Much like the Independence Party here in NY, it become co-opted as a foil for Republicans looking for a wedge to tear of Democratic voting.



Stein is the only candidate on the November ballot who is relying on public money to help pay campaign bills. In addition to her own fundraising, she has received four federal payments totaling $456,000 under the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, a moribund program whose critics call it the “loser’s fund.”

The federal fund — with $315 million now sitting in reserve — has gone largely untouched in the 2016 race, which still has 103 candidates reporting some level of financial activity, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Some critics, such as Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), question why taxpayer money should go to who he calls “fringe candidates” with no chance of winning.

“This is a laughable use of taxpayer resources,” Cole said in an interview. “It is welfare for candidates and consultants. Give that money to worthwhile programs or put it back in the Treasury. Use it for Zika. There are an infinite number of better places to use federal money than this.”

[link:https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/green-partys-jill-stein-gets-a-financial-boost-thanks-to-taxpayers/2016/09/20/dffa8950-7e99-11e6-8d0c-fb6c00c90481_story.html?utm_term=.01f791c534a0|]

Some of the many examples of Republican help from petitions to outright funding. The uber-left wing is hoodwinked again into thinking they are going to win.

[link:https://www.dallasnews.com/news/news/2010/06/24/GOP-linked-firm-paid-532-7372|]

[link:http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/11/florida_republican_money_flows.html|]

[link:https://washingtonmonthly.com/2010/06/07/the-gop-drive-to-use-the-green-party/|]