Nader Blames Kerry for Ballot Access Fight

[NewYorkerfromMass]

yet another way for the GOP to smear Kerry:

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader accused his Democratic rival Sen. John Kerry on Tuesday of being responsible for a campaign to try and keep him off the Nov. 2 ballot.

Seen by many Democrats as the "spoiler" in the 2000 election that elected Republican George W. Bush as president, Nader's campaign said it was fighting 21 legal cases in 17 states in a bid to get the consumer advocate on the ballot.

Nader pointed the finger at Kerry and Democratic Party Chairman Terry McAuliffe for being behind what his campaign says is a program of harassment, intimidation and phony lawsuits that are costing tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees.

"The ballot access has drained our time and our resources," Nader told a news conference. "I have to hold Sen. John Kerry and Terry McAuliffe directly responsible."

The Kerry campaign did not immediately return phone calls asking for a response. ...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&e=2&u=/nm/campaign_nader_dc

[SoFlaJet]

1. screw him

and the republicans who support him Ralph Trader err Nader

[Thrill]

2. Nader is irrelevant

I doubt many vote for him this time

[NewYorkerfromMass]

5. Yes.. SO he has to paint Kerry as anti-Democratic

never mind vote stealing and disenfranchisement by the GOP

[Cocoa]

3. does Nader have a running mate?

I think Alan Keyes would make a fine one for him to run with.

[jpgray]

6. Yes, he's running with Camejo. (nt)

[Zynx]

4. Fuck Nader. He wants Bush in office.

His goal is to destroy the Democratic party so that he can collect enough of the loony left(I mean the real nuts) to make a run for the White House to get 10% of the vote which is good enough for federal funding.

[krkaufman]

21. Another goal is to sell his book.

He never fails to mention his book when he's on TV.

Whatever Nader is about, it's NOT about the good of the people.

[Bush was AWOL]

32. Exactly. He wants to sell his book and go down

as a controversial player in history. I saw him on Lou Dobbs last night hyping his book.

[johnnyrocket]

29. Bill Mahar asked Nader: "If David Duke was running, would you drop out?"

Nader answered "Yes."

So obviously Nader has his limits, but he doesn't think Bush is bad enough. I'm disappointed in him.

[krkaufman]

35. Yep, that was an excellent play by Bill Maher.

He definitely nailed Nader with that one, clarifying for the viewer that Nader didn't think Bush was "bad enough."

[Nightjock]

7. Nader can

go fuck himself. He is an egomaniac and by being so full of himself is partially responsible for the death in Iraq.
All the good things he has done in the past have been overwashed by his selfishness. He will go down in history as a villan.
Shame on Nader. He has blood on his hands for helping Bush steal the election.
And while I'm at it. McCain is a selfish bastard too. He sold his soul to the devil in endorsing Bush so he could get one more shot at P{resident in 4 years.
....OK. I'm done.

[ozone_man]

12. Nader didn't made Kerry vote for the Iraq war.

Both my senators voted against war. Don't blame Nader for this mess, blame Kerry, blame your senators for not having spine, to see the truth that most informed people could see. Bush lied to us or I would have done it (the war) better doesn't cut it.

Dean spoke the truth while Kerry wrapped himself in the flag and chastised him for saying that the world was not safer with SH in jail.

Kerry is saying some good things now, but it is still along the lines of forming a coalition of the willing or installing a Democracy, not getting the hell out of there because we had no business starting this illegal war.

[progressivebydesign]

13. Nader is STILL an asshole, TAKING GOP money!

That makes him SUCH a man of HIGH ideals, right? When I heard that mr. Nader, in his expensive italian suits, had a stock portfolio that included Halli-fucking-Burton, then I knew what I'd thought of him all along was the truth.. he's a narcissistic cad of the Bill O'reilley ilk.

[LuminousX]

8. I am Spartacus

Nader can Cheney himself. I am at fault. I and the countless others like me who will not lose this election to Bush because of Nader's ego.

Don't blame Kerry, Nader, blame people like me.

[gratuitous]

17. I'm Spartacus . . . and so's my wife

I note that Ralph's rant is against Kerry, as if Kerry enacted the ballot access laws of the 50 separate states. You're losing your struggle against reality, Ralph. Go home.

[amber dog democrat]

22. no, I am Sparticus

So what is his problem ? But beyond that, do I care what he thinks ?
I hope he and his misguided followers rack up HUNDREDs of thousands of dollars worth of legal expenses.


he can Crimea River, after he goes and Cheneys himself.

:nopity:

[mindfulNJ]

9. Good God...

Is HE still in the race?!;-)

[Ediacara]

10. Oddly enough, I hold the LAW responsible

Are the Dems going after Nader specifically rather than the Workers' World Party or something? Of course they are!

But Jesus Christ!!! Nader is trying to bypass or break the law in every case where these lawsuits exist, so Nader has only himself (and the LAW) to blame!

[TexasBushwhacker]

25. No, the issue is that Nader is running as an INDEPENDENT

He was rejected by the Greens and he hasn't affiliated with any other party, therefore, in some states, LIKE FLORIDA, he has to get a huge number of signatures (I think it's 100K) to get him on the ballot. He hasn't gotten the required signatures, so he's not on the ballot. TOUGH SHIT RALPHY! The rules for an independent to get on the ballot are different in every state and Ralphy doesn't think he should have to play by the rules.

The Democrats are not fighting to get the Green Party or the Libertarian Party off the ballot. Those are small, but legitimate political parties.

[Mr_Spock]

11. I watched Nader. He has lost his mind - completely insane.

He has become a person who seems to be obsessed with causing harm to the two big parties and doesn't even care why he is running for president any more. I'm surprised he can fit his head inside the CNN studios as I'm sure it's difficult to fit it through the front door.

[WhiteTara]

27. Nah...Rove has him by the short hairs

and he will do anything to keep his dirty little secret (what
ever it is) and he will go down in flames to keep whatever
else is worse than this (his rapid descent from grace) out of
the public eye

[Sandpiper]

14. On the other hand, Nader credits Bush supporters

For keeping his campaign afloat financially.

[JohnKleeb]

16. Was Ben Stein there ;)

[JohnKleeb]

15. Ralph if people wanted you, they'd put you on that ballot in a heartbeat

There's a reason why you didnt make it on here in Virginia.

[Career Prole]

18. Dear Ralph,

Go piss up a rope.

Thanking You In Advance,
America

[Dogmudgeon]

19. Nader in Pennsylvania

He collected 37,000 voter signatures.

At least 25,000 are fakes.

Still, the Republican-dominated PA Supreme Court ruled that he could be on the ballot, after years of insisting that election law be followed in every jot and tittle.

--bkl

[bringbackfdr]

20. Boo-fucking-hoo

Nader is an egomaniac who has abandoned his principals to fuel his hubris. He screws the Democrats in 2000, is totally unapologetic for his role in electing Shrub and now is out to do it again. If the Democratic Party can find legal ways to screw this guy, more power to it.

[Greyhawk]

23. Nader is totally ridiculous

There is no way Nader should be on any ballot without the support of a major party. Nader does nothing to further his cause by pulling votes (in a 2 party system like ours) from Kerry. This just hurts progressive chances this November.

Nader should work within the party to get his issues raised. Period.

[newyawker99]

39. Hi Greyhawk!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[JDPriestly]

24. Nader is trying to spoil the race for Democrats

then tries to get our sympathy when the Democrats try to prevent him from doing so. If he is going to dish it out, he'd better be ready to take it.

[Sliverofhope]

26. Has anyone heard anything about Nader

filing depositions for the FEC to sue Kerry or some such? Blog trolls have been mentioning it, and it could be horrible if it's true.

[Rambis]

28. Go cheney yourself!

I have one Nader backer that just emailed me that Bush has already won. GO AWAY!

[LisaL]

34. That 's what Nader had said a couple of weeks back.

Disgusting, simply disgusting.
:mad:

[dmkinsey]

30. yeah,well

If Nader didn't CHEAT, and if he wasn't a tool of the corporatized republican party he might get on the ballot fairly and wouldn't have to spend all his money defending his sorry behavior in court.

[mac56]

31. It saddens me deeply

to see what this once brave and intelligent man has become.

[Renew Deal]

33. If the DNC needs money for this

They should let me know.

[w4rma]

36. NO, Nader! YOU have cost US desperate resources. Jerk. (nt)

[robbedvoter]

37. "Damn you, Kerry! I was sooo close!"

Nader is in 20 something states 9mostly due to GOP mischief). Polls are always taken with him - to muddy waters a bit - never with say, the Libertarian guy who is (on his own) in almost all the states. geez, I wonder why?

[scarface2004]

38. i wish kerry would take ralph out to the parking lot....

and beat the crap out of him!!! and then urinate in his face that stupid p o s!!!!!!

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

40. Kerry's reply should be

"So what's your point?"

:evilgrin: