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John Nichols has an excellent commentary on Obama and Nader. Nader Runs, Obama Responds Wisely. A particularly interesting passage follows:
Nader's greatest value in any race is -- like Socialist Norman Thomas in his races against Democratic Franklin Roosevelt -- as a source of pressure on the Democratic nominee to address fundamental questions and perhaps to take more progressive stands on a few issues. As in 2000 and 2004, Nader's appeal will be determined in large part by the extent to which the Democratic candidate is willing to be bold.
Obama seems to understands this. Unlike Gore or Kerry, who never quite "got" the point of Nader's runs in 2000 and 2004, the Illinois senator appears to recognize that it is pointless to grumble about Ralph Nader as a "spoiler." Rather, the point is to be more appealing to progressive voters who might consider voting Green or independent.
"I think the job of the Democratic Party is to be so compelling that a few percentage [points] of the vote going to another candidate is not going to make any difference," says Obama.
I seriously doubt that any Nader supporters are going to vote for Obama because Democrats have vilified them or Nader. A more productive approach is to emphasize the positive differences between Obama and McCain. Hillary Clinton proved that venom is poisoning the person spewing it in this election cycle.
I have decided to vote for Obama, but I want liberals to have a choice in November so we cannot be taken for granted.
It will be a major surprise if Nader gets half the votes he did in 2004.
He has brought much scorn for helping Bush take over the presidency.
I will be voting for Nader unless Obama takes a strong progressive stand on at least one or two issues. I'm hoping that Nader's presence will make Obama consider doing this. I'd love to be able to vote for someone who wins, but unless Obama says something progressive about Iraq, about the size of our military, about IRV, about healthcare, about imperialistic foreign policy, about the environment, about gay rights, or about corporate control of our country he won't be getting my vote. Unfortunately I doubt he will do this, but I'll keep my fingers crossed.
I found this blog at Coven.
The Democratic Party uses the rhetoric of the antiwar movement, and other great causes, without the substance.
Obama's economic team is from the University of Chicago, the home of Milton Friedman. They are hostile to UHC and Social security.
Nader is still competing for the Green nomination.
Regards.
Thank you so much for stopping by my post at the-centre-cannot-hold, I too wonder when this crazy war will end and if one day my daughter will dream of war too.
Maybe if Nader runs enough, the Democrats will realize they need to move back towards their progressive roots, instead opting to become Republican-lite.