Michigan GOP gathers names for Nader

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Kathy Barks Hoffman, Associated Press Writer | July 9, 2004

LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan Republicans are helping gather signatures to place independent Ralph Nader on the presidential ballot in the battleground state, irritating Democrats who accuse the GOP of trying to pull votes away from candidate John Kerry.

"It's another example of state Republicans willing to try every unethical trick in the book to hold power," Democratic Executive Chairman Mark Brewer said Thursday. "This clearly shows that a vote for Ralph Nader is a vote to re-elect George Bush. The Republicans know that, and that's why they are desperate to have Nader on the Michigan ballot."

Greg McNeilly of the state Republican Party said the GOP is doing nothing wrong and hopes Nader will draw votes from the Democratic candidate. Republicans will make sure Nader has more than the 30,000 valid signatures he needs by July 15 to qualify for the Michigan ballot, McNeilly said.

"Unlike the Democratic Party, where 'D' stands for disenfranchisement, we want voters to have choices," he said.

more: http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/nader/articles/2004/07/09/michigan_gop_gathers_names_for_nader/

[lovedems]

1. They don't want voters to have choices,

they want progressive voters to have a choice. I don't think they would actively work to get Buchanan on the ticket.

How many Nader supporters will play right into the republicans hands?

[knitter4democracy]

2. Yeah, we're the disenfranchisement party . . .

The Michigan Republicans are some of the worst anywhere. When the leader of your party is Betsy DeVos (a nasty, nasty woman), you get all kinds of crap happening that is barely ethical, let alone legal. The things that happened in the last election when they tried to derail Gov. Jennifer Granholm bordered on frightening.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. Just proof that Bush sucks and needs handicapping

They need to be called out on this fact:
Bush can't win on his own and needs every aid possible.

[napi21]

4. They tried this in both AZ & OR and failed.

What makes you think it will work in MI?

[Frances]

5. The Repubs always find the perfect word

that describes what they have done (disenfranchised hundreds of legal voters in Florida) and then apply it to Dems.

If Nader is willing to accept this level of hypocrisy and unethical behavior as a candidate, what would he be like as president?

There is no difference between Nader and Bush.

[yellowcanine]

6. My mother (voted for Bush in 2000) is voting for Nader.

Granted, it is only one anecdote - but one does have to wonder if the Republican ploy might backfire. There may be a lot of people who can't bring themselves to vote for Bush again but won't vote for a Democrat. She is a snowbird - voting in Florida - is it possible that many of the snowbirds are going to switch from Bush to Nader? I wasn't able to hear Mom out on the why of abandoning Bush but I suspect it is the war. She was not keen on Iraq War I and I suspect she is even less happy about Iraq War II.

[Moderator]

7. Duplicate, please continue discussion in thread below.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x673667