Dave Chandler

Leaving the Green Party

This article was published in the Thursday, April 29, 2010 print edition of YourHub.com for Arvada, Wheat Ridge and Westminster.

It also appeared in the April 23, 2010 issue of The Colorado Statesman.

I'm not writing here a lofty essay explaining some deep, consequential philosophical divergence from the Green Party of Colorado.

For those captivated by politics, it is probably rather seldom that a person experiences a major ideological crisis and leaves their party. Partings, I suspect, usually happen for much more mundane reasons.

In my case, I still find attractive and persuasive the ideas and goals of the Green Party's 'Ten Key Values'. I am also very committed to the belief that the current political and governmental structures in this country have been irredeemably corrupted by corporate and other special interest money. I, therefore, still believe that it may take an effective and dedicated third party -- with strong adherence to rejecting 'big money' -- to reform and re-democratize our Republic.

However, as has been the case with many third parties in the past in the United States, finding the resources and tenacity to continue fighting the "two party system" is very difficult and discouraging most of the time. Without an overarching great issue, like the Iraq war debate in 2002, a third party tends to lose the volunteer energy that allows it to grow or even to survive.

That is what has happened, in my analysis, to both the Green Party of the United States and the Green Party of Colorado (GPCO). Without the urgency of the war and peace issue, these organizations seemed to have lost their direction. In Colorado, the core group of activists has shrunk to about fifteen individuals, and local chapters continue to drift away.

As often occurs in groups or clubs in decline, in-fighting and turf battles actually increase as the pressure and strain to find a way to survive intensifies. This is what is going on right now in the Green Party of Colorado.

Recently, after the resignation of a party co-chair (an office I had previously held), I returned on an interim basis to that position to try and help the organization get itself together for the 2010 election. After nearly nine years as an active member of the GPCO, I didn't want to admit either that perhaps its race has been run. But, indeed, disarray and disinterest have become the environment in which this group now exists ... barely.

So, I have decided that it is time to move on to other venues to express my political opinions and indulge my political activism. No great ideological schism here, but a pragmatic realization that there are other, better ways to make a difference. Thus, as I was before I became a Green, I am again an 'unaffiliated' voter.

Let me state that most of my time with the Green Party has been an uplifting experience and I have met many wonderful, kind, patriotic people during my involvement ... I cherish those folks greatly.

And, I want to reaffirm that I am still extremely proud of my 2002 Green Party candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Congressional District 7. With both the Republican and Democrat candidates for that office voicing support for the then pending Iraq War Resolution, I believed then and I believe now, that it is especially critical that citizens have a genuine "peace candidate" alternative when the stakes are as high as war and peace. As we have subsequently discovered, I was correct -- we were deceived and lied to about the necessity for that war which took thousands and thousands of American and Iraqi lives.

Perhaps soon there will be a third political force in the country that will battle to honestly bring much needed reform and progressive change to our governmental institutions. If that happens, I'll be on board.

In the mean time, I am now part of that persuadable cohort of 'independents' who decide elections -- have at me!

A Colorado Green Says 'No' to McKinney

I am the co-chair of the Green Party of Colorado, but I am not supporting Cynthia McKinney for President.

Colorado Green Party candidates this year are exceptional and I support them whole heartily: Bob Kinsey for U.S. Senate; Art Goodtimes for San Miguel County Commissioner; Scott Zulauf for Jefferson County Commissioner; Jerry Lacy for Custer County Commissioner; Joe Calhoun for Congress-CD 2; and Tony D'Lallo for State House District 34.

There have been internal Green Party controversies involving the Green Party of Colorado and the McKinney presidential campaign that have raised very serious concerns for me -- structurally the McKinney campaign is disorganized, uncommunicative, and there have been incidents of a dismissive attitude towards state and local Green Party groups. These failings in operation are seriously at odds with the Ten Key Values that make the Green Party distinctively different from the major political parties.

There are more importantly real issue oriented reasons why I believe the nomination of McKinney and her vice presidential pick, Rosa Clemente, was a mistake by the national convention of the Green Party of the United States.

In politics and running for office, one cannot stop other groups or organizations from expressing support or opposition to your candidacy or cause. In this Republic where free speech is enshrined as our first freedom in the Bill of Rights, people and groups have a right to say what they think and believe. However, one also has the right to choose with whom one decides to associate.

The Cynthia McKinney campaign cannot stop the Workers International League from endorsing her ... but McKinney has decided to embrace that recommendation and publish it on her web site. This is also true of the Workers World Party.

Here are the links (McKinney has revamped her web site and the W.I.L. has been removed ... perhaps my post has already had an impact ... :

Workers International League (cached)

WorkersWorld: Cynthia is a Militant Voice for Peace cached

This is plainly and simply unacceptable to me.

I believe that there are indeed politically and socially disaffected and alienated Americans who should be reached out to and encouraged to participate in our democratic process -- the two afore mentioned groups, however, are not part of the 'oppressed' or 'forgotten'.

My goal has always been that the Green Party could become in time a major principled, progressive mainstream political party in the United States of America. The commitment of Greens to a more inclusive democracy, to a broader, pluralistic Republic, to politics free from the taint of big special interest money makes the Green Party uniquely different from the Democrats. The Green Party's commitment to non-violence and rejection of militarism and nationalism as an organizing principle for the country makes us radically preferable to the Republicans.

Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente, however, appear to be moving the Green Party I believe in, in a very different direction. To put in glibly, but honestly -- I don't know what a 'hip hop' political party is.

Furthermore, even passing references to violent revolution are anathema to me. This is NOT Green, it is uncivil, and for a vice presidential candidate, Ms. Clemente does not seem to know the difference between radical, reactionary, and being gratuitously inflammatory (end of video):

I have not decided for whom I will vote for President of the United States in November 2008. I will certainly post that here when I decide. For now, however, I can state that I reject the McKinney-Clemente candidacy.

Dave Chandler
Co-Chair
Green Party of Colorado

Chandler on KGNU Radio

Dave Chandler, co-chair of the Green Party of Colorado, discussed national and state politics on KGNU radio's call-in program on Thursday, April 17.

The first part of the program debates the question: Did Nader cost Gore the 2000 election?
Then we talk about the state of the Green Party, it's relevance and it's future.

Guests include Dave Chandler, Co-Chair, Green Party of Colorado
Huffington Post contributor Brent Budowsky
Democratic activist Joe Richey

Colorado Green U.S. Senate canidate, Bob Kinsey, was also a call into the show.

LISTEN at KGNU

Vote to 'Renew Our Republic' Tomorrow

An election-eve message from Colorado 7th Congressional District candidate, Dave Chandler:

Colorado citizens of the 7th district can vote their conscience and convictions and make the United States a better place tomorrow.

First and foremost, I am the one candidate for the U.S. House in this district who has pledged to advocate in the Congress for a quick withdrawal of our troops from Iraq. If the profound issue of war and peace is a matter of conscience for you, then my candidacy offers you a place to be true to your beliefs.

On the range of other issues confronting our nation and the residents of the 7th district, I have been able to express my principles and my sense of what people are concerned about in an honest, straightforward manner because I have been free from the corrupting influence of big money 'politics as ususal'.

You can explore this web site and read for yourself about my perception and response to the issues of the day. I believe you will find my positions thoughtful, well reasoned, and genuine ... even if you happen to disagree with them. If anything else, this campaign has been about showing how rejecting the current scandalous system of campaign financing can bring honor and integrity to our politics.

This is not just about 'fighting the system' ... it is about personal responsibility. The big party candidates lament the 'system', but then eagerly participate. The link below to a report in today's Denver Post demonstrates this hypocrisy. Ninety percent of the dollars raised from special interests goes to negatives ads that proclaim "I'm (name of candidate) and I approved this message" -- but the Colorado Democrat chairwoman bemoans "What do we do about this?"

Well, candidates can do what I did -- just say no to any contributions from special interests.

If we want to make our politics and government more representative and accountable we can also start demanding that all candidates be allowed to participate in the election process -- especially when they have the courage to stand on their principles. One of the low points in this 7th Congressional District campaign was when the Jeffco League of Women Voters, which subscribes to the position that big money is corrupting our politics, set a criteria for participation in their forum that a candidate "must show evidence of a significant level of financial support." Shame on them.

The results of this kind of double standard that the big parties and their candidates (and groups like the Jeffco League) practice is exemplified by the link below to a Rocky Mountain News column authored by Tina Greigo. More and more Americans don't believe that it matters to vote and sadly they come to this notion based upon the behavior I am describing here. Special interest campaign contributions and excessive lobbyist influence has led to skepticism that our government even remotely works for the people anymore.

Voting for me is a bold action to renew our Republic, to have faith in the principles and beliefs about liberty and democracy as articulated in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. We can reject the corrupt 'politics as usual' and courageously pick instead 'Principle Before Politics'!

I will appreciate your vote ... and so will America.

Dave

Link: Bashing Abounds: Colorado Campaign Ads Clobber Foes | Denver Post

If you think this campaign season is the dirtiest ever, you might be right. In Colorado, roughly $9 out of every $10 spent on congressional campaign advertising by the national political parties has been for negative ads against opposing candidates, about the same as the nationwide ratio, according to a Denver Post review of Federal Election Commission data. Nationwide, the Democratic and Republican parties have spent $160 million on ads attacking congressional candidates, as opposed to $17 million on positive ads about each party's own candidates, the FEC reported last week. ...

... "This is one of the worst years I've ever seen, with all the mean-spirited, nasty distortion of people's records," said Colorado Democratic Party chairwoman Pat Waak. "Every time I turn around, we have candidates coming to me asking, 'What do we do about this?"'

Link: Nonvoting Eddie Feels Zero Guilt, Believing That It Doesn't Matter Who is Elected | Tina Griego/Rocky Mountain News

Eddie's not voting again this year. This is not Longtime Eddie of Border Street. It's my neighbor Eddie. Contrarian Eddie. Or as he prefers, Crabby and Cranky Eddie of northwest Denver. The man who is such a pessimist that, at 71, he relishes the idea that he doesn't have much time left.

Eddie hasn't voted since . . . well, he's not sure. "When was Wellington (Webb) mayor?" ...

... Eddie looks at politics through the prism of economic class, and, to a lesser degree, age. His is a discontent wrapped up in fat CEO benefits packages and white-collar criminals who get off easy. It is fueled by the belief that he has been betrayed by elected leaders from Nixon to Clinton, by the sight of veterans reduced to begging on street corners and President Bush rolling up his shirt sleeves on the stump - a mockery, Eddie says, of every working person struggling to make ends meet.

"My philosophy is that the government makes laws and they should abide by them. Everybody. I don't care what your race or gender or religion or whatever. I don't care if you are poor or wealthy. The laws should be for everybody, not just a certain few. And that's not the way it is.

Anti-CSAP Public Forum

Important Public Forum THIS Evening

Sponsored by Denver and Jeffco Greens

Please attend!

Just Say NO! to CSAP

Guest Speaker: Angela Engel
Lakewood Public Library
10200 W. 20th Ave., Lakewood
Thursday, March 2, 2006
7:00 - 8:30 PM
For more information: 303-424-9897

Come to this forum and you will learn about the REAL reason behind CSAP testing.

Support the Green Party be attending ... even if you cannot stay for the entire presentation.

If you speak to a teacher today, tell them about this informative event.

Greens are for REAL REFORM

There are two very good news reports in today's Rocky Mountain News that demonstrate how the "culture of corruption" pervades both establishment political parties. The lust for campaign contributions is a scandal at the federal and state levels.

First, in the story about "praise for cash" that our Congressional delegation engages in (except retiring Rep. Joel Hefley), is the sentiment of near astonishment from the likes of Beauprez and Udall that there is anything wrong. They're drowning so deeply in the elitist political swamp of money and lobbyists and favors and privilege, that they have become blind to common, everyday ethics and morality. We 'allegedly' send them to Washington to represent all of us, not spend time inserting remarks in the Congressional Record to curry favor with select campaign contributors.

Second, the report about State Senator Deanna Hanna is astonishing in her attitude of entitlement. Read the article and it leaps off the page. She actually uses the word "reparations" to justify her demand that the Jefferson County Realtors Association contibute as much to her as it did to her opponent. Think about that for a second. There's something very odd and wrong here, uh?

But this kind of perversion of right and wrong is what happens when the major political parties become entrenched and interconnected with the big money that runs campaigns. Whether they are Democrats or Republicans, it doesn't seem to matter much anymore, in one form or another they all support the existing system of big money getting "access" and attention. The average voter who doesn't give money to politicians, and who doesn't have the time to volunteer for political campaign hack work, is the now the most marginalized of Americans.

That is why the Green Party stands for REAL REFORM. All the Democrats and Republicans want to do is window dressing reform, in the end they all want the money, money, money, and the power and privilege that comes with elected office these days. Greens want genuine democracy, representation for working Americans as well as wealthy citizens. Take a look at our 2004 Green Party national platform plank on "Democracy" -- Greens offer REAL REFORM. If you want to see a renewed republic dedicated to "liberty and justice for all" ... then register and support Green Party candidates.

The power of civic action is an antidote to the corporate control of so much of our law-making and regulating. The pervasive abuse imposed by corporate power increasingly undermines our democracy, but the Green Party seeks to rekindle the democratic flame. As voting citizens, taxpayers, workers, consumers, and stakeholders, we unite to exercise our rights and, as Thomas Jefferson urged, to counteract the "excesses of the monied interests." Toward this end, we consider serious reform of campaign funding to be essential, as well as curbs on the influence of corporations on lawmakers and regulatory agencies.

For my Congressional campaign, I will not accept any PAC contributions. I will only take donations of $500 or less from individuals. I support public finance of all federal elections -- those elected should only be beholden to ALL of the people. I support lobby reform that does away with ALL gifts, travel, meals, etc., from any special interest group ... if I'm in Congress, they can come and talk to me in the same way that the plumber next door would talk to me. That is REAL REFORM -- and neither Democrats nor radical Republicans are willing to propose that kind of program. Your choice then, to renew the republic, is to support my candidacy and the efforts of the Green Party.

Link: They Come to Praise | Rocky Mountain News

One day in early 2005, eight employees of an Arvada-based defense contractor made campaign contributions to their local congressman, Republican Rep. Bob Beauprez. Three months later, Beauprez praised the company on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. One week after that, the company president gave a small contribution to Beauprez's gubernatorial campaign. ... During the past four years, Rep. Mark Udall, an Eldorado Springs Democrat, has submitted five "extensions of remarks" into the Congressional Record, honoring people who had donated a combined $11,550 to his campaigns. ... Since 2003, eight of the nine members of Colorado's congressional delegation have made speeches or statements for the record about campaign contributors or the companies they lead, according to a review of official records and Federal Elections Commission data by the Rocky Mountain News.

Link: State Senator Sought $1,400 From Realtors | Rocky Mountain News

A Lakewood senator peeved that a real estate organization endorsed her Republican opponent in her last election demanded the group pay her $1,400 in "reparations." Sen. Deanna Hanna, a Democrat, said Thursday that she did nothing wrong, but the leader of the Senate Republicans called it "extortion." Hanna said the Jefferson County Realtors Association in 2004 announced it would not endorse any candidate in the Senate race, but the state group then contributed at least $1,400 to her opponent. ... She complained to the political arm of the Association of Realtors, the Realtors Small Donor Committee, and asked for "$1,400 in post-election debt relief . . . in order to set things straight," according to an RSDC letter. The group gave Hanna $400, and in 2005 she demanded the rest. "My reparations request stands," Hanna wrote to the committee. "It is my hope that you will make our relationship whole again. There are going to be some very important issues ahead of us."