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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As
Congress heads for a one-week recess, Green Party officials issued a
blunt warning to six congressional incumbents today, promising that
Green Party challengers will run aggressive campaigns against them based
upon their support for Fast Track legislation currently before Congress.
"Green Party congressional candidates will fight to defend American
sovereignty against anti-democratic trade pacts, and we will campaign to
hold congressional incumbents accountable for their betrayal of working
people and the environment," said Ben Manski, Co-Chair of the Green
Party of the United States.
The Green Party released a list of six targeted Democratic and
Republican members of Congress against whom they intend to run serious
challenges:
Representative BOB CLEMENT (D-TN, 5) - Rep. Clement faces a growing
challenge from mathematics professor Dr. Jonathan D. Farley, of
Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Dr. Farley, an advocate of
reparations for slavery and segregation, is a rising star who has been
featured recently in Essence Magazine, the hip-hop magazine The Source,
and Ebony as a "Leader of the Future."
"My opponent is a favorite of the corporate lobby, and they are
counting on him to deliver on Fast Track. But, thanks to pressure from
the Greens, he may oppose it," said Dr. Farley. "If he
doesn't, come next November, Congressman 'Inclement' may just get
down-sized."
Representative NORM DICKS (D-WA, 3); Representative ADAM SMITH (D-WA, 9)
- Prominent Greens in Washington state, frustrated with the
unresponsiveness of Representative Dicks and Smith both to respectful
appeals and to picketing by Greens and labor activists regarding their
respective trade stances, have made a public appeal for candidates to
challenge them. Rep. Dicks is considered a leaning "yes" vote
on Fast Track and Rep. Smith is considered to be on the fence; both are
considered vulnerable in their reelection bids.
Washington Greens have reason to expect success: Last year, Green Party
candidate Joe Szwaja won 20% of the vote in his challenge of Rep. Jim
McDermott, and political observers have noted McDermott's recent
leadership in questioning the bombing of Afghanistan and fighting the
passage of Fast Track.
"Our message to Representatives Dicks and Smith is crystal clear:
You won't be able to take the progressive vote for granted, we're going
to speak for the interests of workers, consumers, and nature, and we
will define the issues in this campaign," said Szwaja, the most
successful Green Party candidate for federal office thus far in the
United States.
Representative GERALD KLECZKA (D-WI, 4) - Greater Milwaukee Green Party
member Brian Merrill Vasquez Verdin has announced an anti-war
pro-democracy campaign for the Green Party nomination for Congress.
Verdin is a member of the International Association of Machinists union
(IAM) with deep roots in the labor movement and Milwaukee's Latino
community. Verdin expects to face incumbent Rep. Kleczka after
redistricting next year.
"I want to join Barbara Lee. I want to be one more congressperson
who will stand with Barbara Lee and say 'Hell No!' to war, Fast Track,
and corporate profiteering," said Verdin.
Representative MARK GREEN (R-WI, 8) - Rep. Green can soon expect to face
a serious Green Party challenger in northeast Wisconsin, as his likely
opponent will announce her candidacy within weeks. The Wisconsin Green
Party has committed to the 8th District race. Green is currently
considered to be a fence-sitter on Fast Track.
Representative RON KIND (D-WI, 3) - Rep. Kind has angered western
Wisconsin dairy farmers and steelworkers with his past voting record on
trade issues, and is considered vulnerable in this independent-minded
district that gave the Nader/LaDuke ticket its best percentages in 2000.
Kind is considered to be leaning in favor of a 'yes' vote on Fast Track
even though thousands of workers in his district have lost their jobs at
La Crosse Boot, Heileman Brewery, Rayovac, Lands End, and other
factories due to trade-related job exports. The Wisconsin Green Party is
actively recruiting candidates in the 3rd District and is committed to
the race.
The above races are against congressional incumbents considered key to
the upcoming Fast Track vote. Greens also have declared their
candidacies for Congress in Arkansas (2nd), California (41st), and
Nevada (1st), and are gearing up to run serious campaigns in hundreds of
other congressional and statewide races next year. Over 275 Greens vied
for federal, state, and local office in 2001, and at least 52 of these
won election.
H.R. 3005 would grant Fast Track trade negotiation powers to the
President and represents a substantial transfer of Congress'
constitutionally-mandated authority over trade to the executive branch.
Greens join with the AFL-CIO, the Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth,
Public Citizen, and hundreds of other unions, civil rights,
environmental, student, farm, and democracy groups in strongly opposing
the bill. Greens generally oppose the establishment of trade agreements
which undermine democracy and erode environmental, labor, and civil
rights protections. Greens specifically oppose the granting of
Presidential Fast Track authority because of the perception that the
Presidency is insensitive to citizen concerns about trade policy.
More Information:
10/18/01 - Previous
Green Party Release on Fast Track.
The Green Party of the United
States Contacts:
Nancy Allen, Media Coordinator 207-326-4576, nallen@acadia.net
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, scottmclarty@yahoo.com
Ben Manski, Co-Chair, 608 239 6915, manski@greens.org.
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