Public Eye is proud to announce our new, unofficial slogan: "Witty and mostly accurate." That's how Young New Democrat co-chair Miriam Martin described one of our columns in a comment posted on the site last night. In that posting, Ms. Martin, a self-declared "unapologetic radical" who supported former MLA Steve Orcherton's leadership bid, fingers senior party members for leaking information about the infighting between her executive and the New Democrat brass - information that she hadn't yet shared with her own membership.

Meanwhile, Ryan Stewart, who is running to replace Ms. Martin, takes a shot at the sitting co-chair and her communist clique for "their inability to translate a single one of their Trotskyite ideals into anything relevant to the British Columbians who are being hurt by Gordon Campbell." Mr. Stewart also makes a clear that he isn't a "moderate" instead preferring to call himself a "traditionalist" (as opposed to Ms. Martin who is a "utopian"). The following are copies of Ms. Martin and Mr. Stewart's postings.

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Name: Miriam Martin

Comments:

Mr. Holman,

As the unapologetically radical co-chair of the BC-YND, I am writing to thank Sean Holman for his witty and mostly accurate article "Young NDPers take on the status quo." We only regret that the NDP Provincial Executive leaked our document before our members had a chance to read it. Regardless, we are happy you have publicized our campaign.

We call on all youth who are fighting for an end to war, quality jobs, free quality education, freedom from harassment, environmental sustainability, and all of the points in our Youth Rights Charter to join the Youth Rights Campaign, join the NDP, and join us in our fight for the implementation of these rights. The left wing of the BC Young New Democrats is committed unapologetically to defending the rights of working people. Unlike some young members who seek careers with the party, we will not compromise this position. Considering that the membership of the NDP Youth has tripled since this executive was elected, we'll see at our convention in October just how "unelectable" radicals are.

Workers of the world unite!

In Solidarity,

Miriam Martin
BC YND Co-Chair

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Name: Ryan Stewart

Comments:

An Open Letter to Sean Holman

Hi Sean:

I just read your TC article re the BC Young New Democrats and their Youth Rights Charter. I don't accept your description of Miriam Martin et al as "traditionalists" and the rest of us as "moderates." Ms. Martin and her clique have utopian ideals that they believe are not shared by other Young New Democrats. This belief fuels their incredible paranoia about the rest of the party (especially the evil 'party brass') being out to get them. However, the paranoia among the lefter-than-thou crowd really springs from their record of inaction at the helm of the YND and their inability to translate a single one of their Trotskyite ideals into anything relevant to the British Columbians who are being hurt by Gordon Campbell.

We so-called "moderates" are in fact strongly committed to social democracy, and some like me self-identify as democratic socialists. We just happened to notice when the Iron Curtain fell. We are also aware that most British Columbians aren't ready to cast off the shackles of capitalism for the revolutionary dream world that Ms. Martin seems to think is a mere rally or two away.

Instead, we put forward ideas that are both principled and practical, and that stand a chance of making a difference in the lives of ordinary people. Instead of fighting one another, we're fighting Gordon Campbell. Unless and until Ms. Martin gives up her moral crusade to join the growing movement to defeat the BC Liberals and elect the NDP, she will remain on the sidelines. As a "traditionalist" New Democrat, I'm not sure that's such a bad thing.

Sincerely,

Ryan Stewart
Candidate for Co-Chair
BC Young New Democrats