The Green Party



Background: The Green Party has been one of the most established independent parties in the United States since 2001. They're ideology is based upon what they refer to as the Ten Key Values which emphasize ecological education, a high sense of diversity and a more local/ grass root form of government that moves away from bigger government that is a better representation of the people.



Presidential Candidate: Cynthia McKinney



Currently a member of the House of Representatives for the stat of Georgia, McKinney has switched political parties from Democrat to Green. McKinney is the first African American woman to represent the state of Georgia in the House of Representatives. Her platform for the upcoming election focuses primarily on racial profiling, post September 11 attacks and the Green Parties 10 Key Values. She is a strong supporter of the District of Columbia becoming a separate independent state, the payment of slavery reparations and the abolition of the death penalty and the War on Drugs.



Opinion: Like most typical Green Party members McKinney is too radical and narrow in campaign platform. Once considered to be the vice-presidential running mate of famed Green Party Nominee Ralph Nader, McKinney's Green Party faces the same challenges as in past elections with not being on the ballot in all 50 states and the challenge of winning over democrats who in terms of political views are the most closely related to that of the Green Party. Like all independent candidates excluding Nader, McKinney is a virtual unknown to the mainstream public receiving little to no publicity. McKinney and the Green party stand little chance and what votes they receive will most likely be votes that take away from potential Barack Obama/ democratic votes.