Kerry: I'll Lure Those Who Support Nader

[eeyore]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040519/ap_on_el_pr/kerry_nader&cid=536&ncid=536

WASHINGTON - Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites) said Wednesday he believes his candidacy will attract Ralph Nader (news - web sites) supporters and "reduce any rationale" for the independent's candidacy as the two men prepared to meet.

In an interview with reporters and editors of The Associated Press, Kerry said he would never ask another candidate to bow out of the race. Several Democrats have urged Nader to abandon his bid, convinced that his run in 2000 cost Democrat Al Gore (news - web sites) the presidency.

"I have never suggested that any candidate get out or get in or behave in any particular way," Kerry told the AP, shortly before his one-on-one session with Nader at Kerry campaign headquarters.

Instead, the Democrat said he would court voters inclined to support Nader.

"It's my intention to speak very directly to those people who voted for Ralph Nader last time," Kerry said. "I believe my campaign can appeal to them and frankly reduce any rationale for his candidacy."

--snip--

I think he's got some work to do on this. Let the pandering begin!

[plurality]

1. How he can lure this Nader voter

Withdraq from Iraq.
Engage in REAL health care reform.
Engage in REAL jobs packages as opposed to corporate tax breaks.

I won't hold my breath.

[Solidarity]

3. Just Luring?

That's fine. Now will John Kerry really try to convince potential Nader voters to not vote Nader this time or will he attempt to "lure" such voters by encouraging lawyers to have Nader's name removed from ballots?

[plurality]

6. "will Kerry really try to convince potential Nader voters"

I highly doubt it. Doing so would alienate the only voters who really matter, those with $$'s. It's likely he'll offer some vague speechs that can be interpreted by those already open to suggestion that he'll take on some of Nader's issues, but it's unlikely there'll be anything concrete that he could actually be held to.

[BeyondGeography]

7. You can always hold your nose

and live through four more years of environmental rape, retrograde judiciary appointments and permanent tax giveaways to the rich.

Then Ralph could get even more than 3% in 2008.

[sandnsea]

8. With the truth

Read what the man says. He wants to create a democratic Iraq, he wants there to be elections. It'll take security in order for that to happen. Somebody has to provide it as the Iraqis aren't ready to do that for themselves. If Nader's goal is a democratic Iraq, what's his realistic plan to get there? And how realistic is it for him to pretend he's going to be able to withdraw from Iraq and meet his own stated goals at the same time?

"A single-payer program, with full medical coverage, should provide health care that provides comprehensive benefits with quality care and cost controls to all Americans throughout their lives."

How is he going to pay for it? How is he going to deliver it? How is he going to deal with doctors who don't settle for the pay-out amounts and set up their own practice? What's he going to do about pharmaceutical companies who legally sell medication on the open market? How does he respond to the fact that France has the #1 rated health system and it's a public/private partnership?

"By requiring equitable trade, investing in urgently needed local labor-intensive public works (infrastructure improvements), creating a new renewable energy efficiency policy; by fully funding education and redirecting large bureaucratic and fraudulent health expenditures toward preventive health care we can reverse this trend and create millions of new jobs."

What does equitable trade mean? How is it different from the trade agreements that aren't being enforced now? How is investment in the infrastructure, renewable energy, fully funded education, and reducing health costs different than Kerry's plan?

The Kerry campaign probably won't do a head-on with Nader, but I will. They come down on the same side of most issues and it ought to be enough for any honest individual to happily vote for Kerry. Especially considering the alternative.

[plurality]

11. lets see here

He wants to create a democratic Iraq, he wants there to be elections. It'll take security in order for that to happen. Somebody has to provide it as the Iraqis aren't ready to do that for themselves. If Nader's goal is a democratic Iraq, what's his realistic plan to get there? And how realistic is it for him to pretend he's going to be able to withdraw from Iraq and meet his own stated goals at the same time?

Bush said he wants to create, a democratic Iraq , in addition to stating that Saddam had WMD, which Kerry also stated.

As for a democratic Iraq, I'd just be happy with an Iraq that isn't a collosal death pit, and the only way that's going to happen is when it's devoid of all foreign soldiers, tanks, airplanes, torturers, and spys. If Iraqis want a democracy, they can build it. Shit they can create a government of platypi for all I care, as long as it's Iraqis that build it.

A single-payer program, with full medical coverage, should provide health care that provides comprehensive benefits with quality care and cost controls to all Americans throughout their lives."

How is he going to pay for it?

Will all the billions we waste on HMO's that people eventually have to sue to get covered anyway.

How is he going to deliver it?

It's called leadership, I seem to recall there was a time where presidents actually staked a claim regardless of how popular it was, and they got Congress to pass it in spite of how against it Congress was (Civil Rights bill anyone?

How is he going to deal with doctors who don't settle for the pay-out amounts and set up their own practice?

The AMA supports single payer

What's he going to do about pharmaceutical companies who legally sell medication on the open market?

Pharmaceuticals are different, if they're a part of medical treament they can be covered, if it's bullshit like dick pills, you can buy it yourself.

How does he respond to the fact that France has the #1 rated health system and it's a public/private partnership?

Nobody said it has to be straight one way or the other, but he's going to have to do a hell of a lot better than tax credits seeing how only about 30% of the population files itemized returns, and I guarantee you of the 43 million w/o insurance it'll help only about 5%.

What does equitable trade mean?

It means foreign nations get to maintain control of their capital and resources as opposed to forcing them to be sold off to 'foreign investors' who can then suck the country dry.

How is it different from the trade agreements that aren't being enforced now?

These trade agreements are being enforced, and they're doing exactly what they were designed to do, that's the problem with them.

How is investment in the infrastructure, renewable energy, fully funded education, and reducing health costs different than Kerry's plan?

Kerry's infrastructure plan might be fairly good, I haven't looked into it much, but it's also fairly low on my priority list since it won't do too much good to build a bunch of new shit if this endless idiotic war results in it all getting blown up. As for education, he wants to fully fund No Child Left Behind? Give me a fucking break, the problem with that shitty legislation isn't that it hasn't been funded, it's the ridiculous testing requirements. No kids going to receive an education when his school is only teaching him/her to take these ridiculous tests so they can maintain there funding. Want to fix education, simple, hire more teachers, build more schools, even the playing field by making school funding come from state taxes as opposed to property taxes so the ghettos don't get screwed, and change the curricculum so children are taught how to think instead of how to take tests and how to be good little robots.

[sandnsea]

16. Let's try again

"As for a democratic Iraq, I'd just be happy with an Iraq that isn't a collosal death pit"

Problem is, that isn't what Nader said. I quoted what Nader has on his web site, which is a call for a Democratic Iraq. Now, if you want to settle for a place that isn't a collosal death pit, that's Kerry's plan. Stability, security, get the troops out and work from there.

"How is he going to pay for it?"

I'll rephrase. How much is it going to cost me? How much is he going to ask me to pay for it?

"The AMA supports single payer."

Every single member of the AMA? Every doctor in the country? Is he going to lock up doctors who choose to open their own practice? What's his plan? HIS plan, not your opinion.

"Pharmaceuticals are different, if they're a part of medical treament they can be covered"

What if the company isn't happy with the amount the govt decides to pay and sells them on the open market. It's legal in the U.S. to sell your products for a profit you know.

"Nobody said it has to be straight one way or the other"

Oh, so there IS room to discuss how to best provide health care. Hmmm.

"but he's going to have to do a hell of a lot better than tax credits seeing how only about 30% of the population files itemized returns, and I guarantee you of the 43 million w/o insurance it'll help only about 5%."

He has, the tax credits are the least of it. Covering every child up to 300% of poverty through federally funded SCHIP. Leaving the State free to pick up the cost of poverty level adults. Buying into the federal program on a sliding scale. There's alot more to the plan, wish you'd read it.

"As for education, he wants to fully fund No Child Left Behind? Want to fix education, simple, hire more teachers, build more schools, even the playing field by making school funding come from state taxes as opposed to property taxes so the ghettos don't get screwed, and change the curricculum so children are taught how to think instead of how to take tests and how to be good little robots."

See, people need to learn the difference between campaign bullshit and reality:

Under Kerry’s National Education Trust Fund, any new education program Congress authorizes will be automatically funded by law.

Special education costs are stretching school budgets to the limit, but the federal government only provides less than half of the money that it promised to states and localities to educate children with special needs. The Trust Fund will assure the Federal government meets its full commitment so that children with disabilities get the education they deserve and that funding for special education doesn’t come at the expense of other critical education programs.

John Kerry has put forward a Fund to stop these cuts. It would invest $25 billion to stop cuts and layoffs in education.

Kerry will revise the accountability standards in No Child Left Behind to include ways of assessing student performance in addition to testing. Under Kerry’s proposal, states will construct a set of leading indicators, subject to review and approval by the U.S. Department of Education, which will comprise part of the school's assessment in the NCLB accountability framework. Possible indicators include graduation rates, teacher attendance, parental satisfaction, and student attendance.

Kerry’s proposal will provide higher pay for teachers in exchange for implementing higher standards. In order to qualify for funding, school districts will have to submit a plan that includes strong professional development plan for the district’s teachers; an aggressive plan to ensure that every teacher is qualified in his/her subject area; and a plan for increasing the number of master teachers and teacher mentors in schools.

Kerry will invest in high-quality school leaders by providing $120 million annually for the School Leadership Program to recruit and train principals in every low-performing or high-needs school across the country.

Kerry will ensure that all chronically disruptive or violence students removed from classrooms will be placed in alternative learning environments, “second-chance schools” where they can receive the intensive help and service they need to excel.

John Kerry supports allowing the federal government to issue $24.8 billion in school modernization bonds in order to help states and school districts repair and build modern schools.

[umtalal]

25. Brilliant

plurality, you wrote..As for education, he wants to fully fund No Child Left Behind? Give me a fucking break, the problem with that shitty legislation isn't that it hasn't been funded, it's the ridiculous testing requirements. No kids going to receive an education when his school is only teaching him/her to take these ridiculous tests so they can maintain there funding. Want to fix education, simple, hire more teachers, build more schools, even the playing field by making school funding come from state taxes as opposed to property taxes so the ghettos don't get screwed, and change the curricculum so children are taught how to think instead of how to take tests and how to be good little robots.

I said brilliant because ofcourse I agree with you, and so does my friend who is a highschool teachter. She says cut this testing junk, hire more teachers and provide more class rooms so you have a smaller size.

[FlemingsGhost]

31. Kerry's entire campaign platform, in your words:

"Especially considering the alternative."

This country is going to elect a man to the highest office in the land simply because he is not George W. Bush.

Doesn't ANYONE find that a bit unnerving?

[MasonJar]

17. He will appeal to the Green people because he is a consummate

environmentalist, as was Gore. Nader should never have run in 2000. He knew that Gore was a lot different than Bush, but he said the opposite. That is a misuse of personal integrity, and I no longer respect him. If he costs Kerry the race he should be tarred and feathered. Enough is enough.

[vi5]

2. Even if you disagree with Kerry, he is handling this o.k.....

At least not making the same mistakes Gore made with regard to Nader which was a mix of demonizing and/or ignoring him. At least recognizing him and his concerns and also those of his voting base is at least a step in the right direction. Although I suspect still not enough for many out there.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

9. Agreed.

Not the biggest Kerry fan but...he took the right tack on this one for the reasons you stated.

[goclark]

4. Kerry's plan is realistic and Kerry is electable

Kerry has a REAL chance to get elected. Nader does not.
Therefore, Nader's plans will amount to nothing because he does not have a chance in hell to win this election.
I'm going with the horse,JK, that can win the race.
He will have to address the health care, education and every other issue in a way that will be a massive improvement from this brutal regime.
ABBEN (Any Body But Bush Except Nader)

[OKNancy]

10. Ain't that the truth

Nadar can offer the moon and the stars and do his share of pandering too. He has nothing to lose because he won't be elected.

[struggle4progress]

5. He doesn't have to pander. His record's OK.

I've always liked Nader but I'm absolutely voting for Kerry! :party:

[Poiuyt]

12. Kerry has one of the most liberal voting records in the Senate

[idontwantaname]

13. not that i dont believe you...

but could you post or PM me the proof.

[Poiuyt]

15. Here:

http://washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20040301-085725-5267r.htm

If the Washington Times doesn't like you, that's a good thing.

[struggle4progress]

14. I don't think his record counts among the "most liberal" ...

but I still think it's OK.

[FlemingsGhost]

34. So does Joe Lieberman. Yes... Joe Lieberman.

Don't mean shit when I see what Joe has been up to lately.

[turiya]

18. by appointing anti-choice justices

and telling us to give Bush some space on Iraq??
I doubt that strategy is going to work.

[sybylla]

19. He needs to find a way to embrace Nader and his supporters...

without appearing to adopt the Green platform (like that would happen) which would chase away the moderate fence straddlers.

A very sage Dem in my local party had the same advice for Gore that he has for Kerry now. The easiest way to court Nader voters is to vow, should he get elected, to nominate Nader for AG or to serve as Sec of one of the regulatory agencies like FERC or EPA.

edited for clarity

[Pastiche423]

20. Will someone please

tell me when he starts luring?

I don't want to miss it.

[JayS]

32. Ok, he just started luring.

No, wait. False alarm. :)

[Politicub]

36. Will you please explain to me

how Nader can win? Really, I'm listening. Convince me.

I'm a pretty rational person. Unabashed liberal. But I'm also a realist. I don't understand the point of supporting Nader if he's not on the the ballot in most of the states.

Getting Bush out is more important than making a statement. I refuse to sacrifice the good for the perfect.

And there's a lot to like about Kerry if you take the time to learn. He's not perfect, but neither is anyone else.

color me "dated Dean but married Kerry."

[Pastiche423]

39. Will you please explain to me

where you saw the name, "Nader" mentioned in my post?

[Mountainman]

21. Nader has the same good luck that Libertarians have.

He can say anything that he wants because he knows he will never have to back it up with a plan or action because he will never be elected.

Kerry on the other hand has to deliver on his promices. That takes more than talking a good show.

A vote for Nader is a vote for pie in the sky.

[Solidarity]

23. I Like Pie!

I like pie! Will it be served on a plane?

Now that's something to consider. Pie in the sky before I die. If it's chocolate cream pie Nader has my vote!

[Pastiche423]

26. What are his promises?

I mean the Democratic ones.

If there are any.

[Nlighten1]

22. Free milque toast for the Nader supporters!

That should inspire them to vote for you Kerry.

Laff

[umtalal]

24. Dean was my man, now it is Nader

Kerry will never ever get my vote. Anyone who voted for this war and anyone who gives the old and tired speech that Israel is the only "democracy" in the Middle East will not get my vote.

[okcdem]

27. I agree ...

If not Dean then Nader

Nader has heath care and something that I care about - criminal justice reform.

[Chicago Democrat]

29. Nader is a tool of the Bush campaign

[Chicago Democrat]

28. Welcome...

The board is for Democrats

[umtalal]

35. I am one and

I don't approve of Kerry.

[Chicago Democrat]

40. then why are you voting for Bush?

a vote for Nader is most definately a vote for Bush. The "Reform Party" which puts Nader on in several key states, including Florida, is a right wing nutcase party. Which is what Nader represents.

Vote for Nader and Bush wins and there goes America forever.

[umtalal]

42. I Don't Kerry think

listens to me. I have not seen him take a strong stand on my issues: the I/P conflict and Iraq. That worries me. Has he talked to Muslim groups? Has he talked to Arab groups? Has he acknowledged we even exist in this United States? All his press, etc.. goes to support his big money donors and not the average Ali like me. I mean he sent a third tier rep. to talk to American Arabs in Los Angeles. This county has the largest concentration of Arabs in the country, more so than Michigan. While he was here he was doing his Hollywood thing and meeting with Jewish groups. I hope he will reconsider not alienting the Arabs in this State.

[Chicago Democrat]

44. Kerry is not the issue. This election is about Bush and GOP fanatics.

Which must be defeated at any cost.

So please don't vote for Bush by wasting your vote on Nader!

Kerry is at best a compromise and I certainly didn't support him first off. I liked Dean first, then I liked Kucinich and then I settled for Kerry. He's kindof a putz, but he's the only progressive that has any chance in hell of being elected.

[FlemingsGhost]

30. How ... By running to the center/right?

This guy is so lucky his opponent is a man named "Bush."

[Eloriel]

33. Haha! He'd better work on luring those of us who support Dean n/t

[anarchy1999]

37. How many different ways can the Kerry campaign say "Whoops"?

Kerry, your campaign is not appealing to me, in many ways. Would you at least listen to Nader and Kucinich and Howard Dean and all of their supporters? I've had it with you and your campaign (?)., it sucks.

[okcdem]

38. I may be wrong...

but didn't the DLC announce recently that Deanism is dead? Sort of like they didn't want us in the party anyway? Let me see if I can find that thread.

[bvar22]

41. Al Gore would be president if...

..he had done what Kerry did today.

[leesa]

43. Well, if that's his goal, he appears to be making lots of errors.

[Bandit]

45. Let the pandering begin!

Nader would never do that now would he? I suppose you think Bush* would never pander either. If you love America and vote for anyone other than Kerry you are (how to put this nicely) an idiot.