Thursday, October 21, 2004
No, No, Nader
Remember Nader's Raiders? They were the first wave of people motivated to public service and consumer protection following the lead of Ralph Nader, organizing and staffing PIRGs (Public Interest Research Groups) nationwide. They want you NOT to vote for Ralph this year. In a letter signed by 75 of them, including former NJ PIRG executive director Ken Ward, they wrote:
Dear Voters,Note to potential Nader voters - Even if you live in a Kerry slam-dunk state like NY or CA, do NOT vote for Nader. Pull the lever for Kerry. We don't just want an electoral college victory, nor a marginal popular vote majority. To withstand challenges both electoral and legislative, John Kerry needs as large a popular vote count as we can muster. If he doesn't get it, we'll be in for a replay (politically, anyway) of the Clinton administration - obstruction and destruction as far as the eye can see. Give Kerry the mandate he'll need to reverse the worst of the Bush nightmare. Save your protest vote for another year. Maybe after a few years with responsible, intelligent leadership, we'll be able to afford it.
Many of us -- former Nader's Raiders and leaders of his organizations -- voted for Ralph Nader in 2000. Many did not. This November, none of us will vote for Ralph. We believe there is nothing more important than defeating George W. Bush. Ralph argues that he is creating an independent political voice. In 2000, when he ran as the Green Party candidate, that may have been true.
In 2004, as the candidate of the increasingly reactionary, anti-immigrant Reform Party, and the recipient of financial and political support from right-wing funders and operatives, it is not credible. Unfortunately, Ralph is party to a disingenuous effort to split the progressive vote in key states.
With the major party candidates in a dead heat, Nader is poised to tip the election to Bush -- again. We do not agree with Ralph that there is little difference between the Republicans and the Democrats. We know that the country cannot afford another four years of Republicans controlling the White House, both chambers of Congress, the Supreme Court and the entire federal Judiciary. The price of a protest vote is too high for families who live from paycheck to paycheck, for those concerned about the realities of war, for those who lack decent jobs and access to health care, and for the environment. ....
Join us. Cast your vote for a progressive future and support John Kerry.
from Salon, via Corrente
