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Dear Council Members,This is proposal 006-12 to Remove Victor Forsythe as a GPCO national representative to the GPUS. Please read the proposal, and confine any comments to the proposal only. Designate your wishes by using "agree", “block”, or "stand aside". Any blocks will require a vote of the Council. A 60% vote of council is necessary to pass this proposal, per Section 4.2.3 of the GPCO Bylaws pertaining to expenditures under$200. The floor is open for one week of Agreement Seeking for passage, or a block to bring the issue to vote. There are currently nine (9) active voting chapters in the Green Party of Colorado. A quorum of 60% requires at least one response from six (6) chapters. Active Chapters: Adams/JeffersonArapahoe CountyDenverDouglasGreater BoulderPikes PeakPoudre ValleySan MiguelSouthwest Thank you,Bill Bartlett, Co-chair and Interim Current Council Facilitator1. Date Proposed: November 24, 2012, Proposed by Bill Bartlett.2. Title: Remove Victor Forsythe as a GPCO national representative to the GPUS3. Text: Upon passage of this proposal, Victor Forsythe will be removed as a national representative of the Green Party of Colorado to the GPUS. 4. Background: The voice with which we speak to our national party is meant to represent the people of Colorado and their interests. The Green Party of Colorado is a forward-thinking organization seeking thoughtful solutions to complex problems facing our communities and our planet. Recent statements and comments made by Victor Forsythe are not representative of the Green Party of Colorado or its registered voters. Repeated discussions, both electronic and in person, have only underscored the difference between Victor's representation of himself as a party officer and how the Council and other party leaders would like the party to be represented. The Denver Greens rejected a proposal to remove him as a member of their local on the basis that everyone has a right to their own positions and manner of speech. While this is true, it is the duty of the state party to ensure that our officers are representative of our party's values, and those of our registered members. 5. Goals/Justification: Removing Victor as a national representative reminds our registered members, public constituents, and the GPUS about who represents our organization, our voters, and their interests. Alternatives: Leave Victor in place as a national representative to the GPUS. Our inaction will seem as though we concur with his recent behavior and some of his positions.
Unless Victor clearly and immediately and publicly repudiates the remarks he made implying that the Jewish Holocaust was not a reality, and which contained a slur against all Jews in the state of Israel, identifying this statement as merely an unwise hyperbole born of anger at the most recent crimes against humanity commited by the leadership of that state and our gutless President's support of them, I AGREETo clarify, the Denver Greens were of the understanding that Victor was going to so repudiate his outrageous statement but apparently he has changed his mind. And I do not want the Green Party of Colorado represented by a person who operates out of the framework that the events of the 20th Century that led to the establishment of the Israeli State were the result of a conscious conspiracy of Jewish bankers and Zionist ideologues who manufactured the myth of the holocaust among other things. From other material he has circulated he appears to so operate. It grieves me that we would have to reject anyone from participation who claims to operate out of the10 Key values. But how else can we educate people that part of such operation is to be responsible about historical truth and respect for diversity.
Agree.Not just because of the Holocaust denial (but wishing it were so), but also for calling for forced sterilization of welfare recipients, bragging about his "big balls" and other sexist behavior, dishonestly confusing his positions with Jill Stein's on his blog, admittedly doing all this to "get attention" and build his business, etc. Enough already.Eric FriedPoudre Valley Green PartyGPCO Secretary
I do not know Victor nor have I heard or read any of his statements. Has he been formally asked to resign or withdraw himself as our representative? If so, has he refused? I'd like to see his response. If not, it seems the collegial thing to do rather than vote him off the island.
I agree.And Steve, I have heard second-hand that Victor was asked to resign his position. Perhaps someone who attended the Denver Greens meeting can confirm.Tanya IshikawaAdams-Jefferson Greens
I will withhold my vote pending a request for more information. What specifically precipitated this action?I am concerned about the process. From the e-mail list "discussions" it seems this action was precipitated primarily by a difference of opinion on one subject - the Holocost, and perhaps secondarily by a sterilization opinion. That information seems to have been gleened by seeking out his posts on an abscure (to me anyway) web site (Sodahead) that seems only for people who want to trade obscure views. That sets a bad precedent - seeking essentially dirt (unpopular opinions or statements) on someone because either his opinion is dis-approved or because the person is not liked. What topic, opinion, or person is next? How pure must this party be?Were/if this action was/is the direct result of comments made in his role as national representative, or comments made in the context of being a representative of the Colorado Green Party, that might be a better case. If the action is the result of the alleged disruptive behavior at the Denver Green Party meetings, then that is better addressed by the Denver Greens. However the recent vote by the Denver Greens seems to have been made more to address an opinion(s) than behavior.An alternative route is to hold an election for the position of National Representative and have all candidates state their qualifications, positions, etc.Thanks,Michael HaugheyAdams-Jeffco Greens
Thank you Michael. It has been made clear, in this proposal, in our discussion together, and on the listserv itself, that the issue at hand is his behavior and how it reflects on the party. His positions are not what is at stake here. Victor has not rescinded his statements, which were not only insulting to the people he was engaged with, but also to party constituents who were not present to hear it. This is a matter of holding party officials accountable for how they represent us in public and how they speak to voters. Please do not confuse his positions with his behavior as a representative. They are separate issues. The fact that their are numerous separate issues involving Victor only underscores the point that he is an improper fit as a representative of the state party. To your last point, yes we will be finding new candidates for several offices. As of now, we have one reliable national candidate (Ryan Jones) and that will be enough to hold our position on the national committee. First things first: let's open up the position so that we can fill it with someone who will put the concerns of the party ahead of their personal agenda. I hope this clears up some of your concerns.
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