Unity08 is an American political group whose aim is to build a coalition of supporters from both Democratic Party and Republican Party through various methods, mainly their web site. Unity08 supporters include Hamilton Jordan, Angus King, and Doug Bailey. [1] The first political candidate running under the Unity banner and explicitly inspired by Unity08 is Harry Welty.
Beliefs
Unity08 claims that neither the Democratic Party or the Republican Party reflect the will of the majority of Americans. Among its claims are that both parties have polarized and alienated their constituents and that both are unduly influenced by single-issue groups, as well as excessively dominated by money.
The organization believes that while the leaders of both major parties are well intentioned people, they are trapped in a flawed system – and that the two major parties are today simply neither relevant to the issues and challenges of the 21st Century nor effective in addressing them. [2]
Goals
According to Unity08's web site, the organization has three specific goals:
- The election of a Unity Ticket for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States in 2008 – headed by a woman and/or man from each major party or by an independent who presents a Unity Team from both parties. [2]
- For the people themselves to pick that Unity Ticket in the first half of 2008 – via a virtual and secure online convention in which all American voters will be qualified to vote. [2]
- To effect major change and reform in the 2008 national elections by influencing the major parties to adopt the core features of their national agenda. [2]
In addition to these goals, Unity08 claims that its effort is not to begin a new third party, but to "fix" the two major ones. However the organization does not rule out the possibility of a new party forming because of the action taken by the project. [2]
Because of its democratic and electoral nature, the organization does not have a platform and does not take sides on issues. However, the organization has divided issues (presumably that its elected nominees will have a platform for) into two distinct groups: crucial issues and important issues. Crucial issues are those that the country's future is dependent on, such as foreign or economic policy. Important issues are polarizing "wedge issues" issues such as gay rights, abortion, and gun control. [2]
Criticism
Many in the left political blogosphere have expressed frustration with the amount of energy going into the project. [citation needed]
Others on the left contend that Unity08's "pox on both houses" viewpoint concerning the major parties is unfair to many recent centrist Democratic presidential tickets. They contend that the likes of Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and John Kerry have tried to skirt polarizing issues, while Republicans have used those issues to motivate their conservative base.
Still others of all political stripes contend that the Unity08 ticket will serve as a "spoiler" for one party's ticket, siphoning off enough votes from one candidate and delivering the election to the other (while failing to win the election itself). Critics point to the third party tickets of Ross Perot in 1992 and 1996 and Ralph Nader in 2000 that may have delivered those elections to Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
Unity Petition
The Unity Petition effort, aimed at gathering over one million signatures during the 2006 midterm elections on November 7th, is sponsored by Unity08. The petition reads: "To the Congress of the United States: As We the People vote today we are asking you to do your part and end the blame-game politics of Washington. Partisan bickering cannot solve the crucial issues we face. America deserves better." A 50-state volunteer organization consisting largely of high school students and adult supervisors will give every voter both a chance to sign the petition and an index card about the general purpose of the petition. [2]
References
- ^ "Unity08: Founders Council (in process of formation)". Retrieved 2006-06-12.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Our Beliefs, Our Goals & Why We'll Succeed". Unity08. Retrieved 2006-06-12.