[GPCA-SGA-Votes] Discuss ID 155: Endorsement Policy Amendment: GPCA Endorsements for General Election Candidates

Thu Feb 22 10:09:08 PST 2018

An endorsement doesn't have to imply lots of resources. I think that's part
of the disagreement here. For me an endorsement is just a show of support,
not an implication of money or volunteer hours to follow.

On Thu, Feb 22, 2018, 10:07 Sadie Fulton <sadie.fulton at gmail.com> wrote:

> I have an example: Bernie Sanders
>
> On Thu, Feb 22, 2018, 10:06 Nicole Castor <nmcastorsilva at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I cannot recall any examples of politicians we have railed against for
>> putting party over principles. I do not think this is a major concern in
>> our struggles for political reforms, etc.
>>
>> Our main objective within the internal party structure, is to promote the
>> Green Party through our pillars and values, not to exhaust resources
>> helping others who may or may not help us in return.
>> On Feb 22, 2018 9:56 AM, "Jeff Lebow" <jlebow at socal.rr.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I’m for endorsing candidates that share Green values. We rail against
>>> politicians that put party over principles. We should not do the same.
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Feb 20, 2018, at 2:00 PM, james clark <faygodrinkit at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Missed the "part of a party that excepts corporate donations" part. Lol.
>>>
>>> On Feb 20, 2018 1:59 PM, "james clark" <faygodrinkit at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I would be able to support this only if it included restrictions
>>>> against endorsing Democrats and Republicans, and all endorsements be
>>>> presented to registered voters to decide.
>>>>
>>>> On Feb 15, 2018 12:44 PM, "GPCA Votes" <gpca.votes at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> *Please send your discussion comments to gpca-votes at sfgreens.org
>>>>> <gpca-votes at sfgreens.org>*
>>>>>
>>>>> Discussion has begun for the following GPCA SGA ranked choice vote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Ranked Choice Vote ID #155
>>>>> Ranked Choice Vote *Endorsement Policy Amendment: GPCA Endorsements
>>>>> for General Election Candidates*
>>>>> Ranked Choice Vote Administrators: Victoria Ashley, Brian Good, Laura
>>>>> Wells, Eric Brooks, Mike Goldbeck
>>>>> Discussion  02/12/2018 - 03/25/2018
>>>>> Voting  03/26/2018 - 04/01/2018
>>>>> Voting ends at Midnight Pacific Time
>>>>>
>>>>> *Background*
>>>>>
>>>>> The Green Party of California is currently prohibited from endorsing
>>>>> candidates who have good Green values and who take no corporate money: the
>>>>> GPCA needs visibility, in a positive way, and putting our name on
>>>>> endorsement lists of good candidates is one way to get the Green Party name
>>>>> in the public eye.  The GPCA wants to help voters vote for good candidates,
>>>>> even in races where we have no candidate.  For instance, the Peace and
>>>>> Freedom Party can and does endorse Green Party candidates in state and
>>>>> federal races, but the GPCA is prohibited from endorsing Peace and Freedom
>>>>> candidates.  The GPCA currently cannot endorse candidates with No Party
>>>>> Preference or any other voter registration, even when we have no candidate
>>>>> running in the race.  The GPCA cannot help voters differentiate between
>>>>> good candidates who are aligned with Green values and take no corporate
>>>>> money and bad candidates (who may speak well) from the two-party system.
>>>>> The current endorsement policy is confusing: county parties are not
>>>>> prohibited from endorsing candidates who are not Green, but the state party
>>>>> is; in addition, it precludes a possible endorsement even in the face of
>>>>> grassroots interest.  The current endorsement policy was promulgated in the
>>>>> pre-Top-Two era, and, if left unreformed, will further hobble
>>>>> party-building efforts in California.
>>>>>
>>>>> Changing the endorsement policy would advance the party’s attempts to
>>>>> implement Proportional Representation so that we can have a multi-party
>>>>> system and not a two-party system. By expanding our endorsement options, we
>>>>> will demonstrate that we will work in coalitions and will endorse
>>>>> candidates who have green values, but who choose other political party
>>>>> affiliations.  As it stands, people who want to “throw their hat in the
>>>>> ring” and yet who have no track record with the Green Party or allied
>>>>> organizations are able to register Green and use our ballot line, and get
>>>>> an automatic advantage in the endorsement process, even though they may not
>>>>> be the best candidate.  Moreover, given that there are many public
>>>>> perceptions over which Greens have very little control, such as being
>>>>> marginalized or cast as “spoilers” or “third-party” candidates who “can’t
>>>>> win,” the endorsement area is one we can control.  We can avoid
>>>>> marginalizing ourselves as people who are only interested in the label
>>>>> “Green Party,” not the green values that we share with millions of ordinary
>>>>> folks in the nation and certainly in California.
>>>>>
>>>>> Furthermore, it is common advice in social media, for example (and
>>>>> even in life), that if you want likes, followers and friends, you’ve got to
>>>>> like, follow and friend others, as long as you stay true to your values. We
>>>>> need to reciprocate and be proactive, not sit back and wait for everyone to
>>>>> switch to “team Green Party,” while we display an unwelcoming attitude.
>>>>> People want a new party, but our current restrictive endorsement procedures
>>>>> make us look as if we do not want to be an “umbrella party” or “big tent”
>>>>> for all people who are aligned with our values and stances. It looks like
>>>>> we want to remain a small, exclusive “third” party with a narrow
>>>>> “sectarian” view of how change happens.
>>>>>
>>>>> Accordingly, we recommend the following changes to the GPCA
>>>>> Endorsement Policy.
>>>>>
>>>>> *Proposal*
>>>>>
>>>>> That the current GPCA Endorsement Policy be amended as follows:
>>>>>
>>>>> That the policy be amended from its current text:
>>>>>
>>>>> GPCA CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT POLICY FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS (approved by
>>>>> the GPCA General Assembly, June 25, 2006, 43-6-2)
>>>>>
>>>>> 2. The GPCA shall not make any endorsements of General Election
>>>>> candidates who are not Green Party members.
>>>>>
>>>>> To read as follow:
>>>>>
>>>>> GPCA CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT POLICY FOR ELECTIONS
>>>>>
>>>>> 2. The GPCA shall not make endorsements of candidates who accept
>>>>> corporate campaign contributions or who belong to any political party that
>>>>> accepts corporate campaign contributions.
>>>>>
>>>>> Sponsors: This proposal has been endorsed and sponsored by the Green
>>>>> Party of Yolo County.
>>>>>
>>>>> Full details will be available at:
>>>>> http://www.sjcgreens.org/sga_vote_bylaw_interpretations
>>>>>
>>>>> *Please send your discussion comments to gpca-votes at sfgreens.org
>>>>> <gpca-votes at sfgreens.org>*
>>>>>
>>>>> --
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>>>>> gpca-votes at sfgreens.org
>>>>> https://list.sfgreens.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gpca-votes
>>>>>
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>>>
>>>
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>
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