Backlash Against Greens Begins

[Nathan Newman]

>From Today's NY TIMES

DEFECTIONS IN SEATTLE The Green Party seemed to score something of a coup
earlier this year when it attained a "majority" on the officially
nonpartisan Seattle City Council. It turns out that anyone can join the
party and maintain another partisan affiliation, so five Democrats on the
nine-member council became Greens as well, allowing them, among other
things, to reap party endorsements.

Now, though, the Greens have lost their majority, after Councilwoman Judy
Nicastro resigned her Green Party membership and at least one other person
on the council said she had let her membership lapse. In an e-mail message
to Greens, Ms. Nicastro said she was bothered by comments by Ralph Nader
suggesting that there was little difference between Vice President Al Gore
and Gov. George W. Bush. Ms. Nicastro has endorsed Mr. Gore.

Another council member and Green Party member, Peter Steinbrueck, angered
Democrats by endorsing Mr. Nader in June, but he told The Seattle Times
recently that he might vote for Mr. Gore after all, if the race in
Washington State remained tight.