Deans says: vote for Ralph Nader is, plain and simple, vote to re-elect *!

[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 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!!

[mdmc]

1. The good doctor, pulling for the Dems

Change, America! Change!

[candy331]

2. Dupe

[BeatleBoot]

3. Dr. Dean is Correct

My kids (although they don't realize it right now) thank you Dr. Dean!

This election is just too important.

[adadem]

4. Mine, too n/t

[patricia92243]

5. Man, I miss him!!

[djg21]

6. He just became my hero!

And I think his influence in democratic party politics will only become larger as time passes.

[H2O Man]

8. Yes

If the Dean supporters remain in the democratic party, it will help to insure it moves in the correct direction. If they support Nader, they will betray all of the work done by Dean and friends to improve the country. It's understandable that people are disappointed that their "favorite" candidate has lost ... mine dropped out, too ... but bush being tossed outta the office he was NEVER ELECTED to is the first priority.

[knight_of_the_star]

7. Thanks Doc!

While I didn't want him as a candidate, he is too valuable to the party.

[Malva Zebrina]

9. Makes sense to me

right on the mark--no frills, totally logical, Dean does it again.

[Crachet2004]

10. I knew Dean wouldn't have anything to do with Nader the Traitor.

Ralph is Orwellian. And he knows exactly the effect his candidacy will have on the race. No matter how incremental, he will hurt the democrats; and this time there is no offsetting Buchanan.

From now on, I won't use the term "spoiler", rather I shall call this particular brand of treachery "Nadering". Has a nice ring, I think.

Any time someone puts their welfare ahead of everyone else's-Nadering.
Engage in activities they preach against, like stock ownership of corporations that pollute the environment-Nadering. Taking money from the enemy, like Ralph does on his "exploratory" website-Nadering. Mouth platitudes like Jerry Falwell does, but really only to cover deepseated hatred (like Ralph hates the Democrat Party)-Nadering.

I hope my new terminology for all things treacherous and despicable catches on. Ralph is lower than whale excrement.

[xxqqqzme]

11. gotta love the Doc!

as always straight 2 the point - no messin' around. One of the things that drew mt 2 his candidacy - his direct approach.

[Lefty48197]

12. Dean has made it absolutely clear that he opposes Nader.

Howard said that HE was going to vote for the Democrat, and he urged all of his supporters to vote for the Democratic nominee too.