Barry Bendar CD4: Why I am Running Green #1: NJ Congress Must Blockl for Peace

Questions progressive Democrats Ask – for now very brief answers:

Why not run as Democrat?

While there are some good people that are Democratic Party voters, candidates and possibly even office holders, as an institution the Democratic Party, and its present leadership, upholds support for Israel’s Fascist Government, the United States never ending wars on behalf of the Military Industrial Complex and the oil industry, putting their heads in the sand with the coming climate disaster, and the same corporate agenda that rules the other party.  It is vital to evaluate the effectiveness of our work toward our objectives before committing our limited time – my advice is for people to support efforts that truly match their personal objectives which is why I run Green, not blue nor MAGA red. 

If you have no chance of winning, why run?

I am running in Congressional District 4 where Trump boot licker Chris Smith defeated his Democratic Party challenger in 2024 by 140K votes, more than doubling his total.  This is the same Chris Smith who has served in Congress since 1980 (I was 23 then, I’m now 68), and whose children got in-state tuition in Virginia when they attended college.  While it is true my chances of being elected in 2026 may not be great, the similar can be said about either of the two Democratic Party candidates running in their primary. Neither of them has ever run for office before, nor have any political experience to the best of my knowledge. Some people say that it is foolish to run against such odds. The message I bring may not reverberate with the people of CD-4 currently, but we are building for a future when our society throws off the shackles of corporate domination and regains control of government. Also, in the current “bizzaro” world we call the United States, the possibility for a crisis situation, like the current crisis of economic disaster, world war, repression of the people, and state violence could cause people to recognize the vapidness of supporting the complicit Democratic Party.  It is not likely, but who had a new generation of brown shirts, known as ICE, and warehouse fires on their bingo card? 

Again, to sell out the message that I bring with the Green Party, for a chance of an electoral win with a Democratic Party whose platforms and direction get closer and closer to those of the Republicans every election, would be a total sell out of every moral and principle that I have lived by. I would rather pave the path for those that follow me.  Those Democrats that believe they can “reform” their party need look no further than the “squad” and their inability to make significant change to the Democratic Party’s direction.  It’s easier to sell out, and criticize 3rd parties.

Why not run locally first?

That is a valid strategy for those who are interested in local office. I have run locally in an effort to save my own town from total destruction through overdevelopment and the greed of the developers behind it. I will continue that fight as long as I breathe.  But the Green Party has an important role to play on national and statewide issues even if our ability to prevail in electoral contests at this point in history is admittedly limited.  But as a candidate who worked to submit a petition – in this authoritative climate where the New Jersey Democratic Party, due to the Green Party’s 2024 “Green 13” success, more than doubled the required signatures for 3rd party and independent candidates to get on the ballot, and then due to the Democratic Party’s lack of confidence in their own candidate for Governor, challenged over 500 signatures with the approval of a party linked judge, who randomly accepting the challenges removing the Green Party’s Gubernatorial candidate from the ballot in 2025, – we have earned recognition of our platform and the ability for our voice to be heard on issues where you never hear clear positions from the Democratic Party, currently on the most immediate and potentially world threatening challenge of the war of aggression by the U.S. and Israel currently bringing the world to the brink of destruction.  If we want to run nationally, and bring these and other issues to the floor – running for office nationally is the only way to get our message there, along with the protests currently happening on our streets.  So if there are local issues and Green Party candidates want to organize and fight on those issues – we will do that .  But when Democratic Party candidates and voters only make superficial reference to state and national issues without specific action plans – we run within the state and nationally – because we are a party that fights for our principles, not a party that just runs to gain office.

What are you actually trying to achieve?

I have many goals but the first one I am calling for – and I am making this sincere and open invitation to every candidate regardless of party running for Congress this year to join me in this most important goal. I will have additional statements but right now my number 1 reason for running is:

TO BUILD A NJ CONGRESSIONAL VOTING BLOCK FOR PEACE

I call upon NJ congress members, our two US Senators, all primary and general election congressional and US Senate candidates to join in forming a solid NJ voting block for peace.

That means we need to pressure those Democrats in office to step up and demand peace. The weakest links I list below:
Booker, Pou, Pallone, Norcross, Conaway, and Gottheimer.   Those 6 are most likely among the current Democrats in NJ’s congressional delegation to support the US – Israeli war of aggression against the Middle East nations and peoples.

As a block, every democrat (or independent) must:

Immediately vote YES on the war powers act

Oppose any war supplemental funding request for the US – Israel war in the Middle East or for rebuilding US bases that were destroyed in response to the US – Israel aggression upon Iran

Vote against any and all support for weapons or other support for Israel

Oppose any anti-Iran resolutions – the US must accept its role as the aggressor and that the U.S. and Israel have the responsibility for stopping the war

Demand immediate unconditional halt of all US and Israeli hostilities

VAGUE PLATITUDES WONT SAVE US

Democrats, when not silent, are vague on the use of our military to achieve Israel’s goals.  In order to oppose war right now Democrats need to challenge those in their party who support this military aggression and publicly pressure them to save the planet with a solid NJ peace block.  They will express superfluous anti-war comments, critique on how the war is being fought, or talk about the lack of objectives of the war, but most likely will avoid stating clearly to their political leadership that there is no room for waiver on blocking for peace right now.  

Challenge to all NJ Congressional Challengers in 2026

I challenge any of the candidates running for Congress in 2026 to join me in calling for a NJ Peace block in congress – that they will refuse AIPAC money, that they will call upon the sitting congress to vote for war powers and against supplemental funds for Middle East War, against funds and arms for Israel’s violence against its neighbors, and call for an immediate stand down by the US and Israel to save the planet from this reckless war, which aside from the millions of direct kills likely if escalation continues, will also result in millions of unnecessary deaths from more severe economic disaster and just might push the whole planet to nuclear disaster.