I am increasingly disheartened by the Boston Globe’s apparent dismissal of Jill Stein’s gubernatorial campaign, in the opinion pages and news coverage alike. The Op-Eds ignoring her are mounting. Whether Adrian Walker’s glaring omission was mindful or mindless, and whether Joan Vennochi’s dismissal was ignorant or spiteful, these biased actions deserve to be countered. I submitted a letter to the editor in response to Walker’s column, but the Letters editor called me to ask whether I was a paid staffer for Jill’s campaign. I told him that I’ve been working on a grassroots fundraising campaign that is poised to turn into a paid job, but that it’s message is an important one for Globe readers to learn about.

Cross-posted at DemocracyDays.com.

Sucks that a candidate like this — by all indications more serious than any of the other gubernatorial contenders (though without the resources that come from being a corporatist candidate) — has to waste her breath saying she should be included in the debates.

But despite the hurdles, Stein lit up Greater Boston last night:

While the Herald chooses to ignore Jill Stein’s voice on the issues, the Stein campaign calls out the Governor for protecting Raytheon, Fidelity and biotech while slashing critical services left and right:

Stein Decries State Budget As A “Tragedy Of Misplaced Priorities”

by FRIENDS OF JILL STEIN on JULY 1, 2010

BOSTON –   Green-Rainbow gubernatorial candidate Jill Stein decried the Massachusetts state budget  signed by Governor Patrick yesterday as a  ”tragedy of misplaced priorities, declaring that “This budget signifies Beacon Hill’s accelerating abandonment of critical services that people need now more than ever.”

Stein challenged Governor Patrick’s assertions that the painful cuts were unavoidable.  “The Governor cannot duck his responsibility for the cuts or for the tax and fee hikes” according to Stein.  “These cuts are there because of deliberate decisions made by the Governor and the Democratic Party leadership.  They decided to protect powerful special interests and put the burden of balancing the budget on the backs of those least able to defend themselves. ”

“This budget hits struggling education programs with another $180 million in cuts, including cuts to public schools, and higher education – already cut more in Massachusetts than any other state over the past five years. Programs that provide for our elders, at risk youth, the disabled, the mentally ill, disadvantaged children and distressed families are all under attack. State and municipal workers providing essential services are being fired.”

Today is Democracy Day in Massachusetts, and so far, I have to say that I am moved by this very grassroots action. I see startling signs of life in an otherwise morbid political discourse. It’s dark and wet out my window but the sunshine is breaking through over at DemocracyDays.com.

The WRKO petition just reached 50 signers, and Democracy Day has seen over 50 small donors pool their contributions to raise their voices in unison for a functional, vibrant democracy in Massachusetts.

Here’s my little take on Democracy Day:

But please add your own, and think of creative ways of spreading this around, of capturing and articulating our deepest hopes for our communities and the Commonwealth as a whole. Please help this grassroots effort make a big splash. If you haven’t already, please sign the petition, and make a small investment in a healthy democracy for all of us.

Spread the word. It’s up to us!

Spread the word!

The major media outlets have been working overtime to silence the one gubernatorial candidate who refuses to take money from corporate lobbyists and from corporate executives who hire lobbyists. Green-Rainbow Party candidate Jill Stein has launched an impressive grassroots attack on politics-as-usual, and has recently surged from 3% in the polls to 8% despite an overall media whiteout. Major newspapers are excluding her from coverage, and the first broadcast gubernatorial debate held by WRKO-AM’s “Tom and Todd” show is trying to keep her off the roster.

We can change that.

Jill Stein announced her campaign for the corner office to the media and about 50 supporters in front of the State House on Monday morning. She directly confronted the corruption that rules the day on Beacon Hill, vowing to open up the doors of the State House to get the lobbyists out and let the people in. Her prepared remarks are below. Read the Boston Globe’s coverage here. Read the Boston Herald’s coverage here. Read Open Media Boston’s coverage here. Then check out Jill’s website and Facebook page and show your support!

Prepared Remarks of Jill Stein

Candidate for Governor of Massachusetts

February 8, 2010 at the State House, Boston, Massachusetts

INTRODUCTION

Thank you so much for being here today. This is the year we the people regain control of our Commonwealth and our common future. It’s time for a Commonwealth that listens to the people, works for the people, and answers to the people. It’s time to bring the voices of ordinary people into this election and into the halls of power. It’s time to break the stranglehold of lobbyists and insiders, and get Beacon Hill back to work for the families and communities of the Commonwealth. It’s time to start building the healthy, secure green future we so urgently need, richly deserve, and is within our reach. My name is Jill Stein and that’s why I’m running for governor.