I couldn't find the photos, but here's an open letter from MWO to Nader:
AN MWO OPEN LETTER TO RALPH NADER
Dear Ralph,
A number of your supporters have written MWO asking why we have criticized you so sharply since 2000, and especially in connection with your recent appearance at
Grover Norquist's Wednesday Morning Group.It occurs to us that inquiries should really be directed to you.
In soliciting an invitation to Norquist's group, you knew exactly whom you were getting involved with, didn't you? Not a harmless assembly of conservatives or Republicans, as some of your supporters seem to think, but the national nerve-center of the hard-right wing advocacy groups and political machinery.The apex of coordinating the continuing right-wing attacks on economic justice, civil rights, freedom of choice, separation of church and state, gun safety, environmental protection, you name it.
And when you were there, you ingratiated yourself, seeking their support, noting that much of what they said was "good" and much of the rest at least "arguable," taking in their cheers and applause over your vital aid to them in the 2000 election, making fun of liberals as conspiracy freaks, winning kudos from Phyllis Schlafly and Grover himself.
Not all of your supporters seem aware of exactly who is involved in Norquist's Wednesday Group. So here's a partial list of the core members, which includes either leaders or representatives of:
-- The Christian Coalition
-- The National Rifle Association
-- The Free Congress Foundation
-- The Eagle Forum
-- Tom DeLay's office
-- The Republican National Committee
as well as representatives of the right-wing media, including (when they are in D.C.) the likes of John Fund and David Horowitz.
Now, Ralph, we don't see you out there these days soliciting invitations to meetings for and seeking the support of People for the American Way, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Alliance for Justice, the National Abortion and Reproduction Rights Action League, the Sierra Club, and similar liberal and progressive groups.
As far as you're concerned, it seems, YOU are the sole true embodiment of "progressivism," the one man who really speaks truth to power, the man who, in his passion to destroy the Democratic Party, will gladly keep the right-wing Republicans in power.
For you, it makes sense to run spoiler Green candidates against progressive liberal Democrats like Paul Wellstone, to insure their defeat so that the G.O.P. can retake the Senate in 2002.
For you, it makes sense to, in turn, give the G.O.P. the power to ram through George W. Bush's right-wing judicial nominees, consolidating the power of the Rehnquist-Scalia axis on the Supreme Court, and making the rest of the federal judiciary even more of a hotbed of right-wing activism than it is now.
For you, it makes sense to keep Tom DeLay in charge of the House of Representatives.
Let's face it, Ralph. You're so interested in destroying liberals that you'll meet with anyone and everyone who will aid that cause - including the Wednesday Morning Group.Isn't that right? Or what have we missed?
Not just to speak when invited - you will solicit invitations to the right-wing inner counsels.
To what end, Ralph? To "speak truth to power"? Do you really expect anyone to believe that? Especially when you couch your truth in such a way as to assent with the basic soundness of a good deal of what the ultra-right desires and proposes. Especially when you speak your truth in such a way as Phyllis Schlafly lauds "the underlying message of Ralph"?
Ralph Nader has emerged as an agent of the right-wing Republican Party.
Everything he says or does has the direct practical effect of making the right-wing Republicans stronger, in the long run as well as the short run.
Having received 2% of the vote from the American people - one-tenth of what the dime-store demagogue Ross Perot received in 1992 - he tries to elect as many extremist Republicans to office as possible and worsen the lives of most Americans, under the insane assumption that he will eventually emerge as the electoral man on horseback.
He uses whatever underhanded, anti-democratic tactics he can in order to do so.
He will run spoilers in close elections, like in Minnesota.
He backs term-limits, a quick and dirty way to deprive Americans of their right to vote for a candidate of their choice and improve prospects for the Greens and worsen the prospects for veteran Democrats.
He hopes and intends to inflict so much pain on the country that voters will have no choice but to acknowledge his greatness or perish.
Ralph cloaks these efforts and facts by appealing to and manipulating people's idealism, their hopes for a better America and a better world, all the while snuggling up to the most reactionary and vicious forces in our political life.
The gun nuts.
The anti-abortion nuts.
The theocratic nuts.
The neo-Confederate nuts.
The term limits nuts (term limits being a good thing for your little sect, right Ralph?).
The tort reform nuts (fighting for corporations against the interests of consumers being a good thing, too, right Ralph?)
Ralph, we believe that you owe your supporters and admirers, many of whom read and support MWO, explanations for your appearance at the Wednesday Morning Group, for your alliances, past and present, with Grover Norquist, and for your larger efforts that redound to the benefit of the right-wing Republican Party.
We hope you will take the opportunity provided by this Open Letter to offer those explanations.
Our columns are, as ever, open to you.
Sincerely,
MWO
Here's the link, but please note that it might look like a blank brown page. You have to do a text highlight for the letters to appear.
http://mediawhoresonline.net/naderletter.htmSee also:
Nader praises BushDid Nader want Bush to win?Nader: Unsafe in Any StateGang Green
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