So many people have emailed me this story, I thought it might be fodder for discussion.
Green Party governor candidate Rich Whitney of Carbondale was a national figure in the Socialist Party before resigning his post in 1993 after getting involved in a feud and quitting for law school.
“Naturally, I don't trumpet the fact that I was a Socialist. I was a Socialist because in my political evolution, I've always cared about working people,” Whitney told the Daily Herald late Saturday night. “I'm not a Socialist now. A lot of people did things in the 60s and 70s they don't do now.”ÂÂ
Although unknown to most voters, the 51-year-old attorney is pulling as much as 16 percent of the vote in polls from those unsatisfied with Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Republican candidate Judy Baar Topinka. Whitney admitted that he hadn't told any Illinois reporters about his Socialist past until the Daily Herald called him late Saturday for confirmation.
“I'm not embarrassed by it. If I'm campaigning in southern Illinois, I don't start off by telling them I'm pro-choice, either. That's like leading with your chin,” Whitney said. “I used to be a Catholic too, but I don't bring that up either.”ÂÂ
Whitney was a Socialist from 1975 to 1993 and served as editor of “The People,” the national party's newspaper. In 1989, he penned a resolution at the Socialist convention saying that the notion capitalism triumped over socialism was “false.”ÂÂ
How strange is it that a Green Party candidate for Governor is relevant enough that the MSM is publishing hit pieces two days before an election?
I have to respect this move, it shows that he's practical and pragmatic. I have long thought that Greens are nothing more than pragmatic Socialists, which, if you think about it, is pretty hilarious.
Also, he says "A lot of people did things in the 60s and 70s they don't do now,” yet he didn't resign his national post until 1993...so I don't think he can use his hippie days as an excuse for political views he held until he was nearly 40 years old.
I voted absentee. Originally I didn't think I was going to be able to vote for Topinka, but that Zorn column, which I first read on IP, convinced me to vote for her.
I'm still voting for Whitney, it's the lessor of two evils at this point. Regardless of his past, he's still abetter candidate than Blago or Topinka.
It's not surprising at all that a Socialist would join the Green party--their agendas are similar and the Green party is obviously more organized than any other progressive third parties. It's unlikely that anyone who would vote Green would be offended by Whitney's being a Socialist, or vice versa.
Quite strange, but that should be a big clue as the state of Illinois politics. It's not unprecented, however. Remember the LaRouche incident in this very state, and of course Jesse Ventura over in Minnesota.
As for this being a hit piece, has anyone ever met a Green who wasn't a Socialist? I haven't.
Well, I'm not a big fan of pure socialism, but at least it's not dumber than being against socialized health care :P
Interesting article:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0611030367nov03,0,988574.story?coll=chi-newsopinioncommentary-hed
" The scenarios go on and on. Take the patients with chronic diseases such as congestive heart failure or diabetes. They use the ER for almost all of their care, and as a result come to the ER sicker. Their lack of primary care causes a downward spiral in their health. Without careful management of their chronic illnesses, they need emergency treatment more often. They might get admitted to the hospital for a brief while, and then out they go, until the next medical crisis.
This is all very expensive. So expensive that it boggles my mind that we don't do something about it. I am not a financial wizard, but even I can see that our lack of public health access is costing billions. Think of the costs for all those ER visits. Think of the costs of intensive-care units, X-rays and lab tests. The health-care system is hemorrhaging, and all we do is put a bandage on it. A meager bandage, at that."
This is why Joe P. isn't going to be a factor in the Myers-Frerichs race -- when you want to smear a Green, you say he once was a Socialist. Joe's actually going to have the label listed next to his name on the ballot! I'm sure that will go over really well in rural Vermilion County!
It'll be nice to see Vermont elect a socialist senator later this week. Although it seems like some Republicans find socialism "strange" and are freaked out by it, I hope that within a few years Illinois can begin sending its own socialist reps to Springfield and Washington.
Anyway, I'll vote for Joe P., despite his move to the center.
This is why Joe P. isn't going to be a factor in the Myers-Frerichs race Ӡwhen you want to smear a Green, you say he once was a Socialist. Joe's actually going to have the label listed next to his name on the ballot! I'm sure that will go over really well in rural Vermilion County!
Joe P. is a Socialist? Oh my god!
In all seriousness, the Blagojevich campaign must be getting pretty desperate. I must say they have found an effective way to get downstate dems to vote for Rod. He might be a corrupt chicago politician, but at least he's not a SOCIALIST!
Despicable.
Greenstate: Can you really assume that this is a Blogojevich move? All I have heard about is the republican protest vote going to Whitney. They sure seem to be the ones scrabbling at this point.
I thought this site was all about wild speculation and unprovable assumptions. Or does that only apply when a Republican gets her sign defaced? :)
The problem of Whitney is he hid out and his agenda by any name is a disaster---the media and his opposition should have been on him long ago. The "out of closet and proud of it" socialists think he's one of them, and so is his agenda.
He is totally unqualified for any state position based on just on lack of experience and competence and his meaningless slogan loaded campaign. He is clueless and silent on how he would accomplish his stuff.
His slogans of throw out the bums is not a governing policy or program---where's the meat? He's anti-war---the rallies he attends are just loud pouting and Governors do not make and run foreign policy, sorry.
As for socialist model government medicine for illinois---that's just like Blago. Our state doesn't pay medical bills as it is, let alone add more and more "coverage"; when Illinois finally pays, they now pay less than $.45 on the dollar.
Read the Canadian papers on the failures of Canadian socialist medicine: inadequate care, inaccesible, dangerous, the country can't afford it, etc. Canada's failing system was the main issue the Liberals lost on the last election.
When you are against private business and want government ownership, do you think that makes for paying off the billions of debt and $3 b. hole in the annual operating budget.
That's what wasn't said about his campaign.
Socialized health care is so stupid even Europe is ditching it for managed care (albeit government-run managed care). Single-payer is dead.
Joe P and the SEP, for the record, oppose fundamentally the platform of the Greens. Read more here.
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/nov2006/gree-n03.shtml
Also, it is worthwhile to remember that there are a number of socialist parties out there with very different platforms. The party of which Whitney was a member is a completely different party from the SEP with a completely different perspective.
Whitney is clueless and silent on how he would accomplish his stuff?
Give me a break.
Go to his website at www.whitneyforgov.org and read his position papers. There's the meat. The media is the one feeding you the slogans. Why don't you do some research before calling people incompetent?
Europeans and Canadians may want to improve their health care systems, but you're deluding yourselves if you think they're interested in adopting the US "kill the poor"-style healthcare that results in about six 9-11's per year here in the US, only without so much video footage or foreign enemies to hate and fear.
Originally I didn't think I was going to be able to vote for Topinka, but that Zorn column, which I first read on IP, convinced me to vote for her.
Wow.
It sort of restores my faith to know there is still a point to persuasive writing.
I think Blago is more corrupt then Ryan. we just have not had the trial yet. We know more about Blago's corruption now then we knew about Ryan's at this time when Ryan ran. We can't make the same mistake again Topinka isn't the greatest as far as issues but she is no were close to Blago especially when it comes to corruption.
"Whitney is clueless and silent on how he would accomplish his stuff?"
I will take Whitney's cluelessness over what Blago or JBT has put forth.
GO JOE!!!!!!
So expensive that it boggles my mind that we don't do something about it.
It make a lot more sense when you realize that the far right thinks poverty is a punishable offense. They don't mind their tax dollars being wasted by the billions, as long as none of it ends up benefitting poor folks or black folks.
I think Blago is more corrupt then Ryan. we just have not had the trial yet.
Hey, finally something we agree on!
Lazlo, there is a difference between helping the poor, and developing a national plan to take care of everyone, even those who are currently taking care of themselves.
RSWB, as someone I respect to put together logical arguments, how WOULD you address the issues raised by the article?
I know that you WOULDN'T want an inefficient, more expensive non-solution, but surely you can agree that what we have is overpaying for something that is no good.
"Canada also sucks!" is not a refutation of the idea that we need to fix our system.
It seemed incredibly dumb for Topinka to attack Whitney, since he was more likely to take votes from Blago than from her. Then again, she opened her mouth a few days before the election to take a shot at the Chicago Cubs too.