Green Party Presidential candidate Jill Stein announced
at the Green Party National Convention this week that she has chosen Cheri
Honkala, “the nation’s leading anti-poverty advocate,” as her Vice-Presidential
running mate.
The Green Party expects to be on the ballot in 45
states this election, and, along with Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson,
could make the difference in key swing
states such as New Mexico. In 2000, Ralph
Nader did well enough as the Green Party candidate to anger many Democrats who
thought he took key votes from Al Gore, thus throwing the election to
Bush. The Green Party, with a thoroughly
‘pedigreed’ Progressive platform, may also take votes from Barack Obama, who
has sought to placate liberals while keeping a Clintonesque centrist stance on
many issues.
Stein and Honkala promise a “Green New Deal,” that
like FDRs original New Deal, would create 25 million jobs, as well as downsize
the military, restore civil liberties lost under the Patriot Act and NDAA, legalize marijuana, and guarantee
college education for everyone.
Honkala is the national coordinator for the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy group led by poor and homeless people. She ran for sheriff in Philadelphia last year.
“Compelled by her own experience as a homeless, single
mom, Honkala has spent nearly three decades working directly alongside the poor
to build the movement to end poverty, and has organized tens of thousands of
people to take action via marches, demonstrations and tent cities,” Stein’s
campaign said in its announcement.
Honkala said, “It’s immoral that children are hungry
and homeless in the richest country in the world. It’s time for the 99% to
stand united to serve our collective human needs instead of selfish, corporate
greed. The Green Party is the only one standing up to Wall Street, and Jill
Stein’s Green New Deal is the best plan for saving this sinking ship. I’m
honored to fight beside her.”
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