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Questions for Cynthia McKinney and other Green candidates?

July 8th, 2008 · 21 Comments

I’ve said this in the comments, but maybe it will get more response this way. I’m heading out in a little over an hour to go to Chicago for the Green Party national convention. I have a press pass for IPR (it took one simple email, quite different from the on-off-on again deal with the LP that I had for Denver). The Green Party also has nice and easy to use ride- and room-share boards linked directly from their website, which I used effectively. I will be taking the Greyhound bus and will not have internet on the way there. I do not know what my internet situation will be while I am actually there.

Please shoot any questions you have for Cynthia McKinney or other Green candidates in the comments. Don’t forget the other candidates - they may have more time to talk to me than she will.

If someone calls me with any questions I get in response to this, I would appreciate it. Here’s what we have so far from the comments on the other thread. Also, if we have a blogtalk we can use, I can attempt to arrange radio interviews while I’m there so you can call with your questions directly. Give me a call and let me know the number to call to log in to the show if we set one (or more) up.

  • Ask her if she will even attempt to look for mainstream media after the convention. She seems to be avoiding all of it.

  • Ask if they’re in favor of Instant Runoff. If so, why? Instant Runoff is inferior, yet the Green Party is still misguided in this and stands behind it. Ask how they feel about the superior voting methods, namely, Approval Voting and other forms of Range Voting.

  • Yes, definitely ask why she seems to be avoiding mainstream media and why she isn’t mentioning her run for the presidency to the few opportunities she has to address large crowds.

Filed Under: Green Party

21 responses so far ↓

  • 1 G.E. // Jul 8, 2008 at 3:02 pm

    I had questions for kat swift… She agreed to do an interview with me and then never responded:

    • You’ve been active in the Green Party since 1998. How has the party changed in that time? Have these changes been positive or negative?
    • You live in Texas. How well do you know 2004 Green Party nominee, David Cobb? Does he support your candidacy? What would you do differently from him if you are the party’s nominee in 2008?
    • Numerous sources report that Cynthia McKinney already has enough pledged delegates to clinch the party’s nomination on the first ballot. What are your thoughts on this? Would you consider being her runningmate?
    • Like most Americans, you have to work for a living. Do you think this would appeal to voters? How would you be able to campaign, nationwide, while still holding down a real job?
    • On the subject of flag burning, you say “If it belongs to the person burning it, then so what? No theft or destruction of another’s property is involved. Natioanlism breeds hatred and violence.” This is a position virtually all libertarians could agree with. My question: Where do a person’s property rights end, in your eyes? Does the government ever have the right to tell an individual what she can do with her property?
    • On the subject of free trade vs. fair trade: Historically, the working classes have been for greater free trade, while industrial tycoons have lobbied for protectionist tariffs. How do you expect Congress to make trade policy in favor of the people’s interests, when corporations will always be lobbying for special advantages so long as trade isn’t free across the board?
    • On the issue of gun control, you correctly point out that the Second Amendment was intended for citizens to be able to take up arms against the government, but that the government is far too strong for that now. This may be true. But why should individuals be forbidden to own weapons that George W. Bush’s government can own? What do you say to an organization like Pink Pistols, which advocates arming gays and lesbians in order to defend against gay bashers?
    • On the issue of education, you point out that the current government-run system propagandizes and is designed to produce “mindless drones.” What is your take on private schools and homeschooling? Are these good alternatives? Do you think individuals should be required to fund government schools if they disagree with what’s being taught, as you seem to?
    • Can you explain what the “peace tax” or “religious freedom tax” is?
    • A lot of libertarians, particularly those on the so-called “libertarian left,” are disappointed with Bob Barr as their nominee. Do you have any interest in appealing to them? On what issues do you think you can reach out to them?
    • What of conservatives? Do you consider them to be the enemy, or perhaps recruitable and convertible to Green philosophy? What is your strategy of educating and appealing to conservative voters?

  • 2 Steven R Linnabary // Jul 8, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    Will you send a news release praising the life and work of Jesse Helms?

  • 3 Anti-Corporate // Jul 8, 2008 at 3:24 pm

    I would like to hear her compare and contrast herself to/with all of the serious candidates running this year including Nader and Barr.

  • 4 Mike Theodore // Jul 8, 2008 at 4:04 pm

    hehe, I was going to include a little one for Jesse Johnson, but mine is all bold. :D

    Let me say it anyway.

    Will he try a more effective campaign in 2012, or maybe 2016?

  • 5 kkiixx // Jul 8, 2008 at 6:08 pm

    Before I can even ponder tackling environmental issues;

    Will you reverse what has been done to Iraq. Remove our government, shread the banking laws, give back the oil fields we’ve sold, give back thier gold, and DU-Cleanup?

    Will you reverse most the criminal acts Bush has gotten passed in congress?

    Will you loosen the Federal Reserve’s choke-hold on our government?

    Will stop the blackmailing of individual states that repel federal government pressures?

    Will you stop the federal government from dictating what is tought in schools?

    Etc. ETc. Etc.

  • 6 Jerry S. // Jul 8, 2008 at 10:22 pm

    Ms. McKinney do you intend to highlight the fact you are more qualified to be POTUS than Obama during your campaign? For all the candidates, Do you consider any Green POTUS candidate to be more qualified than Obama?

  • 7 Jeremy Young // Jul 9, 2008 at 1:14 am

    What exactly will you do to build state parties and help get local candidates elected to office? (This question would be better for McKinney and Mesplay, as swift and Johnson have been doing a lot of this already.)

  • 8 G.E. // Jul 9, 2008 at 2:17 am

    Jerry - What “qualifies” someone to be president? Political experience? If Obama is the least politically experienced candidate in Democratic history, then I say me might be the MOST qualified ever.

    What are you implying, exactly? How is McCain more qualified? Because he graduated last in his class, murdered who knows how many civilians, became a POW, and then became a corrupt politician and married a drug-addicted beer heiress?

    I don’t get it. And I know you’re not a McCainiac, but why this stressing of Obama’s unfitness? How about he’s unfit because he’s horrible on the issues, though not quite as bad as McCain?

  • 9 Deran // Jul 9, 2008 at 4:18 pm

    I see there are reports McKinney has expressed her VP preference.

    http://www.cantstopwontstop.com/blog/2008/07/green-party-taps-hip-hop-activist-rosa.cfm

    Anyone have any independent confirmation?

  • 10 Deran // Jul 9, 2008 at 4:23 pm

    And when I do a google news search abt the GPUS convention in the next few days, I find zero msm mention. The LP national convention got a great deal more coverage. Ralph Nader get’s a great deal more coerage. What is going on?

    And, I am still interested in the $100k or so the FEC lists as being held by the ‘04 Cobb/LaMarche campaign. I’d be interested if they will/can transfer this money to the party, and the nominated candidate? And why hasn’t there been a gradual transfere over the years of that money to the GNC or whoever?

  • 11 paulie cannoli // Jul 10, 2008 at 12:07 am

    Thanks guys! Keep em coming.

    If someone calls me with these I would appreciate it. I am paying 20 cents a minute for this here at the hostel, and that doesn’t include printouts. Not even sure we can print out at all. I’ll endeavor to make this the only time I’ll give in to internet addiction to the extent of paying this much for it on this trip, and don’t know if I’ll have any other convenient options.

    My number is on my facebook.

  • 12 tal1987 // Jul 10, 2008 at 2:27 am

    I agree that the question regarding the issue of mainstream media should be asked.

    I would also like to know if Cynthia McKinney (if she is the nominee) or the Green Party have any plan to attempt to gain access to a televised debate with the Democrat and Republican candidates. Or if they have other plans to get there message out in mass.

    Another question would be regarding the Presidential Website for the nominee. This could be addressed to the nominee or the GP. It is clear that the msm is not reporting a lot of news regarding the Green Party or other third parties. Due to this we, the general public, do not have much access to news regarding the Green Party. So my question is if there are plans to create a website loaded with information that is easy to access by the general public. This is something that I strongly believe in. As a third party we have limited resources and the media does its part in limiting us. Therefore, I think it is important for supporters (and future supporters) to have a website that they can visit that is User Friendly (emphasis on user friendly, non user friendliness may turn people away) and that supplies us with as much information about the candidate and her/his positions, news updates, allows us to organize, donate etc.

    I think both of these question are on the subject of getting exposure to main stream media and allowing for the general public to easily access information regarding the candidate. Which at the moment has been rather difficult.

    Thank you, I would really appreciate if these questions are addressed.

  • 13 paulie cannoli // Jul 10, 2008 at 11:24 am

    OK. I have about 45 min until my library session expires and I head over to convention site. I don’t know if I will have any internet there - probably not. If anyone posts anything here after that - someone PLEASE call me with any additional questions.

    Thanks folks!

  • 14 Mike Theodore // Jul 10, 2008 at 11:31 am

    number? Sorry.

  • 15 paulie cannoli // Jul 10, 2008 at 11:34 am

    It’s on my facebook and a previous thread here on IPR.

    I really don’t like giving out on googlable sites so I don’t want to perpetuate that, but it’s here if you look around. Several people here already have it, or are friends with me on facebook where it is listed..

  • 16 paulie cannoli // Jul 10, 2008 at 11:37 am

    Duh, how stupid of me.

    I get your email address in my email when you reply on a thread I post. I just emailed it to you. Hold off on calling me at least 34 min. until I leave the library.

  • 17 Mike Theodore // Jul 10, 2008 at 11:37 am

    I sent a friend request. If I seriously have a super duper emergency major danger question for you, I’ll pull out my cyber shovel and start digging.

  • 18 Mike Theodore // Jul 10, 2008 at 11:38 am

    ah, missed that last comment.
    Chances are of a major deal is very unlikely.
    Good to have a reference.

  • 19 tal1987 // Jul 18, 2008 at 1:40 am

    Is there some place we can read the responses to the questions asked?

    Thanks

  • 20 G.E. // Jul 18, 2008 at 3:49 am

    Coming soon, I believe.

  • 21 paulie cannoli // Jul 18, 2008 at 10:50 am

    Yes. Sorry. Competing pressures.

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