George W. Bush is in the White House. The war in Iraq is a disaster. Jobs are going overseas. The environment is in the shitter. Rove's knives are sharpened and his ad men are after Kerry.
But if you read the liberal website Kos, you'd think the biggest problem liberals face right now is one another. Yes, I'm talking about Ralph Nader (again).
Please don't get me wrong. Don't tell me Nader brings it on himself. I agree. I wish he wasn't running.
And the fact that Nader is polling 8% in New Hampshire is an issue. Hopefully this number will fade to under .5% by November. But it worries me as a person who supported Kerry months before he'd declared.
What concerns me is Nader's numbers could increase if Democrats keep it up. There's a simple fact that the Nader bashers seem to forget. And it's that Nader supporters will be more likely to vote for him the more we Democrats demonize him.
Note that I said DEMONIZE and not criticize. Rational criticism with passion behind it is one thing. Perfectly fine. Welcome in fact.
But demonization is another. What is demonization? Blaming Nader and Nader alone for the loss in 2000. Calling Nader names. Acting like he's subhuman scum. Acting like he is not one of us. Inviting him on a talk show and not letting him talk.
This is not a touchy-feely argument about "feelings." I'm not worried AT ALL about Nader's feelings here. It's his supporters that concern me. People I know who voted for Nader in 2000, and might well consider voting for him in 2004. (for the record, I didn't support him in 2000 either).
To quote a recent editorial in the Progressive that opposes a Nader candidacy, "Demonization is more likely to drive marginal Democrats to Nader's cause if they think he is being treated unfairly."
The Progressive also suggests that the better strategy would be to "steal his issues" as FDR did to Socialist candidate Norman Thomas in 1932. Great idea!
But not on Kos apparently. A lot of Democrats would rather demonize Nader than steal his fire.
You really have to ask, why?
here's the link:
http://www.populist.com/04.5.edit.html
