Dave Chandler

A Little for Andrew Romanoff

Since leaving the Green Party of Colorado this past April, I have cherished the political liberty that being an 'unaffiliated' voter has given me -- and today I exercised that freedom.

This day, at the Jeffco motor vehicles office in Arvada, I voted for Andrew Romanoff for the Democratic Party nomination for United States Senate.

Be assured, I will re-register as 'unaffiliated' immediately after the August 10 primary election ... a reminder is already written on my calendar.

However, in these times when the corruption of our government and politics is ubiquitous because of the corroding influence of corporate and special interest money, those few running for public office who eschew the current 'system' should be rewarded and encouraged.

That is the main reason I decided to give my single vote to Romanoff ... it ain't much, but it's all I've got to give. My small action keeps me in accord with one of my favorite sentiments expressed in a quotation attributed to Edmund Burke: "Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little."

Those who read my commentaries here on this blog and at my other web site, www.Earthside.com, know that I have a rather less than sanguine view of the state of our nation -- the rise of mega-transnational corporations and their effective capture of our governments and political institutions causes me great apprehension and angst for the future of this Republic.

So, when I see that Andrew Romanoff's campaign is not taking Political Action Committee money, well, that's a positive sign. Furthermore, I, in particular, am also encouraged by this report in the Denver Post on education:

While Bennet says he supports the controversial teacher evaluation bill passed by the Colorado legislature this year, Romanoff said at a teacher rally, "It's not the package I would have produced" as speaker of the House.

"A lot of teachers have suffered from reform fatigue," said Romanoff, who counts himself among them as a longtime college instructor. Educators already know what works in the classroom, Romanoff said, and don't need a more complex federal framework.

And, let me be frank, too ... it is admirable that Romanoff had the fortitude to run for this nomination in the first place, even while Gov. Ritter and the Washington Democratic Party establishment continue to slouch towards further irrelevancy by supporting the pretentious Senatorship and campaign of Michael Bennet.

For other voters who are 'unaffiliated', there is time left for you, too, to lend the support of a cast ballot for Mr. Romanoff. Call your county or elections clerk and find out how.

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A new ad.

McInnis's Watergate

It is a "cover-up" in broad daylight.

And ... you know what the conventional wisdom says, "It's not the crime that brings down the politician, it's the cover-up."

The letter that the Scott McInnis gubernatorial campaign sent to Rolly Fischer for his signature reads like it could have been concocted by President Nixon in his attempts to make John Mitchell the fall guy for the whole Watergate scandal.

The plagiarism charge is serious, however, that wrongdoing took place before the McInnis 2010 candidacy, making this part of the scandal mostly a matter of Scott McInnis's integrity or lack thereof. Perhaps McInnis might have been able to survive this ignominy, he is a politician after all and expectations are low.

But the "it was all my fault" confession that the McInnis campaign wanted Fischer to sign elevates the controversy to a big-time political scandal. The letter demonstrates that the McInnis campaign wanted to cover-up the plagiarism by getting Rolly Fischer to take the fall, thereby absolving Mr. McInnis completely.

However, in his channel 7 interview, Fischer refused to take the knife for Scott and the McInnis attempt at cover-up instead blew sky high.

Consequently, the Scott McInnis quest for the Republican nomination for the Colorado governorship in 2010 is over ... whether he gets out now or later, is defeated in the primary, or goes down in brilliant hot flames in the November election.

If there is one thing that lefties, righties and independents agree on in politics this year, it is that we are all sick and tired of politicians who have this notion that somehow they are a breed apart from the rest of us. In other words, McInnis has committed the most unforgivable political transgression on the 2010 election stage: he done wrong and still is arrogant enough to try and tell us, the voters, that his revealed corruption is a "non-issue."

Scott McInnis and his campaign have shown us in a most disturbing manner that they are beneath the floor of what citizens will tolerate from politicians or elected officials. He certainly doesn't deserve to be Colorado's governor.

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Here is the McInnis authored letter that Rolly Fischer was asked to sign (as provided by 7News):

Dear Scott:

I am writing to express my sincere apology for failing to provide appropriate attribution for the research I provided for the water articles we collaborated on. While my mistake was not intentional, it is nonetheless clear that this material needed footnotes.

This mistake was solely my own and I recognize that my work fell short of the expectations you had when you included me in this project.

Again, please accept my deep apology.

Sincerely,

Rolly Fischer

Watch the Rolly Fisher interview at this link:

Researcher Says Scott McInnis Lied | Tom Burke and Arthur Kane and John Ferrugia/7News

Wanted: A New Governor for Colorado

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter has betrayed us all ... a 'low-wage' state workforce is apparently his vision for our economic future.

We read this headline in this morning's Denver Post, "Ritter vetoes labor measure."

The veto sends this clear message: screw you middle class working folks.

One of the things keeping Colorado's economy afloat, while other states are still sinking in the current recession, is that we have not succumbed to the race to the bottom on wages. Now Ritter lets the corporate grocery stores know that they are free to cut wages, benefits and pensions for our neighbors who make a livable wage working at Safeway or King Sooper or Alberstons.

Make no mistake, when butchers and checkers and stockers and dairy/produce/grocery workers get locked-out and their take-home pay shrinks -- all the rest of us will suffer as a result of the "falling tide sinks all boats" truism. Meanwhile, out-of-state corporate management will be chuckling all the way to the bank (although Ritter will undoubtedly score some nice campaign contributions from these people).

Ritter has once again demonstrated that he is a governor with few bedrock principles; he is a timid, fence-straddling, risk-averse POLITICIAN.

We surely need a new progressive leader to be taking the oath of office for our state government come 2011.

Chandler Endorses Obama

I have officially endorsed Barack Obama for President.

This is a statement of personal support and does not indicate any position taken by the Green Party of Colorado. The letter was sent out to Colorado Greens:

CENSORED! But Dave Kept His Promise.

The Jefferson County League of Women Voters played censor Wednesday evening at a Colorado 7th Congressional District candidates 'forum'.

The League was HYPOCRITICAL, violating their own values in order to perpetuate the political duopoly that has led to the culture of corruption that dominates in Washington, D.C. these days. The Jeffco League of Women Voters stifled any voice that had not raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from special interests. We can be very clear now about the League in Jefferson County -- they are not non-partisan -- they are enablers for big money, 'horse race' politics.

Photos:
1. The entrance to the "forum" at the Denver West Marriott.
2. The door closes ... to free speech for all the candidates on the November ballot.
3. Legal, qualified candidate for U.S. House in the 7th CD, Dave Chandler, let his principled stand be known -- as he promised.

Censored, But There

The candidate for Colorado's 7th Congressional District, Dave Chandler, who was censored by the refusal of organizers to allow third party nominees to participate -- showed up anyway.

Dave handed out flyers explaining his position on a Northwest Beltway and his opposition to the corrupting influence of special interest Political Action Committee money on our politics.

Dave reports that the discussion between Perlmutter and O'Donnell was utterly predictable.

"I could have told you what they were going to say before either of them openned their mouths," said Dave.

"It was pretty much politicians behaving as bickering, traditional politicians."

If Dave had been permitted to participate, the audience would have heard more about the real change we need in our political system.

"Perlmutter claims he is for change," said Dave. "But I think he is talking about thousand and thousands of campaign contribution coins and dollar bills."

"And O'Donnell's attempts to distance himself from George Bush and the radical Republican Party is, well, it would be sad if we didn't know that Bush and Cheney have raised hundreds of thousand of dollars for his campaign."

Dave just says that voters can read about him and his positions on the issues on this web site and they will know who really will bring reform and change to the nation's capital.

"It is still all about 'Principle Before Politics'. That's why you should vote for Dave Chandler for Congress."

Censoring Colorado Candidates

The PLAN Jeffco/CINQ candidate forum is keeping the Green Party's 7th CD candidate OUT of the DEBATE!

"This kind of censorship of third party candidates is simply undemocratic," says Dave Chandler.
"Let freedom -- and all its voices -- ring!"

The Plan Jeffco organizer for the event confirmed to Dave last night that no candidates -- other than those of the big, establishment parties -- will be allowed to participate in the question and answer part of the forum. The organizer said (in so many words) that the tired, old major party candidates just didn't want third party candidates to be there.

"It shows the pathetic weakness and torpidity of the Democrats and Republicans," Chandler says. "They are absolutely petrified that we might actually persuade someone to vote their conscience and principles -- instead of falling in-line mindlessly for 'the party'."

The forum is scheduled for tonight, Monday evening, September 25.

Candidate 'Meet and Greet' -- which is open to the public and all candidates -- is between 6:00 and 7:00PM.

The actual question and answer period is CENSORING all third party candidates.

The event is to be held at the American Mountaineering Center, 710 10th Street, Golden.

MAP

If you can spare an hour, come out to Golden between 6:00 and 7:00PM and support Dave's (and all American's) "freedom of speech".

"I'm going to be there. The controversial Northwest Beltway is a key part of why CINQ (Citizens Involved in the Northwest Quadrant) is co-sponsoring this forum. I'm the only candidate who has been a beltway opponent for years and is still against the sprawl-promoting highway."

"I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."
Thomas Jefferson; inscription around the rotunda of the Jefferson Memorial

League Forum Update - "I'll be there!"

The Colorado 7th Congressional District forum sponsored by the Jeffco League of Women voters that was to take place this Thursday evening has been cancelled. Contradicting its own stated principles, the Jeffco League has DIS-invited third party candidates for that office, including Dave Chandler.

It has been rescheduled for Wednesday, October 18, beginning at 6:30 PM at the Denver Marriott West (1717 Denver West Blvd, Golden, 80401 - MAP).

Invited to participate or not -- Dave says: "I'll be there!"

“Let us not be afraid of debate or dissent -- let us encourage it.”
U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy, April 16, 1959

“Freedom is the right to question and change the established way of doing things. It is the continuous revolution of the marketplace. It is the understanding that allows to recognize shortcomings and seek solutions.”
President Ronald Reagan, May 31, 1988

Non-Partisan Does Not Mean Bi-Partisan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, September 5, 2006

Jeffco League of Women Voters Shows Partisanship, Says Chandler

(Arvada) - "It is a very clear case where the League of Women Voters says one thing, but does another," said Dave Chandler, Colorado Green Party candidate for the U.S. House for the 7th Congressional District.

Chandler, and the American Constitution Party candidate for the same office, have both been excluded from a candidate forum sponsored by the Jefferson County League of Women Voters scheduled for Thursday evening, September 14, 2006, at the Denver Marriott West hotel.

"The national League's web site plainly states that they are "strictly non-partisan." However, by not including all the candidates, the Jeffco group is contradicting their own policy -- they are, in fact, being exclusively bi-partisan, favoring two particular parties over other legally recognized parties. That is not 'non-partisan'," Chandler said.

Chandler said that the League, as an organization to promote voter participation in the electoral process, sets a laudable standard "to make democracy work for all citizens."

"So, it is particularly disappointing and disheartening to see them adopt forum participation criteria that appear to be aimed at purposefully discriminating against candidates with new ideas and who, as a matter of principle, don't go along with the current corrupt campaign finance system," said Chandler.

The Jeffco League is requiring for participation in the forum that a candidate show "a significant level of financial support. Chandler will only accept campaign contributions of $500 or less from individuals.

"It is just sad to see the League succumbing to the same kind of narrow-minded, business-as-usual behavior that has led to the special-interest-driven, multi-million dollar, negative politics we too often see today," said Chandler.

<< Text of correspondence between Chandler and LWV follows. >>

CONTACT:

Dave Chandler
www.DaveChandler.us
Candidate
U.S. House of Representatives
7th Congressional District
Green Party of Colorado
[email protected]
303-424-9897

Arvada, CO

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September 5th, 2006

Dear Mr. Chandler;

In quoting from our LWVUS Democracy Agenda, you rightfully noted that the League of Women Voters is in fact a strong advocate for campaign finance and lobbying reform. In that vein, we speak out to our representatives in government and work toward reform through legislation. We act to change the current policies and laws through our elected officials.

In the matter of candidate forums, our policy as stated in the previous email is two-fold. One, the candidate must show evidence of a significant level of financial support and secondly, exhibit substantive voter interest (10% or higher) in a nonpartisan poll. Both the LWV/Colorado and LWV/Jeffco boards reviewed and set these criteria at the beginning of the campaign season.

The Survey USA poll conducted exclusively for KUSA-TV Denver on August 18-20, 2006 showed your candidacy polling 2% of the results. In that light, the League made the decision to withhold an invitation to the event on September 14th.

Sincerely,
Cath Perrone, Voter Service Chair
Adrienne Andrews-Glenn, President
Jeffco League of Women Voters

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August 31, 2006

Cath Perrone
Voter Service Chair
LWV of Jeffco

Dear Ms. Perrone:

I was very disappointed to receive your email communication informing me that I would not be invited to participate in the 7th Congressional Candidate Forum which the League of Women Voters of Jefferson County is sponsoring on Thursday, September 14, 2006.

I would sincerely ask you to reconsider.

I ask you to reevaluate based on values of the League of Women Voters, itself.

About itself, on its national web site, it is written:

About the League
... The League of Women Voters is strictly nonpartisan; it neither supports nor opposes candidates for office at any level of government.

... The organization remains true to its basic purpose: to make democracy work for all citizens.

<< http://www.lwv.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=About_Us >>

By shutting-out third party candidates, the League is not being non-partisan, it is, in fact, being exclusively bi-partisan, it is favoring two particular parties over other legally recognized parties. If the aim of the organization is “to make democracy work for all citizens,” then it is contradictory to deny a voice to certain citizens because of their political preference.

Furthermore, the criterion of requiring a candidate to have a “significant level of financial support” in order to participate directly contradicts the sentiments expressed by the national League of Women Voters president:

"The fourth and final item on our Democracy Agenda concerns the role of money and special interests in American politics. We know that “he who pays the piper calls the tune.” That’s why campaign finance and lobbying reform are so important to protecting our democracy. When special interests are the dominant source of campaign funding, when special interests have special access to Congress, indeed when special interest lobbyists can call the tune on Capitol Hill, then it is time for fundamental reform.

"Citizens are deeply concerned about the growing issues of corruption and ethics abuses in politics. Americans do not want to give wealth and special interests more access to power. American citizens, in fact, want more reform, not a retreat from anti-corruption safeguards."

AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AT RISK: AGENDA FOR RENEWAL AND REPAIR
LWVUS President Kay J. Maxwell
Santa Fe, New Mexico
January 31, 2006

<< http://www.lwv.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Campaign_Finance_Reform&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=4323 >>

An essential principle of my candidacy is a rejection of the practice that has created the present day political environment where “special interests are the dominant source of campaign funding.” Moreover, I agree that “Americans do not want to give wealth and special interests more access to power.”

Since I have taken a principled position not to participate in the system of “he who pays the piper calls the tune,” I simply will not have a “significant level of financial support.” Indeed, it is now being estimated that in the 7th CD race, the two major party candidates will raise and spend from $10 to $12 million on their campaigns! This would appear to be a prime example of why LWVUS President Kay J. Maxwell says it is “time for fundamental reform.” It seems, therefore, incongruous with the stated League stand on campaign finance reform to exclude me from your forum.

In the interests of making democracy work for all citizens, and in the interests of campaign finance reform, I ask you to please include all legally qualified candidates for the U.S. House of Representative for the 7th CD in your September 14 forum.

Sincerely,

Dave

Dave Chandler
Candidate - Green Party of Colorado
U.S. House of Representatives
7th Congressional District

[email protected]
303-424-9897

cc: Adrienne Andrews-Glenn, President, LWV of Jeffco
Flodie Anderson, President, LWV of Colorado
Board, LWV of Colorado

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August 28, 2006

Dave Chandler
Green Party Candidate
7Th Congressional District

Dear Mr. Chandler;

The League of Women Voters of Jefferson County has chosen NOT to invite you to participate in the 7th Congressional Candidate Forum it is sponsoring on Thursday, Sept. 14th.

As the Voter Service Chair for the Jeffco League, I wanted to inform you of our decision directly and answer any questions you may have in regard to it. Our criteria is posted below for your review. Please don't hesitate to contact me.

Both the LWV of Colorado and Jeffco Boards reviewed and set this criteria at the beginning of the campaign season. The evidence of a substantive voter interest in a candidate indicated by nonpartisan polls (10% or higher) and a significant level of financial support must appear in order for a candidate to be invited to a League sole-sponsored event.

Please be aware, if you choose to attend this event, you will not be allowed to speak to the audience or answer any questions.

Sincerely,
Cath Perrone
Voter Service Chair
LWV of Jeffco

CC:
Adrienne Andrews-Glenn, President, LWV of Jeffco

Chandler in 7th Congressional District Poll

Dave Chandler, candidate for U.S. House of Representatives for Colorado's 7th Congressional District responds to the 9NEWS report and poll broadcast yesterday evening.

Channel 9's Adam Schrager in the video report linked to here tells us that $10 to $12 million dollars is likely to be spent by and on behalf of the Perlmutter and O'Donnell campaigns in the 7th Congressional District.

Let me say it: this would be an obscene expenditure of money and borders on being immoral.

Is it any wonder that cynicism and distrust of our political system is on the increase when big-monied special interests are so eager to contribute such grotesque amounts of money to gain influence in government? You can also be absolutely certain that almost all of this tremendous amount of money will NOT come from individual residents of the 7th Congressional District or the state.

This is wrong ... and explains why a recent Gallup poll reports that 'Americans Increasingly View Most Members of Congress as Corrupt'.

The House of Representatives is supposed to be the legislative body in the national government that is closest to the people; that's why there are 435 districts and why the House is up for election every two years. When hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars are raised by special interests from outside the district for the express purpose of influencing how we vote -- that subverts the intent of the drafters of the Constitution of the United States.

I appeal to the voters of this district to give a resounding rebuke to the system of "legalized bribery" that has corrupted our politics.

There is an alternative to the current corrupt system that has survived with the connivance of the likes of candidates such as Perlmutter and O'Donnell and their big-money, partisan supporters. From my party's 2004 platform, here are the principles that I support to ensure that this becomes once again a government "of the people, by the people and for the people":

1. Political debate, public policy, and legislation should be judged on their merits, not on the quid pro quo of political barter and money.

2. We propose comprehensive campaign finance reform, including caps on spending and contributions, at the national and state level; and / or full public financing of elections to remove undue influence in political campaigns.

3. All viable candidates at the state and federal levels should have free and equal radio and television time and print press coverage.

4. We will work to ban or greatly limit political action committees and restrict soft money contributions.

5. We support significant lobbying regulation such as strict rules that disclose the extent of political lobbying via "gifts" and contributions. Broad-based reforms of government operations, with congressional reorganization and ethics laws, must be instituted. At every level of government, we support Sunshine Laws that open up the political system to access by ordinary citizens.

You do not have to put up with the nasty politics that all of the Democrat and Republican campaign money is going to subject you to in the next two months.

If the integrity of our politics in this country is of concern to you ... you have a real choice in the contest for U.S. House of Representatives for Colorado's 7th CD. You can vote to encourage the corrupt, profligate system we now have by voting for O'Donnell or Perlmutter -- or you can chose a new direction, you can vote your conscience and make political finance reform a high priority.

You can do something courageous this election that will genuinely help to renew our republic and move our nation forward -- Vote for Dave Chandler for Congress!

VIDEO

Link: New Poll: Perlmutter, O'Donnell Tied in 7th CD Race | 9 News KUSA-TV

Democrat Ed Perlmutter and Republican Rick O'Donnell are tied in a new 9NEWS poll conducted by Survey USA in the race to represent Colorado's 7th Congressional District.

The polling company called 535 "likely voters" between Friday, August 18 and Sunday, August 20.

Perlmutter, who is a former State Senator from Jefferson County, received 45 percent of those surveyed. O'Donnell, the former head of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, also received 45 percent.

Constitution Party candidate Roger McCarville and Green Party candidate Dave Chandler each earned 2 percent support.