Nader is Right
CNN’s Larry King Live from early this morning (May 21, 2008)
Caller: Yes, John King, I wanted to know if Ralph Nader comes on the scene during the general election, who would that affect more? If it would be Hillary Clinton be the nominee or Barack Obama?
John King: Well, it’s an interesting question you ask. Let me go to our electoral map to take the question. The simple answer is we don’t know. Because it might not only be Ralph Nader who will be running but also the libertarian, that could be former Congressman Bob Barr. If he wins the libertarian nomination, so you could have a republican/conservative like Bob Barr, somebody like Ralph Nader who has come in. Would Ralph Nader hurt the democrats more if it were Clinton versus Obama? That’s a tough question to answer.
One of the things we do know is that Ralph Nader would go on. He has an anti-corporate message. He tends to run a more populist anti-corporate, anti-special interest message. It’s a place where he could get, much like what Ross Perot did back in 1992, small but significant percentage of the vote in a place like Ohio. I remember back when he ran a few cycles back. He had a good - he went after Chrysler at one point, the Jeep plant out there. And he had a good band of organization out in Toledo. So, it doesn’t take much in presidential politics if it’s real close to make a difference. I see no evidence at the moment that Ralph Nader would be a factor in this race. But if he got in, if he campaigned vigorously, again, in some states it would only take a point of two, a percentage or two maybe three percent is going to have an influence but too early to answer that question. But if you’re going to see where it would have an influence, it would most likely be out here, if at all.
Here’s one thing we are sure of.
As CNN’s John King put it - Ralph Nader will go on.
Why?
Because Ralph Nader is the only presidential candidate in the race who is free from corporate ties and thus able to deliver to the American people.
McCain/Clinton/Obama are beholden to the coal, nuclear, defense, securities, health insurance industries - just go down the list.
Nader/Gonzalez is not.
Simple as that.
People know that Nader is right.
And a growing number of people we meet - in bars, in supermarkets, at ball games - are coming out of their 2004 shells and saying out loud - Nader is right.
And in growing numbers, they are donating to Nader/Gonzalez.
Putting lawn signs in their yards.
And gathering petitions to get Nader/Gonzalez on the ballot in November.
Yesterday, Ralph Nader and supporters were outside the American Petroleum Institute in corporate occupied territory (read: our nation’s capital) to protest rip-off gasoline prices.
Also, yesterday, we launched a campaign to keep the Pennsylvania Turnpike in public hands. Governor Rendell wants to give away control of the Turnpike to big banks and foreign corporations.
Over the next few weeks, we will be campaigning throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to defeat this corporate giveaway and to get Nader/Gonzalez on the ballot.
But gasoline up and down the Pennsylvania Turnpike is hovering around $4.00 a gallon.
We need gas money - and toll money - to win this campaign.
We are asking 470 more of you - our growing base of loyal supporters - to donate $100 each - to meet our goal of $50,000 to put Nader/Gonzalez on the ballot in Pennsylvania.
Please help fill our tank for Pennsylvania.
Onward.
The Nader Team
PS: We invite your comments to the blog.
