The Green Party of Utah recently received this email:
Have the Greens, either in Utah or the National office, ever tried to enlist Mayor Rocky Anderson to join The Green Team?
I ask because I know a lot of liberal Democrats who are severely disgruntled with their Party and would easily join the Greens if Mayor Anderson became one.
What an asset he would be towards drawing other disgruntled Dems to The Green Cause.
Here is what one GPUT officer said in response (some sentences not relevant to the core of the message have been snipped):
(snip) I am responding as a party member who has worked with various people over the years to build the party.
Frankly I feel that the Democratic party is totally mediocre and is happy to be number 2 of a 2 party system that needs to be cracked open if there is any hope for democracy.
The Green Party is very unique and does not operate in any way like the Democratic party. People who except a hierarchical top down organization have a hard time in the Green Party because the grassroots rules. Our values are very firm and we cannot capitulate to any candidate. Candidates must adopt our values sincerely and of their own free will.
The Green Party has had disgruntled democrats come and go this has been very negative for our party. Anyone who is disgruntled by party politics as usual should come to our meetings and read our values and decide if they can put the desire for ethics and reform ahead of the desire for power. There is lots of work to do but it won’t be running Rocky. (not that we would refuse to run him but we would only run him as a Green) I might also add that many greens supported Rocky as individuals.
All sincere interest is welcome.
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 