Nader Sees Post-2000 Influence For Greens

[allenbutcher@juno.com]

Nader Sees Post-2000 Influence For Greens
 
Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader warned Monday that his
party will continue to challenge Democrats "unless they shape up." (AP
Photo) 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52500-2000Sep11.html
 
By David S. Broder
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 12, 2000; Page A12 


Green Party presidential nominee Ralph Nader said yesterday that he and
his backers will remain a presence in American politics, no matter what
his showing in November, and he warned Democrats they will continue to be
challenged from the left "unless they shape up." 


In an interview with Washington Post reporters and editors, the consumer
activist warned, "This party is not going to go away," but will continue
its pressure on economic issues beyond Election Day.


In response to questions, Nader conceded that Democrats are closer to his
views than Republicans on issues such as taxes and tobacco, but said he
believed neither party was prepared to address the "real issues of power"
in this country--largely because both are dependent on wealthy
individuals and corporations for campaign funds.


He was particularly scornful of Democratic vice presidential nominee
Joseph I. Lieberman, who he said "represents the corporate Democrats in
the Senate." Nader said that when Vice President Gore chose the
Connecticut senator as his running mate, Gore gave the lie to his own
populist rhetoric of fighting against "the powerful" interests in the
oil, tobacco and other industries.


"Joe Lieberman," he said, "is the real Al Gore."


Nader rejected the complaint from Democrats that his candidacy could tip
some states from Gore to Texas Gov. George W. Bush, asserting that most
of his support was coming from people who would otherwise not vote. "We
are aiming at young people," Nader said, "because they don't wimp out at
the end" when confronted by arguments that they are wasting their vote in
supporting a minor-party candidate.


Nader said he has more than 800 college campus coordinators and said that
when talking to students, he asks, "Do you think your member of Congress
should vote his conscience?" The vast majority answer affirmatively,
Nader said, "so I ask them, 'Then shouldn't you?' " His plea to them, he
said, is to "invest your vote" in a long-term political movement.


Nader described the Greens as "a sturdy, growing party" that will serve
as "a watchdog" on both major parties after the election. It plans to run
more candidates in local elections in coming years, he said, as well as
working in alliances to pass "living wage" standards and combat corporate
polluters.


Nader conceded that his support--which reached 7 or 8 percent in some
summer polls--may have eroded a bit in the wake of the major party
conventions, but said he was hopeful of "doing well" in as many as 10
states, ranging from Washington and Oregon to Connecticut.


He said that with a campaign budget of only $3.4 million, it was vitally
important for him to be included in at least some of the presidential
debates. While the Commission on Presidential Debates has set a standard
of 15 percent in major public polls for inclusion--one he admittedly is
unlikely to reach--Nader said there are many other organizations prepared
to sponsor four-way debates that would include him and the Reform Party
candidate, presumably Patrick J. Buchanan.


Nader said he had met recently with House Minority Leader Richard A.
Gephardt (Mo.) and found him "not displeased" with the prospect that new
voters Nader may attract to the presidential race will support Democratic
congressional candidates.


But Nader expressed skepticism that either party's leadership was
prepared to enact major campaign finance reforms and end what he called
"checkbook politics."


"As long as they say they can't disarm unilaterally" or cut themselves
off from corporate "soft money" contributions, he said, "you can't
believe their rhetoric."


© 2000 The Washington Post Company