[GNC] [Fwd: Re: Quesion for Nader, from Mass Green-Rainbow delegate]

[Aram Falsafi]

I have not yet heard back from Nadre on the key question of whether a
Nader/Camejo endorsement would imply them running on our ticket in MA and not as
independents. But here is an interesting exchange that I had with one of his
aids. Read from the bottom up to get a full picture.

-Aram

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Quesion for Nader, from Mass Green-Rainbow delegate
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 13:20:58 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
From: Aram Falsafi <afalsafi at igc.org>
Reply-To: Aram Falsafi <afalsafi at igc.org>
To: Kevin Zeese <kzeese at votenader.org>

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for the note. Yes, I was at that event too. And sadly, you are right. I
was one of the few Greens present who asked Nader to run as a Green. But
remember that this was a $100 event, so most Greens (including Stein) were from
the rich suburbs, and it was definitely the more centrist wing of the party that
was there. Many grassroots community/labor activists like the cochairs at the
time, or Boston city councillor Chuck Turner, or Rainbow Coalition founder Mel
King were not there in large part because of the pricetag. If this had been a
more accessible forum, I believe you would have seen a more diverse GRP
represntation, and a very different perspective. Anyways, that's water under the
bridge.

By the way, I just got an email from GreensforNader where Donna Warren asked us
to **nominate** Nader/Camejo. I thought they didn't want the nomination?

Thanks again, and looking forward to meeting you in person.

-Aram


-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Zeese <kzeese at votenader.org>
Sent: Jun 22, 2004 11:30 AM
To: Aram Falsafi <afalsafi at igc.org>
Subject: Re: Quesion for Nader, from Mass Green-Rainbow delegate

Aram

I'll pass it on to Ralph, you should know that one of the key reasons he 
did not run Green was when he visited Mass and was told by Greens -- 
please don't run Green, it will make it impossible to run local 
campaigns because all we will hear is spoiler and not our issues -- Jill 
Stein was at the forefront of this.  I'm sure RN will remember that and 
be hesitant as a result.  Any thoughts on this are welcome.

Kevin

Aram Falsafi wrote:

> Hi Kevin,
> 
> Here is my question for Ralph. Please pass it on to him. I will have reliable
> email access until Wed around 5, and possible email access during the following
> 2-3 days. During the convention my cell phone is 617-620-9164.
> 
> Thanks,
> -Aram
> 
> 
> Dear Ralph,
> 
> First of all, I want to commend you on your choice of a running mate. Peter
> Camejo's committment to the Green Party is known to all, as are his progressive
> credentials in general.
> 
> In a conversation with Kevin Zeese today, I was informed that you would welcome
> an endorsement from the Green Party, but that you are not seeking the party's
> nomination.
> 
> I am an uncommitted delegate to the GP national convention. Uncommitted
> delegates make up the largest delegation from Massachusetts. As you know, your
> candidacy in 2000 helped build our party into the third largest electoral force
> in the state, and ensured us ballot access. In order to continue to build the
> party at the state and local level, we need to maintain our ballot status. And
> for that, we need to field a candidate in November, and that candidate must
> receive 3% of the vote.
> 
> The Green-Rainbow Party has therefore made a decision to place a candidate on
> the ballot in November, whether or not the Green Party elects to run a candidate
> at the national level. My fellow Massachusetts delegates and I will need to keep
> this in mind when casting our votes during the nominating convention.
> 
> Therefore I would like to know whether you would be willing to appear on the
> Massachusetts Green-Rainbow Party's ballot, if you were to receive the Green
> Party's endorsement at the national convention in Milwaukee. (And if other state
> parties are faced with the same dilemma, would you be willing to have your name
> on the Green Party ballot in those states?)
> 
> I thank you for your unshaking committment to the progressive movement, and for
> all that you have done for the Green Party throughout the years.
> 
> Looking forward to your reply,
> Aram Falsafi
> Watertown, MA
> 617-620-9164
>