Cynthia McKinney Wins Green Party Presidential Nomination
July 12, 2008
(Thanks to Greens for Greens for this article)
Cynthia McKinney won the right to be the Green Party of the United States presidential candidate in 2008 today at the GP-US Convention in Chicago. In an overwhelming vote, McKinney, a former Member of Congress from Georgia, was picked by Greens from states across the country to be their standard bearer this year. Hip-hop activist and journalist Rosa Clemente was selected to be the vice-presidential candidate of the Greens.
McKinney served six terms representing DeKalb County’s 4th Congressional District as a Democrat and now lives in California.
About 800 delegates are attending the convention at the Palmer House Hilton hotel.
Clemente said she accepted McKinney’s invitation to be her running mate because she believes the former Georgia Congresswoman’s platform addresses issues not addressed by Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.
“I chose to do this, not for me, but for my generation, my community and my daughter,” said Clemente, 35, in the statement. “I don’t see the Green Party as an alternative, I see it as imperative.”
Utahns for McKinney needs your help getting her on the ballot in Utah as an Independent candidate (The Green Party in Utah did not achieve ballot access this year). Please contact Dee if you can help.
#1 by Larry Bergan - July 13th, 2008 at 00:32
I would love to see McKinney at the debates. She can “strait talk” circles around McCain.
#2 by Deanna Taylor - July 13th, 2008 at 04:03
That would be great, except that the Green Party isn’t included in the debates since it has not yet received the required 5% vote in past elections to be included (ELECTION REFORM IS NEEDED!!!). We are hoping to reach that this time with Cynthia and Rosa.
In 2004 David Cobb, the GPUS candidate for President, along with Michael Baradnik, Libertarian candidate, was arrested at one of the debates (can’t remember which state) for refusing to leave after demanding to be included in the debate.
#3 by Deanna Taylor - July 13th, 2008 at 07:05
C-Span Coverage of Green Party and Libertarian Candidates
Watch at Sunday at 6:30pm & 9:30pm ET
#4 by Gina - July 13th, 2008 at 08:25
The Green Party must really be confused and desperate. After watching Cynthia McKinney’s behavior, hitting the Capitol Hill police officer, in 2006, I couldn’t imagine her running for dog catcher. Why would anybody in their right mind elect McKinney to anything … let alone the Presidency of the United States?
#5 by Deanna Taylor - July 13th, 2008 at 08:41
Cynthia apologized for the incident:
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/06/mckinney/index.html
Also, the other candidates are war mongers and justify killing for profit.
Anti-war candidate McKinney has more experience actually working as an elected representative in the U.S. Congress than the inexperienced Democratic Party candidate Barack “The Permanent Campaigner” Obama (who voted to confirm one of the architects of the U.S. attack on Iraq, Condoleezza Rice, as U.S. Secretary of State in 2005). So *if* Green Party presidential candidate McKinney would be allowed to participate in the televised U.S. presidential debates on an equal basis with ABC News’ favorite son candidate, Obama, most U.S. anti-war voters will likely end up voting for the more qualified McKinney than for the less-qualified, more inexperienced, more opportunist Obama. See the Black Agenda Report’s website for more reasons why a McKinney Administration would likely bring more radical democratic change to the United States in 2009 than a Wall Street-sponsored Obama Administration.
#6 by Cliff Lyon - July 13th, 2008 at 09:17
I beg to differ Gina. Certainly hitting a Capitol Hill Police Officer can be a bad decision. On the other hand, hitting an ignorance, power hungry racist kinda send tingles up my spine. I’d vote for her.
She is after all a woman so I can’t imagine Bubba was hurt.
#7 by Who is watching the watchers? - July 13th, 2008 at 10:09
Well it is pretty clear that the Greens have no muscle, and picking McKinney gives them a little weight they normally can only fantasize about.
Sure she can talk the talk, knows 911 was put up job, that the country is in the grips of a bi-partisan fascism, etc. etc.
She may be the Green parties candidate, her main problem is she doesn’t have the Green to get elected. She didn’t have the green to stay elected in the Congressional district were she was drubbed out after she wandered just a little too close to the political abyss. Criticizing Israel will get you obscure for sure. Plenty of money to support any ‘ol patsy to get her out of sight.
That she is the candidate is demonstrative of the powerlessness in this political system of any that dare challenge the status quo, which is bi-partisan fascism. Any opposition of the ongoing destruction of the Constitution just gives the illusion that democracy is “working” and the will of the People is expressed.
The Green party will get elected, when it thinks in less marginal terms as to even imagine that a person like McKinney is any value to promoting their agenda.
Bottom line, she’s damaged goods, and only draws the negatives of her past to what should be a somewhat apolitical party drawing on common sense.
#8 by Larry Bergan - July 13th, 2008 at 12:05
Don’t jump the gun Gina! Nobody even knows McKinney is out there yet. You’re supposed to wait until she’s a threat to start endless “she hit a police officer”, “she hit a police officer” mantra. You’re going to wear it out before the opportune moment.
#9 by Cliff Lyon - July 13th, 2008 at 13:11
Larry,
Could you keep an eye on the “help fro moderation” comments. We are holding Glenn’s comments for being such an ass.
#10 by Cliff Lyon - July 13th, 2008 at 13:18
Im over on “Real Guns Chatting with the boys.
Albert and Glenn, you should join me. They are getting technical
#11 by Who is watching the watchers? - July 13th, 2008 at 14:17
You didn’t stay long enough to learn anything Cliff. Though the boys learned more about you.
It’ll be different now to be sure, know that they know you really are not serious about gun control, that it is just a vehicle for your entertainment.
BTW….From the UN report…
TAMAR RAHAMIMOFF (Israel) said the protection of children’s rights was not only morally justified, it was also an investment in the future. Therefore, providing proper education for children, including their participation in extracurricular activities, was very important. Although all children should be given equal opportunity to obtain education and begin life on an equal footing, in reality disparities were found between children coming from strong socio-economic backgrounds and less privileged children.
In Israel 22 per cent of all children lived in poverty. Although education was mandatory and free, parents had to bear many expenses, thus depriving some children from certain school activities that required payment. Much more had to be done in order to protect children and offer them a strong and solid basis for life.
http://www.un.org/children/conflict/pr/1999-04-1974.html
#12 by Cliff Lyon - July 13th, 2008 at 15:41
http://www.israelnewsagency.com/israelpovertychildrenyomkippur4831210.html
#13 by Who is watching the watchers? - July 13th, 2008 at 16:06
So what’s your point? That Israeli Jews practice economic racism against the children of Arabs living in their country? Sounds like any inner city minority to me.
So 2/3rds are Isreali Jews, so some 16% of the chosen ones children live in poverty. 1 in 7, (at the very least) and half of the Arab Israelis children.
Getting poorer as time goes on it would seem. Must be all that prosperity.
Does it make a difference? Needless to say whatever the parsing, at least 1 in 5 children in Israel lives in poverty, and on the more honest side…1 in 4. Something to emulate I s’pose.
You must be so proud, and they accomplish this wonderful reality with American subsidies.
I’m sure Cynthia would have something to say.
#14 by Cliff Lyon - July 13th, 2008 at 16:19
No point Glenn,
I am saddened by this news.
#15 by Who is watching the watchers? - July 13th, 2008 at 18:17
Well then, at least someone is watching the watchers. It is a good thing that not everyone watches television.
We all know that Miss McKinney lost her congressional seat as she was extremely critical of Israel, for a host of reasons, and aipac dumped a bunch of money on her republican opponent. Now she’s Green, as in put out to pasture.
#16 by Leo Brown - July 13th, 2008 at 20:35
The Greens are running as an “idea party” rather than in the serious expectation of winning. Fair enough. Utah looks safe for McCain. Is there any third party candidate that could swing a state this year? Bob Barr and Georgia come to mind.
#17 by jdberger - July 13th, 2008 at 21:37
Cliff? You sure you want to support Cynthia?
You think Jessie Helms was a racist, what do you know about her public thoughts regarding Jews?
#18 by digglit - July 23rd, 2008 at 03:43
breaking news israelCynthia McKinney Wins Green Party Nomination for President