Greens: Don’t vote against your fears; vote for your hopes

MILWAUKEE, WI. (June 26, 2004) – From the right to clean water and fresh air, to peace in Iraq and democracy at home, the Green Party staked its turf in the 2004 presidential campaign today, unapologetic about any overlaps with the campaigns of independent Ralph Nader or Democrat John Kerry.

“Our electoral system forces us to vote against what people hate and fear instead of for what they want,” Green presidential nominee David Cobb repeated time and again after winning his party’s support on the second ballot of a process that pitted the former Texas lawyer against the shadow of Ralph Nader.

In an address to the convention, Camejo said that a majority of people in the world oppose the U.S. war in Iraq, “and Kerry-Bush represents a minority in this world.”

But because American presidents are chosen using the Electoral College rather than a popular vote, and because of corporate influence on campaigns, the minority prevails.

“This administration is endangering the American people,” Camejo said.

“The big mistake is instead of opposing the policy, they oppose the man. Kerry will do what Bush does, only more effectively. If someone opposed to Bush votes for Kerry, we say, “We understand because we don’t have democracy.”

Privately, Camejo said, “the money of this country has two parties. He said he expects that “the real power behind everything” wants a Democrat in,” like they always do when there’s a war. “But the Democrats will take any position that’s presented, filter it through themselves then vote for the Republican plan.”

Candidate Carol Miller told the delegates that “the world is counting on us to stand up to the U.S. government. No matter who we are, it is the United States government that is the enemy of the people of the world.

“We must take back this country,” she said, adding that “more money goes to nuclear weapons in New Mexico than to education.”

Miller called for a coalition to defeat President Bush. “Don’t say, ‘Vote your conscience,’ say, ‘Let me educate you to a higher consciousness.’”

“Vote your hopes, not your fears. The people of the world are counting on you.”

Lorna Salzman, an environmental activist, writer, lecturer and organizer since the mid-1960s and a Green presidential candidate from New York, asked: “Why are we worried about Islamic terrorism when we are single-handedly dismantling the biosphere.

“Unless the Green Party becomes the voice of the environment, there is no purpose to our existence.”

At a press conference following his nomination, Cobb said:

“What you have here is working class people who have proved you can build a political party without corporate money or selling out our principles.

“I am a lawyer because of Atticus Finch and Ralph Nader. I’ve learned more from Ralph Nader than from anyone outside my family,” he said, but added the party is out from Nader’s considerable shadow.

“We’re Green and growing,” he said.

Cobb promised to do whatever he can to be included in the presidential debates, even though one organization sponsoring debates is funded by Budweiser and Phillip Morris. 

If elected, Cobb said, he would bring the troops home from Iraq in five weeks.