Green Party Poised to Nominate Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente

While the nation was obsessed with what Jesse Jackson wanted to do to Barack Obama's private parts, the Green Party is poised to nominate the first woman and African American to head their presidential ticket.

The odds-on favorite to claim the nod is Cynthia McKinney, who represented a Georgia House district for five terms, surprisingly got knocked off in the 2002 primary, reclaimed the seat in 2004 and then lost the primary two years later -- in part because of the furor over a scuffle she had with a Capitol policeman.

If she triumphs in the delegate balloting over three rivals, McKinney would be the first black and the first woman picked for president by the Greens. LA TIMES

Here are her issues:

She has campaigned since last fall for the Green Party nomination, traveling to 30 states with a small entourage, with little money, a slogan of "Power To The People" and a "10-Point Manifesto" for change that includes the immediate withdrawal of American troop from Iraq and Afghanistan; universal health care; the establishment of a Department of Peace; and paying reparations to blacks who are victims of discrimination and economic disparity. AJC

Her running mate is Rosa Clemente:

Rosa Clemente was born and raised in the South Bronx, birthplace of hip-hop music and culture. She has degrees from the University of Albany and Cornell University. Her academic work has been dedicated to researching national liberation struggles inside the United States, with a specific focus on the Young Lords Party and the Black Liberation Army. While a student at SUNY Albany, she was President of the Albany State University Black Alliance and Director of Multicultural Affairs for the Student Association. At Cornell she was a founding member of La Voz Boriken, a social/political organization dedicated to supporting Puerto Rican political prisoners and the independence of Puerto Rico. IPR

There was some erroneous information that this was the first time a national party had nominated two women of color. That would be Lenora Fulani and Maria Elizabeth Munoz

Actually, in 1992, 2 women of color, Lenora Fulani and Maria Elizabeth Munoz ran for Prez on the New Alliance Party ticket in 40 states. Also in 1996, the Workers World Party ticket was Monica Moorhead and Gloria La Riva. Zentronix