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February 24, 2008
Ralph Nader Enters The Presidential Race ~ Welcome heh heh
In this photograph provided by 'Meet the Press,' Ralph Nader appears on 'Meet the Press'' Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008, at the NBC studios in Washington. Nader said Sunday he will run for president as a third-party candidate, criticizing the top White House contenders as too close to big business and pledging to repeat a bid that will 'shift the power from the few to the many.'
(AP Photo/Meet The Press, Alex Wong)
Nader announces new bid for White House
WASHINGTON
Ralph Nader said Sunday he will run for president as a third-party candidate, criticizing the top White House contenders as too close to big business and pledging to repeat a bid that will "shift the power from the few to the many."
Nader, 73, said most people are disenchanted with the Democratic and Republican parties due to a prolonged Iraq war and a shaky economy. The consumer advocate also blamed tax and other corporate-friendly policies under the Bush administration that he said have left many lower- and middle-class people in debt.
"You take that framework of people feeling locked out, shut out, marginalized and disrespected," he said. "You go from Iraq, to Palestine to Israel, from Enron to Wall Street, from Katrina to the bumbling of the Bush administration, to the complicity of the Democrats in not stopping him on the war, stopping him on the tax cuts."
"In that context, I have decided to run for president," Nader told NBC's "Meet the Press."
Nader also criticized Republican candidate John McCain and Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton for failing to support full Medicare for all or cracking down on Pentagon waste and a "bloated military budget. He blamed that on corporate lobbyists and special interests, which he said dominate Washington, D.C., and pledged in his third-party campaign to accept donations only from individuals.
"The issue is do they have the moral courage, do they have the fortitude to stand up to corporate powers and get things done for the American people," Nader said. "We have to shift the power from the few to the many."
Nader also ran as a third-party candidate in 2000 and 2004, and many Democrats still accuse him of costing Al Gore the 2000 election.
Obama, responding Saturday to Nader's earlier criticisms that he lacked "substance," praised Nader as a "heroic figure."
"In many ways he is a heroic figure and I don't mean to diminish him. But I do think there is a sense now that if somebody is not hewing to the Ralph Nader agenda, then you must be lacking in some way," Obama said.
Clinton called Nader's announcement a "passing fancy" and said she hoped his candidacy wouldn't hurt the Democratic nominee.
"Obviously, it's not helpful to whomever our Democratic nominee is. But it's a free country," she told reporters as she flew to Rhode Island for campaign events.
Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, speaking shortly before Nader's announcement, said Nader's past runs have shown that he usually pulls votes from the Democrat. "So naturally, Republicans would welcome his entry into the race," the former Arkansas governor said on CNN.
Nader vociferously disputes the spoiler claim, saying only Democrats are to blame for losing the race to George W. Bush. He said Sunday there could be no chance of him tipping the election to Republicans because the electorate will not vote for a "pro-war John McCain."
"If the Democrats can't landslide the Republicans this year, they ought to just wrap up, close down, emerge in a different form," Nader said.
Wild Thing's comment........
I’m SHOCKED, SHOCKED I tell ya........ hahahaha
I say let them all enter! Maybe even Bloomberg will enter too. hahaha The Democrats don't like Nader, so this will just add to the mix.
Posted by Wild Thing at February 24, 2008 03:55 PM
Comments
Maybe old Ralphie will do for Obama and Clinton what he did for General Motors. For sure he's anti business and that alone will garner a following from the left along with his espoused environmental concerns, The fact that he is owned by the trial lawyers and is a Communist at heart doesn't faze the Democrats. Rest assured he'll wipe that Cheshire Cat grin off Obama's face, Hillary has already voiced her displeasure. It is getting better by the day.
Posted by: Jack at February 24, 2008 07:52 PM
GOD BLESS OUR 3RD PARTY CANDIDATE!
* Al Gore & his Sorelosermen lost the 2000 election to Nader's Raiders and his 3% vote totals!
* George H W Bush #41 lost in 1992 to Ross Perot as well!
- Hillary only mentions the Gore loss and not Bush #41's? RUN RALPHY RUN!!
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at February 25, 2008 12:09 AM
Jack....."It is getting better by the day."...it sure is. heh heh
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 25, 2008 12:23 AM
Darth, good one and a big yes.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 25, 2008 12:24 AM
Now, if only Jesse Jackson would enter.
Posted by: TomR at February 25, 2008 03:06 AM
"Hey Hey Ralphie boy!"
- Ed Norton, Honeymooners 1957?
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at February 25, 2008 06:07 AM
