Cynthia McKinney on the Environment
Allow me to be the first to say Happy New Year to all commoners! I think this one is going to be interesting as the Green Party attempts to grow and become a viable alternative to the corrupt corporate parties which represent the current corporate dominated oligarchy commonly misrepresented to us as our "two-party system."
On to the main topic of this entry. I was somewhat amazed when I checked former Congresswoman McKinney's Wikipedia page to find that their was virtually no mention of her past stellar defense of our environment. Obviously, we've got some work to do so lets get down to it after the break.
Were you aware that Congresswoman McKinney had a perfect 100 rating from the League of Conservation Voters in 2000 or that she won the Sierra Club’s Edgar Wayburn Award for the introduction of the National Forest Protection and Restoration Act in 1998 which would have protected all federal public lands from commercial logging?
It's true. Imagine the gall of a congressional member from Atlanta proposing that timber from federal lands which all Americans own in common shouldn't be farmed out by the corporate parties to their highest campaign contributors - the outrage!
How about the fact that she sponsored H.R. 2297 better known as the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area Act?
Yup, that one is true too.
Did you ever hear the story about how the Sierra Club endorsed her primary challengers for these and other efforts on behalf of our environment?
Betrayal of the highest nature? You bet. Admittedly, this is one of the primary reasons I've started this thread - There is absolutely no way the Sierra Club or any other serious environmental organization could in good conscious endorse or offer their resources to any candidate currently on the radar screen of the corporate parties over Congresswoman McKinney. Her credentials are established and her record on environmental protection is outstanding.
The Democrats have kicked environmentalists to the curb so many times that I'm quite frankly amazed that the rank and file of that party who consider themselves environmentalists continue to pour their hard earned dollars down a rat hole expecting a different outcome. That one passes the test for the definition of insanity. If in fact McKinney becomes the Green Party's nominee, environmentalists will have a clear choice and a proven champion to back in the upcoming presidential election.
I'd respectfully request that other commoners kick off the new year by digging up an example of Congresswoman McKinney's past contributions to the protection of our environment (I'll even give you a hint on another one - New Orleans) and add your own personal commentary. After we've completed our list, I'll personally set things right over at Wikipedia and then we'll all move on to lobbying major environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club for their support in the upcoming election.
One last note this evening folks before I head out. Due to commoner's frequent absence and Gregg's earlier request in another thread, I'll begin monitoring the queue nightly to publish comments or zap any undesired spam.
Again, Happy New Year commoners!
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That's great to hear. Obviously, there's a lot of ground to cover with the 10 key values and she's got the social justice end covered. However, some of her responses at a couple of gatherings in the Bay Area made me wonder if she had much background - at least enough for the environmentalists in the Green Party to appreciate. Certainly, I was pleased to hear McKinney talk about the environment in her on-line campaign speech. Thanks for giving this history some air.
You make the following statement about Cynthia:
It is also true about Kent Mesplay.
In all of this, I do have a question as to Cynthia's focus right now. On several occasions, I have tried to open up sommuncations woth her campaig, identifying myself as CoChair, EcoAction Commitee, Green Party. I have gotten no response. Others tell me how conncerned she is. I am not sure.
"Anytime you have an opportunity to make things better and you don't, then you are wasting your time on this Earth" Roberto Clemente
and I agree other Green candidates, Mesplay in particular, also have some excellent credentials; however, none of the other candidates have served in Congress. What struck me in this particular case is that, despite the fact that McKinney has actually sponsored legislation and has an established voting record on environmental legislation in Congress, there was no mention of this in a commonly known and frequently utilized public on-line encyclopedia. If the word on her established environmental record isn't out there, it will be all the more difficult to make known those of much lesser known candidates to mainstream environmental organizations as well as the entire environmental community, a natural audience for the Green message.
Wes, you're not the first one I've heard comment on McKinney's apparent unresponsiveness and I agree it definitely doesn't help her cause. When I hear things like this, I always wonder if perhaps this is a result of having actually been inside the beltway and being captured by that culture?
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/derek_wall/2008/01/run_cynthia_run.h... is my article in the British newspaper the Guardian, giving Cynthia my endorsement, she has some powerful support from members of the Green Party over here, not least because of her environmental credentials...Run Cynthia, run....if any of you would like to look at my article and comment it would help raise awareness of her good work.
that y'all across the pond are tracking this site.
Love the Guardian - Great source of the truth. Also appreciate your commentary on Congresswoman McKinney. She has some flaws I believe she will have to overcome in the eyes of most Greens in order to solidify the base but it's never been the case that the Green Party has ever had the opportunity to capitalize on a potential candidate with her experience in the United States Congress. The party is young, barely two decades old, and I think more progressive candidates will follow as the party makes gains in stature and membership.
It's still too early to tell whether or not McKinney's run at the Green Party nomination will be either successful or productive; however, I view it as a positive sign that American progressives are beginning the process of thinking outside of the corporate dominated single-party oligarchy which currently dominates our political landscape.
Support and comments from other Greens, no matter their locality or nationality, are always appreciated here.
Many thanks Derek.
You fail to mention that McKinney accepted campaign contributions from American Crystal Sugar Corp., the Florida Sugar Cane League, Savannah Foods and Industries, RJR Nabisco, Dairymen Inc-Georgia and the Associated Milk Producers and then failed to show up for votes on a Dairy Program Amendment, Peanut Program Amendment, Sugar Program Amendment and the Florida Everglades Amendment.
McKinney also claims a "perfect" voting record on gay rights, but didn't bother to vote on the Defense of Marriage Act.
This is how McKinney kept her "perfect" voting record - by not showing up.