July 14 - The Green Party has chosen Cynthia McKinney to be the party's presidential nominee. The choice was clear after the first round of balloting in Chicago. McKinney, the former US Representative of Georgia, won more than 300 of the 500 delegate votes available.

McKinney beat out Ralph Nader, who announced long ago, that he's running as an Independent. McKinney joined us via telephone from Chicago. She says that as Presidential candidate, she says her goals are to continue to expand the reach of the Green Party, which includes gaining 5 percent of the popular vote to gain ballot access.

.. the Green Party has approximately 200 elected officials in this country. And those 200 elected officials are in local jurisdictions across the country. But those 200 elected officials make it the most successful third party in this country. Gaining 5% of the national vote, propels the Green Party, in the eyes of the Federal Government, from minor party status, to major party status..

I think the notion that the Green Party is inside the box of environmentalism only is an incorrect notion. The Green Party has long been a party for peace, a party for social justice, a party for economic justice, a party that recognizes, for example, the very foundations of this country with the genocide of Indigenous Peoples of this country, the Green Party, in its 2004 platform, has taken a stand for reparations, against police brutality, against the international trade agreements, like NAFTA.

Part 2: Green Party Highlights

Now we bring you some highlights from the Green Party Convention from the weekend.