2008 Woodie Awards
Democrats beware: Nader back in action
Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: Viewpoints
Ralph Nader struck the first major blow in the general election by announcing a fifth-consecutive presidential bid Sunday.
Nader's misguided attempts to buck the system have long passed maturation and badly need to be retired. While it is admirable that Nader follows his ideals and at times makes points that need to be heard, his inability to balance ideology and pragmatism undermines his entire purpose.
The results from the 2000 election should have made this painfully clear: although he has no chance to win, he can certainly impact the outcome of an election.
Nader claims that Democrats should win this race in a landslide - with or without him involved. If they can't win this election, he said, "they ought to just wrap up, close down, emerge in a different form."
Even Mike Huckabee acknowledged Nader's entry will probably help Republicans. It's amazing how someone who espouses a 40-year record of public service can so selfishly refuse to accept what is obvious to everyone else.
Nader's entire argument is predicated on the belief that Democrats and Republicans are more alike than different. Washington needs something new, something he could supposedly provide.
Unfortunately for Nader, past results have made it crystal clear that most see him very much like a Democrat and very little like a Republican.
Barack Obama summed it up when he said, "He thought that there was no difference between Al Gore and George Bush and, eight years later, I think people realize that Ralph did not know what he was talking about."
Nader's misguided attempts to buck the system have long passed maturation and badly need to be retired. While it is admirable that Nader follows his ideals and at times makes points that need to be heard, his inability to balance ideology and pragmatism undermines his entire purpose.
The results from the 2000 election should have made this painfully clear: although he has no chance to win, he can certainly impact the outcome of an election.
Nader claims that Democrats should win this race in a landslide - with or without him involved. If they can't win this election, he said, "they ought to just wrap up, close down, emerge in a different form."
Even Mike Huckabee acknowledged Nader's entry will probably help Republicans. It's amazing how someone who espouses a 40-year record of public service can so selfishly refuse to accept what is obvious to everyone else.
Nader's entire argument is predicated on the belief that Democrats and Republicans are more alike than different. Washington needs something new, something he could supposedly provide.
Unfortunately for Nader, past results have made it crystal clear that most see him very much like a Democrat and very little like a Republican.
Barack Obama summed it up when he said, "He thought that there was no difference between Al Gore and George Bush and, eight years later, I think people realize that Ralph did not know what he was talking about."
Be the first to comment on this story