It's very unfortunate, this UofM outfit excluding Greens, but, as I
understand it, the SLC is a creature of the DFL inside and outside the U. If
that be the case, and the University itself can do little to change its
rulings, we're left with little but lousy public relations to inflict on
them.
The DFL is petrified that the Green Party is splitting progressives between
them and Republicans taking the remainder. The finger-pointing continues
over the 2000 "election" of George Bush at the hands of 5 members of the
Supreme Court. But Democrats want to blame Ralph Nader instead.
Were it not for Ralph's 7% tally in Minnesota that year, the Greens would
not hold major party status. The DFL has to be believing that if they can
return the Greens to minor party status by marginalizing their statewide
candidates, they will do so - and damn the torpedoes.
Major party ranking does not, unfortunately, guarantee inclusion in
everyone's forum or debate. Other, more formal debate sponsors will include
us - like newspapers and the League of Women Voters. Bot those with a real
stake in the election's outcome will probably not be intimidated into
rounding out the debate teams with people they don't want gaining a foothold
in the election dialogue.
Sad but true, I'm afraid.
Andy Driscoll
Saint Paul
------
"I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied
corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of
strength, and bid defiance to the laws of the country."
--- Thomas Jefferson,1816
> From: "L. Hogan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Date: Tue, 09 Apr 2002 17:52:45
> To: "Minneapolis Issues" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: [Mpls] SLC/UofM Media Advisory
>
> Fwd'd on behalf of the UofM Green Party
> L. Hogan
> Marcy-Holmes
>
> ===
> University of Minnesota Green Party Media Advisory
>
>
> 04-09-02
>
> The University of Minnesota Green Party is currently organizing a campaign
> to gain Green Party gubernatorial candidates access to the upcoming debate
> sponsored by the Student Legislative Coalition (SLC). The gubernatorial
> debate is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, April 17, at the Ted Mann
> Concert Hall on the University of Minnesota � Minneapolis campus.
>
> Despite the Green Party�s status of major political party in Minnesota, the
> SLC has refused to allow the candidates to participate in this debate, based
> on unclear and unfairly applied criteria. The exclusion of these candidates
> is a disservice to the University of Minnesota student community, where the
> Green Party has gained a high level of support in the past two years. This
> support is illustrated by the voting results in Ward 2 for Ralph Nader in
> the presidential campaign of 2000, and the overwhelming support for Cam
> Gordon in the University of Minnesota precincts in the City Council
> elections last November.
>
> Three filed Green Party gubernatorial candidates have thus far requested to
> participate in the debate and were subsequently denied, including Ken
> Pentel, Nick Raleigh, and Ray Tricomo.
>
> A more detailed Press Release will be sent out on this matter soon.
>
> We encourage you to contact the U of M Green Party for more information:
>
> Brett Stephan � U of M Greens; U of M alum (Sociology,
> Psychology, CSCL)
> Phone: 612-825-7707
> Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> _______________________________________
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