Tony Affigne – RI Future

Following Abel Collins’ televised debate last Friday, where he clearly bested both Rep. James Langevin and GOP challenger Michael Riley, it’s more apparent than ever that Collins is the best candidate for progressives—perhaps the only candidate—in the 2nd Congressional District. He’s a genuine peace and environmental advocate who’s determined to get big money out of congressional politics. His election to Congress would be good news for those who love peace, and those who long for democracy in America.

In a first for Greens, these qualities won Collins—an independent—the Green Party’s endorsement at its state committee meeting in August. A statement at the time called Collins Rhode Island’s best choice for Congress, saying he’d be a “strong, clear voice, for the people and the planet.”

“Of course it’s possible to challenge the two-party system,” Collins declared. “What’s not possible is to sustain the unsustainable, to make more fossil fuels, or create a peaceful society when people are motivated by fear, and not by love.” After his endorsement, Collins told the Greens he is “proud to be the peace candidate in the race, and proud to have the endorsement of the Green Party.”

After Collins’ strong performance in this week’s debate, a lot more Rhode Islanders will give his campaign a second look. If enough voters were tuned in, Abel’s progressive campaign is going to do very well on Tuesday.

Tony Affigne is state committee chair for the Green Party of Rhode Island. Visit the Greens at www.RIGreens.org

• Jill Stein has called for a “Green New Deal,” with jobs for all who want to work.
• Stein’s campaign manager predicts Obama may win Rhode Island easily, but Greens will do better than expected in the Ocean State.
• If Stein wins 5% of the national and Rhode Island vote, the Green Party will earn state as well as federal status.

Jill Stein in Texas on October 31, protesting the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline

We’ve reached the final weekend of a long Green Party campaign. Since early spring, Greens and other Rhode Island progressives have been working to get Jill Stein on the ballot, introduce her to Rhode Island, and ask voters to help the Greens reach five percent of the presidential turnout.

Should Greens win 5% of the national and state vote, they’ll earn state and federal status. Five percent wins national Greens up to $20 million in financing from the federal presidential campaign fund. Five percent of Rhode Island’s votes—about 24,000—also earns our state party its official status, primary elections, and share of public financing.

Kathleen Rourke of Providence, the Rhode Island party’s state secretary, says that “Jill Stein offers Americans great reasons to vote Green. She’s the only candidate to speak forcefully against climate change, and the only one who’s called for a Green economy, with jobs for all who want to work. And, she’s the only candidate building state-level progressive parties everywhere in the country. Greens are the party for America’s future.”

Greg Gerritt campaigns for Jill Stein, greeting commuters in Providence

Stein herself campaigned in Rhode Island twice this year. She headlined an August 18 rally for “Jobs, Peace, and Planet” at the Roger Williams National Memorial, and talked strategy with local volunteers at a downtown reception on October 11.

Just a few days ago (October 31), Stein joined a blockade of Keystone XL pipeline construction in East Texas, where she linked the massive Canadian tar sands project to extreme weather like Hurricane Sandy. “Hurricane Sandy,” Stein says, “is just a taste of what’s to come under the climate destroying policies of Romney and Obama.”

But when Jill showed up with supplies for tree-sitting protesters at the Tar Sands Blockade, she was arrested—for the second time this year. On October 17, Stein and Honkala were both arrested and detained in handcuffs for eight hours, to prevent their protest at Hofstra University’s presidential debate.

The national Stein campaign has made Rhode Island a priority, placing ads on cable television here, for broadcast during the Democratic Convention. Stein’s national campaign manager Ben Manski explained that President Obama may win Rhode Island easily, but Greens will do better than expected in the Ocean State.

If you’re a progressive voting in Rhode Island, there’s no chance whatsoever that your vote will be decisive in the outcome of the presidential race; Obama will win the state no matter what you do. But there’s every chance that your vote for Jill Stein will bring the Green Party one vote closer to building a permanent progressive option in this state. Don’t waste your vote. Vote Green!

Contact Jill Stein at: http://www.JillStein.org

Tony Affigne is state committee chair for the Green Party of Rhode Island http://www.RIGreens.org

Author: Tony Affigne

Debate Confirms: Collins Best Congress Candidate

Care about Global Warming? Vote Jill Stein for President