An Unreasonable Man: In Defense of Ralph Nader

I watched an Unreasonable Man Saturday night and was renewed with respect, admiration and awe of one of our greatest Americans. I am so tired of hearing that Ralph Nader is responsible for the past seven years. Because Nader ran the Democrats lost the White House? Give me a break. For one thing the movie, which is a very balanced look at this amazing American's life, disputes that evidence completely. And I can tell you first hand that if Ralph Nader were not in the race in 2000 I simply would not have voted.

Al Gore is a changed man, but in 2000 was a mini Republican as many still are today. And it amazes me, Eric Alterman in the movie basically tells Ralph Nader to move out of the country "you have done enough damage why don't you leave...thanks for the war, the tax cuts, the wiretapping, etc." It is so ridiculous as to defy logic. If Democrats would just give up the corporate ties to the party and get back to representing the people they could win every election, instead the corporate party of Al Gore flubbed the election to a bumbling, moron of a candidate George W. Bush. Nader did more for this country in one year of service than Alterman could do in three lifetimes. From bringing General Motors to their knees to the Clean Air Act his life is purely American.

And it angered so many that in 2004 he began another run. I have to say I was surprised then, though I still support his or anyone's right to run for office. This is America, there is no divine right to office. But, in the movie he meets with Kerry and says take three issues, labor, corporate welfare and corporate malfeasance, etc. and I will step away. But, he would not do it. And Kerry lost to an even worse George W. Bush. Now, there are flaws with this man, but who doesn't have flaws? If all of our elected leaders had such an uncompromising belief in our Constitution we would not be where we are today. After all who, but a democratic Congress just passed a new and improved wiretapping bill.

The Democrats have no one to blame, but themselves. Now, when they control Congress, both houses, they are beginning a strategy of compromise to keep this war going. They say this is Bush's war, which is true, but we elected the Democrats to end it. They have the power, it is called the power of the purse and could cut-off funding by not scheduling a vote among a myriad of other solutions. Instead, Harry Reid is negotiating with the Republican leadership. As Nader says in the movie "they have lost their nerve." And it is true.