Ralph Nader adds fuel to his spat with Barack Obama

Ralph Nader isn't backing down.

Gee, what a surprise.

Controversial comments he made about Barack Obama in a newspaper interview garnered more coverage for him today than his little-noticed presidential campaign has received all year, including extended discussions on various cable news shows.

It also prompted Obama, when asked about the matter at a news conference, to dispute Nader's contention that he has been ignoring a range of issues.

Tonight, Nader responded with a statement that begins:

"Sen. Obama said earlier today that I haven't been paying attention to his campaign.

"Actually, I have.

"And it's clear from Sen. Obama's campaign that he is not willing to tackle the white power structure -- whether in the form of the corporate power structure or many of the super-rich -- who are taking advantage of 100 million low-income Americans who are suffering in poverty or near poverty."

The rest of the statement can be read here.

--Don Frederick

Comments

[Go Nader]

Of course not. Obama is afraid to actually tell the truth and deal with issues, because his money isn't all just "single person donations". I have suspicion that he's just bundling money from corporations, and lobbyist groups, that's causing him to censor himself.
Nader is the only one that has been trying to address discrimination and other issues in the US, while still trying to help us save money, save the environment, and our liberties.

discrimination -
obama - http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/us/politics/24muslim.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
nader - http://www.washington-report.org/archives/May_2004/0405072.html

public digital media -
obama - (nothing really, but it seems important to other blacks)
http://www.blackagendareport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=680&Itemid=1
hmmm... it's important to Nader as a public issue
nader - http://www.ontheissues.org/celeb/Ralph_Nader_Technology.htm

Well now.

[Matthew]

As usual, Ralph is right. CNN only let embedded democrats and one republican comment on what Ralph said. There was no independent thinker in sight. Idiots.

[louis]

nader 08

i am so happy there is a ralph nader and that i am alive to witness a truly great man from america. he is untouchable.
he is un-corrupt. he is articulate and brilliant.
he really cares and always has. i am pretty sure america is so trapped that it wont pay attention to him. we're talking about the country that gave a man like george bush the keys to the white house whether he was really elected or not. compared to bush, cheney, mccain, clinton, sure obama looks pretty good. but after 8 years of bush i want to go far away from mainstream politics. how could anyone really be impressed with either party. before i die i want to see america become the real thing.

[Dan Kindle]

Nader should join his fellow irrelevants in the Legion of Once Significant Etiolated Reprobates. Together with his cohorts the Reverend Al, Bill O'blowhardreilly, Rush pillpoppin Limbaugh, and the Imus cowpoke, they can plot media-spawned capers aimed at keeping their lips moving on national TV and money flowing into their bank accounts.

[NinaK]

Ralph Nadar is an old man with a deficient mind. If he is such a good candidate for the Presidency, how come he has had to run over and over again and NEVER made it? His statements are totally racial and bigoted and he should be condemned for his ignorance and racial instigations. Shame on HIM!! Nadar, go change your Depends, they are filled with the crap you spew!! Just who do you think you are??

[Martin Hernandez]

well, I guess Ralph has pulled his head out of its hole so it must be presidential election time. That seems to be the only time we hear from Nader, every four years. What does he do between those four years? is he out building a base? is he organizing voters? is he keeping his issues in the public eye? no, he just comes out to weep and moan. Ralph used to stand for something but now he's reminds me of the curmudgeons of the world, ranting with no real solutions, no allies and no chance to win,. Give me a break

[Benjamin]

So Nader, an old white man, wants his opponent Obama, a younger black man, to embark on a race war? And he's claiming that if Obama doesn't make this about race then he's somehow selling out or failing?

Is Nader going after the Klan vote this year?

[hmmm]

sometimes nader is a nut, but he DOES have a few good points this time. interesting stuff.

[foofoo]

Remind me again why we're supposed to care what Ralph Nader says?

[Jonathan]

Nader probably prides himself on sticking to his principles, and maybe he's right to, but he was wrong on one very big thing in 2000: it turned out Bush and Gore were not the same at all. And if you doubt that, just ask the families of over 4,000 servicemen, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who lost their lives in the nightmare of the last five years.

How ironic, and desperately sad, that Nader could again assist in the defeat of an honourable candidate, ushering in the man who would stay a hundred years in Iraq, extending the war to Iran, if he saw fit. Winston Churchill. not known for his dove-like views, noted once that it is better to jaw-jaw than to war war. Obama has been derided by some for proposing just that.

Nader is adept at garnering publicity for his marginal campaigns, and probably figured that this kind of story would serve his purpose well; please let's not give him the free publicity. It is too important that we remove the current execrable administration and their kind from power.

[hesingswithfrogs]

While in the Illinois Senate, Obama was instrumental in passing payday loan and predatory lending practice reform. He continues to push for such reforms while on the campaign trail, and contrary to Mr. Nader's assertions regarding the "super-rich," Obama has proposed higher taxes for the country's highest wage earners, while cutting taxes for the middle class. Either Mr. Nader hasn't been paying attention, or he's been smoking too much grass, or both.

As far as Mr. Nader's "talking white" comments, they're disgusting and appeal to the worst elements of the human psyche. Mr. Nader seems to think that Obama should talk like a thug from south central LA. For Mr. Nader, Obama's command of the English language, his ability to talk with, relate to, and advocate for people from all walks of life is a bad thing. As President, Obama will represent all people, not just blacks. No Mr. Nader, Obama isn't "talking white." He's talking like the intelligent, well-educated, multicultural, inspirational Leader that he is. Enough with your nonsense.

[Alessandro Machi]

If you watched MSNBC describe Ralph Nader's comments, one is led to believe to that Mr. Nader is either racist, old, or out of it, all depictions were stated last night on MSNBC.

Nader's followup comments are terrific.

Barack Obama appears to be a house slave to George Soros and friends, but that is the price one pays when they rush their own imminent success for four or eight years.

Kind of like selling one's soul to the devil.

[Rusty]

I think this is great. Nader is likely to pull the Hillary-only supporters (apparently about 10% of her vote) away from McCain with this kind of talk.

[jon]

In a real sense, Ralph Nader was a hero for America, in all he did years ago.
But, at this point, he's almost like a GOP plant, to draw whatever votes he can, from the Dems.
If he was truly still a beacon of Integrity, he would be working for political change LOUDLY, on a continuous basis... not just every 4 years. He would've been building an alternative-movement last year, and the year before, and the year before, etc. That he does nothing in *off* years, is telling... the change he allegedly wants, can not be effected by outbursts every 4 years, but by a constant concerted effort, which he hasn't done.
It's sad that he's ruining his legacy, in favor of becoming the modern-day Harold Stassen.

[Zimo M]

Martin Hernandez Nader works all year every year on issues such as these.Just shows how you are clearly not paying attention

"in the defeat of an honourable candidate" : what a joke

[Here you go!!!]

We never hewr of Ralph Nadar until election time. He is an opportuninist and we DONT NEED HIM. He is irrelvant. Go away Ralph NAdar, you will never get my naive vote again...I am not some high school fool

[Handel Victor]

Nader is untouchable, un-corrupt, uninpeacheable, untouchouble and unelectable.

[Brian Randall]

Continually attracting people to support you and vote for you is not a crime. Bob Barr is a far better candidate than Ralph Nader since he finally has recognized that government fails because politicians are inherently corrupt, despicable, perverted, me, myself and I first creatures. In my mind, a place where nothing I witness is real, the fascist mindset is alive and well. In my humble opinion, George W. Bush, who has plenty of guns and butter to support him and prop him up, is a textbook example of deluded, Napoleonic pathological narcissism. We are all in grave danger because so many of us live in fear and government has become a closed society unanswerable to its servants. If everyone knows and agrees that politicians are corrupt shouldn't these thugs have less control over our finances and rights, not more? Or does declaring a 'War on Terror' entitle King George and his headshaking, bloodthirsty, death march to the 'Axis of Evil', minions to everything?

[phil]

One may question the political wisdom of Nader's rhetoric, but not the critique. Nader's comments, when considered as a whole, are at least reasonable: Obama's campaign does nothing to address the core issues of concern to the Democratic Party coalition. They are in no particular order, the war(s), poverty, erosion of civil liberties, declining living standards for working Americans, the environment. Obama has backpedaled on every one of these issues.

[Geee]

This publicity is exactly, Nader is looking for. Please don't give him the satisfaction. I really think republicans plant him year after year just to sabotage the Dems.

I wouldn't be surprised if he pockets money from the GOP to do just this. Nader. You don't deserve to be the leader of our beloved country. You are ugly inside and out and you a selfish SOB. Go away! Thanks, 'here you go'.

[steve conn]

When pro-gun,pro-nuke, pro-bank Obama threw Rev. Wright under the bus for "talking black," where was the outcry?
Nader can take the smears and the heat and deserves
any vote that is Not For Sale.

[PacificGatePost]

OBAMA’S ARTISTRY OF THE AMBIGUOUS - It is not his lack of experience that will work against him.

Obama would be well served by his hired help if it could move him to specifics on numerous critical fronts.

Voters are looking for definitive action while they battle overwhelming increases in costs on all fronts.

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/06/obamas-artistry-of-ambiguous.html

[Harvey Shepperd]

Basically what we have here is Hillary calling Obama a "Mockingbird" and then Nader mocking Hillary.

[Nolan]

"I really think republicans plant him year after year just to sabotage the Dems." - Geee

You mean "sabatoge" as when the Dems. filed lawsuit after lawsuit to get Nader's name taken off the ballot in '04, after having their workers sign phony names on his ballot-access petition forms so he could in turn get disqualified?

You mean "sabatoge" like that...?

If Nader did the same you Dems would really be outraged.

I cannot support the Democratic party. They are no better.
Just corporate-owned hypocrites.

louis, I am with you: Thank God for Ralph Nader.
The man is a true Saint.