UPDATE: PA Dems Will Challenge Green Signatures

[LynneSin]

PA Dems Will Challenge Green Signatures

The chairman of the PA Dem party, T.J. Rooney, said today he'll challenge the signatures that Green Party candidate Carl J. Romanelli submitted to join the Senate ballot. A number of those signatures were collected by JSM, Inc.

Rooney: “This is a questionable and controversial firm that has a history of fraudulent activity where many signatures, and candidates in some instances, have been thrown off the ballot in various states. We will ensure that this doesn’t take place in Pennsylvania and that the integrity of the electoral process is safeguarded.”

Backers of Sen. Rick Santorum donated nearly $60,000 to help Romanelli, who is pro-choice, gather signatures to get on the ballot. The Green Party counts fewer than 20K members in PA; it took 67K signatures to earn a spot, and Romanelli turned in more than 90K.


BTW for those who think this is just democrats trying to suppress green party check this out:
http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16996118&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=416046&rfi=6
In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Monday, Mr. Santorum freely admitted his donors and campaign staff helped Mr. Romanelli because third-party candidates benefit incumbents.

“This is politics,” he told the newspaper.

In an interview Tuesday, Mr. Smar questioned why Mr. Santorum didn’t help other third-party candidates.

Virginia Davis, Mr. Santorum’s campaign spokeswoman, said the campaign had been “transparent” in directing supporters who asked to help Mr. Romanelli because the Green Party candidate is more willing to debate the senator than Mr. Casey.

Ms. Davis said Mr. Romanelli differed from other would-be candidates because he was actively seeking signatures.

Yes, why didn't Rick help the other parties in PA to get on the ballot instead of just helping 1 other party to get into the race. SHouldn't he have helped all parties who wanted to run for US Senate? I mean both the Constitution Party and Libertarian Party tried to get the signatures to get on the ticket (btw, it's pretty tough requirement in PA).

[Clark2008]

1. Good.

Even if it doesn't get Romanelli off the ballot (or prevent him from getting on the ballot), the publicity of this probably will convince many Dems and Greens not to vote for him in the first place.

[LynneSin]

2. I'm hoping the Green Party wakes up and denounces this farce

I have no respect for them right now and from what I've been reading, this is pretty common.

Greens should suceed because of the people who believe in the tenets of what they stand for and if that isn't enough to get on the ballot then perhaps they need to rethink their strategy of how to win more supporters.

[Clark2008]

4. I still think the Green Party should shut down this farce and roll

the money Romanelli raised from these Republicans into donations to liberal and environmental causes.

How funny would it be to know that Republican money went into a charity supported by Al Gore. :rofl:

[LynneSin]

5. oh how about some local races where we might have a chance for a win

:shrug:

A few years ago a really nice guy, who happens to be green, ran for city council in Wilmington. Now Wilmington is setup that you can have as many members from the same party on city council as long as one seat was filled with someone from a different party. DOesn't matter if it was republican or green - as long as it's not all the same party.

Now Wilmington is a pretty liberal city - hell, it was a district in Wilmington that gave Al Sharpton his only electorial vote in 2004. We even past the anti-patriot act stuff. So what better way to help get a Green elected then by making the Green that extra seat in the democratic filled city council.

I knew people who worked on that campaign and the biggest problem was the fact that they didn't have any money.

Damn shame because it's the little races like this that help build your candidate to bigger and better races. Look at Bernie Sanders in Vermont. This guy didn't wake up one day and decide he wants to be a US Senator. The guy was never a democrat but he started small (Mayor's race) and built his reputation up as someone you want to vote for no matter what your party registration is. And soon Bernie Sanders will be the only elected non-repub/democrat in the senate. Even democrats are not bothering to run a candidate because they know that Bernie is the better option

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders#Early_political_career

The Green Party PA US Senate candidate is spoilt goods that should not be supported by the party. He is an embarassent and I'm just hoping that eventually the Greens will wake up and see that!

[Historic NY]

3. They become traitors to their own cause..................

how can they standup and spout what they believe when they can't even collect signatures without opposition help. I wonder just how much opposition this Green Party is, since they lie in bed with Republicans and claim the Democrats do not support the radical or fringe left. I find that strange.