Nader is a "legit" candidate in the media... why not the Libertarian?

[MallRat]

I was thinking about this... Nader is probably about as well-funded as whoever the Libertarian Party nominee is going to be (I think Gary Nolan is leading the delegate count?). And it's entirely possible, when the dust settles, that Nolan will actually be on more ballots than Nader.

So why shouldn't the mainstream media start including Nolan in polls, TV coverage, interviews, etc.? There are plenty of people who just don't want to vote Bush or Kerry, and think that Nader is their only option.

My friend is one of these: he's a life-long Republican who is absolutely disgusted with Bush. He told me this week that he refuses to vote for him, but that he can't bring himself to vote for Kerry. So who will he vote for?

Nader- a man whose platform is practically 180 degrees the opposite of my friend's point of view on EVERYTHING. My friend didn't even consider voting for the Libertarian candidate because he thought that would be a "wasted vote." :eyes:

The point is this: what's good for the goose is good for the gander. If Nader is considered a legitimate alternative to Kerry and pulling votes away on the left, then why isn't Nolan being put forth as a legitimate alternative to Bush to pull votes away on the right?

-MR

[trumad]

1. who

[Wetzelbill]

Because he'd take votes away from Bush of course

You got it.

[West Coast Democrat]

2. Conservative Media Bias........

....helping the candidate who helps Bush.

[MallRat]

3. It just doesn't make sense...

...why Ralph Nader and (ostensibly) Gary Nolan aren't treated exactly the same way in the media. If Nolan got as much pub as Nader, HE'D be polling at 3-5%, most of it coming from Bush.

-MR

[boxster]

4. The Libertarian didn't help get Bush elected.

Though it pains me to say this, Nader has - and probably deserves - more legitimacy than other third-party candidates, because he a) helped Bush steal the election, and b) got a significant number of votes in 2000.

[emulatorloo]

5. Why advocate Nolan? Why not get us to help convince yr friend to vote JK

Tell your friend he may as well vote for Bush if he votes for Nader.

If he really wants to send a message to Bush, why not vote for Kerry? Just hates Dems?

Rather than advocating Gary Nolan, what will it take to convince your friend that "Kerry is not so bad?"

[MallRat]

6. It's asking a bit much to fully convert him.

He's a true believer in the free market system: big Ayn Rand fan.

If I've convinced him to NOT vote for Bush, that's a pretty good start. But fully deprogramming him after 35 years of indoctrination? That's tough.

Besides, we're in Massachusetts... I think Kerry should have enough votes to win here. :-)

[mitchum]

11. Christ! He's 35 and still an Ayn Rand fan???!!!

I thought people outgrew their enthusiasm for her tin-eared twaddle by about 19 or so

[durutti]

7. Because he's polling 6 percent?

Just a guess.

[Oddman]

8. There are lots of fringe candidates like Nader

but there is only one real candidate and there is a useless puke opposing him . . .

[leftyandproud]

9. We need to encourage the main parties to allow ALL third parties to debate

I'm really sick of the two party duopoly...The dems & reps just don't want any competition, or any real choice for Americans. I absolutely love the greens on some issues...same deal with the Libertarians. Both parties are saying many things that need to be said and advocating things that the two major parties completely ignore. We need to bring them all into the debate...give them 50 state ballot access and give every American more choices. It will be good for our democracy. Libertarians are a major anti war party...They want to end the drug war, starting with marijuana legalization...they want absolute separation of church and dramatically reducing our military presence overseas. Greens are very strong on social issues, environmental issues, etc. The third parties are the only ones truly speaking our with force against the Bu$h policy of pre-emptive war...We get a tepid condemnation from most democrats, but when it comes time to vote, they are afraid to stand on principle for fear of what the other side might say. Look at the Patriot Act...How many congressmen actually read the act before voting unanimously for it? ZERO. Ugh...I really wish we could get the 3rd parties more air time. These guys should be considered legitimate candidates but instead they are both smothered by the corporate media. We need to end it, and give America some real choices.

[UTUSN]

10. Why Not Somebody/Anybody Who Will BEAT THE CRAP out of Shrub?

(Oh, excuse me.)