"Both Republicans and Democrats have this notion that, if Greens are in the race, Democrats lose votes," said Romanelli, a railroad-industry consultant from the Wilkes-Barre area. "If that was going to motivate someone to contribute, I am fine with that."
Here is the story. It is the Green in the race for the Senate in Pennsylvania. Rick Santorum, perhaps the worst example of right-wing badness in the Senate seems to be fully funding the Green candidate:
When Sen. Rick Santorum (R., Pa.) encouraged everyone in state politics to help the Green Party earn a spot on the November ballot, at least one group answered the call: Santorum donors.
Fourteen Santorum supporters gave $40,000 to fund a petition drive that has allowed Carl Romanelli to collect about 100,000 voter signatures to qualify for the Senate race. That's 33,000 more signatures than required, and double what independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader gathered here in 2004.
But Romanelli and the Green Party of Luzerne County, which collected the money, might have violated federal election law in the process.
I think we can settle the dabate about the moral 'purity' of the Green Party candidates. Lets take a look at Santorum's record, the guy they are "fine" with taking money and support from:
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 0 percent in 2005.
2003-2004 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 100 percent in 2003-2004.
2001 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 0 percent in 2001.
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the Americans for Tax Reform 95 percent in 2005.
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 100 percent in 2005.
2003-2004 On the votes that the American Forest and Paper Association considered to be the most important in 2003-2004, Senator Santorum voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
2003-2004 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the Business-Industry Political Action Committee 95 percent in 2003-2004.
2003 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the Public Citizen's Congress Watch 9 percent in 2003.
2003-2004 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union 11 percent in 2003-2004.
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 6 percent in 2005.
2003-2004 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the Human Rights Campaign 0 percent in 2003-2004.
2003-2004 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 6 percent in 2003-2004.
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the American Conservative Union 92 percent in 2005.
2004 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the Christian Coalition 100 percent in 2004.
2003-2004 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the Concerned Women for America 100 percent in 2003-2004.
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the National Education Association 0 percent in 2005.
2003-2004 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the National Parent Teacher Association 0 percent in 2003-2004.
2001 On the votes that the English First considered to be the most important in 2001, Senator Santorum voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
2002 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the American Coalition for Ethanol 0 percent in 2002.
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the American Wilderness Coalition 0 percent in 2005.
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund 0 percent in 2005.
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the League of Conservation Voters 10 percent in 2005.
2004 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the American Land Rights Association 100 percent in 2004.
2003-2004 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the American Wilderness Coalition 0 percent in 2003-2004.
2004 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the Family Research Council 100 percent in 2004.
2004 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the American Family Association 100 percent in 2004.
2004 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the Peace Action 0 percent in 2004.
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the National Organization for Women 0 percent in 2005.
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group 0 percent in 2005.
2004 On the votes that the State PIRGs Working Together considered to be the most important in 2004, Senator Santorum voted their preferred position 0 percent of the time.
2003 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence 6 percent from 1988-2003 (Senate) or 1991-2003 (House).
2000 Based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionnaire sent to all Congressional candidates in 2000, the National Rifle Association assigned Senator Santorum a grade of A+ (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F).
1999-2000 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence 0 percent in 1999-2000.
2003-2004 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the National Breast Cancer Coalition 0 percent in 2003-2004.
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers 0 percent in 2005.
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the Service Employees International Union 0 percent in 2005.
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the United Auto Workers 14 percent in 2005.
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 7 percent in 2005.
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers 0 percent in 2005.
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Worker 0 percent in 2005.
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees 0 percent in 2005.
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the American Federation of Government Employees 0 percent in 2005.
2005 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the Alliance for Retired Americans 0 percent in 2005.
2001-2002 On the votes that the CATO Institute--Center for Trade Policy Studies considered to be the most important in 2001-2002, Senator Santorum voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
2004 Senator Santorum supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 0 percent in 2004.
Do you really believe that Santorum and the Green Party are working together and sharing money based on issues? We will leave the last word to Santorum's spokeperson:
"We have encouraged those who have inquired or asked to assist in this effort," said Virginia Davis, Santorum's spokeswoman, of the Green Party petitions.
4 comments:
Really high burdens to make the ballot, like PA's leave upstart Parties little choice but to become catspaws. Contrast PA's 67,070 required signatures with Wisconsin's 2,000 for a Statewide race.
A more reasonable standard would not only benefit Green candidates, but Libertarians and Constitution party as well, so it's not clear that this always works to the detriment of Democrats.
Rae Vogeler, WISCONSIN green party candidate for US Senate, has received a total of $21,494, over $19,000 of that was in individual contributions, and over $15,000 of those were from contributions of less than $200 (including $75 from yours truly.)
I hope that puts to rest any worries that the Wisconsin Green Party is taking Santorum's filthy money.
I hope that at some point the Democrats and Republicans who write the rules for campaign finance and ballot access will someday work together to prevent this kind of nonsense. Maybe make ballot access easier in states like Pennsylvania, or ban money from campaign politics altogether by adopting full public financing of elections.
For the record, the DPW platform calls for the full financing of elections - we did not kill Senate Bill 1, our people in the Senate and Assembly voted for it, and our Gov has pledged to sign it.
And our Senator has taken even less in money...
...but has over 3 million in the bank!
I agree with you, Jef, that Democrats in the state legislature pushed for SB1, and it is shameful not only that it failed, but that those that killed it probably won't face any reckoning from their constituents.
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And to save myself a comment, regarding your post above about public financing of elections in platforms: how about that? The Wisconsin Green Party is in the process of updating its platform, I'll pass along the suggestion that this be included.
Thanks for the tip!
Out of curiosity - if the Democrats manage to regain control of both the Senate and Assembly, AND hold onto the Governorship, will full public financing of elections get enacted?
And if your answer is yes, would you care to place a friendly wager on it?
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