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Nader's Raiders Ride Again
The Green Party and its -newfound labor union and
Reform pals got together in Denver and decided that Al Gore
and George W. Bush make them want to Ralph.
In a somewhat peculiar symbiosis, consumer advocate
Ralph Nader and a burgeoning Green Party solidified what
they hope will become this year’s populist rallying cry ♦** r e-
engage disaffected labor union members and environmental
ists alike: Turtles and Teamsters Forever!
And in a stunning move, a representative of the 23-state
coalition of the Reform Party of America offered a decisive
endorsement for Nader at the Greens national convention in
Denver.
Dismissing the notion that a vote for Nader is a vote
thrown away, speaker after speaker attacked Democrats ind
Republicans as indistinguishable as they satiate their vora
cious appetites for cash from the same corporate and spe
cial interest trough.
Four years ago. Nader only halfheartedly campaigned on
the Green Party ticket. This year he insists he’s in it to win.
However, a more realistic goal is to secure that magic five
percent voting percentage, giving the Greens a massive
boost and access to millions in matching federal funds in the
2004 presidential race.
Or, as Jello Biafra, puts it, “Can you imagine what would
happen to American television if people like me get to design
the presidential campaign ads?”
Biafra was also drafted to run on the Green Party ticket
for president this year, as was Stephen Gaskin, who helped
found the Farm in 'lennessee
in the 1970s—at the time ihe
largest hippie commune in
the world. Not unexpectedly,
Nader easily won the nomi
nation.
YEARS OF EFFORTS
The Green Party first
organized in Germany as an
anti-nuclear, pro-peace
movement at the height of
the Cold War. United States
Gr*»ens activists began
forming here in 1984 and by
1992 were forming state par
ties and gaining ballot
access.
Now the Green Party USA
is formally organized in 38
states, with a high-profile
presidential candidate, 78
candidates holding mostly-
Iocal public offices, and 118
candidates running this year.
Grassroots organizing and
c clean and safe planet are
key for Greens, but they are
also agitating for universal
health care, an end to corpo
rate welfare and legalizing
hemp.
Labor unions, angered by Gore’s recent support of trade
with China, are attracted to the Greens, as are Reform Party
activists who have long derided NAFTA. And, the Greens are
building on the momentum generated by last year’s wide
spread protests of the World Trade Organization in Seattle
and the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C.
In Denver, Reform Party spokesman Don Torgersen care
fully distinguished his branch of the Reform Party from the
Buchanan Brigade of 2000. Perot hasn’t personally weighed
in, but Torgersen said his group’s endorsement represents
23 state party affiliates.
"Most of the traditional Reform members have walked
away from Pat Buchanan,” Torgersen said, adding that they
are offended and disgusted by the so-called Buchanan
Brigade’s blustery emphasis on a conservative social
agenda, including damning abortion.
“This is a very long-term movement, with people of all
ages, stripes and designs totally ted up with a corporate
monarchy," said Biafra. So what does Ralph Nader have in
common with the Greens?
“He has an incredible connection: I can’t think of a more
natural alliance. He’s impressed by our dedication to civic
democracy, and we’re impressed by his commitment to
doing it."
Nader said he has no plans to formally join the party that
selected him as their presidential nominee. In exchange, the
Greens will benefit by having a high-piofile candidate in their
camp.
CORPORATE PAYMAS ITERS
Kicking off the three-day convention in Denver, Nader and
his running mate Winona LaDuke blasted the Democratic
and Republican parties for bowing down to “corporate pay
masters" like DuPont, Exxon and General Motors.
Big money has not only forced major parties to their
knees, but democracy itself is in peril, Nader warned.
“We’ve got one corporate party with two heads wearing
different make-up," Nader said. “We’re one choice short of a
[dictatorship]."
Nader issued a challenge to the media to treat third party
candidates as seriously as they do the two major parties—
and to insist he and Buchanan not get shut out of the debate.
Currently candidates must gamer 15 percent support in the
polls io be allowed to participate in presidential debates, a
system that was devised by the Democratic and Republican
parties.
Yet, despite assertions that Nader would steal Gore’s
thunder, he may also capture the vote of people who—
turned off by Bush’s candidacy—would otherwise vote for
the Republican. Nader support is growing in the Pacific
Northwest, and in the crucial high electoral state of
California.
Nader also asked the media to treat third party candi
dates equitably, allowing them equal access to the masses,
instead of working in the mindset that only the two major
parties are legitimate.
Sure enough, by the end of the convention, Nader and
mainstreams pres» were
cozying up nicely with each
other. The day he accepted
the nomination, Nader’s
press handlers insisted that
the candidate—the cham
pion of the little guy—would
only be available for inter
views with major daily news
papers.
WHICH IS WORSE?
Yet, throwing around such
brain-heavy topics as global
justice and ecological
wisdom, speaker after
speaker howled for reform—
both from the media and in
politics—during the
weekend’s gathering.
Manning Marable, the
founding director of the
Institute for Research in
African Studies at Columbia
University, delivered a
rousing oration calling for
economic and social justice.
He urged people to ponder
tough moral questions.
“Which is worse, George
W. Bush’s decision to send
an innocent man to his death this week, or Al Gore’s failure
to denounce him?" Manning thundered over Gore’s silence
over the execution of Gary Graham in Texas.
Radio commentator and keynote speaker Jim Hightower
electrified a packed house, highlighting the weekend’s oft-
repeated theme: Republicans and Democrats have sold out.
Hightower blamed an exodus of would-be Democratic
voters from Al Gore’s camp on a major party that has aban
doned its core values and is now indistinguishable from
Republicans.
The former Texas Agriculture Commissioner commended
the Greens for their enthusiasm and for shaking things up.
“Agitation is what America is all about,” Hightower said.
“If it wasn’t for agitation we’d all be sitting here wearing pow
dered wigs and singing ‘God Save the Queen."”
In response to Democrats’ claims that Nader will steal
votes away from Gore, Hightower offered the vice president
a little piece of advice: “If you want to get rid of the Nader
problem, become a Democrat."
Hightower hooted as he cited a June 23 New York Times
story quoting U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, con
demning potential spoiler Nader as “a very selfish person”
who is on an ego trip.
“You can say a lot of things about Ralph Nader, but
selfish?" Hightower asked, noting the celebrated consumer
advocate lives in a rental apartment, has not owned a car
since 1959 and still watches TV in black and white.
Cara DeGette
ovwc
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JULY 5, 2000