randomWalks

Nader's An Open Letter to Former Naderites Running Scared in 2004

Running mate Peter Camejo: "Now look, I want to tell you something: I respect Michael Moore—it’s a great movie. But I wish that right there he had shown the faces of Paul Wellstone, of Barbara Boxer, of all these people that claim they are for peace—that they are for us or for the people. Not one of them would stand for free elections and the rights of African Americans. Not one. The Democratic Party and the Republican Party denied the African American people for ninety years the right to vote, in violation of the Fifteenth Amendment, and neither party has ever apologized for what they did."

After the debacle of 2000, the Democrats got smart and abandoned the conservative wing of their party. That’s why 8 of the 9 Democrats in the primaries this year were from the liberal wing.

That field was "liberal"?!?!??!?

That field was "liberal"?!?!??!?

Absolutely. No, they weren't perfect, but of course they were liberal. Politics is not an all or nothing proposition, it's a system of compromise.

If Bush wins, I want every Nader supporter to write a letter to everyone on death row in a federal prison explaining why there was no difference between Kerry and Bush.

Sure, Nader supporters can write to death row folks. And what will you, David, be doing about those

folks on death row?

Do you think your pathetic vote is what gives you the right to tell people what letters to write?

Matt, I can't tell if you're serious when you ask what's David doing about folks on death row.

LMAO

Getting really tense this year, I can see...

Well, as a black man from the cursed and utterly damned state that is Ohio, I can tell you that if Bush wins tomorrow, I can guarantee you that it won't be much different than if Kerry wins for most of us.

Come chill up here for a while. It's funny how many white people I've seen recently as a result of "voter interest studies" out here in my neighborhood.

I've written maybe twenty emails today letting people know that it isn't fooling us. I know that demos and repubs alike don't give a shit about me other than to use me. And if the rest could have their way, from one extreme to the other, they would ignore us too because they think we're ignorant or crazy. But broke don't make you crazy... if anything you see what things really look like.

Kerry and Bush can both go fuck themselves, and I hope Nader can just settle for holding the spent condom.

George, my point was that if all David's doing to help the people on death row is his vote tomorrow, then he's got a hell of a nerve suggesting that people who vote for Nader owe those people something more if Bush wins. Many are already working in many ways to end capital punishment, and they will continue that work whether Bush is elected tomorrow or not. Voting has very little to do with it.

George, my point was that if all David's doing to help the people on death row is his vote tomorrow,

George, thanks for sticking up for me. Matt, it's presumptuous of you to think that. I've been working with prison activists for over ten years.

then he's got a hell of a nerve suggesting that people who vote for Nader owe those people something more if Bush wins.

I'm specifically talking about people who say there is "no difference" between the two candidates. I'm not singling anyone out here - Zagg made a distinction in another post on this very topic - I'm just pointing out that for those on death row in the federal prison system, there is a very real difference between Kerry and Bush. If John Kerry is elected president tomorrow, he will almost certainly commute the sentences of federal prisoners on death row to life. I think that's an attainable goal with real results that's worth fighting for.

This is precisely because of the work of the many activists who will keep on working tomorrow, no matter who is elected.

David, regardless of your excellent efforts on behalf of death row folks, I think it is quite disrespectful of you to assume to tell everyone who votes for Nader that they don't have the interests of death row inmates at heart. That is a presumption.

If John Kerry is elected president tomorrow, he will almost certainly commute the sentences of federal prisoners on death row to life.

dj, when did Kerry say this?

And to respond to something Lionindex said, the fact that the Democratic field this year could be considered "liberal" and that Kerry is the "No. 1 liberal" in the Senate illustrates just how far the Democrats have drifted to the right over the past 30 years.

If Bush wins, I want every Nader supporter to write a letter to everyone on death row in a federal prison explaining why there was no difference between Kerry and Bush.

I love this. A pre-emptive attack on Nader for costing Kerry the election.

What if Kerry loses by millions of votes?

What if Bush steals the election again?

What if Kerry's lame positions ended up keeping millions of people from voting?

Will that all be Nader's fault?

I love this. A pre-emptive attack on Nader for costing Kerry the election.

I should have been more clear. If Kerry loses this election, it will almost definitely be because of voter intimidation, not Nader's involvement. BUT Nader voters who say there is no difference between the candidates are ignoring that there are very real differences, which will cost people their lives. It's the first time strong language against the Death Penalty has been in any major parties platform since Carter, and it's an opportunity we can't miss.

dj, when did Kerry say this?

He's definitely said it, but I don't have the cite on me. Of course, he's a politician, but on this issue I have faith in him.

Ahhh. Got it. Thanks for the clarification.

Lastly, in 2000 there definitely was a huge line about Bush/Gore being the same.

That has not been the line this year from the majority of Nader supporters. Not even Nader and Camejo say that Bush and Kerry are the same.

Zagg, I think you and I both agree that we need to reconnect the electoral process with concrete issues. I've always respected your focus. I'm optimistic that things are going to get better - I think this whole process has been empowering for a lot of people, and the poll numbers (with record turnout and Kerry CRUSHING Bush) are showing that.

We definitely agree on that.

I just hope that if Kerry does hold on that people don't drop back to complacency. Both 2000 and 2004 have illustrated that there is a great amount of reform that can be done to fix the electoral process. And we're going to have to be pushing very hard for our issues even with Kerry in the White House. We can't have a repeat of the Clinton years where many activists closed up shop while much of what we stand for was whittled away.