State News Release

David McReynolds Chastises Schumer for Undemocratic Action in Debate Exclusion.

David McReynolds for US Senate
www.mcreynoldsforsenate.org

October 09, 2004

For More Information:
David McReynolds 212 674-7268; 646 942-7118
Gloria Mattera 718-369-2998
Mark Dunlea 518 286-3411

David McReynolds Chastises Schumer for Undemocratic Action in Debate Exclusion

"How is that Chuck Schumer votes to illegally invade Iraq in an alleged effort to restore democracy but fails to support democratic elections in America," asked David McReynolds, the Green Party candidate for US Senate.

McReynolds is protesting his exclusion from the two debates that Schumer has agreed to participate in.

McReynolds called upon Schumer to support opening up the debates to all the US Senate candidates on the ballot. He also invited Schumer to join him in a Senate debate at SUNY New Paltz, Monday, October 11t 7:30 PM in Room 102 of the Lecture Center. US Senate candidates participating in the debate include David McReynolds on the Green line, Donald Silberger on the Libertarian line, and Martín Koppel on the Socialist Workers Party line.

"Why is it the only the pro-war candidates are being allowed to debate in this election system? 500,000 people marched in New York City last month for peace yet candidates who speak for peace are being excluded from the political process," added McReynolds. McReynolds also challenged Schumer to debate peace in the Middle East.

"The policies promoted by Schumer and Bush remain the biggest obstacle to peace in the Middle East. We will never have peace as long as the US continues to support the military occupation of Palestine. We need to halt the construction of the illegal apartheid wall and support replacing Israel troops with UN and other multinational peacekeepers in the occupied territories."

McReynolds was on the national staff for the War Resister's League for 39 years. He supports an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

McReynolds also called for a single payer universal health care system. "None of the candidates in these closed debates support providing affordable, quality health care to all New Yorkers. We need to cut spending on health care while providing universal coverage, including prescriptions and long term care. Schumer and the other two debate participants all support keeping a health care a commodity for corporations to restrict access to while generating enormous profits."

The Greens are committed to ecology, democracy, nonviolence and social and economic justice.