[GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Greens: McKinney, not Obama, is the real anti-war candidate

[Green Party of California Updates]

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Monday, July 28, 2008



Greens warn that antiwar Americans will waste their votes if they vote for
Obama, citing his positions on Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, and the Middle East

• Votes for Green nominees McKinney and Clemente will build a permanent
alternative to the bipartisan war agenda, say Green Party leaders


WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders said today that antiwar voters will
not get an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by voting for presumed
Democratic nominee Barack Obama on Election Day.

Green leaders urged Americans who oppose the wars started by the Bush
Administration with bipartisan support in Congress to vote instead for Green
nominee Cynthia McKinney, running mate Rosa Clemente, and Green
congressional candidates.

"Millions of voters plan to vote for Barack Obama in the hope that he'll
bring peace to Iraq and other nations in the region," said Omar N. López,
Green candidate for the US House in Illinois (4th District)
(http://www.omarlopez2008.org).  "But his positions are really 'McCain-Lite'
-- he'll continue many of the same belligerent foreign policies as the
Bush-Cheney Administration that John McCain would.  Mr. Obama supports a
larger military in terms of both spending and personnel.  We want to stop
the US from being the world's bully, and instead fund a peace dividend to
deal with the economic, energy, and global warming crises."

"We appeal to voters to take a look at the Green Party's 'Peace Slate' of
candidates, with Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente on the Green
presidential ticket.  A vote for a candidate who doesn't represent your own
ideals is a vote wasted," said Mr. López.

Green Party leaders compared the Green antiwar agenda to Barack Obama's
positions:

IRAQ

• Despite the popular impression that Sen. Obama intends to end the Iraq
War, he plans only to reduce troops over a 16-month period.  He would
maintain an 'under the radar' occupation to protect US interests, which is
code for the US and British corporate demand for control over Iraqi oil.
(No-bid contracts have already been anounced for ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell,
BP, and Total.)  Sen. Obama promises to shift troops around the region,
placing US forces in countries surrounding Iraq.

• The Green Party and Green candidates support an immediate and full
withdrawal of US troops and military contractors from Iraq, and control over
Iraqi oil resources returned to the Iraqi people.
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=37
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=18

AFGHANISTAN

• Sen. Obama intends to expand the disastrous US war on Afghanistan, which
has already left the country in ruins and continues to destabilize the region.

• Greens support full US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, and an
internationally cooperative investigation and prosecution of those behind
the 9/11 attacks.
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=37
http://gp.org/press/pr_2006_09_11.shtml

ISRAEL-PALESTINE

• Sen. Obama has repeatedly promised unqualified and uncritical support for
Israel, despite the Israeli government's illegal occupation of Palestinian
lands and massive abuses of human rights, including Israel's recent
violation of a pledge to the US not to construct new homes in a West Bank
settlement
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/24/israelandthepalestinians.middleeast).

• Greens have called for the withholding of all US assistance, especially
billions of dollars in military aid, until Israel reverses its current
policies and adheres to international law, human rights protections, and UN
directives, including withdrawal from occupied lands and recognition of the
Palestinian right of return.
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=61

IRAN

• Despite promises of diplomacy, Sen. Obama has signed on to the Bush
Administration's threat of a US or US-backed Israeli assault on Iran, even
though intelligence confirms that the Iranian government is not using its
nuclear power to build weapons.

• Greens have warned that an attack on Iran would bring untold consequences,
including a greater regional or global conflict, and that the threat itself
is an incentive for Iran and other nations to seek a nuclear arsenal.
Greens call for an end to such threats, for diplomacy and friendship with
Iran, and for an aggressive effort towards regional and global nuclear
disarmament, noting the menace posed by Israel's and Pakistan's possession
of nuclear weapons.
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=67
http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_10_08.shtml

The Green Party has also urged impeachment and criminal investigation of the
Bush-Cheney Administration's numerous abuses of power in launching the Iraq
invasion as well as other actions.  Barack Obama and the Democratic
leadership have rejected all attempts to hold the latter accountable for its
crimes.

As US Representative from Georgia in 2006, Cynthia McKinney was the first
member of Congress to introduce motions for impeachment.

"Many Obama supporters don't realize that the differences between Mr. Obama
and Mr. McCain on foreign policy are actually quite narrow and based on the
same assumptions.  Both believe that the US has a right to occupy other
countries, place political demands on their leaders, and take control of
their resources.  But other voices are getting frozen out of the debate,
including the Green nominees for the White House and Congress, whose
campaigns are building America's permanent peace party alternative," said
Carol Brouillet, Green candidate for Congress in California's District 14
and founder of the Northern California 9/11 Truth Alliance
(http://www.communitycurrency.org).


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
• Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

Cynthia McKinney/Rosa Clemente 'Power to the People' Campaign for the White
House http://www.runcynthiarun.org

2008 Green National Convention, July 10-13 in Chicago, Illinois
http://www.greenparty2008.org


~ END ~