State Green Party candidates criticize Democratic convention platform for supporting Iraq War, Patriot Act

GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: Wed., July 27, 2004

Contacts:
Cres Vellucci, State Press Office, 916-996-1970,
Beth Moore Haines, GPCA Spokesperson, 530-277-0610,
Sara Amir, GPCA Spokesperson, 310-270-7106,

SACRAMENTO – The platform expected to be approved at the Democratic National Convention in Boston this week is not much more than a rubber stamp of the Bush Administration's policies for the past four years, California Green Party candidates said today.

The platform does not demand an end to the war in Iraq, and in fact, calls for sending 40,000 more troops to the area. Further, the Democratic Party platform refuses to criticize any part of the controversial USA Patriot Act.

"The platform makes it abundantly clear that the differences between the Democrats and Republicans regarding the war, and our civil liberties are few. Both parties support war and more war, and they both voted for and want to retain the Patriot Act, and its threat to our civil liberties," said Larry Mullen, Green candidate in the 19th Congressional District (Fresno, Madera, Mariposa).

Greens, who are calling for an immediate end to the war in Iraq, and repeal of the Patriot Act, also questioned omissions in the Democrats platform.

"Where is the Democratic Party's stand on same-sex marriage? On the proposed 'Compulsory National Service' – we all know it as 'The Draft' – which will take our poor and our impoverished youth and use them as cannon fodder? Where is any substance about protecting the environment?" asked Tom Hutchings, Green Party candidate for Assembly (33rd District, San Luis Obispo).

And, Tom Lash, Green Congressional candidate in the 46th District (Huntington Beach), challenged Democrats to impeach President Bush, noting: "If the Democrats are so upset with Bush, why wait for the election? The Democrats should have impeached Bush for sending young Americans off to die unnecessarily," he said.

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The Green Party of California
http://www.cagreens.org
P.O. Box 2828, Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 448-3437
gpca@greens.org