Green Party presidential nomination
Nader wants Green Party endorsement — but not nomination
Nader complained that the Greens are riven with “these unbelievable schisms” and that “they are not exerting themselves enough” in recruiting candidates for federal, state and local offices around the country.
People on Green listservs are howling at this, but, as one who spent considerable time active in the GP, I can only say – Nader is correct. Too much infighting, too little organizing.
“It’s too slow,” he said. “There comes a point when they have to look at themselves and say: If we are concerned about the state of the country and the world, why are we not commensurately serious in terms of our willingness to raise money and to field candidates and to support those candidates?”
Nader says he would not accept the Greens’ presidential nomination if it were offered to him, but he would accept its endorsement, a less formal expression of support.
A well-placed Green Party (GP) source tells me there will be three choices at the GP nominating convention in June. 1) No nomination, no endorsement, 2) No nomination, Endorse Nader, 3) Nominate David Cobb.
He believes, and I agree, that Cobb’s entire rationale for running is to attack Nader and this will further split the GP as Cobb publicly attacks Nader (as he is already doing.) Also, Cobb is, by many accounts, inept at campaigning, is nowhere close to being “Presidential”, and thus could well be a serious embarrassment, should he get the nomination. And what is the rationale for a Green Presidential candidate to base his campaign on attacking Nader? None that I can see. Especially coming from a nonentity Green. I question his avowed motives for running.
Two other twists.
Any delegate to the GP convention must sign a statement stating they will not work against the GP candidate, should there be one. This means if Cobb gets the nomination, they can not publicly support Nader. Thus a Cobb nomination could trigger resignations by hardcore activists from the GP so they can support Nader.
Also, here in California (where 50% of the Greens in the country are), the hugely respected and popular Peter Camejo, twice candidate for governor, is on the “very very very short list” to be the Vice President candidate for Nader. A Nader/Camejo ticket would be hugely popular with progressives and Greens and would also render Cobb and the Green Party irrelevant.
Best bet right now. No nomination, endorse Nader.