Dean: vote for Ralph Nader is, plain and simple, a vote to re-elect Bush!

[Dems Will Win]

Governor Dean's statement on Ralph Nader

-snip-

When I announced last week that I am no longer actively pursuing the presidency, I urged my supporters not to be tempted by any independent or third party candidate. I said I would support the nominee of the Democratic Party, because the bottom line is that we must defeat George W. Bush in November, whatever it takes.

This year, our campaign has made the case that, in order to defeat George W. Bush, the Democratic Party must stand up strong for its principles, not paper over its differences with the most radical Administration in our lifetime. In order to win, the Democratic Party must aggressively expose the ways in which George W. Bush's policies benefit the privileged and the most extreme ideologues.

I will do everything I can to ensure that the 2004 Democratic nominee runs as a true progressive, as a champion of working Americans and their hopes for a better future. I urge my supporters, and all other Americans committed to progressive values and honest government, to stick with us, and stick with the Democratic Party, so our cause can prevail in 2004.

Ralph Nader has made many great contributions to America over 40 years. But if George W. Bush is re-elected, the health, safety, consumer, environmental, and open government provisions Ralph Nader has fought for will be undermined. George Bush's right-wing appointees will still be serving as judges fifty years from now, and our Constitution will be shredded. It will be government by, of, and for, the corporations - exactly what Ralph Nader has struggled against.

Those who truly want America's leaders to stand up to the corporate special interests and build a better country for working people should recognize that, in 2004, a vote for Ralph Nader is, plain and simple, a vote to re-elect George W. Bush. I hope that Ralph Nader will withdraw his candidacy in the best interests of the country we hope to become.

Many of my supporters urged me to run as an independent, but I judged it the wrong thing to do. There is still time for Ralph Nader to stand with those in the Democratic Party who are building a progressive coalition to defeat George W. Bush. But time is running out. We can win only if we are united.

-snip-

From the Official Dean Blog 12:36 PM today

THE GOOD DOCTOR IS RIGHT AGAIN.

Voting for Nader against the Dem is like voting for the Hitler of 1935! The horrors of a Bush second term are unimagineable today just as Hitler's Holocaust was in 1935!!

[Ediacara]

1. Damn Right!

This needs a link though, as per LBN rules.

ON EDIT: I hope that when Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton eventually drop out, that they will 1) NOT run as third party candidates, 2) urge their supporters to support either Kerry or Edwards, and 3) urge Ralph to get out of the race. I think a statement from Kucinich to this effect will effectively destroy any chances Ralph thought he might have had.

[Dems Will Win]

15. Link

http://www.blogforamerica.com

[CBHagman]

2. Come over here, Dr. Dean.

:hug:

MWAH!

[Charlls]

3. thats a good slogan for freepers!

maybe repubs will vote Nader now that they think voting him will make his King president again

[Cooley Hurd]

34. That would be too funny if freepers did vote for Ralph...

...instead of Bush because, in their Pabst-addled minds, they thought they would be helping Bush! :D

[bowens43]

4. It's this kind of irresponsible statement that doomed

the Dean campaign. A vote for Nader is a vote for Nader not a vote for bush.

[Ediacara]

6. Ya....

Because in 2000 a vote for Nader sure helped progressive causes....

ON EDIT: to add that you're likely to hear this kind of statement come out of the mouth of every single other Dem candidate, from Kucinich to Lieberman. Irresponsible my ass!

[RandomKoolzip]

7. La la la la la....

Just keep telling yourself that. Maybe one day you'll believe it.

[RC]

12. WRONG!

Any Dem that does not vote Dem is helping to elect bu$h. Nader is being bankrolled by the same the same people supporting bu$h.

[iamjoy]

22. I Disagree

Your sentiments are noble, but with a "winner take all" electoral system. Since the winner only has to have a plurality, not a true majority, a vote for Nader (or any other candidate) is de facto a vote for Bush.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

26. You're absolutely correct...

...it's actually a wasted vote.

[calimary]

50. Unfortunately, not. A vote for Nader IS INDEED a vote for bush.

Because it's one less vote the Dems will get, free and clear. People who think their vote for Nader will "send a message" or some such thing are just making it easier for bush to win - and further destroy everything their friend, Ralph, has supposedly spent a lifetime working for.

[JaySherman]

5. Thank you, Dr Dean!

Calm your embittered followers down, please.

[BinkieGirl]

45. What a charming and inclusive message!

</sarcasm>

[Gman]

47. Just a question...

Why do you want an "inclusive message" to be one where a candidate in the Democratic Party gives his OK to support a third party/different party's candidate???

We are talking about the Democratic Party here. Just wondering.

[Born Free]

8. I like that guy

I am still willing to vote for Dean in the state primary, but won't vote against the eventual democratic nominee. I would love to see California/New York change things around. I still have serious doubts about Kerry, even though the corporate controlled media and democratic establishment decided he was the best man, I still believe Dean would be a better president.

[otohara]

20. Me Too - He's The Best

and I plan on voting for him in primary

[bluestateguy]

9. The Doctor is In

I knew he would do the right thing. A team player.

[JackDragna]

10. Right, Dr. Dean. This amazing "progressive" coalition..

..of presidential candidates who supported the war in Iraq and the Patriot Act. Spare me.

[fearnobush]

11. Dean, you Rock!!!!!!

[lancdem]

13. Dean, of course, is absolutely right

:thumbsup:

[shanti]

19. time and time again!

n/t

[frank frankly]

14. nice to hear from him again

my man!

[Piperay]

16. Cheers

to Dean! :toast:

[Catch22Dem]

17. Fuckin' A

The doc is right!

[DrWeird]

18. Dean? Oh, yeah.

What ever happened to that guy?

[Media_Lies_Daily]

27. He's still working for a Democratic Party victory in 2004...

...just as he said he would?

[floridaguy]

21. It's time to unite against Bush!

Nader's entry is unfortunate. The Democratic party must unite behind the nominee to win in November - period. Neither Kerry nor Edwards was my first choice, but I will work my ass off to make sure one of them wins. This is no time for issue candidates or ego freaks.

Democrats please unite behind the nominee, because it will be our only chance.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

23. Nader doesn't have the "best interests of the country" in mind

He has best interests of Ralph Nader in mind. "F" him.

[CookieD]

24. No offense, youngster, but I'm guessing ...

you were absent from school the day they taught about the Holocaust?

"Voting for Nader against the Dem is like voting for the Hitler of 1935! The horrors of a Bush second term are unimagineable today just as Hitler's Holocaust was in 1935!!"


:eyes:

[sendero]

25. Ralph...

... what can you say? Maybe I'm just in denial, but I really don't think Nader is going to get many votes this time around. I don't think he is going to get much attention, and I don't think he will get on anywhere near all 50 states' ballots.

In short, I think everyone except the die-hard stubborn nutcakes are done with him. And they will always be with us :)

[Zhade]

28. Even though I am a Kucinich man...

...on behalf of Dean supporters, I think everyone who smeared Dean as looking out only for himself now owe both Dean and his supporters A HUGE FUCKING APOLOGY.

[drewb]

29. I think Nader is right...

You're basically getting two parties that are doing exactly the same things...

I could never vote for Nader, but I agree with him. I was really hoping Dean or Kucinich would catch on, but that looks like a no-go too...

Oh well...

:loveya:

[Kitschnsync]

40. re:"I think Nader is right..."

I agree with you completely! Kerry seems to be just another head on the Hydra, especially compared to Kucinich or even Dean.

Still, Kerry will provide a better alternative to Bush's blatant corporate giveaways. At least, as a Democrat, Kerry is oblidged to a constituency that is more diverse and economically average.

If only Nader would run on issues like fiscal conservatism, then maybe he could split the conservative vote. Oh, pipe dreams... What ever happened to Roy Moore for prez?

[drewb]

44. "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."

Hopefully if we limit these guys to one four year term we can minimize the damage they can do...

Although Mr. Bush shows just how much damage one president can do in four short years....

[MsDemeander]

30. Did Dean really compare Bush to Hitler?

Is he really saying a second term would be comparable to the Holocaust?

Is there a link to this quote?

[Zhade]

32. I'm pretty sure that was the poster's comment, not Dean's.

NT!

[MsDemeander]

31. What if the voter would not vote for anyone but Nader?

Is it still a vote for Bush?

[dArKeR]

33. It's hard for a moral person NOT to vote for Nader. I watched his entire

announcement today and I believe everything he said. And then he said, 'People believe everything I say but they're not going to vote for me.' (something like that). I don't think anyone here doesn't honestly believe in what Nader says.

[Voltaire99]

37. I read the speech and Q&A transcript in the Times...

...and Nader sounded as brilliant as ever.

His critique is unassailable: we live in the thrall of giant economic interests that are reducing our quality of life and the value of our democracy day by day. And our political parties are their pawns.

What is the larger pity, I wonder? That he can't win, or that the nation is saddled with the politicians who can win?

[Sterling]

38. If Ralph was wrong..

I might see things like others here but he unfortunately is right.
We could have avoided this but we left ourselves open for this one.

[dArKeR]

48. I think Gore should have given Nader the EPA, or Justice, or something

last election. (as I stated last election.) Let him do what he can with our Government to improve it.

And why don't they try to work with him?

Is this what you mean?

And whomever the Dem. candidate is this time, he should also offer Nader a post. Not a bribe. A real chance to follow his convictions.

[dArKeR]

49. Nader was unbelievable and live and no teleprompter. What does it say

for our nation when the Good Guy stands no chance?

I honestly think Nader would win if he had equal money, air time and citizens didn't have planted in their minds he couldn't win.

[Barkley]

35. Dean for Chair of the Party

He'd bring a lot of energy, talent, new blood and great ideas.

The establishment might resist it, but so what!

Our party desperately needs a 'moral compass'.

[seasat]

39. After McAullife's disasterous tenure, Dean would be great.

I really like Clinton's presidency. He had some great policies and was very progressive on environmental issues. However, I think his promoting Terry McAullife to party chair was a mistake. We've lost seats during McAullife's term because he was too willing to compomise with Republicans and didn't stategize his elections properly.

[ahimsa]

36. Elect, not "re-elect"

Hopefully Dr. Dean will be clearer on that next time :)

[Dr Fate]

41. I'm glad *I* never bashed this good DEM...

or any other candidates, for that matter...

[smb]

42. Oh, puh-leez

This argument was childish whining when the Pubbies blamed Perot for Papa Shrub's defeat, and it's no better coming from the Democratic side.

In both cases, the loser lost on his own. Inability to hold votes against a challenger who is handicapped by the various duopoly protection schemes is more of an embarassment than losing a straight two-man election against the other major party.

[bushisanidiot]

43. I'm Still Hoping Nader Stays in long enough to suck up a lot of repuke $$$

then opt out sometime over the summer.

oh, how the freeps would be LIVID after all their hard work supporting Nader.

crossing my fingers that this is his plan..

[Chicago Democrat]

52. Me too...

Ralph has a right to speak. He has a right to run and it will be good to elaborate tough issues. Then he can drop out. If this happens it will be the best of both worlds.

The primary is getting boring. Nader will be a nice diversion for 3 months. My prediction. July he will drop out.

[artistforpeace]

46. It’s time to look at the big picture and not just the scenes.

I totally agree with Nader. I totally agree the two party system sucks. But there is a culture war going on here folks and the republicans have over a 10 year head start. This is not the time to be trying to change a system that is fundamentally in trouble right now. I am 100% sure we will not change the system with a republican in office.

Now instead of thinking about a vote for Nader is a vote for Bush. Think about it this way. A vote for Nader (assuming this vote would have gone to the Democrats and not Republicans) messes with the over all numbers. Look this country seems very impressed with numbers. What we want is to show average Joe how strong Progressives are. But they don’t see that because we split our votes. I would like to someday see a Green party president or even maybe a Libertarian (did I just say that?) or *insert Progressive party name* but it won’t happen unless we start changing the public’s mind.

So it’s time to take a stand. Start with the Democrats please! We need to unite now and then fix later. Get the Democrats in the office and control of congress first!!!!!!

[Chicago Democrat]

51. Dean's so good and smart.

What a class act.

[MGKrebs]

53. Well why the hell doesn't Ralph run for Senate

or Congress or Governor or Mayor or something, and THEN run for President? He is just plain and simple NOT going to win. His campaign will achieve nothing that he intends, and will likely achieve the OPPOSITE of what he desires.

If only we had instant runoff voting...

www.fairvote.org

[bif]

54. Amen Dr. Dean!

Listen up all you Nadarites.

[gulfcoastliberal]

55. Nader *is* a Corporate Interest

Why is that he refuses to release his financial records? He lives in a huge mansion, and skims money off of his foundations for personal and family gain (sound familiar?). He also doesn't pay his employees a living wage and forces them to work unpaid overtime - a la Walmart. And when they tried to unionize he played hardball and busted their attempts. Nader is, as another poster said, "just another head on the hydra". Screw him, and that ego he rode in on.

PS - I don't mean to trivialize the good things NAder did for consumers. But nowadays he is just another commercial enterprise.

[ronnykmarshall]

56. Rock on, Dr. D!!!