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Nader: Obama Not Black Prez He Hoped For

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August 06, 2008 11:47 AM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader ripped Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., on Wednesday, saying that the presumptive Democratic nominee would not make the kind of African-American president that he and other members of the civil rights movement worked to make possible.

"People who have fought the civil rights battle -- politically, economically, legally -- as we have since the 50's would often talk about, 'Look what would happen if we had an African-American president or chairpersons of major congressional committees,'" said Nader. "It doesn't look like it's going to be what we all thought it would be."

"I lost respect for him," Nader said of Obama "when I saw him over a year ago on C-SPAN vigorously opposed to the impeachment of Bush and Cheney -- vigorously opposed. He said it would be 'divisive'. That is a cop out word. We have the most multiply impeachable presidency in American history."

Nader made his comments at a breakfast with reporters in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor. It was not the first time that the perennial presidential candidate has been critical of the Democrat who would be the nation's first African-American president. Back in June, in an interview with the Rocky Mountain News, Nader accused Obama of downplaying poverty issues, trying to "talk white" and appealing to "white guilt" during his run for the White House.

The liberal consumer rights activist has become a pariah among many in the Democratic Party who blame him for tipping the closely contested 2000 election from then-Vice President Al Gore to then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush by winning 97,421 votes in the State of Florida.

Nader portrayed Obama's recent softening of his opposition to off-shore drilling as part of a broader effort to blur his differences with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Nader charged that the "blurring" that Obama is engaged in would prove to be a "fatal mistake."

"That's part of his blurring," said Nader, referring to Obama's new stance on drilling. "His handlers said, 'McCain is scoring here.' So he blurs, he blurs."

Obama told a Florida newspaper last week that he would be willing to compromise his opposition to off-shore drilling if it were necessary to win congressional approval of a broader overhaul focused on renewable sources of energy.

Nader said that he is making his third run for president in order to challenge a two-party system that he thinks has become "homogenized" by corporate power.

Nader identified seven areas as core differences with Obama and McCain: (1) a willingness to investigate corporate crime, fraud and abuse; (2) a commitment to a universal health-care system in which the government, not private companies, acts as the insurer; (3) a commitment to cutting a "bloated" military budget; (4) support for the impeachment and possible prosecution of President Bush and Vice President Cheney; (5) a living wage of $10/ hour; (6) a tax overhaul which would target Wall Street speculation; and (7) a commitment to making ballot access easier for candidates who do not belong to the two major parties.

August 6, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (283)

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I agree with Nader!

Posted by: ObamaKnew | Aug 6, 2008 11:59:13 AM

Not Prez of any color, shade, gender anyone who has some brain would hope for.

Posted by: fact check | Aug 6, 2008 12:03:56 PM

Obama isn't black enough for... Ralph Nader?

Lol, what?

Posted by: Paul | Aug 6, 2008 12:05:46 PM

Obama vigorously opposed to the impeachment of Bush and Cheny -- vigorously opposed. He said it would be 'divisive'. That is a cop out word.
====

Defending the Constitution is not a matter of 'divisiveness', Mr. Constitutional Law "professor". Hundreds of thousands people lost their lives in the Civil War to make this phony empty head possible. Yet, he defends Bush for fear of "divisive".

In case you cannot comprehend, Mr. Constitution prof, impeachment by definition is divisive.

Posted by: fact check | Aug 6, 2008 12:09:21 PM

Paul,

Late today. You? Hope you will change your mind today.

Posted by: fact check | Aug 6, 2008 12:10:13 PM

"Hope you will change your mind today."

Lol. We both know that isn't going to happen. In fact (no pun intended), I'd like to know if anyone ever changed their political opinion based on these message boards. But that aside, it is fun, huh?

Posted by: Paul | Aug 6, 2008 12:14:30 PM

Nader's just looking for attention by attacking Obama. He's adopting McCain's strategy to do that as well. Nader's been running every election. This guy's ridiculous.

Posted by: Chris | Aug 6, 2008 12:15:55 PM

I don't think he is there to be a black president, I think he is there to be the United State of American President.

Posted by: Nelson | Aug 6, 2008 12:17:07 PM

Nader is becoming more & more ignoraqble.
Obama would do good not to respond except the MSM is going to parade Nader around for the next 2 days

Posted by: watching | Aug 6, 2008 12:18:01 PM

Paul - Maybe tomorrow then, after the empty head airs something really really offensive, even to you.

Posted by: fact check | Aug 6, 2008 12:20:42 PM

This is a lame attempt for Nader to get free publicity at Obama's expense.

Posted by: Jennifer | Aug 6, 2008 12:20:54 PM

agreeing with Nader gives someone a lot of credibility...lol

this guy has become a parody of himself just wants face time

Posted by: dl | Aug 6, 2008 12:21:50 PM

Paul -

Look what you got in your choice!

A vigorously defender of Bush and Cheney, who supports Cheney's oil pals, putting aside his sworn duty of defending and protecting the Constitution.

Posted by: fact check | Aug 6, 2008 12:23:26 PM

fact: "Maybe tomorrow then, after the empty head airs something really really offensive, even to you."

McCain is coming out with another ad so soon?

Posted by: Paul | Aug 6, 2008 12:24:26 PM

Really Nader... I find it interesting that you sat around picturing what a black president should look like.
One thing that he forgot... Obama is not black, he is black and white, I guess you can say he is gray! Maybe that is why he does not see just one shade but sees several. This will make him a great president. He is willing to look further than his face.

Posted by: beck | Aug 6, 2008 12:24:57 PM

fact: "A vigorously defender of Bush and Cheney, who supports Cheney's oil pals, putting aside his sworn duty of defending and protecting the Constitution."

Well, we don't distort the facts much, do we? Lol.

Posted by: Paul | Aug 6, 2008 12:26:36 PM

Haters everywhere I go.. OBAMA 08

Posted by: Lawrence | Aug 6, 2008 12:26:58 PM

Says Nader and his buddies. Does he have any? What a joke!

Posted by: DAVID NH | Aug 6, 2008 12:29:06 PM

Go Ralph! I had written him off a long time ago, but why not? Bambi and McNutball are equally reprehensible choices, so if ol' Ralph plays the spoiler once again, so be it.

OUTSOURCE THE PRESIDENCY!

Posted by: La Chatte | Aug 6, 2008 12:32:15 PM

The empty head is so afraid of George that he has been chicken away from any debate, after being asked a medium softball question in his last debate appearance.

Now he can only hope Ifil could be a rescue.

Posted by: fact check | Aug 6, 2008 12:37:31 PM

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