It was difficult to greet the news that Ralph Nader is again making a bid for the presidency with anything but disdain. His egotism alone justifies the stance. The consequence of that egotism in 2000 is icing on the cake. I invite all responsible journalists to join in pledging to refuse to mention his name from now through election day. It is the least we can do for our country. Michael Sean Winters
Disdain as an appropriate Moral Posture
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16 years 9 months ago
This is an interesting position for an America writer to take, considering that Nader's views are probably more in line with current Catholic social teaching than any of the other candidates. Sure, he has no chance of winning, but who else is going to challenge corporate greed or the war machine better than Nader?
16 years 9 months ago
"The consequence of that egotism in 2000 is icing on the cake." The consequence of that candidacy was at least one Senate seat pickup for the Dems. Without the 103,000-vote Green candidate lifting Cantwell by 2,229 votes in Washington, the Senate would have had a Jeffords-proof majority till 2006. Not that the Democrats of 2000-02 really knew what to do with that majority. It's easy enough to ponder hindsight, as we all contemplate that Florida, New Mexico, and a passel of other states would've turned blue knowing what we know today. But I'd save some disdain for Republican machinations in Florida, not to mention the Democrats who voted for Bush in 2000. Liberals, put thine own house in order. I was a proud Green Party voter in Iowa in 2000, and while I disagreed with the independent candidacy in '04, I respected his right to run. This is America, after all, and we don't need to be told whose name to mention when, where, and for how long. Nader, Nader, Nader: looks like for his ill or ours, we're stuck with him.
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