* Remember this Phil O’Connor op-ed from the other day?…
Millions of Republicans, independents and Democrats across the nation are conflicted (read: HORRIFIED!) by the presidential candidates on offer from the two major political parties. In Illinois, where Hillary Clinton is certain to win the state’s 20 Electoral College votes, the question many are asking is: “How can I make my vote for president count?”
There is a way. Vote for the Green Party presidential candidate, Jill Stein, to help re-elect Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2018.
That’s right. Voting for the hard-left Dr. Stein, who makes Sen. Bernie Sanders seem like a sober bank president, can help Rauner win what is certain to be a hard-fought contest two years from now.
Here’s how it works.
If Stein receives 5 percent or more of the presidential vote in Illinois on Nov. 8, then the Green Party will qualify as an “established political party,” making it eligible to place a full slate of candidates on the 2018 statewide ballot. A Green Party candidate for governor in 2018 will attract several percentage points of the total vote — most of it coming at the expense of the Democratic nominee.
* Well, the idea appears to be catching on with some top GOPs. Former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady had this response to Laura Washington’s question about how he plans to vote next month…
“Jill Stein. Green Party,” the lifelong Republican replied in an email. “Want Greens to get to number so they are on ballot in 2018. Helps our side.”
- Norseman - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 11:15 am:
The games we play to maintain power as opposed to actually worrying about governing.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 11:22 am:
To the Post,
The overt strategy to vote for Stein in hopes of helping Rauner is no different, in theory, than adding candidates in Primaries by incumbents to win with diluted votes instead of a one-on-one possibility.
This… is the business… we chose…
- crazybleedingheart - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 11:23 am:
Be careful what you wish for, Republicans.
A bigger mic for a Green Party candidate will elevate discussion of your “profiles in courage”– like this:
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/790939913323745280
- Last Bull Moose - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 11:25 am:
That is why this Republican is voting for HRC. Even undervoting helps the Greens and Libertarian parties get on the 2018 ballot. I want 2018 to be a referendum on Rauner.
- Chucktownian - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 11:26 am:
Nice try. You’re gonna lose.
- Rabid - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 11:30 am:
Another business decision to use an innocent third party to drive a wedge between your nemesis
- Skeptic - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 11:40 am:
Or could they, you know, just change the signature requirement for 3rd party candidates?
- Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 11:41 am:
Still amazed that the most crazy person on the presidential ballot isn’t from the Green or Libertarian parties. Republicans voting Green? Why not? But if the governor’s approval rating is below 30% come November 2018, you could put 30 parties on the ballot, he ain’t gonna win. Now if he can get it in the 40s and keep it, different story.
- Out Here In The Middle - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 11:47 am:
Read David Frum’s Atlantic article “A Guide for Undecided Republicans”. (http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/10/deciding-how-to-vote/504977/) And I quote “But whatever happens, you won’t flinch from the reality of the binary decision. Gestural politics are just ways of evading responsibility. “
- Stones - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 11:48 am:
They just figured this out 2 weeks prior to the election?
- BK Bro - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 12:07 pm:
Republicans for meatless mondays/prius driving society.
- Ahoy! - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 12:16 pm:
I will also be voting for either Green or Libertarian but the best way to get the Green Party on the ballot is through changing the Illinois law so everyone has equal ballot access.
How our current ballot access is Constitutional baffles my mind.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 12:35 pm:
==They just figured this out 2 weeks prior to the election?==
It’s been floating around and talked about for a while. Unless by “they” you mean the reporting on it
- The Way I See It - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 12:36 pm:
R’s voting Green … guess that’s easier than coming up with an agenda you can sell or building a coalition.
- Anon - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 12:42 pm:
They’re so thrilled with their 2014 success they’re planning their 2018 campaign like they’ll be running against Quinn.
- Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 12:45 pm:
===How our current ballot access is Constitutional baffles my mind.===
Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. If it is ever declared unconstitutional and the democrats are in power, watch out for the jungle primary. Democrats almost always fair better in a general election with only two candidates.
- Eric Zorn - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 12:48 pm:
So is there an election lawyer in the House? Im looking at the statutory language about established political parties in 10 ILCS 5/10-2 and it seems to suggest that the 5% threshold needs to be met by a gubernatorial candidate, not a presidential candidate:
“A political party which, at the last general election for State and county officers, polled for its candidate for Governor more than 5% of the entire vote cast for Governor, is hereby declared to be an “established political party” as to the State and as to any district or political subdivision thereof.”
And a bit further down “A political party which continues to receive for its candidate for Governor more than 5% of the entire vote cast for Governor, shall remain an “established political party” as to the State and as to every district or political subdivision thereof.”
I don’t ask this sarcastically but with genuine curiosity… am I missing something here?
- RIJ - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 12:51 pm:
Big whoop. I’m voting Libertarian for the mirror reason. It is not playing a game, throwing my vote away, or any of the other things people have said. It is a political strategy. I do not want Rauner re-elected. I will do everything in my power, including making sure a Libertarian will be on the ballot, to make that happen.
- Enough! - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 1:01 pm:
It is getting tiresome to see former chairman Pat Brady trotted out repeatedly by Democrats in order to discredit the Republican Party. Brady is a dissident. The rank and file party members are fed up with Brady. His underhanded attempt to shape that party platform at the state convention in Peoria were thoroughly rejected which required a great deal of heavy lifting by the delegates on the floor because Brady had worked the committee chairs in advance.
- Jeff Trigg - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 1:10 pm:
If Illinois used equal filing fees to run for office like the majority of other states, things like this would never be an issue.
Several of Illinois’ ballot access laws have been ruled unconstitutional, and several more current statutes will be ruled unconstitutional in the near future.
- Northsider - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 1:43 pm:
They’re welcome to try. Democrats needn’t and won’t fear the Greens, who can’t organize their way out of a paper bag.
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 1:48 pm:
Mr. Zorn - you should contact Michael Kasper stat. Apparently he is VERY concerned for the health of our democracy.
- Jeff Trigg - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:06 pm:
Eric Zorn,
(10 ILCS 5/7-2) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-2)
Sec. 7-2. A political party, which at the general election for State and county officers then next preceding a primary, polled more than 5 per cent of the entire vote cast in the State, is hereby declared to be a political party within the State,…
5% for President establishes a party at the state level only for the next two election cycles. Governor/Lt Gov, AG, Treasurer, SoS, Comptroller, Pres/VP, US Senate only.
5% for Governor establishes a party for every partisan race in Illinois the next two election cycles.
5% for any individual district race, US House, State Sen/Rep, establishes a party in that district only for the next election.
- Senator Clay Davis - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:15 pm:
So the inverse is also true.
Dems, #FeeltheJohnson to defeat Rauner!
- anon - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:01 pm:
If the Green Party doesn’t qualify, Rauner will just foot the Green petition passing to get them on the gubernatorial ballot.
- crazybleedingheart - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
==Be careful what you wish for, Republicans.
A bigger mic for a Green Party candidate will elevate discussion of your “profiles in courage”– like this:
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/790939913323745280==
Four hours later, still shocked that Gov. Rauner’s superstars are plagiarizing Gov. Rick Snyder’s plan to address lead poisoning.
- gdubya - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:33 pm:
Even IF the greens or libertarians don’t gain established party status, they will both have slates for the 2018 election.