There's been an interesting development in Canada, where Blair Wilson [left in photo], an independent Member of the federal Parliament, has joined the Green Party.And now that the Greens have an MP, they appear to meet all the requirements for participation in the televised debates that will precede the next federal election. (The criteria for inclusion in debates have been established by a consortium of broadcasters.)
Wilson, who represents part of southwestern British Columbia, was elected in 2006 as a Liberal, but resigned from that party about a year ago. He says the environment is now the number one priority in his district and he believes his move to the Green Party will be welcomed by his constituents.
According to federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May [right in same photo],
"With a Green MP sitting in the House of Commons, it will now be impossible to exclude the Green Party from the televised leaders' debates in the next election ... We believe that under all the criteria that have been put forward ... we now have made thoroughly the case that I must be included ... We have established ourselves as a party that cannot be described as fringe ... We are a party whose ideas and policies are now in the mainstream."As the Toronto Star notes, the exclusion of the Greens is not at all impossible:
The media consortium is due to meet Tuesday and May's fate in the debates could be discussed then.May herself appears to understand that her spot is not yet confirmed. The Star quotes her as saying:
"If they decide not to allow me in the debates, what they're really doing is telling voters: `Don't take that party seriously.'"
Perhaps, given her position, Elizabeth May can't say it in plain words, but if the national media decide to bar her from the debates, after she and her party have met the criteria the media themselves have established, what they're really saying to the voters is a very Cheney-esque "GFY".But it makes me wonder: Would Cynthia McKinney be able to get into televised debates against Obama and McCain if she could recruit somebody ... like ... perhaps ... independent Senator Bernie Sanders?
It wouldn't happen.
It couldn't happen, surely.
But it would be a sight for the ages...
And she would wipe the floor with their sorry butts!!
To comment on this post, please click here and join the Winter Patriot community.