What did Ralph Nader do to oppose the war in Iraq?

[bluestateguy]

It seems as if many of the Nader voters are attracted to him on the basis of Kerry's tacit support for the Iraq war. Then it must be fair to ask what Ralph Nader exactly did to oppose the war? Did he march in the streets? Did he organize any kind of political opposition to the war? Did he even speak out publicly against the war? Why should anti-war voters take anything Ralph Nader says seriously?

P.S. This is a thread about Nader, NOT John Kerry.

[frank frankly]

1. good good good question

and congrats on signing chavez!!!

go A's!!!

[swag]

2. The way I remember it,

he did jackshit.

Same thing he did about the Patriot Act.

[Wonk]

3. http://www.google.com/search?q=Nader+Iraq

http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/politics/4151237.htm
Thu, Sep. 26, 2002
Nader: Iraq policy 'cheap election ploy'

http://www.nader.org/releases/020403.html
Statement by Ralph Nader about Oil and the War Against Iraq
February 4, 2003

(snip)

Each day, more and more Americans are realizing that the perverse priorities of the Bush/Cheney oiligarchy are driving the war against Iraq. That’s why thousands of concerned citizens are demonstrating today at gas stations around the country and in other parts of the world. And that’s why, as has been reported, many retired generals, admirals and other retired officers are arguing that this pending war diverts, distracts and is likely to produce "blowbacks" against the safety and security of the United States, not to mention informed internal dissent among military and intelligence agencies that is now being muted.

The demand is simple: Stop this war before it starts and immediately establish a sane national energy security strategy.

http://www.google.com/search?q=Nader+Iraq
more...

[Sparkly]

7. He made some statements?

Gee whiz.

[WoodrowFan]

27. about as effective

In other words he was about as effective as Congress was last week when they declared that the Iraq War "made the world safer."

[Career Prole]

4. He organized a boycott

of Iraqi automakers.

[mitchum]

14. LOL!

[madrchsod]

5. ralph who?

who cares

[ant]

6. ever heard of google?

Because a quick search on "ralph nader war in iraq" came up with some hits.

He spoke out and rallied people against the war:
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/5426327.htm

He wrote articles against the war:
http://www.counterpunch.org/nader02172003.html

He even reached out to the Democratic party to try and give them advice:
http://www.usnewswire.com/topnews/prime/1031-112.html

I would guess there's also the possibility that the many organizations he helps fund took action against the war, but frankly I'm bored and you can do your own homework. Unless, of course, all your after is getting people riled up. No, no...that can't be it.

P.S. This is a thread about Nader, NOT John Kerry.

Of course, because if someone did bring up John Kerry it would quickly become clear that Kerry supporters are really in no position to be casting stones here.

The only leg Kerry supporters have to stand on is the fact that Nader voters in swing states could give the election to Bush, and that is enough. I will post this in each and every Nader thread I can until people start to get it:

BASHING NADER ISN'T GOING TO CONVINCE PEOPLE OF ANYTHING.

Do you get that? Are you interested in change yourself or only in fighting, because if you are interested in change I can't for the life of me understand why you are using tactics that very clearly work against your goal.

Again, if people really want to convince the Nader voters that they should vote for Kerry they need to stop this divisive bullshit and start trying to appeal to them with the simple reality that while Nader may very well be a better choice than Kerry (just fucking accept that point for the sake of argument already), Kerry is still better than Bush and Bush needs to go. End of story.

[HEFFA]

8. I just searched for "dead on accurate" and got your profile.

I think that it's safe to say that I share your view(s). I'm often amazed at the lingering hostility that many Dems have for Nader. It's remarkably short-sighted. These are the same people that whine about Bush being a "divider." They don't realize that we're all on the same team.

[Sparkly]

12. Huh?

Then why isn't Nader a Democrat? He's NOT on the same team.

[Bread and Circus]

23. That is interesting. Seems to me Nader is on his own team.

[OhioStateProgressive]

24. he is a democrat

and he felt the Democratic Party would revoke him if he ran in the primaries...he is very happy to point out the fact that he has been a registered Dem his whole life.


accept it or be wrong.

[Bill Wade]

9. Very nice.

"Again, if people really want to convince the Nader voters that they should vote for Kerry they need to stop this divisive bullshit and start trying to appeal to them with the simple reality that while Nader may very well be a better choice than Kerry (just fucking accept that point for the sake of argument already), Kerry is still better than Bush and Bush needs to go. End of story."

Again, very nice statement.

My dislike for Bush is so strong that I'm willing to vote for someone I really don't care for that much (Kerry) over someone I like and respect more (Nader).

[Sparkly]

10. Does that mean

that if I were of the opinion that Ralph Nader is a dangerous, egomaniacal, hypocritical nut, I shouldn't express that opinion here? We need to tiptoe around the Nader supporters in hopes of persuading them?

Isn't this Democratic Underground? Nader is running AGAINST the Democratic party (again). I'm perplexed as to why I should lie and say he may be a better choice than Kerry.

[ant]

20. the irony? it is killing me

We need to tiptoe around the Nader supporters in hopes of persuading them?

I'm not saying you need to tiptoe, I'm saying you need to stop aggressively attacking their candidate. It only puts them on the defensive and gets us nowhere.

Isn't this Democratic Underground? Nader is running AGAINST the Democratic party (again). I'm perplexed as to why I should lie and say he may be a better choice than Kerry.

I'm not asking you to lie, I'm asking you to be practical. I would think you anti-Nader people above all others would be able to get that.

You don't want Nader to give the election to Bush. I'm with you on that, and I'm just pointing out how you might want to reconsider your strategy in pursuing that goal.

If you prefer to stand on principle and want to continue bashing Nader, knock yourself out. Maybe you and the Nader people can at least find some common ground in your stubborn unwillingness to deal with reality.

[Sparkly]

21. The irony is Democrats' bowing to Nader

I have and will continue to argue the point that voting for Nader in effect supports Bush. Just don't ask me to say anything I don't believe.

I DO stand on principle. What Nader has done/is doing to Democrats by effectively supporting Bush is exactly the point, exactly the principle, exactly the argument. And I'm only saying the honest truth about what I believe.

[sangh0]

29. I really hate the way some Dems attack Bush*

Don't they realize the only thing they're achieving is to put the Repukes on the defensive?

[LividLiberal]

11. But some of us don't believe Nader is a better choice than Kerry

so just accept that point for the sake of argument already.

[ant]

13. what argument would that be?

The point is to get Nader voters over to Kerry, right? It's the Kerry people who are trying to reach the Nader voters, not the other way around, so that's why I phrased my statement as I did.

You make a good point, though, so I'll generalize my comments:

Both sides need to accept the fact that BOTH of these candidates are decent candidates. They each have their weak points and downsides, yes, but they also have incredible records of service to this country. A failure to acknowledge that on either side is unfair and dishonest.

Better?

[LividLiberal]

15. Thank you

:)

[Sparkly]

18. Call me "unfair and dishonest"

I don't consider Ralph Nader a "decent candidate" nor do I respect his "record of service." He effectively hurt the very causes he claims to champion on 2000, and now he's poised to do it again! He doesn't have a chance in Hell of winning the election, and even if he did, I think he'd make a terrible president. The only effect of this run is to boost Bush's chances of another four years, and on that basis alone he is NO friend to Democrats of any stripe.

I'd be dishonest if I said my opinion was anything different than that.

[WoodrowFan]

28. dislike Nadar

I dislike Nadar because some of us dislike being stabbed in the back. That's all he's done for decades, stab Democrats in the back because we're never "pure" enough for St. Ralph.

[dad]

16. But some of us do believe Nader is a better choice than Kerry

Vote Nader for me guys ... because there is no way he'll get on the ballot in NC.

[LividLiberal]

17. Save the trouble and just vote for Bush

[Sparkly]

19. Write him in

Every interest he claims to oppose will thank you.

[zoeyfong]

22. What he did, was *not* support it. Kerry supported it, so there's no

contest between those two. Nader wins hands down.

[WoodrowFan]

26. cheap

Gee, Nadar, who wasn't in a position where he had to make a decision that actually affected people came out against it. Wasn't THAT brave of him. :eyes:

[jpgray]

25. He invested in Halliburton, Raytheon and Boeing...

and then he said 'invading Iraq is bad'. Hooray for the grand leftist hero Ralph Nader! He can profit from idealists who don't research him while at the same time profiting from investments in the corporations that are profiting by killing Iraqi citizens. He wins both ways, like any good shamelessly hypocritical politician.

[mzmolly]

30. Tis par for the course with Ralphie.

:puke: