Nader on the difference in Kerry and Gore

[Thrill]

For Mr. Nader, this represents a decidedly different strategy from the one he pursued in 2000 against Mr. Gore, whom he often ridiculed as symbolizing the corporatization that he said made the Democratic Party indistinguishable on many issues from the Republican Party.

Mr. Nader acknowledged as much afterward. The difference between Mr. Kerry and Mr. Gore "is the difference between a spruce tree and petrified wood," Mr. Nader said.

"Gore was petrified wood," he said. "He was stiff as a board, he didn't want to have these kinds of meetings. He didn't want to have meetings like this when he was vice president three years before the election. Kerry is much more open."

Mr. Kerry did not directly ask Mr. Nader to withdraw from the race, people at the meeting said. Mr. Nader said in the interview that Mr. Kerry had hinted at that idea in a telephone conversation several months ago but steered clear of the subject this time.

"He said something like, `We all have to do what we have to do,' and he's not challenging anybody's right," Mr. Nader said. "In that sense he's way ahead of his advisers."

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/20/politics/campaign/20KERR.html

[NMDemDist2]

1. well that's a start i guess

a few kind words from Nader

[Lefty Pragmatist]

4. A One Trial Learner?

Maybe Ralph did a little soul searching, asked himself whether his gadfly campaign of 2000 was worth all that has happened to the country at the hands of Bush, and decided that he's as responsible as anybody for the mess we're in.

That'd be a start. I met Nader, albeit 17 years ago, at a NYPIRG function in Albany. He's a straightforward guy (although his personal hygiene could use a little work), and there is no denying he is balls to the wall passionate about re-enfranchising the American voter. I'm sure he felt that was what he was working towards by running a grassroots campaign against a lousy Dem candidate in 2000.

But now he's running against a pretty decent Dem candidate -- one at least as good as Clinton, anyway. Like 100% of politicos he has an ego to sooth, but maybe he's a fairly easy nut to crack: a few nice words back from Kerry and kiss, kiss, Ralph withdraws for the good of the nation, stressing the damage W has wrought.

I can dream, anyway.

[jobycom]

2. What's the difference between a lying ego maniac and Ralph Nader?

The only difference he lays out between Kerry and Gore is that Kerry met with his highness and Gore didn't. And that's all Nader cares about.

Geeze, I can't tell him apart from Bush anymore. Both claim to be fighting for the little guy, both make up whatever they want to say on the spot and don't care whether it's true. Both are multi-millionaires who try to pretend they aren't. Both are union-busters. Both have been accused of insider trading. Both ran against Gore. Both are running against Kerry.

But oh yeah, Nader's a liberal, and the only true liberal on the planet, and anyone who doesn't drink Koolaid when he says to is just a slave of the DLC and corporations.

[fujiyama]

7. Nader is a complete ass

It's like he wants the democratic nominee to go over and kiss his godamn ring...

Either way, this was a smart move by Kerry. It shows that he wants to build a coalition. A few nice words by Nader regarding Kerry may help with a couple of Nader supporters, then again...it may do nothing...

[JI7]

3. i always said Gore ignoring Nader was Nader's biggest problem with him

bill clinton never personally met with nader, but he had others in his administration meet him and keep in contact with him.

but al gore seemed to totally ignore him and not even acknowledge him. even before this meeting kerry still acknowledged nader by saying how he will try to reach out to greens or nader voters.

[AP]

6. This was Gore's big problem too, perhaps.

I guess the polling must have been showing that Nader wasn't going to make a difference (the polling must have been showing at least a 200,000 vote margin of victory in Florida), so he really didn't need to do anything.

However, what would have been so difficult about having a meeting like the one Nader and Kerry just had?

[physioex]

5. Why dont we write Chevrolet...

And ask them to bring back the Corvair? Perhaps it might distract him long enough to get this campaign over with.

[Andromeda]

8. Lol,

very funny!:D

[Cheswick2.0]

9. at last he exposes his true aggenda

Nader just wants attention. Gore didn't give it to him. I wonder if St Ralph's foot hurts from stamping it so much?

[mzmolly]

10. So true.

:(

[Skinner]

11. I strongly suggest that people read the entire article.

Both Nader and Kerry seem to be approaching this very differently than in 2000. At this point, it seems possible that this will not be a replay of 2000. I was no fan of Nader's run in 2000, and I wish he were not running this year. But it sounds like both Kerry and Nader are being very careful this time. Sounds a little risky to me, but maybe there is a method to this madness. :shrug:

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/20/politics/campaign/20KERR.html

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. I too, cast a cautious vote for "method"