GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE MEETS RACINE TEENS

RACINE - Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb won't draw too many
votes from Thursday's appearances in Racine. Most of the students who heard
him speak aren't old enough to cast a ballot.

Cobb had other goals in mind for his visit. During an assembly at Walden
High and Middle schools, he encouraged students to be active participants
in the democratic process. He also became the second presidential candidate
to speak in support of Walden, a program the Racine Unified School District
is considering moving to help solve its financial crisis. Sen. John Edwards
of North Carolina, one of the Democratic contenders, voiced his support for
the school last week.

After his speech, Cobb was surrounded by a group of students who asked
questions and snapped up Green Party pins.

Later he spoke to students from government classes at Horlick High School.
Cobb told them that third parties have led the charge for many of the
nation's most sweeping changes, like ending slavery and child labor. He
also laid out the Green Party's platform, including placing a larger tax
burden on the rich and providing a living wage for all workers; shifting
the "war on drugs" toward treatment; and the adoption of universal health care.

Horlick junior Sarah Bergman wasn't convinced by Cobb's ideas for a major
shakeup in policy. She predicts "everything would fall apart" and
questioned Cobb's stance on drugs, especially treating marijuana similar to
alcohol and tobacco.

"Make marijuana legal? What the heck!" she said afterward.

For many of the students, it was a first look at the Green Party and its
core beliefs.

"It was interesting to hear a new perspective that's not publicized," said
Horlick junior Grant Buenger.

Cobb has won the first three state races in the push for his party's
nomination. Wisconsin's winner will be chosen at district caucuses next
month. The party's national convention is scheduled for June in Milwaukee.