green Party must consider how we can continue to grow,
and evolve beyond our current role as the party of opposition to the party
of transformation of politics, culture, and economics.
Growing Our Party
I propose that the Green Party run a strategic presidential campaign
in 2004 that establishes concrete goals to build the party at the local,
state and national levels.
Specific Goals
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Increase Green Party membership
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Build and strengthen our internal infrastructure
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Help local candidates and initiatives
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Create state and local chapters were they do not yet exist
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Hone our skills as citizen organizers by providing trainings to local chapters
Cobb Pledges
I commit that all actions of a Cobb Green Party campaign will work toward
that end. If I seek the Green Party nomination for President, I make
the following pledges:
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I will publicly support the Green Party Platform as adopted at the Green
Party national convention.
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I will immediately share all volunteer lists generated during my campaign
with the respective local and state Green Party.
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I will share (at no cost) all donor lists generated during my campaign
with the Green Party National Committee by January 2, 2005.
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I will coordinate all hires at the national level with the Green Party
National Committee, and at the state and local level with the respective
state and local Green Party.
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I will hire Green Party activists to work on my campaign at the national,
state and local level.
The Proposed Overall Strategy
The Green Party stands at a crucial moment in our history. The
unelected Bush regime has deeply divided the American people. It
is unacceptable to claim that there is no difference between the Democratic
and Republican parties. If we want our party to grow, we must demonstrate
to the American people (and especially progressive voters) that we hear
their concerns of the danger Bush poses.
I propose the following strategy for the Green Party Presidential campaign
in 2004:
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. We consistently articulate Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) as the only
solution to the question of Greens as "spoilers."
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. The candidate should publicly state that if Dennis Kucinich or
Al Sharpton wins the Democratic Party nomination, we will withdraw from
the race. Greens know that the DNC leadership and their corporate
funders will never allow a Kucinich or Sharpton nomination. By publicly
making this statement we demonstrate our willingness to work across party
lines with genuine progressives, and when Kucinich and Sharpton are rebuked
by the Democratic Party leadership (as were Jesse Jackson and Jerry Brown),
it will continue to illustrate that the Democratic Party is not the progressive
party in the US.
-
. The candidate should publicly state that if Joseph Lieberman wins
the Democratic Party nomination our Presidential campaign will be run so
as to prevent his election. We will not back away from an absolute
rejection of such a corporate conservative candidate.
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. The candidate should publicly state that if a marginally "moderate"
(but still woefully inadequate) candidate wins the Democratic Party nomination,
we will follow a Strategic States Plan for our campaign. Most
of our resources should be focused on those states where the Electoral
College votes are not "in play."
The Green Party can run a strong campaign in 2004 that grows our party,
garners millions of votes, and culminates with George Bush losing the election.
The Green Party has grown larger, stronger and better organized with every
election cycle. With such strength comes a responsibility to exercise
it wisely and effectively.
Response and Feedback requested
David Cobb - cobbweb@greens.org
From 2003 National Conference--July 2003