Green Party in trouble after Zimmermann verdict?

Posted at 7:12 AM on August 14, 2006 by Mike Mulcahy

As I'm sure you know former Green Party Minneapolis City Council member Dean Zimmermann was found guilty last week of taking a $7,200 bribe and could face up to five years in prison. Zimmermann has been unapologetic, at one point comparing himself to Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Greens and to some extent the Independence Party have always used their moral superiority to the GOP and DFL as a campaign issue. They say the campaign finance system corrupts the other parties. They're still saying that even after the Zimmerman verdict as evidenced by this release from the Green Party this weekend:

The Green Party of Minnesota reaffirms its belief that Dean Zimmermann had no intention to solicit or take bribes. We base this on his record of more than half a century of service to his community and active work for justice. We recognize that he has made serious mistakes in the handling of funds, and we do not condone or excuse those mistakes. Nevertheless, we believe that he was never motivated by personal gain.

Our hearts go out to Dean and his family in what is clearly a tragic situation. We have serious concerns about what appears to have been questionable investigative practices by federal authorities.

As a party we believe that the root of the problem is the vast sums of money being poured into politics and the climate of widespread suspicion and corruption that it creates. We are concerned about the legal bribery inherent in the existing political system.

The Green Party continues to stand, as it always has, for clean and fair elections, public funding of campaigns, and strict regulation of lobbying.

Are they in denial?

The Star Tribune also has a piece on the issue today.

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