June 23, 2004 -- NPR's Robert Siegel travels with independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader in Illinois and Indiana. Nader says he is running for the office as a way to steer the Democratic Party toward an agenda he advocates. The longtime consumer advocate wants would-be supporters to attend his rallies, but he says he wants them to feel free to cast their votes for Sen. John Kerry once they enter the voting booth -- especially in swing states where their vote might help defeat President Bush.
NPR article
I'm not supporting Nader, but I've been driven to arguing on other blogs lately that our country's problems are not because of third party voters, and that the answer to Bush's anti-democratic leadership is not to toss out voters' democratic rights by insisting people vote for Kerry even when they don't want him, just so we can get rid of Bush. There are other avenues to get rid of Bush, and no matter what, advocating restrictions on a person's democratic and constitutional rights, even for an important cause, is as wrong as Bush pressing war to get peace.
So now, finally, in light of what he has just said, can all you Democrats stop battling Nader and Nader supporters? And get your priorities back in line. Defeating Bush is paramount, but defeating democracy in the effort is tragic.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
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