The progressive community should have deep respect for Ralph Nader. Unsafe at Any Speed exposed the threat many American cars exposed to the public. He has been an activist for 40 years fighting for progressive causes.
Despite popular opinion, Nader did not cause Gore to lose the 2000 election. Gore lost his home state. And, though if all of Nader's voters in Florida voted for Gore, Bush may never have been president, there is no proof that those voters would have voted for Gore. They may have stayed home or voted for Bush. There is no way to know.
What we do know is that the days of the 50+1 Presidency is about to be over.
Nader 2004:
The two parties are now carving up the country, by redistricting, so that there is only one dominant party. Chile has 9 parties, Norway 10, Canada 5...but in this country we have two parties that carve up the districts so that there is only one party. The incumbant party. People go to told its an election, there is no "E"lection without a "Se"lection...Our democracy has been taken from us incrementally and we have to recover it.
This is still very true as far as our government is concerned. If Obama is the Democratic nominee, however, Nader's major argument for why he should win Democratic votes will dissolve.
Obama is far different on every issue than McCain. A short list...
- Foreign policy: Obama was against the war in Iraq from the start, he is in favor of direct diplomacy on a Presidential level with America's enemies, he is against war with Iran, he believes in fighting the terrorists in Afghanistan, this list continues.
- Economy: McCain says he doesn't know much about the economy. It shows. He is in favor of making the Bush tax cuts permenant, vigorous free-trader, etc. Obama believes in progressive taxation, opposed NAFTA, and will roll back the Bush tax cuts to pay for social programs such as health care reform, education etc.
- Political style: Obama is mobilizing the people. He is also concilliatory towards his opponents/enemies in Washington. McCain is hostile to everyone; enemies, friends...its amazing he's gotten this far.
My point is that there is enough distinction this time around to make the Nader run irrelevant. In 2000 Gore choose Lierbermann as his VP! My god. Couple that with hostile attitudes in foreign diplomacy, corporate support reminscent of the Clinton administration, and Bush's lies about being "compassionate" and the differences dissolved to most Americans.
Not only will this year be different but the American people are on the Democratic side. One need only look at the primary turnout to know for sure. They want out of Iraq, they won't a vibrant economy, and they are sick of George Bush.
Obama has said, and I believe this, that to have real change we can't win a 50+1 election. We need to win in a landslide and I believe we will. We have more resources on our side, the issues, and the mood of the country.
One more thing: We should not be afraid of competition. The platform Obama has combined with the strength of his movement should be able to compete with a thousand voices. If not he should lose. Everyone should be allowed to run in this country and I welcome Nader's voice.
So to Nader, Bloomberg, whomever...Bring It On!