|
There is only one environmentalist running for
governor in Massachusetts. And New England Cable News (NECN) just
withdrew an invitation for her to participate in a televised candidate
debate on the environment.
Dr. Jill Stein,
the Green Party candidate for governor, had accepted an offer to appear
in a debate on state environmental policy scheduled for February 19. The
debate is being sponsored by the Massachusetts Environmental
Collaborative and New England Cable News. However, when Acting Governor
Jane Swift announced that she would not participate, NECN withdrew
the invitation to Stein while leaving the debate open to all
Democratic Party candidates.
Dr. Stein commented that "I was led into politics by my experience
as a public health advocate trying to protect children from the effects
of toxic pollutants. Most people are unaware of the threats of such
pollution to children's health and the negative impact of pollution upon
the economy. It's a subject that no politician who accepts funding from
chemical and petroleum interests wants to discuss. I decided I would not
accept lobbyist money so I could be free to speak out about the
problem."
Stein's campaign chair, John Andrews asked NECN to reconsider and admit
Stein to the debate: "In the Democratic Party debates so far, the
candidates have asserted that there is only one reason for all the
problems we have in Massachusetts: Republican Governor Jane Swift's
leadership. There has been absolutely no acknowledgement of the fact
that Democrats hold 85% of the seats in the legislature and could pass
any legislation they wished at any time. By excluding Jill Stein, New
England Cable News is not contributing to a meaningful discussion of
environmental leadership - they are instead contributing to the efforts
of the Democratic Party to deflect attention from their record of
inaction."
Stein campaign manager Adam Sacks added "We wouldn't mind being
outnumbered five to one by apologists for the Democratic Party. But it's
a little unfair to be outnumbered five to zero. We only want a few
minutes to tell the truth as we see it. NECN should be responsible
enough to their viewers to provide those few minutes."
For further information:
Email John Andrews, Campaign Chair, jwa@alum.mit.edu.
Or see the Jill Stein for Governor website, www.jillwill.org.
|
