Seeing Art LaRue's post in response to Rick Stafford's continuing
interest
in litmus tests, I'm led to share with mpls-issues some suggestions I've
made to the campaigns in the Sixth Ward; namely, that
Markus refers to my continuing interest in litmus tests. I'm sorry,
Fred, if it offends
you that I believe that a political party should have some criteria for
the beliefs and actions
of its membership. I was talk in my public education, that was the role
of a political party
and then the electorate in an election could decide whether they agreed
or disagreed with
the platform, actions and its candidates.
Again, Markus misses my point. I do not condemn those individuals who
may be DFLers,
who do not hold party office, elected office or seek elected as DFLers,
that is their
right. What I condemn and reject is those DFLers who hold party office,
hold public office
elected as a DFLer or are seeking public office as a DFLer. In
addition, there is a difference
in just voting for Ralph Nader and also working hard to help form the
Green Party as a
major political party in the state or nation. Persons I have mentioned
or talked about at various
DFL meetings are individuals that fit the categories I have mentioned
above. To the others who still
come to DFL party meetings and conventions, there conscience must be
their guide.
"Credentials challenges � quoting from the MPHA draft lease document I
have
been privileged to help create that will be used in the Sixth Ward�s
eleven
public housing highrises (and likely also in other public housing leases
as
well) � ought to be accompanied by �written, accurate, current,
objective
and verifiable information�. For the good of the party � and we may take
a
lesson from the Ninth Ward here � a decision to exclude someone from
participation should be based on evidence, not inflamed opinion."
Evidently, Fred believes that somehow I and others are using inflamed
opinion and not
evidence in making a decision about challenges to individuals
participating in DFL
conventions and meetings. That has never been the case. The persons I
have mentioned:
Dean Zimmerman - at an October 19 rally in Minneapolis, I saw first-hand
and talked
with Dean at the Gore rally when he was posing for the television
cameras after the rally trying
to get on TV hoisting a banner for the Green Party and Ralph Nader. In
addition, I asked
Dean if he planned to now seek endorsement for the Park and Recreation
Board as a Green and
hoped he was going to Green Party meetings instead of DFL meetings. His
answer was "you bet".
He has been a continuous participate at Green Party governing board
meetings since that time and
at the Saturday Green Party 5th CD/City Endorsing Convention he told
participates "he was through
with the DFL Party". Klaus Zimmerman is a member of the State
Coordinating Board of the Green
Party and was also at the Gore rally in October. Arthur LaRue is an
officer of the Green Party (and,
I wish to state I believe LaRue is a person of integrity--evidenced by
his post). Fred, I will say
you are one to talk about inflamed opinion--you should go back and read
you e-mail that was
widely sent back in September regarding a candidate in the 6th Ward when
you stated among
other very pointed opinions that you were organizing an "ABB" campaign.
"This suggestion to the Sixth Ward credentials committee leaves the
initiative about declarations of intent to the individual, patterned
after
the predisposition we Chair Election Judges have in the City of
Minneapolis
to accept voter affirmations at face value. This conveys a message of
trust
and respect for individual responsibility.
I'm sorry I do not agree when there is clear evidence to the contrary.
I would like
to use an example. In the 80's the DFL Party removed a State Party
officer
because of her support for Republican activities. She denied any and
remained
silent when questioned. Maurice Rosenberg was removed. It was last
year
during the Republican Party's national delegate selection she told the
Party's
Nomination Committee of her hard work and support for Ronald Reagan
and other Republicans while seated as a member of the DFL Party State
Executive Committee. Even the Republican's saw through her lack of
integrity
and did not elect her as a delegate, even though she was recommended by
the
Bush campaign.
"What about Nader signs? There were one hundred Nader signs in the
Whittier
precincts alone, far more than all the other political signage combined.
Take a hint from the Gary Schiff/Michael Guest contest � move on to new
horizons. Absent written, accurate, current, objective and verifiable
information to the contrary, a given individual remains on the roll
until
and unless that person comes to a decision himself or herself to change
his
or her original written affirmation at the DFL 2000 precinct caucus."
What about them. The number of signs are not a fair reflection of the
viewpoints
of the total neighborhood. The best reflection is in the vote totals
and I believe
the vote for DFL candidates was overwhelmlingy in support of Gore and
the Democratic
Party. In regard to the Schiff/Guest contest - other factors played
into the
endorsement of Schiff rather than his support of Nader. Many what I
would call
loyal Gore DFLers voted for Schiff more because of Guest's aggressive
and negative attacks
on the incumbent Thurber. In addition, Schiff indicated he would abide
by the party's
endorsing decision and personally, Schiff told me that his public
support of Nader was
an error. He was forgiven and I believe he would admit he would change
how he
handled his Nader support. I did not challenge Schiff's credentials at
the convention and I
now support Schiff as the DFL-endorsed candidate.
It behooves any political party to examine its conscience about litmus
tests. These are voluntary associations, after all, and the winds of
change
sometimes blow more strongly for individuals than for groups - sometimes
briefly, sometimes more permanently. Attaching a near religious
intensity to
party loyalty and sending dissenters to conventry in the heat of the
moment
says more about power and control than about differences of opinion.
Fred, political parties are a voluntary a voluntary association, but
they are not a "Public
Utility" and as I stated above, an organization that believes that those
who participate
should believe in the beliefs that the organization outlines and follows
the rules of the
organization. If you can not do that, don't participate in the
organization; and, you
as a citizen can make your decision in the voting booth.
We now learn from Art that he will not seek a seat as a delegate in the
Sixth Ward convention. Good enough. Bon voyage to Art, who remains a
good
friend of Minneapolis progressives whatever his choice of party
affiliation.
As I stated above. LaRue is a person of integrity.
Any informal attempt to slice the Greens out of the DFL delegate lists
around town is certainly problematic - reminds me of Joe McCarthy, the
Salem
Witch trials, the Grand Inquisitor... not Minnesota Nice!
You put is squarely Fred. "Greens" out of the DFL. Yes, "Greens" are a
political
party. "Greens" should do their thing! DFL will do its!
Rick Stafford
Powderhorn Park - Ward 9
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