Salon: Nader's Nadir

[kskiska]

Even many of his former allies don't support maverick Ralph Nader's presidential bid. And more mainstream Democrats aren't just mad -- they're apoplectic.

Word that Ralph Nader will formally announce his plan to run for president this weekend as an independent stirred harsh words and emotions not just among Democrats, but even among the leftists and independents who supported Nader four years ago. Facing an election that they regard as the most crucial in decades, they're stunned and angry that Nader has decided to reprise his third-party candidacy from 2000, which played such a crucial role in siphoning votes away from then Vice President Al Gore and handing the election to George W. Bush.

"It's hypocrisy of the highest level. It's egotism of the highest level. It's dishonesty of the highest level to say 'I'm running as an independent,' when all he's doing is helping elect Bush, and he knows it," says Elizabeth Holtzman, former New York City congresswoman and U.S. district attorney. "He's nothing but a shill for George Bush. A shill, period."

Another Nader candidacy "would be bad for him, and it would be bad for the country," says Danny Goldberg, founder of Artemis Records and longtime political activist. "My wife and I hosted a fundraiser for him in 2000. I was proud to do it. I think he's one of the great people of the last century. But I certainly wouldn't support him this time. His candidacy will tarnish his image and help the president. In my view that's unhealthy."

Even some of Nader's closest progressive allies have their doubts. "I love and appreciate him, but I definitely want to get Bush out of office, so I won't vote for him, which would be a first for me," says Medea Benjamin, the Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate from California in 2000. She says it's good that Nader is not running as a Green Party candidate, because it will allow someone else within the organization to gain national attention as a presidential candidate.

more…
http://salon.com/news/feature/2004/02/21/nader/index.html

[Faygo Kid]

1. Good article. And sadly true.

Where has he been the last three years, on another planet? Hasn't he seen what Bush has done to this nation (the world hasn't gotten off too easy, either). Ego trumps in this case.

[Skittles]

2. yup

I find it hard to believe anyone ever suppored Nader; he is an absolute crock.

[question everything]

10. Exactly

We have not heard from him at all during the past four years. Nothing about the terror attacks, nothing about the wars in Afghanistan and in Iraq, nothing about the Patriot Act, even on gay marriage.

All of a sudden he shows up - hi, I am here, ready to spoil your party.

I think that I would almost like him to run - to end his ego trip once and for all.

[NV1962]

3. Good article

That's a quick catch, kskiska!

[kskiska]

4. Remember Ross Perot?

First time around he was taken seriously. Second time he was just a nut case. Hopefully, with a good turnout, he'll be relegated to the dustheap of history.

[NV1962]

5. *IF* he runs

Which I don't think - his vanity is even bigger than his ego.

[grytpype]

6. "it's good that Nader is not running as a Green Party candidate"

Don't worry about this. It's going to be like Pat Buchanan running as a Reform candidate, only worse. Pat was totally ignored by the media and had no impact on the 2000 election.

[Gunit_Sangh]

7. Buchanan

<Pat was totally ignored by the media and had no impact on the 2000 election>

Except for that one county in Florida where Pat won the Jewish vote due to a badly designed butterfly ballot :o)

[tedoll78]

8. Wow..

when the Green Party's senatorial candidates won't support him, you know he'll be but a blip on the radar screen. Thank goodness.

[Fovea]

9. Nader's major impact

will be on the elderly voters in Miasma, FL who have problems
dealing with butterfly ballots.

But we just make sure he gets put across the page from Bush.