"Out on the campaign trail Sunday, the candidates addressed the big buzz caused by Ralph Nader’s decision to enter the race. The famed consumer advocate announced he will again run for president — his third effort, one that is sure to anger Democrats who are still miffed over his role in the 2000 race that many believe cost Al Gore the election against George W. Bush.
Nader said Sunday he’s not the reason Gore lost the election and blamed everything from voter fraud in Miami to the Supreme Court. In any case, he said, that’s no reason why he shouldn’t run.
“The political bigotry that’s involved here is that we shouldn’t enter the electoral arena? We — all of us who think that the country needs an infusion of freedom, democracy, choice, dissent — should just sit on the sidelines and watch the two parties own all the voters and turn the government over to big business?” he asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where he announced his candidacy.
Asked about the possible impact, Obama and Clinton both downplayed it while also criticizing Nader.
“Mr. Nader is somebody who if [you] don’t listen and adopt all of his policies, [he] thinks you’re not substantive. He seems to have a pretty high opinion of his own work,” Obama said. “Historically, he is a singular figure in American politics and has done as much as just about anybody on behalf of consumers, so in many ways, he is a heroic figure and I don’t mean to diminish him, but I do think there’s a sense now that, you know, if somebody’s not hewing to the Ralph Nader agenda then you must be lacking in some way.”
Clinton was also less than enthusiastic.
“Obviously, it’s not helpful to whoever our Democratic nominee is. But it’s a free country. I don’t know what party he’ll run on. Where did he run on last time? Does anybody remember? Was it on the Green Party? Well, you know, his being on the Green Party prevented Al Gore from being the greenest president we could have had and I think that’s really unfortunate. I think we paid a big price for it,” she said."
With Ralph entering the race, loons of all ages will flock to Obo even more as they worry over another Nader run that would imperil a weak democrat candidate.
Bye, Hillary.
(Insert Evil Laugh Here)
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