Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb said the "anybody but Bush" attitude is a syndrome afflicting liberals, indicating the dysfunction of American democracy.
"If you feel like you have to hold your nose and cast a ballot against Bush, at least acknowledge the stench," Cobb said.
Cobb spoke to an audience of 24 people in the SUB on Tuesday afternoon.
A prime example that democracy is not functioning in the United States is that genetically modified organisms were introduced into the food supply without the consent of the general public, Cobb said.
"Who made that decision?" he said. "Unelected and unaccountable corporate CEOs made the decision that there be genetically modified organisms in our food supply. Not only were you as citizens not allowed to participate, hell, you weren't allowed to know it was happening."
UNM student Jennie O'Hearn, a registered Democrat, said Cobb's visit Tuesday was her first contact with the Green Party.
She said alternative parties are necessary, and more parties help the political system.
"I'm really afraid of Bush getting back in office for another term," she said. "Yet, because instant runoff voting hasn't been enacted, I'm afraid of putting votes toward a candidate who probably won't win this election."
Cobb said the Green Party is an internationally popular movement that is growing rapidly and running candidates in more than 100 countries. Outside the United States, he said, the Green Party has been successful at all government levels, including pressuring European governments to refrain from participating in the U.S.-led Iraq war. But the American plurality voter system, or "winner-take-all," has marginalized the Green Party's influence in U.S. politics, he said.
Cobb said the Electoral College should be replaced with instant runoff voting.
According to the Center for Voting and Democracy, instant runoff voting would allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference, which would eliminate what many call the spoiler role of alternative parties.
Cobb said the Green Party is growing because it is the only party calling for systemic social change and truth. Democrats and Republicans are realizing their party's leadership does not represent them, he said.
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"The real difference in politics today is between rank-and-file Democrats who want to support a progressive agenda and the corporatists at the top of the Democratic Party," he said.
When asked why he does not run as a Democrat and reform the party from within, Cobb said he and others attempted that strategy for a decade, but were undermined by the power of corporations in the party.
"We got kicked in the teeth," he said. "Corporate money completely destroyed our effort. System change cannot be incubated from within the Democratic Party. Look at what happened to Dennis Kucinich."
Cobb said the Green Party is building the capacity and resources to challenge both major parties.
Kitty Hurst, a Democrat, said Cobb was skilled at explaining political issues in plain language, but many questions remained about the role the Green Party will have in the election.
She said she will still vote for John Kerry, but may register with the Green Party so she can vote Green in local elections.
