The Peace Party has submitted a petition to be recognized as a party in Oregon. Press reports are that the group’s margin of raw signatures over the 20,000 requirement is somewhat slim. The Secretary of State has until the end of August to verify the signatures.
Some observers in Oregon have jumped to the conclusion that the Peace Party is Ralph Nader’s vehicle for obtaining ballot access in that state. However, those conclusions seem inaccurate. It is more likely that the Independent Party of Oregon will nominate Nader.
Can the Peace Party continue to gather signature while the counting continues?
I assume there is no affiliation between the Peace Party and the Peace and Freedom Party of California?
Here is the link to the news story :
http://blog.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2008/08/nader_trying_to_slip_onto_the.html
I’ve heard the Peace and Freedom Party is looking to expand nationally again. Is this part of that effort?
The article cited is hardly a news story. Oregon Democratic treatment of Nader in 2004 is well documented, including the packing of a Nader petition meeting with people who had no intention of signing his petition. Oregonians deserve to research this on their own, assuming they want to believe their electoral system retains any vestige of honesty. What happened to Nader can happen to any candidate, even the one you want to vote for.
We’re sure this is isn’t Democrats trying to create fake alternatives to Nader and McKinney?
Isn’t Obama already a fake alternative?
Mike Gillis: LOL
Could it be an arm of the US Pacifict Party that ran Bradford Lyttle in Colorado a few years back?
If this was Peace and Freedom or anyone else, why wouldn’t they just use their own name? Even more ridiculous would be the Democrats creating a left-wing dummy party. If anything, this is the Republicans creating a dummy party.
Bolshevick,
There is, of course, another option.
Oregon permits fusion. It could be some very-intelligent Obama supporters trying to get Obama another, more progressive, ballot-line.
Perhaps. I don’t think it’s likely Obama would accept the nomination of some unknown third party with unknown and potentially embarassing leaders. Even Cynthia McKinney doesn’t brag about her Workers’ World endorsement. Obama’s going to play it even safer. If you’re a third party and you want a major candidate to even acknowledge you, you have to be super established like the New York Liberal Party was.
“Even Cynthia McKinney doesn’t brag about her Workers’ World endorsement.”
Actually, she put in on her website.
Oregon does not permit fusion.
Oregon does not permit fusion now but there is a lawsuit by the WFP and the Independent Party claiming that fusion is already legal under state law.
http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/08/12/oregon-lawsuit-for-fusion/
There is a a website for the Oregon Peace Party here http://www.thepeaceparty.net/
The site does not contain an About page, just links to Oregon and/or peace groups that may or may not be affiliated to the party.
Portland Alliance for Democracy (a WFP supporter?)
Beyond War
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Oregon peaceworks
International Shadow Project
Portland Peace & Justice Coalition
Yamhill Valley PeaceMakers
It does explicitly endorse fusion voting, though.
“We expect to be verified as a statewide political party the week of August 18 and hold a special delegate meeting on Wednesday, August 18 to consider candidate nominations. Submit your candidate nominations for state and federal office now for consideration–each nominee will be considered on the basis of committment to peace and justice. Anyone can nominate a candidate; you do not need to change your voter registration card. Thanks for the great support. Details to be announced as soon signatures are verified.”
Judging by their endorsement of a Department of Peace and this explanation of fusion voting, they would appear to be Kucinich supporters:
“The Oregon Peace Party supports fusion voting, a reform that will allow us to vote for candidates who are cross-nominated by one or more political parties. For example, if the Peace Party and Democratic Party both nominate Dennis Kucinich for President, you could vote for him on the Peace Party line, instead of the Democratic Party line:
[ ] Dennis Kucinich – Democratic Party
[X] Dennis Kucinich – Peace Party “
some have said that the Independent Party was founded by Nader supportors, but the supporting news sources only mentioned to canvassers who are Nader supporters. The Independent Party has nominated a Republican for one political race, as well as Jeff Merkley for US Senate. The Independent Party is thus not a progressive party and thus not a party created for Ralph Nader. However they might still nominate Nader for President.
As was mentioned at Is Nader close to making the ballot? “Check out the Peace Party web site. Under the headline, “Peace – By Popular Demand!!”, look at the first letter of each paragraph.” [including the subheadings] “Now what does it spell? If you want the spoiler, look after the jump.”
It spells “VOTE NADER”!
The blog article also says “The latest is that Nader’s Oregon coordinator, Portland attorney Greg Kafoury, has scheduled a news conference for Friday afternoon to talk about Nader’s ballot status. Kafoury has been tight-lipped, but he may be ready to announce success.
Backers of the Peace Party – who are also aren’t saying much but who I suspect are connected to Nader – submitted another 8,000 signatures a few days ago to the secretary of state. That should give them enough to qualify for the ballot after they initially fell short.”
I don’t currently see any mention of Fusion Voting nor “The Oregon Peace Party supports fusion voting, a reform that will allow us to vote for candidates who are cross-nominated by one or more political parties. For example, if the Peace Party and Democratic Party both nominate Dennis Kucinich for President, you could vote for him on the Peace Party line, instead of the Democratic Party line:
[ ] Dennis Kucinich – Democratic Party
[X] Dennis Kucinich – Peace Party” mentioned on the Peace Party website, however I did send an email to Ralph Nader over a week ago urging him to support Fusion Voting in addtion to his support of Instant Runoff Voting. In the email I showed how a ballot could incorporate both Fusion Voting and Instant Runoff Voting in the same political race.
Kucinich supporters might be behind the creation of the Peace Party, and since Kucinich is not currently running for President, his supporters might be behind giving Nader the nomination of the Peace Party.
It seems that the Peace Party now has more signatures than the Independent Party has registered voters, thus perhaps the Peace Party may soon become the third largest party in Oregon (after those who signed their petitions then register to join the party [after the party becomes established). I registered as a member of the Pacific Green Party, but if the Peace Party becomes a party and it nominates Nader, I might change my registration to the Peace Party (I will need to see what their party platform is before I change my registration, and they have not yet published their platform).
Today the Peace Party announced on their website that they are now a party. The announcement mentions:
“We are created!
Thanks for the great support!
The Peace Party was verified this morning as as a statewide minor political party.
Any resident of Oregon of at least 18 years of age can now register as a member of the Peace Party.”
I am trying to find out whether instant runoff and fusion voting can be incorporated into November elections by any means whatsoever?
Also, if this type of election reform is my passion and goal, are there any groups already dedicated to it, or is there anyone out there I can work with?
Lastly, would an Oregon Petition be the way to start?
Thanks,
Julie Pastore