Mishandling Nader - by Kevin Zeese

[sled]

Mishandling Nader

http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Nov2004/Zeese1122.htm

by Kevin Zeese serves as Press Secretary for the Nader-Camejo
campaign.

November 22, 2004

On Election Day the Democrats beat Ralph Nader and Peter Miguel
Camejo. But beating Nader-Camejo very likely contributed to failing
to beat Bush-Cheney.

When Ralph Nader met with John Kerry the mishandling of Nader began.
At the meeting Ralph Nader offered Kerry a strategy for how the two
campaigns could work together to beat Bush-Cheney and advance
populist-progressive issues. Kerry refused and made a not-so-veiled
threat against our campaign.

It was evident at the meeting that Senator Kerry saw the possibility
of winning and rather than making him confident it was making him
cautious. This insecure approach made fear of making a mistake more
important that seizing political opportunity.

Nader offered a two prong strategy. First, the Nader-Camejo campaign
would take aggressive positions on some issues that Kerry-Edwards were
not comfortable with. These included a rapid, responsible withdrawal
from Iraq with a definite date of withdrawal of our corporate and
military interests; a more balanced approach in our handling of the
Israeli-Palestinian issue; and the impeachment of President Bush and
Vice President Cheney.

(snip)