The Green Party Presidential Candidate

By: Daniel Nardini

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Commentary The Green Party has nominated Jill Stein as its official presidential candidate. Interestingly enough, Stein was the rival candidate for governor against then Republican candidate Mitt Romney also running for that office. Now Jill Stein is running against Mitt Romney and Barack Obama for the presidency. Of course, her chances of winning are none, but the whole thing seems to be more symbolic than all else. The Green Party U.S.A. is the fourth largest party, and of course it represents an alternative to the two party system between the Democrats and Republicans. It is more of a left-of-center party, and obviously at its core is the sanctity of the environment. The Green Party is one of the organizations heavily involved in the Occupy Wall Street Movement—a popular grassroots movement by people who are trying to fight corporations and the banks in what is perceived as a wholesale takeover of people’s homes, properties and stealing people’s money.

Jill Stein is a doctor, and is heavily involved in the Occupy Wall Street Movement. She serves on the board of Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility and MassVoters for Fair Elections. She is also active in the Massachusetts Coalition for Healthy Communities. Stein believes that Barack Obama has not only broken all of his promises, but that he is no better than Romney. For many voters, Jill Stein has a point. Many voters are not too thrilled with either Mitt Romney or Barack Obama—they see two candidates who do not show the most promise anyone can think of. Will this disaffection make a big difference in the Green Party getting more votes? Maybe, but it is highly unlikely that more votes for the Green Party’s candidate will tip the balance against or even in favor of Obama or Romney. The Green Party is on the ballot in 40 of the 50 states, and when Jill Stein ran for the governorship of Massachusetts she only got three percent of the vote. Still, I wish her and her supporters the best. Maybe in the future more than just the two parties will be considered in any given election.

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