Why I'm Voting for David Cobb
an article by Lindsay Mathews

In getting ready for this year's important election, I've had the good luck to meet David Cobb, who was chosen at the National Green Party Convention to run for President. He came through Connecticut twice in his campaign trips, staying at people's houses and catching rides with Green Party members from one city to another.

I liked him on the first impression. He has a direct way of listening and responding to questions that comes from lots of political experience with the issues that I think are important: ecology, advocacy for the poor, women's rights and world peace.

He grew up poor in Texas, became a lawyer working for the rights of working people, and helped build the Green Party in Texas. Now he lives in Northern California.

I took him to meet my friends who have a weekly peace vigil and watched him discuss the issues with them in a way that was respectful and convincing.

He made it clear that he does not want Bush re-elected. While Kerry, he said, is a a "corporate militarist," that is better than Bush who is a "proto-fascist." So he said he will put most of his energy into campaigning in states that will clearly vote against Bush. Since that's true in my state of Connecticut, I can safely vote for him.

You can vote for him, too, even if you are not in a "safe state." Just call a relative or friend who lives in a "safe state" and make an agreement to pair your vote with them - you vote for Kerry and they vote for Cobb. Of course, it would be better if we would adopt Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) in the United States so you wouldn't have to do that. With IRV you could vote for Cobb and Kerry with your vote automatically going to Kerry on the second round.

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The following open letter is now circulating on the Internet:

AN OPEN LETTER TO PROGRESSIVES:
VOTE KERRY AND COBB

There is no greater political imperative this year than to retire the Bush regime, one of the most dangerous and extremist in U.S. history.  As people dedicated to peace, economic justice, equality, sustainability and constitutional freedoms, we are committed to defeating Bush.

The only candidate who can win instead of Bush in November is John Kerry.  We want Kerry to replace Bush, because a Kerry administration would be less dangerous in many crucial areas, including militarism, civil liberties, civil rights, judicial appointments, reproductive rights and environmental protection.  

But while helping Kerry-Edwards defeat Bush-Cheney, we don't want to endorse Kerry positions that are an insult to various causes we support, including movements for global justice and peace that have burgeoned in recent years.. . ...more.

This report was posted on August 8, 2004. The moderator is CPNN Coordinator.

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