GOP aiding Green Party

[ck4829]

"Thanks to the generosity of GOP donors, a Green Party candidate is expected to make it onto the ballot in Pennsylvania's Senate race and siphon votes from Democratic front-runner Bob Casey in his bid to unseat Republican Sen. Rick Santorum.

While Santorum said Monday that he would welcome another candidate on the ballot, Casey's campaign accused Republicans of "trying to steal the election."

Green Party candidate Carl Romanelli, making his first bid for statewide elective office, acknowledged Monday that Republican contributors probably supplied most of the $100,000 that he said he spent gathering signatures to qualify for the Nov. 7 ballot.

Romanelli said he expects to turn in far more than the required 67,070 signatures by Tuesday's deadline."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060801/ap_on_el_ge/santorum_green_candidate

We have to meet this tactic head on, may I suggest giving a donation to the Constitution or the Falangist Party?

[xultar]

1. Figures people would fall for it. Then Scrotum will win.

[wyldwolf]

2. I'm SHOCKED! SHOCKED I tell ya!

[cyberpj]

3. Dems need to expose this as part of Republican culture of corruption.nt

[Warpy]

5. They also need to look at the wisdom of running antichoice

candidates.

Really.

[blm]

19. The diff with Casey is that he is not an ACTIVIST pro-lifer, but one who

is prolife steeped in honest to goodness religious conviction, just as Kucinich was for many years, and David Bonior. Many of my feminist friends back in the 90s could never understand why I supported that DINO, Kucinich, for all those years.

[Warpy]

22. That may or may not be true

but I think you can pretty much count on the fact that every vote the Green in that race gets will be from a woman who doesn't trust him.

[blm]

26. I trusted Kucinich and Bonior.

.

[Norquist Nemesis]

6. LOL! In the two minutes it took my fingers to work

you put it much better than me! :thumbsup:

[cyberpj]

12. A lifetime of typing has paid off there -

Everything from secretary and IBM keypunch operator to Wide Area Network Administrator for a 35 building complex. I'm ever grateful my local high school pushed typing on all students, male and female, back in the 60's.

[elocs]

20. Touch Typing

It may be one of the most valuable things I learned in high school in the late 60s.

[cyberpj]

39. And, at the time, we all thought, "when am I ever gonna use this?"

right? I know lots of kids in my class who repeated that mantra often!

:hi:

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. Nah...let's just expose the Cons

and plaster it all over that Santorum's backers are scummy dirtbags with deep pockets trying to buy him through covert means.

(Maybe somebody can work with that for a bumper sticker...)

[Selatius]

7. In our two party winner-take-all voting system, this is what happens

If we had proportional representation, then splitting the vote would never be an issue. This is a cynical acknowledgement on apart of the Republican Party of the unfairness of the system we have. Carl Romanelli should feel dirty for taking help from his ideological opposites.

[Swamp Rat]

14. Exactly!

[racaulk]

8. This is just a game to them.

That's what Repukes have reduced all of our elections to, a game. A game where winning is the only thing that matters. The good of the American people doesn't matter, the damage they're doing at home and abroad doesn't matter, the Constitution doesn't matter, our democracy doesn't matter. All that matters is winning, so they can maintain their power for short-term political and financial gain. And the dumbass sheeple will fall for it every time.

Absolutely disgusting. :puke:

However, on the flip side, this probably won't save Santorum. He's way down in the polls, so unless Romanelli can take at least 10% of the vote away from Casey--which as a third party candidate I don't think he has a prayer--then Casey is fairly safe. I think the people of Pennsylvania are so sick of Santorum that this will backfire. The GOP would spend their time better trying to figure out how to get the Repuke vote back to Santorum, not how to siphon off the Dem vote to Romanelli.

[PATRICK]

13. Sounds correct

I also would like to get the Dems out of this system with some old fashioned coalition building. A rising democratic, populist tide raises all boats- in fact, not just getting on the ballot as a tool for some other party. Casey and the Party has more to offer Greens in the real outcome. And what will the Greens get for losing? Maybe another temptation in the form of GOP donors paying off the campaign debts?

The closer a third party is to the GOP the faster it loses itself completely. Democrats can offer reforms that will enable the healthy growth of people parties unless they have been conditioned to the game and the fear that makes them the current losers. And I mean a real coalition, not the co-opting and dumping the Dems have down in their own way in the past. Coalitions in other nations are more a mutual necessity. Dems wouldn't be wrong to begin seeing that here or else the GOP will continue to use their abusive system as a sop to real deals. The aims of the Green party, regardless of its electoral power will not be achieved by "sympathetic" GOP help or apathetic Dem absence. The real steam will come from backing and influencing the Dems, if the DLC get unstuck from their obtuse suicidal pact with their enemies.

[flyarm]

18. but it is a game they keep winning because of ignorance! n/t

[nam78_two]

9. What do y'all think of instant run-off voting?

I think it seems like a good idea eh?

One of by friends who is the leader of the local college green party thinks its the best solution.

Thoughts?

[Jackpine Radical]

10. While I deplore the corrupt game being played here, I also wonder

if it might not backfire on the Puggies. There are no doubt a lot of Republicans who despise Santorum but can't quite bring themselves to vote for a Dem. The Green candidate allows them to register a protest vote without actually putting their mark in the Dem column.

[DinahMoeHum]

11. No such thing as a "protest vote" here. They're fooling themselves.

The voting machine does not count who you voted against, only who you voted FOR.

:evilfrown:

[WI_DEM]

15. By accepting "dirty money" I think this disqualifies Romanelli

as a true progressive. If he's willing to accept GOP money because they know he hurts the Democrats--then he is aiding and abiding the GOP.

[GreenPartyVoter]

16. Andif a Dem takes corporate money.. would this also apply? Kudos

to the Dems (and anyone else) who run a clean election.

[Renew Deal]

17. Once again, the green party is a shill for Republicans.

What's new.

[TreasonousBastard]

21. Ah, the sweet smell of burning irony in the morning...

as I think of the people here who piss and moan about impure Democrats and how they're all gonna go Green, or something.

Go cast your "protest votes" and watch Santorum dance into the winner's circle.

Don't forget to vote Green If Lieberman wins the CT primary, too. A wasted protest vote is far more important than keeping a Republican out of the Senate.

Vote-splitting manuevers, of course, are not at all restricted to Republicans, and any politican worth his salt in a tough race jumps on a chance like this. I see it happen all the time in local races. Usually among warring Democratic factions, but that's only because I usually live in Democratic areas.

Makes the game much more fun.

[samsingh]

23. will the green party accept the aid?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

24. It will just make Scrotorum's defeat more humiliating

Hopefully, it will just serve to bring out more of the left, many who might not be voting otherwise. And it will give Scrotorum two candidates to defend against and two voices of criticism, especially at debates.

[elocs]

25. If after the 2000 election

Democrats have not figured out what happens when they vote for a 3rd party candidate in a close election, then it is hopeless. Like it or not, this is a two party system with very few exceptions. Republicans evidently understand this.

[Karmakaze]

29. If, after all that has happened, this is a close election...

then the Dems don't deserve to get in power.

All the time there are complaints about how the Dems won't stand up to the GOP, complaints how they just keep rolling over and yet people still keep voting for them.

I guess its the same as the abused wife - he really will change this time, he's really sorry and he really DOES love me.

Yeah fucking right.

[elocs]

31. It's an unfair world.

Not everybody gets what they deserve. Some get what they don't deserve. As far as not voting for a Democratic candidate, we already know what the alternative is. This is the DemocraticUnderground.com, not the ThirdPartyUnderground.com. Even if it is the lesser of 2 evils, I will vote for the Democratic candidate. I understand how the system works and in a close election I will not vote for a third party candidate and allow a Republican to win. If I ever become God, then I will give everybody what they deserve, and for some it won't be pretty.

[Karmakaze]

32. Sure, no problem - just don't blame the Greens for it...

because the Greens have no power at all, and merely represent those people so disgusted with the abuse, that they refuse to give the abusers "one more chance".

[elocs]

36. I am sure that I am not alone.

I am willing to bet that there are thousands of others like me who have been alienated by the actions of the Green Party in not caring how they impact on close elections, who might support the Green Party under the right circumstances. When Gore loses Florida to Bush by less than 600 votes and over 97,000 cast votes for the Green Party candidate Nader, you don't have to be a math wizard to figure it out. Sure there were other reasons for the loss in Florida, but that one looms large and it was needless. So if you can figure out other ways to alienate potential voters and supporters of the Green Party, then that's the way to do it.

[Karmakaze]

38. Sorry, but you are simply falling for the Dem party bullshit...

More Dems in Florida voted for Bush than people of all party affiliation voted for Nader. Why? Why do you not get enraged by people who voted DIRECTLY for Bush, but instead by people who voted for Nader? What about the Dem politicians that consistently vote for Bush's policies?

Why do the people who did nothing but exercise their demcratic right to vote for the person who best represents them get vilified by people who seem to think that the only thing that matters is that the name "Democratic Party" wins the election, rather than what the "Democratic Party" supposedly stands for. Those same people criticise freepers for voting for Republicans despite the fact that Republicans don't have their interest at heart, yet that is EXACTLY what they are demanding Green supoorters to do.

When the Dems do get back in power and nothing changes, will you apologise to those people for making them feel like traitors for not voting for more of the same?

[elocs]

40. Start your own message board.

Call it TheDemocraticPartySucks.com or ThrowYourVoteAwayOnA3rdParty.com. This particular board is called DemocraticUnderground.com and it appears to promote candidates from the Democratic Party as opposed to other political parties.

[flyarm]

27. how has the Greens votes worked for this country so far??

Naders sell out in 2004


on edit: here is one story that the link works from my files..and a couple others that links may or may not work ..

http://www.buzzflash.com/alerts/04/10/ale04057.html

Ralph Nader Accepts Campaign Contributions from Funders of "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth"

October 6, 2004

snip:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Funders of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a right wing PAC, have made thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to Ralph Nader, United Progressives for Victory (UP for Victory) announced today. In addition to accepting contributions from donors of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, Nader has also taken money from conservative PAC donors who have given to the Club for Growth, along with legal representation and ballot help from Republican consultants, lawyers, major donors, and state parties.

snip:
Specifically, Travis Anderson (NJ), Brian Pilcher (CA) and Donald Burns (FL), are three of Nader’s largest donors and each has given him $2,000 (the maximum allowable contribution), while also contributing to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. Charles Eckert (CA) and Oliver Grace (NY) have also given to both Nader’s PAC and the swift boat PAC.


snip:

Robert Brandon, a former Nader associate, public interest attorney and co-founder of UP for Victory said, “Now we learn that Bush, through his proxies, is funding Nader’s campaign. If Nader wishes to have any credibility left with progressives, he must give back all right wing money and finally acknowledge that his campaign is being used by the Bush/Cheney re-election team.”

Altogether, UP for Victory research has documented over $100,000 in cash and known in-kind contributions to Nader by GOP donors and consultants. This does not count the unreported in-kind contributions made by the GOP in circulating his ballot petitions in many states.

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sorry the following the link no longer works..but i will excerpt it here
from Boston globe online..
if you want search the archive..

BREAKING: Bush Finance Honcho Donated to Nader
The Associated Press

Thursday 12 August 2004

BOSTON - Ralph Nader has found an unexpected friend in Massachusetts.

Hopkinton computer tycoon Richard Egan, the Bush campaign's finance chairman in John Kerry's home state, has personally contributed the maximum amount allowed by law -- $2,000 -- to Nader's presidential campaign.

Egan's son John and daughter in law have each also "maxed out," bringing the family's total to $6,000.


Bush backers are hoping Nader will siphon enough votes from Kerry to tip the election to President Bush.
The co-founder of data storage giant EMC Corp. and Bush's former ambassador to Ireland, Egan is legendary in Republican circles for his ability to collect hundreds of thousands in campaign dollars.
He's a member of an elite group of Bush fund-raisers known as "Rangers" -- those who have helped raised more than $200,000 for the campaign. Egan's two sons are also Rangers.


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/4/...

Republicans Helping Nader to Help Themselves
By Brian Faler
Washington Post

Monday 19 July 2004

The Michigan Republican Party submitted more than 40,000 signatures last week in a bid to get independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader on the state's November ballot.

Of course, this is not really about helping Nader. It is all about helping President Bush and hurting Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry's campaign in a closely contested state.

The Michigan GOP denies that, of course. Matt Davis, a spokesman for the group, said it was merely concerned about third-party candidates being left off the ballot. He could not name, however, another third-party or independent candidate his party has helped.

Nader may need the Republican signatures. He has been endorsed by the Reform Party and had planned to use its line on the Michigan ballot. But a dispute over who runs the party's state chapter - and which candidate it supports - has thrown that into question.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


i kept asking at the time..what does the GOP have on Nader...i never got an answer!

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this is from a thread i posted on just a minute ago..so i will not retype it..only copy what i wrote, as i mean it..

with the atmosphere we are living in today..and with the total demise of this democracy and republic at stake...are you willing to see it all go into the shitter??

what has anyone gained by one party being in control????????

tell me..tell me what has our environment gained?

what has the middle class gained?

what have the poor gained??

what have your privacy rights gained?????

what has our contitution gained?

what have our bill of rights gained?

what have our courts gained?

what have children gained??

what have seniors gained?

what medical has gotten better for any one ?

what job creation been helped?

what unions have been helped?

what national security has been helped ..unless you are JOE'S BAR in east jabip?

how has education in this country been helped by one party rule?

one party rule is selling our highways, selling our ports , selling our airlines to foreign bidders, building highways in the midwest to steal more americans jobs with cheap labor,
they have sold your medicines to the highest bidders ..they have protected law breaking corporations..and the little people get fucked over and over again..
they are spending your kids and my kids future, to the cronies that pay them through the back door and to the highest bidders..

do dems do it too..yes..but until we the people get back any semblance of the democracy i grew up with..we have no chance of ever weeding them out..because they are owned by the same devil..

but there are good ..honest people ..on both sides..their voices have been neutered..because of a one party system now in place..

so go ahead ..and throw a vote away ..for some form of your consience...or ideals that are not working now...but i will hold you accountable..for being ignorant enough to think your issues are more important than the big picture.. the saving of this democracy and republic!

i do believe....you will only think this country has gotten better
under one party rule..if you have a first class ticket to the fucking rapture!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

how has the green worked for us lately?? and how has it helped there issues and concerns..??

these are threads from GD just now..

if nader hadn't siphoned off 90,000 votes in Fla in 2000

we might not be seeing this kind of shit!

so how did this help the Green's causes???


While the rich get even richer, the poor go hungry
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Global Warming rate may increase by 50% in the next two years
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

(VIDEO) Gore 2000 campaign ad on the environment

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

CNN's Faith and Values Correspondant is telling us about the rapture!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Karmakaze]

30. Blame the registered Dems who voted FOR BUSH...

There were more registered Dems who voted for Bush than who voted for Nader.

Look it up.

[flyarm]

33. oh i blame them too , much blame to go around,..n/t

[Karmakaze]

34. Do you now? So why does no one ever mention it till I point it out?

Hmm?

[flyarm]

35. do you ever read polls?...there are always people with each party that

vote for the opposing party..

that doesn't negate that 90,000+ voters voted for nader in 2000 in Fla..

we do have many dixiecrats in Fla..did you know that????????

and although many are registered dems..they vote in huge blocks for rethugs..

we never count on them in Fla elections!

fly

[wisteria]

28. This may well backfire.

Dem's are very much united in outing Santorum. I would bet the signatures as well as the money mostly came from Repubs. Just go back to the recent primary, the other tow candidates running against Casey didn't muster up much support. Why would a Green candidate do better?
Then there is the report I heard that many Repubs voting in the PA primary in May by-passed voting for Santorum. They could well go for the Green candidate.
I have faith most democrats have there eye on the prize and aren't about to squander their vote.

[NNN0LHI]

37. K&R n/t