Tony Palmeri 7/7/04 speech announcing Lake Winnebago Green Party endorsement of Steve Dedow for the 53rd Assembly District
[note: The Lake Winnebago Green Party held a press conference outside the Winnebago County Labor Hall on July 7, 2004 with 53rd Assembly District candidate Steve Dedow].
[note#2: Steve Dedow sent me the following statement after my statement below was posted on the web: "I am very honored that the Lake Winnebago Green Party has decided to support this campaign on the merits of our struggle to date. However, I am not personally endorsing any candidate at this time. The only endorsement that I will make is to advocate the removal of those in power who would exploit the working men and women of this area".]--TP
We are here today to announce that the Lake Winnebago Green Party endorses Democrat Steve Dedow's candidacy for the 53rd District Assembly seat currently held by Republican Carol Owens.
I have lived in Oshkosh for 15 years. In that time I have never seen a candidate as in touch with the needs of northeast Wisconsin as Steve Dedow. Were I not running my own grassroots candidacy for the 54th assembly district seat this year, I would be working full-time for Steve Dedow.
What is it about Steve Dedow that Lake Winnebago Greens find appealing? For one thing, Steve fully endorses the four pillars of the Green Party: Social and Economic Justice, Ecology, Peace and Nonviolence, Grassroots Democracy. Whether meeting people door-to-door, delivering a speech, or working as a stage hand, Steve Dedow gives voice to and lives those Green values.
The Greens are also drawn to candidates who can be neither bullied nor bought. Though Steve is a Democrat, he will not be bullied by Democratic Governor Jim Doyle, and he certainly won't be pushed around by the Republicans. Steve's is a strong, independent voice that will place allegiance to the needs of the people above the desires of the power brokers every time.
And Steve Dedow will never be bought out. In fact, when he and I take office in January of 2005, we plan to get the legislature to BUY IN to comprehensive reform of the state's corrupt and scandalous political system.
Another reason why the Greens are drawn to Steve Dedow is his record as leader of the Winnebago County Labor Council. Like his predecessor in that position Don Wyman, Steve is a fighter for working men and women and a tireless advocate for their well-being. When a Wal-Mart engages in antiunion activities, or an Axle-Tech negotiates in bad faith, or fat cat out of town owners show no loyalty to the community, it is always Steve Dedow speaking for the worker. It is always Steve Dedow speaking against corporate greed. It is always Steve Dedow giving voice to the victims of the failed local, state, and national economic policies of the last 20 years.
The Lake Winnebago Greens are in the process of building alliances with area labor organizations. The endorsement of Steve Dedow is a first move in that process.
Finally, on a more personal note, I want to say thank you to Steve Dedow for his support of my own campaign. He understands that my candidacy is worker based, grassroots, and small-d democratic, and he refuses to let party label get in the way of supporting the right man for the job. Other Democratic Party leaders should be so wise!
Today the Lake Winnebago Green Party demonstrates that--like Steve Dedow--we are more interested in the quality of the candidate than the label he wears. For giving voice to Green values, for refusing to be bullied or bought, for being a passionate labor leader, and for supporting quality over labels, Steve Dedow has earned the endorsement of the Greens. Today we proudly give that endorsement.