For years, perennial Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader has railed against corporate leaders and others he thinks have duped the public and given in to special interests.
Enter author Holly Swanson, who says in her latest book that the Green Party itself has “Set Up and Sold Out.”
Swanson will speak at 7 p.m. today in 180 PLC about the negative influence of the Green Party.
The University College Republicans is sponsoring the talk, which includes topics about the environment, schools, Earth Day and other issues. Swanson draws much of her lecture material from her book.
“While most Americans haven’t even heard of the Greens, the Greens have been working away for years, just like termites, to weaken the foundation of our nation. Our nation is like our home. Our safety and comfort depend on a strong foundation,” Swanson wrote in her book.
“Last time we looked, our foundation was in decent shape. We felt safe. We had the time to focus our attention on other things. Now there is a visible crack in the foundation,” she said.
The College Republicans put up posters around campus advertising Swanson’s speech with quotes from “Set Up and Sold Out” comparing members of the Green Party to communists. The posters caused quite a stir among some people who thought the phrases were coming from the College Republicans, not Swanson, because they were not directly attributed to her on the poster.
“I think it’s a shame that certain people on the right wing of the political spectrum need to use libel and political buzz words instead of reason and open dialogue to get their agenda across,” Eugene resident Greg Gallagher said. “To say Greens are communists is to say Republicans are fascists.”
However, College Republicans chairman Matt Pfeiffer said Swanson is being brought to campus not to bash the Green Party, but rather to offer contrasting views.
“She has some good points on the environment and what should be done to protect or not protect it, and on Green politics,” he said. “She brings up points people haven’t thought of, and it can be a learning experience for people on both sides of the fence – liberal and conservative,” he said.
Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, call 346-4347.

E-mail reporter Robin Weber
at [email protected].