2016 Postmortem

KamaAina

(78,249 posts) Fri Jul 17, 2015, 04:28 PM Jul 2015

Controversy Erupts After Green Party Begins Censoring Sanders Supporters

http://samuel-warde.com/2015/07/censorship-of-bernie-sanders-supporters-causes-green-party-schism/

There is an internal struggle taking place within the Maine Green Independent Party and it revolves around who they will support in the 2016 presidential race. At issue is whether the Party will stand up for Vermont Independent Bernie Sanders or the presumptive Green Party candidate, Jill Stein.

In a blog written by Chris Shorr, a member of the MGIP and recipient of the 2013 “Green of the Year” award, the brewing schism within the party was outlined.

State Party Treasurer and recipient of the 2014 “Green of the Year” award Daniel Stromgren launched the Greens for Sanders Facebook page, causing anger among some members. But when Stromgren then posted links to the MGIP and USGP discussion forums, things escalated. The arguments between party loyalists and Sanders supporters devolved into an online shouting match and some members of the Stein camp demanded that Stromgen resign his post as treasurer.

On the heels of the online fracas, party moderators decided to remove the posts. They did so without discussing the action with leadership and without giving warning that the posts would be taken down. This prompted an even larger outcry from the Sanders faction, with accusations of censorship and suppression of free speech. Mainstream and elected members of the MGIP threatened to leave the 30-year-old party or stop monetary contributions.

19 replies

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Highlight:

Controversy Erupts After Green Party Begins Censoring Sanders Supporters (Original Post) KamaAina Jul 2015 OP

Will this take Jill Stein off Bernie's VP list? aspirant Jul 2015 #1

Loyalists. LWolf Jul 2015 #2

That has always been the problem with the Green Party, it always is all or nothing still_one Jul 2015 #3

WTF! The Greens need to get over themselves 99th_Monkey Jul 2015 #4

They're still trying to become a mainstream establishment type party in the US. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2015 #5

I quite agree. 99th_Monkey Jul 2015 #6

They pretty much control Richmond, California KamaAina Jul 2015 #8

Are you suggesting that the Green Party is worried about... brooklynite Jul 2015 #9

I'm suggesting that individual Greens are, not 'the party'. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2015 #11

Jill Stein... OnlyBernieBurnsBush Jul 2015 #18

it's probably best for sanders not too be associated with them JI7 Jul 2015 #7

Can't be too harsh on the Greens for this. Maedhros Jul 2015 #10

Can you imagine the reaction if Jill Stein supporters started carrying on m-lekktor Jul 2015 #14

Or any group. n/t 1StrongBlackMan Jul 2015 #17

I love Jill Stein. She'd be a great VP for Bernie. Zorra Jul 2015 #12

Remember, Bernie's getting on in years KamaAina Jul 2015 #13

Bernie is, ideologically speaking, not very different from Jill. Zorra Jul 2015 #15

Bernie is, ideologically speaking, not very different from O'Malley. Jim Lane Jul 2015 #19

What is it with people? ... 1StrongBlackMan Jul 2015 #16

aspirant

(3,533 posts)

1. Will this take Jill Stein off Bernie's VP list?

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Fri Jul 17, 2015, 04:36 PM

Jul 2015

LWolf

(46,179 posts)

2. Loyalists.

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Fri Jul 17, 2015, 04:36 PM

Jul 2015

still_one

(92,320 posts)

3. That has always been the problem with the Green Party, it always is all or nothing

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Fri Jul 17, 2015, 04:38 PM

Jul 2015

Last edited Fri Jul 17, 2015, 05:11 PM - Edit history (2)

with them

Compromise is not in their vocabulary

99th_Monkey

(19,326 posts)

4. WTF! The Greens need to get over themselves

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Fri Jul 17, 2015, 04:56 PM

Jul 2015

I was once a Green, briefly. Now I can see it was the right thing to
re-register as a Democrat.

It's like cutting off your nose to spite your face. Idiotic.

Erich Bloodaxe BSN

(14,733 posts)

5. They're still trying to become a mainstream establishment type party in the US.

Reply to 99th_Monkey (Reply #4)

Fri Jul 17, 2015, 05:10 PM

Jul 2015

I think they're just trying to travel a tricky course, trying to keep true to their party while at the same time, some of them realize that Bernie has a real chance to actually win, and that if he does, it will do more for their party's 'wish list' than running another candidate who won't come anywhere close to winning. I really think they need to spend more time focusing on the local and state level politics, building their 'farm teams' of candidates, rather than running largely symbolic presidential races every four years.

99th_Monkey

(19,326 posts)

6. I quite agree.

Reply to Erich Bloodaxe BSN (Reply #5)

Fri Jul 17, 2015, 05:50 PM

Jul 2015

All those perennial symbolic national campaigns do is brand themselves
in voters' minds that "tiny minority" party that looses every time.

oh wait, there IS another thing it does, cuts directly into any margin
that the Democrats may have against Republican opponents.

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)

8. They pretty much control Richmond, California

Reply to Erich Bloodaxe BSN (Reply #5)

Fri Jul 17, 2015, 06:07 PM

Jul 2015

a refinery town of about 100,000 north of Oakland, in an alliance with progressive Dems.

brooklynite

(94,674 posts)

9. Are you suggesting that the Green Party is worried about...

Reply to Erich Bloodaxe BSN (Reply #5)

Fri Jul 17, 2015, 06:13 PM

Jul 2015

...splitting the Sanders vote by running a Green Party candidate as well?

Erich Bloodaxe BSN

(14,733 posts)

11. I'm suggesting that individual Greens are, not 'the party'.

Reply to brooklynite (Reply #9)

Fri Jul 17, 2015, 06:31 PM

Jul 2015

The Party wants all of its members to vote for Stein, but a lot of individual Greens think that Sanders actually has a chance, and that they'd be better off voting for him this time around.

We need fusion voting.

OnlyBernieBurnsBush

(63 posts)

18. Jill Stein...

Reply to Erich Bloodaxe BSN (Reply #5)

Fri Jul 17, 2015, 07:42 PM

Jul 2015

Just another Peter Diamondstone who doesn't know what's good for 'em.

JI7

(89,260 posts)

7. it's probably best for sanders not too be associated with them

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Fri Jul 17, 2015, 06:02 PM

Jul 2015

Maedhros

(10,007 posts)

10. Can't be too harsh on the Greens for this.

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Fri Jul 17, 2015, 06:22 PM

Jul 2015

DU does the same with respect to the Democratic nominee.

m-lekktor

(3,675 posts)

14. Can you imagine the reaction if Jill Stein supporters started carrying on

Reply to Maedhros (Reply #10)

Fri Jul 17, 2015, 06:54 PM

Jul 2015

in support of her at a DEM gathering? i find the criticism of the Greens for this bizarre.

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)

17. Or any group. n/t

Reply to m-lekktor (Reply #14)

Fri Jul 17, 2015, 07:40 PM

Jul 2015

Zorra

(27,670 posts)

12. I love Jill Stein. She'd be a great VP for Bernie.

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Fri Jul 17, 2015, 06:46 PM

Jul 2015

I hope the Greens decide to support Bernie.

It will be years before we have another serious chance at electing a genuinely democratic president.

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)

13. Remember, Bernie's getting on in years

Reply to Zorra (Reply #12)

Fri Jul 17, 2015, 06:51 PM

Jul 2015

I'm not quite sure that a lot of the moderates -- and even repukes! -- that Bernie is connecting with so successfully are ready for Jill Stein to be a heartbeat away. Pity.