NYT: The Secret Shame of the Nader Booster

[kskiska]

LOS ANGELES

ONLY four years ago, Robin Taylor was among the thousands clapping and cheering at a Ralph Nader "super rally" in Long Beach just days before the presidential election. Phil Donahue spoke, Jackson Browne performed and Ms. Taylor wore a button that just said "Ralph."

"I found it uplifting," she said. "There was momentum for an alternative. There was respect for the ground that Nader was gaining."

Those were the days.

(snip)

This month, Mr. Nader failed to gather enough signatures to qualify for the California ballot, and Ms. Taylor, 39, a kindergarten teacher here, said she knows why. As one of those who volunteered to collect signatures at shopping centers and street festivals, she said she was cursed, scolded, threatened and called "naïve" and "stupid" by Democrats who blamed her for ruining Al Gore's chances to win the White House in 2000 — and for what they see as the resulting wars, tax cuts and other assorted actions of the Bush administration.

Even paid workers quit after a few days because "they were getting yelled at and they weren't making any money," said Forrest Hill, a Nader campaign coordinator in Northern California.

Ms. Taylor said, "I've been asked, 'Don't you feel responsible for all the lives lost in Iraq?' "

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/15/fashion/15NADE.html?pagewanted=all

[Old and In the Way]

1. Big Surprise.

The 2004 Nader supporter must have an unsatiable appetite for ridicule.

[obelus]

2. I Was A Nader 2000 Supporter...

As an Illinois voter, I specifically elected to deploy my one small vote in support of Nader and his anti-corporatist agenda. Knowing that my states electoral votes were pledged with Gore and we were likely to have a majority for Gore, I was confident that this was the best use of my vote in accordance with my political belief.

In October of 2003, I received a questionnaire from the Nader folks asking if I would support another candidacy. I thought it was likely a prudent inquiry for Nader to see if there was any efficacy in hitting the trail again. I replied on the questionnaire that in know way would I support another candidacy in the new political climate and that I intended to vote for the democratic nominee. There was a news article shortly thereafter that Nader was unsure of another run. I figured that his polling was probably leading to a discouraging conclusion. His candidacy was not welcome in 2004.

Then out of nowhere Nader revs up a misbegotten campaign for no other reason than he thinks his ideas are more important than the democratic principles of the republic that are presently at risk. The Green Party backed off, many previous supporters (like me) abandoned him and he proceeds to take the decent ideals of advocacy through a viable third party on a white knuckle joy ride through the electoral system. He has done damage to future third party challenges by his recklessness and simple minded contrarian thinking. He could have pledged support to the democratic nominee and worked with the Green Party to elect third party candidates to state legislatures and built a viable third party to espouse anti-corporate ideals where they are needed.

I, too, feel for those poor souls out there stumping for the guy after he traded his legitimacy for a few brief moments on C-Span to preach his sermon.

[Melodybe]

3. Fuck the NYT, Nader voters need to wake the fuck up this is fascism!

God Damn it, where the fuck was this article in 2000, where was Nader glowing press then? Answer THEY want us to devide, now more than ever.

I have lost al respect for Mr. Nader, I voted for his ass in 2000 I will never regret anything more in my life.

We are facing fascism here people, for any one that says their is no choice, WAKE THE FUCK UP!

One side is democrats who believe in democracy, the other side are fascists that think we are nothing more than fodder.

Anyone seriously considering Nader, I blame Bushco AND YOU for the future blood that will be spilt if you don't vote democrat in 2004.