According to an article by the Associated Press, Gail Parker, the "Independent Green Party" candidate in this year's U.S. Senate race in Virginia, is actually "not a Green at all." In fact, according to the article, the "Independent Greens" actually are "promot[ing] themselves as "Common Sense Conservative Greens.'" What on earth's a "Common Sense Conservative Green?" That's very hard to say, except that they seem to like rail (who doesn't?). According to Parker, "[w]e're conservative, unlike the national Green Party." Aside from rail, Parker says that her campaign is about "family, faith and values." She says that her "values were established in a Christian household, with Christian guidance." She's for term limits. She believes in "free-market alternatives and incentives." She refuses to say whether or not she'd support overturning Roe v. Wade, whether she supports embryonic stem cell research, whether she supports a guest worker program for illegal immigrants, or whether she supports the so-called "marriage amendment." And she calls herself a "fiscal conservative."
In other words, Gail Parker is a right-wing, Christian, social conservative who calls herself a "common sense conservative." Sound familiar? That's right, Gail Parker's political philosophy isn't much different than George Allen's, except that Parker really REALLY like "rail!" In fact, she likes "rail!" so much that she puts an exclamation point after the word "rail!" wherever that word "rail!" appears! And she touts "rail!" as the solution to everything from Iraq to the common cold. Well, maybe not the common cold, but did I mention that Gail Parker really really loves "rail!"? For more on Parker and "rail!", check out her questionnaire responses in the Connection Newspapers.
Anyway, the bottom line here is that Gail Parker is NOT a Green, and she is NOT in the least bit liberal. In fact, despite the fact that she's a big fan of "rail!" and calls herself an "Independent Green," Gail Parker is actually - by all indications - a George BushAllen Republican in "Independent Green" clothing.
All of which raises the question: is Gail Parker a "protest vote" alternative for conservative Republicans who won't vote for a Democrat but who are angry at BushAllen for their betrayal of conservatism on fiscal, foreign policy, and libertarian grounds? If I were a conservative, I'd be very tempted to do just that.
Lowell Feld is Netroots Coordinator for the Jim Webb for US Senate Campaign. The ideas expressed here belong to Lowell Feld alone, and do not represent those of Jim Webb, his advisors, staff, or supporters.
He is widely considered one of the founders of the American New Right and an important strategist for the social and religious conservative movements. He is less well-known as an advocate for mass transit and rail transportation. He is an ordained protodeacon in the Melkite Greek-Catholic Church.
Back in this diary I wondered if he would support Gail Parker. At the time I just figured that there was some common knowledge about conservative rail supporters that I was just finding out about.
Here are some pieces Weyrich wrote on rail:
Mass Transit, the Hope for the Future
How Rail Can Prevail
And now it looks like some articles linking Weyrich and Parker must have been removed from the net or edited.
Weyrich said that light rail spurs development near stations, 'and most conservatives are pro-development,' he said.Helps welfare programs
It boosts conservative ideas like welfare-to-work, he said, because it gives people a reliable and affordable way to get there.
And it builds community, he said, bringing people together as opposed to isolating them in a car.
I know, a little off topic, but it made me laugh.
I think Weyrich might be behind this all--it is typical of his use of fake front groups like tho9se seniors organizations.
Call her what she is, A Republican in a holloween costume.
If she were advertising it might be a concern; I'm not sure it is at all.
Her bio actually is pretty good -- I am put off by anyone who runs as a "Christian" because that smacks of lots of bad stuff -- but she probably is a decent sort -- and if it were between her and Allen . . .
Always a pleasure. To quote you, "Snicker, snicker, hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha"
Maybe Gail Parker will get them to the polls and a few of them will have a wave of conscience and will want their vote to mean something.
Strange. And this -
When a breakaway faction uses the term, it confuses voters who may not know the Green Party’s philosophy of governing by consensus, he said.Oddo said using the term “Green” wasn’t his first choice for a party name.
“When you throw out the word ‘Green,’ there are certain connotations associated with it,” he said, adding that his organization is working to rebrand the term and eliminate the perceived liberal label associated with the party.
The Green Party has a comprehensive agenda covering many issues; agree or disagree, it is a viable and full suite of choices for a voter. This year there are very few Green Party candidates running in Virginia, as most Greens have allied with Democrats; even if temporarily.
The Independent Green party (to my knowledge, they are here in Virginina only) is a single issue party; tightly focused on Rail. A good issue to be sure, but there is a lot more going on in the world today. Agree with them or not, I have a hard time taking them seriously because of the single issue format and complete lack of organization.
Gail Parker, like her or not, is more likely to take a few "crunchy" conservative votes away from Republicans than she is to take any progressive votes away from Democrats.
Nothing to see here, move along.
The Internet is only anonymous to those whom do not understand how it really works.... and it get less anonymous every day as the required deployment of IPv6 gets larger and more predominent....
I don't live in Virginia anymore and likely never will again, but since I live in Maryland I'm fairly aware of some of the Virginia campaigning going on because I get some of the commercials.
ANYWAY - I did blog about this woman today at my blog
because there is a discussion on my blog going on about the value of third party canidates and whether or not it's throwing your vote away.
Anyway, my curiosity brought me to this Gail whoeversheisvotestealer and I just had to shake my head. I mean the BLATANT attempt by using GREEN in her party name. GAG!!!
I have heard a LOT of bad stuff about Webb and women, I invite you to come leave good comments about Webb if you like - we're down to the wire!