Ralph Nader speaks on an Obama presidency pt2

[dexter21380]

"Bill Fletcher, black commentator", what is that supposed to mean? LoL.

[98bigbutt]

Black people were the most retards for supporting Obama in 2008 because they actually thought he speaks for black people. Fucking niggers.

[TehFlamingLipz]

The guy with glasses sounds a little fucking stupid in a conversation with Ralph Nader

[metalreign81]

Ralph is so damn sharp he puts most folks to shame. Even after all these years he hasn't lost a step. A lot of folks in the Democratic Party hate him for 00' and 04', but I think he did what was necessary and I wish he had been elected. He doesn't have the necessary people skills to run for president--he's not a good salesman in that department.

Many voters were completely ignorant on Obama's position on a number of issues---the same thing was true of Bush

[lainfi888]

Let's give NADER a try .

vote nader 2012

[TheMartinez08]

its time t odestroy the 2 party system

[invaliduser1000]

Unbeliveable, ,, nader was spot on with his prediction,s, , REALLY sucks when asshole,s like obama continue to transfer bank debt to public debt, A true scumbag,,, LONG LIVE HAMAS

[allusionify]

2010 can you see how television and propaganda can brainwash even some of the brightest minds.

[kagasan2008]

Fletcher and Morris are morons, totally out of their league there with Nader. It's also painfully obvious that they don't think clearly or really very rationally about how the governments works, however corrupt, or how the American people in general, who are only about 15% black, actually see things. Nader, on the other hand, is absolutely spot on.

[Draeco]

that fletcher dude has no idea what he's talking about. Poor Mr. Nader, he's way out of their league..

[ghahandi]

When Clinton shutdown bases in California, I and many others were not too happy, because of the economy boost they provide. I am a vet with eight years in (during Vietnam). I consider myself patriotic. However, now I can see clearly why they were shut down. Bush gave a windfall of hundreds of billions to military spending. The plan was to build bases in the middle East. It was announced today 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. Who beneifits?

[DaHonestAbe]

Cuoy Bono.

[ghahandi]

Corporate America Beneifts. Halliburton, Bechtel, Exxon/Mobil. Who loses? The thousands of military families that have lost loved ones (or had them return maimed) .and our domestic economy has lost..a lot.

[MustacheVerra]

Nader is right!

[DrewDawg50]

That guy is hardly black.

[likecrunchyness]

@DrewDawg50

You don't decide whose black or not.

[bryshning22]

Yea, unfortunately an end to Clinton years didn't happen as Obama placed Clintonian era cronies in his cabinet. Also an end to Bush era? Please, look at the director of the CIA!

[SCOOTERBALLUSA]

The United Third Party Write In Candidate Endorsed all third parties making all other ballots other then dem and gop one ballot. By doing this the Leqal Precedent now exists for a Third Party Unification to win the 2008 Ballot. The Great White Hope of the Media is betraying the basic electoral system.

[paul8kangas]

Nader & Peace & Freedom Party are now on the ballot in 45 states. First time in history. Now we are holding a series of national conferences to prepare for 2012. Our first conf. will be in LA 12-6, to field candidates for 2010 in every state election. Nader succeeded in opening up the nation to its first Third Party. Most of the greens, that did not vote for BO, have now switched to the PFP.

[aquafishsoup]

fuck the eagle fuck the left wing of it fuck the right wing of it put in the potato

[crazygolfer333]

Nader got in the head of Jimmy Carter...and look how that administration turned out.

[bbqvegan]

I love my Nader!

[shaneshu]

"you have a bug on your shoulder

and it's not the CIA"

HA!

[nosuchthingasshould]

naivete(complacency?)of nader and his followers stops them from realising that only throug violence or threat of it can they hope to overturn socioeconomic order.

[poop121]

not necessarily.

[DANxCHORIN]

That's not necessarily true at all. Not even the most determined revolutionaries have advocated violence or the threat of violence as the answer to every problem. As you probably know, there are lots of different answers to different problems, and the non-violent approach is one of them. Personally, I only advocate violence in self-defense, the same as Malcolm X.

[nosuchthingasshould]

non-violent aproaches, such as the civil rights movement in the sixties, can work speciffically because they show a wilingnes of great mass of people to sacrifice themselves for the achievement of the goal. threath of violence is implicit in this. give us what we want, while we are asking nicely. no one needs to say 'or else', it would spoil the effect. that's what i ment by a 'threat of violence'.

[DANxCHORIN]

That's true. But the movement behind Nader is not large enough to threaten violence.

[nosuchthingasshould]

because he doesn't communicate with the masses. he has a program that is detailed, specific, and he thinks that by getting people to understand his arguments, he'll somehow create a mass movement.

[nosuchthingasshould]

that's total bollocks. that's not how MLK, or ghandi, or Mandela did it. no, they took a popular sentiment that was already there, something deep and wide, and then rode that swell, just making inspirational speaches. they'd never achieve any of this if they had to explain their program t every new potential member of the group.

[nosuchthingasshould]

Nader doesn't have such wave to ride on. his issues are not shared by a large enough constituency. he'd have to drop a lot of the progressive pet causes to get a mass appeal with the working/lower middle class whom his economic agenda should benefit. that would alienate him with his current base. in this he is weirdly simmilar to Palin. each trapped within their own hardcore base. although hers is larger.

[nosuchthingasshould]

want to get somewhere? find a cause that touches the masses (was car safety, now make it i.e. healthcare) and be it's voice.

[mad3moyer]

Many of Nader's issues ARE shared by the majority of people, and single payer healthcare has been one of, if not the biggest of his issues and platforms. The problem is not about finding causes, it's about the media covering him (as well as other third party candidates), and the two parties letting go of their political stranglehold on this country. 2/3 of the country did not know Nader was running until election day, and less than 2% of voters could name all six viable candidates.

[nosuchthingasshould]

many of his issues are shared, yes, but he then goes and sinks them by also comitting to every other progressive cause against which the wider public are culturally conditionned. so what if he is for national healthcare, which is an issue that could run with the working class. he's allso for all the damn 'tree huggers''queers''welfare queens' n'not tough on 'criminals'. and he doesnt show sufficient awe n' repect to the militry. these are things that won't fly with the mainstream working class.

[nosuchthingasshould]

and let's not forget he's policies are socialist, which in it self is a mortal sin as far as all the joes are concerned. and this is all about winning over the joes . as for him being ignored by the media, of course he is. you know the game is rigged, so why play it? and he makes it so easy, by holding positions that are downright 'unamerican'. pidgeonholing and dismissing him is so easy. he should never run for office. never. pick one cause. one that wide masses will agree on.

[nosuchthingasshould]

avoid hanging ideological albatrosses arround your neck. stick to emotions. that obama ad, where he showed people suffering because of no NHS- pure emotions, not a single word of ideology or policy. this is how you do it, or you lose. dont expect fair treatment from the media. the game is rigged and you know it. dont run for office, dont fight on their territory, you'll loose. run the cause, campaign for it.volunteers going door to door handing out leaflets in the streets

[nosuchthingasshould]

with testimonies of families suffering due to no healthcare. meetings where there is no activist lecturing the masses, but regular people standing up and telling the shit that happened to them, their famillies. go through churches- stop that anti-religious crap. im an atheist, but if you want to stand up for the working man, first accept him for what he is, and that's religious. turn the lies and false promisses against those who made them. people kicked out of their homes?

[nosuchthingasshould]

have those kids who come to listen to nader at universities do something usefull. have them put on obama t-shirts and do a sit in in a foreclose house to stop the bailifs. have them hold signs with 'change' (first i thought 'change we were promised' but thats too confrontational for the first action, mabe later). a bunch of people in obama t-shirts, getting dragged away by police, hopefuly beaten up- that will be reported, and will give you more effect than a dozen ridiculous runs for office.

[0613162k]

but he doean't support single payer healthcare. He still supports the pay or die system but says you'll be able to purchase healthcare at a lower price.

Wh not challenge this "welfare" mentality in saying if we can accept public education & the military service is paid for with taxes, then why not healthcare.

It's not profitable but expensive to take care of the elderly, so it is unethical to have comercial healthcare which Nader challenges.

[mad3moyer]

If by tree hugging you mean investing heavily in alternative clean evergy, which he wants, then yes, that is shared by the majority.

If by queers, you mean equal rights for gay couples, the majority are in favor of that as well.

Explain how Nader is for what you call 'welfare queens.'

Of course not EVERY view he has is shared by a majority, that would be pandering. However, most of his platforms and proposals would be benificial to the majority of Americans. You can bet they support that.

[0613162k]

Having respect for the military doesn't mean sending them to pointless & illlegal wars & occupation that profit the war profiteer military industry & oil companies at the expense of civilians & the troops.

Iraq Veterans Against the War supported candidates like Nader & Ron Paul. It was the Iraq Veterans Against War leading anti war & occupation protests at the DNC & RNC. They suffer war whilat others wave a flag to support a war they don't feel is nessecary to fight.

[0613162k]

"tree hugger queers"

It's shameful if you're saying discrimination is a majority sentiment.

So what if he supports people who are gay to have equal rights not just in benifits which is where Democrats stand, but in status of married couples rather than say they're 2nd class civil unions. There was once a time when mixed racial marriages was frowned upon. It doesn't affect us & there's suppossed to be a seperation between church & state in policies which is majority sentiment.

[0613162k]

It's not just about the media covering Nader & 3rd parties, but not covering there supporters.

Think how many surrogates Obama, Hillary & Mcain had monopolising the media, including the so called "news" presenters themselves.

When they bring them on they put them in their place by saying they "can't win", question why they run & which of the major candidates the'lll support & not question why half a million people voted Nader knowing he wouldn't win so block out the issues.

[mad3moyer]

Yes, Nader actually had quite a few things go unnoticed by the media. Most campaign speeches/rallies, only candidate to campaign in all 50 states, world record for most campaign speeches in a day. Not that these things qualify you to be a good president, but you can bet if Obama or McCain had done any of these things, the media would have been all over it. They even made a stink about the 106 year old coming out to vote for Obama (ignoring the 108 year old woman who did the same for Nader).

[henpage]

i dont agree with that. 'lower/middle' class? those without healthcare? those roped into a life of wage slavery and corporate consumerism?

I know what your trying to say, but I Tthink a change in media practices, and a popular movement, would probablt change the national conciousness. Palin people are a lot more unique than the sort of people that could (and should) support Ralph Nader, or kucinich or gravel etc if only they would realise it.

[nosuchthingasshould]

change in media practices? change national consciousness? could (and should)support ralph? should??? what, you're gonna ask them? deal with the reality the way it is, not the way you think it should be.

and this: if only they would realise it - god wept.

sorry i know you're sincere and i'm being a bastard, but 'no such thing as should' - ok?

[nosuchthingasshould]

these guys are all trying to comfort themselves by reading too much into 'what people want' as signified by this election.

here's what people really want from their leaders: 'make it be good, now'

that's all it boils down to. he who ventures beyond consensus loses.

he who is best at delivering slogans while reassuring the real 'deciders' is allowed to win.

[FireGuyX]

You don't know what people really want.

[nosuchthingasshould]

yes i do. i work with regular people, not activists of any kind. i'm sure you do as well. so you know what they want just as well as i do: make it good, right now, say it'll be even better tommorow, and dont bother us with the details. he who fails to recognise that, and starts relaying on people's knowledge of issues, looses the ellection. he who goes with just slogans wins

[wnxsilence]

Nader has no chance in the corporate fascism of American politics, but he still is a brilliant man, and a working class fighter.

The world needs more honest politicians like Nader.

[IskenderKebabi]

American people are not bright to understand these issues, people like Nader or Ron Paul can never be elected ever

[LoneDerangerer]

defeatist attitudes are not helpful to this cause.

[MooseOfReason]

Maybe not president, but Nader could be elected to Congress. He wouldn't do that, though, because he said he wants to create enthusiasm for his policies. And he says the best way to do that is to run for president.

Ron Paul is actually in Congress. He was unopposed for his 11th term in the House.

[sinitskyd]

No, it's not just Reagan,Bush,Clinton,Bush. Unfortunately, it started from President Wilson/JPMorgan/JDRockefeller and Federal Reserve. And then baby boomer generation with their hedonism and paganism added fuel to the fire. Well, lets see how they retire now...

[Rahab111222]

Hehe "Nader you've got a bug on you, and it's not from the CIA!"

[fc196582]

Obama is not a victory for Black America or any other color America He works fot Them!!! Not us!!! Wake up Sheeple!!!

[richidpraah]

there's nothing more sheepish than using the word "sheeple" - well that would only be being a consumer capitalist conspiracy victim in the vein of alex jones and rest of the bozo's nwo veil of endlessly ironic co-opting your mind to the exact same premises that their pathological fabrications are all about, which is tragicomically what happens when you allow yourself to descend to that level of entertainment epistemology and intellectual lazyness!

sincerely,

one of them

[rell127]

The main reason why Nadar wasn't looked at as a major candidate is because he did stupid shit in the begging. Instead of making his voice be heard on youtube and other social sites when he first came out what does he do??? The same things that cost him before. I mean it's funny how he said they wont give him a shot but he has the opportunity to make a change and a big fuss but he never takes it. I think sometimes he doesn't care.

[Freidlon7]

In the 'begging'!! What does that mean??

I think the power of the net has been slightly overstated during this election. If you don't get the TV and mainstream coverage you don't get anywhere. Look at Ron Paul who was way ahead of everyone else in Net polls and hits etc but when push came to shove he got unfavourable coverage on TV and disappeared without a trace in the end. When the net truly becomes a big player you'll see corporate USA get more involved and they already are... Nadar is vital

[rell127]

Not true because when Obama was only a president hopeful he used the net heavily the media over looked him every time. IT was the internet that helped Obama everyone knows it. The black part didn't because there were over 20 presidential hopefuls and did they win?? Also if the net is that important why are any of us on it looking at the real news network???

[Freidlon7]

I'm sure the Net is becoming increasingly more important and will become gradually more important, suggesting it won't be long before it's more closely regulated and gaurded. I just think, and I've heard many commentators say, that it's been slightly over stated this time around and main stream TV is still by far the most influencial medium for getting your 'message' across to vast amounts of people. I suggest we'll find out more in the coming months...

[rell127]

Actually Obama was higher than he was.

[blackiron60]

This is excellent and absolutely necessary criticism that we certainly are not seeing anywhere else.

[joelramirezramirez]

its not a democracy if all third paries who can field on all 50 states,are not given equal access through f.c.c. broadcast debates.

[Freidlon7]

A LEGEND. Very sad and unfair that he is given no time whatsoever by mainstream media as if he's some kind of nut and yet he talks the most sense. I don't know how he does it but he keeps going and going. True American hero proving that to be a hero you don't have to go off killing foreigners in a country you shouldn't even be in...

[rell127]

It's becaue Nadar has been doing dumb shit time in and time out instead of letting Obama take over the net he should have did it. He will just just write more books and more other things. Also it's funny how Nadar says this and Obama had basically been running how Nader ran in the past.

[mad3moyer]

rell127: Explain when/how he got the opportunity for a fair run? Equal news coverage? Presidential Debates? Also, how did Obama "basically" run the same kind of campaign?

Don't pretend you're ignorant enough to believe that youtube/social sites are equal to national TV/media coverage. Nader had hundreds of online videos and online articles. The number of people who viewed even some of them does not equal 10% of the people who watched ONE debate, or watch a 1/2 hour of news in a day.

[rell127]

See i wasn't disrespecting you in any shape way or form. I was only stating a fact that people watch sites like youtube more now than they watch the regular news. The reason is people are tired listening to the corporate media tell them what to think all the time. Also the reason why the people watch more of the debates was because they felt more comfortable with Obama than Nadar. I mean im not saying he is but even in this interview Nadar always comes off as an angry man. Also he had hundreds

[rell127]

following the last one Obama had thousands. I mean you truly think about it sites like youtube has changed the way we view things. The real news has done things to help people to see outside the corporate media. Nadar is good but he come off saying what we need to, here he talks about what they did wrong but not what they did. I mean Nadar is a great and admirable man. He just lacks what people see in their leaders.

[rell127]

Also the Nadar could have gotten on the debates if he pushed harder and made his voice be heard which he didn't. I mean i seen woman on the green party on tv way more than nadar was and why is that??

[mad3moyer]

Third, the most highly watched video on youtube EVER has 107 million hits, and that video was added nearly two years ago. CNN BY ITSELF attracts 70 million viewers in one month. There is no comparison.

Learn about things before you try to engage in a conversation involving them. There is nothing that looks more foolish than someone saying what they think it true, when it is not.

PS: Green Party "lady" you mentioned is Cynthia McKinney, since you clearly did not know that either.

[rell127]

I wasn't sure her name thats why i said i didn't know. Also thats not true more and more people are using the net to get their information. Also Obama biggest supporters were people that like yotube.

[mad3moyer]

I'll assume you conceeded the Presidential Debate argument.

Exactly what is not true? I will tell you again, the highest viewed video on youtube (which has nothing to do with politics) has 107 million hits in a period of almost 2 years. CNN by itself draws 70 million viewers a month. By your theroy of social sites/youtube being equal to network TV, YOU or anyone else could run for president in 2012 and generate the same amount or more attention than Obama. That's silly and you know it.

[mad3moyer]

And what exactly defines Obama's "biggest supporters?" What percentage of voters do they make up? You think senior citizens, soccer moms, poor minorities who can't afford internet, are looking up political videos on youtube? I'll tell you what though, 99% of them watch TV.

[DarkTruth33]

Agreed. I voted for Nader. This is the very line of thinking we need at the top. If I were him, I would start his next run a year earlier than everyone else.

[rell127]

He doesn't do this because i feel he doesn't truly want to win but be a symbol of change and a symbol for saying don't vote for party lines.

[DarkTruth33]

Now that I think about it, I think you are right. Like Ross did back in the 90s.

[rell127]

See someone understand what im saying thanks

[mad3moyer]

First, stop pretending you know about Ralph Nader when you don't even know the correct spelling of his name.

Second, learn about the rules of the Presidential Debates and how the heads of it, and their rules make it impossible for alternative candidates to join them. Bush invited Perot on in 1992 because he thought Perot would hurt Clinton. Then, in 1996, despite his billions of dollars and polling double digits, Perot was denied a spot. Read up on why.

[mengwise36]

What he is doing now might help. Start from grass root and start NOW.

[Cyrius01]

do they really need the plasma screen in the middle?

[Panpiper]

"You've got a bug on your shoulder and it's not from the C.I.A." Heh. Good one.

[LTBL88]

finally some realism

[rdority]

I love the candidness..it makes it more Real.

Anyway, Thank You!

[kurydebarcelona]

somebody please give caffeine to fletcher, he is so f#&%ng slow!

[kapaka12]

especially for an 8 minutes long interview