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Nader: Obama Not Black Prez He Hoped For
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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DITTO...Way to go Nadar! Has anyone noticed how different Obama has been acting since he doesn't have to keep up with Hillary? Geez...this election has fizzled....the conventions are going to be SUCH a bore...YAWN!
Posted by: dar | Aug 6, 2008 12:37:44 PM
Nader's just looking for any publicity he can get. It's not easy to go from being an icon to being ignored but it is really bad taste for him to try to make news by saying that Obama is not his kind of African American candidate. Nader's not far from called Obama a 'house slave'. Just shows how outdated his thinking has become.
Posted by: bct424 | Aug 6, 2008 12:39:28 PM
Leave it to Nader to tell it like it is.
Posted by: Mack | Aug 6, 2008 12:41:27 PM
Nader lost all credibility when he said there was no difference between Gore and Bush in 2000 and helped to elect Bush! You've lost it Ralph.
Posted by: hopesprings52 | Aug 6, 2008 12:41:48 PM
obama.
change you can believe in.
like the easter bunny and the tooth fairey.
once that obama kool-aid wears off, you'll be awfully disappointed when you see he's just a corporate turd like the rest of em.
Posted by: joe | Aug 6, 2008 12:46:12 PM
Ralph Nader will get my vote as a protest vote. I can't bring myself to vote for the Republicans, but I will never vote for Barack Obama. He's using the same strategy against McCain as he did against Hillary - accusing white people who disagree with him of racism. And then denying he ever did such a thing. Typical ObamaSpeak.
Posted by: Jenny Berryman | Aug 6, 2008 12:48:10 PM
Obama is a joke. All "liberal" minded people should vote Nader in 08, for Obama doesn't represent what they stand for. Nader always has and always will!
Posted by: Mike | Aug 6, 2008 12:52:19 PM
Senator Obama can not get his facts right on energy, health care, Iraq War, etc. What are those 300 advisors doing?
Change you can believe it.
Socialism--tax and take from the rich, those who earned the dollars to those who do not earn the dollars.
Posted by: Martin | Aug 6, 2008 12:57:35 PM
OBAMA IS NOT THE ONE WHO RAILED ON PARIS HILTON, MCCAIN DID. NADER HAS NEVER WON ANYTHING AND NEVER WILL, HE IS LIKE MOST, ANGRY BECAUSE HE CANNOT GET AS FAR AS OBAMA HAS. NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK, OBAMA KNOWS BOTH WORLDS WHITE AND BLACK, AND THAT MAKES FOR A BETTER PRESIDENT, WHO CAN SEE A BIGGER PCITURE THAN SOMEONE ONLY THINKING WHITE OR THINKIING BLACK, OR HISPANIC, ETC. IF FOR ONCE IN OUR LIFE, WE CAN GET BEHIND A PERSON WHO HAS EVERYONE'S INTEREST AT HEART AND NOT A PARTICULAR GROUP, WE CAN BECOME THE NATION THAT THE WORLD RESPECTS AND WANT TO LIKE LIKE, INSTEAD OF HATING US. WE ARE SUPPOSE TO BE THE BETTER NATION, THE 21ST CENTURY NATION, BUT WE ARE WORST THAN ANY THIRD WORLD COUNTRY AND GOING BACKWARDS WITH THE RACIAL HATRED INSTEAD OF GETTING RID OF IT. MCCAIN DOES NOT HAVE ANY ORIGINAL IDEAS OF HIS OWN, WHATEVER OBAMA SAYS HE JUMP TO CARRY IT OUT TO MAKE HIMSELF LOOK GOOD. HE IS A FOLLOWER NOT A LEADER, AND THE BIGGEST THING, HE IS JEALOUS THAT A YOUNGER MAN OF MIXED HERITAGE IS MORE POPULAR THAN HE IS. AMERICA, YOU SAID YOU WANT CHANGE, GIVE OBAMA THE CHANCE TO MAKE SOME OF THOSE CHANGES, AND REMEMBER, THERE IS A CONGRESS AND SENATE THAT BLOCKS A LOT OF THE THINGS A PRESIDENT TRIES TO DO. WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS GETTING RID OF SOME OF THE WEAK SPINED PEOPLE BEEN SITTING IN WASHINGTON TOO LONG. THOSE SITS ALSO MAY DO GOOD WITH YOUNG BLOOD LIKE OBAMA. YOU CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS, HATING SOMEONE, BUT CALLING FOR CHANGE. YOU ARE GOING TO STOP YOUR OWN IGNORANCE AND WANT THE BEST OF THE BEST, HIRE OBAMA. HE IS NOT PERFECT IT IS TRUE, BUT NEITHER ARE ANY OF US LIVING, BUT TO KEEP HATING PEOPLE ON COLOR ALONE SHAME ON YOUR IGNORANCE. ONE LAST WORD, EVERY PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAS THE SAME RIGHTS AND CAPABLITIES TO BE WELL SPOKEN AND MANNERED AS OBAMA. NOT EVERYONE HAS TO CUSE AND USE BAD GRAMMAR BECAUSE THEY SEE IT IN THE MOVIES AND ON TELEVISION. DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT EVERY BLACK PERSON USES IMPROPER GRAMMAR, ABSOLUTELY NOT. IN FACT, ANY THOUGH PEOPLE WERE TAKEN FROM AFRICA AND ENSLAVED, THAT FIRST GENERATION OF SLAVES WERE ACTUALLY EDUCATED PEOPLE AND WERE TOTALLY OUT OF THEIR CULTURE COMING TO AMERICA AND OTHER COUNTRIES AND SLAVES. THE WHITE MAN WAS JEALOUS OF WHAT THESE PEOPLE HAD IN AFRICA AND THE ONLY WAY TO CAPTURE OR TAKE OVER WHAT THEY HAD WAS TO GET RID OF THEM. SO AS ALWAYS, YOU MAKE YOURSELF LOOK GREAT BY MAKING SOMEONE ELSE LOOK LESS THAN YOU. YOU MAKE THEM FEAR YOU, YOU TAKE AWAY ALL THAT IS FAMILAR AND GOOD FOR THEM. HOW DO YOU THINK AFRICA HAD KINGS AND QUEENS, THEY WERE NOT RUNNING AROUND NAKED AND WILD LIKE ANIMALS, THEY WERE HIGHLY EDUCATED AND CULTURED. THAT IS WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE WHITE MAN OF AMERICA TO FORBID THE SLACES TO READ AND WRITE, THEY NEEDED TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE THE BLACK NATION TO STAY IN THAT CHILD-LIKE, IGNORANT STATE THEY HAD CREATED FOR THEM, AND MAKE THE WORLD BELIEVE THEY WERE NOT FIT FOR ANYTHING. BUT THANKS BE TO GOD WHO DOES ALL THINGS WELL, AND MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE SLAVES TO BE GIVEN THEIR FREEDOM, FOR MAKE WHITE WOMEN WHO PRIVATELY TAUGHT SOME OF THEIR SLAVES TO LEARN TO READ AND WRITE. NOW THE BLACK RACE HAS SOME OF THE FINEST BLACK PEOPLE IN ALL OF AMERICA IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE, AND AMERICA NEEDS TO MAKE UP ITS MIND THAT THE BLACK NATION WAS WHERE LIFE BEGAN AND THE BLACK NATION WILL BE HERE WHEN THE LIFE ENDS. BLACK WHITE, BROWN, YELLOW, AND RED PEOPLE ARE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTER. NONE OF YOU MADE YOURSELF, WE CAME FROM ONE GOD, ONE BLOOD, AND ONE NATION. LIFE BEGAN IN AFRICA PEOPLE!
GIVE OBAMA A CHANCE, HE TRULY CANNOT BE ANY WORST THAN WHITE BUSH! DO YOU TRULY WANT CHANGE OR IS IT JUST A GOOD SOUNDING PHRASE?
GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO I.
Posted by: smarterthanall | Aug 6, 2008 12:58:28 PM
Please people, don't listen to Nader this time around. Thats what people did 8 years ago, he said that Gore and Bush were the same. He will say whatever to get attention and has no feel for real politics. Do we let McCain in, just because Obama is not the black President Nader wants, and wait how long for the next decent black leader?
I don't think, if you wanna vote for Obama because of the colour of his skin, the qualities he embodies are that important. What is important is that less than half a century after desegregation we could elect someone of his skin colour. That being said its time for a powerful progressive force in American politics, and that means Barack Obama.
Posted by: markymark | Aug 6, 2008 12:59:49 PM
OBAMA IS NOT THE ONE WHO RAILED ON PARIS HILTON, MCCAIN DID. NADER HAS NEVER WON ANYTHING AND NEVER WILL, HE IS LIKE MOST, ANGRY BECAUSE HE CANNOT GET AS FAR AS OBAMA HAS. NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK, OBAMA KNOWS BOTH WORLDS WHITE AND BLACK, AND THAT MAKES FOR A BETTER PRESIDENT, WHO CAN SEE A BIGGER PCITURE THAN SOMEONE ONLY THINKING WHITE OR THINKIING BLACK, OR HISPANIC, ETC. IF FOR ONCE IN OUR LIFE, WE CAN GET BEHIND A PERSON WHO HAS EVERYONE'S INTEREST AT HEART AND NOT A PARTICULAR GROUP, WE CAN BECOME THE NATION THAT THE WORLD RESPECTS AND WANT TO LIKE LIKE, INSTEAD OF HATING US. WE ARE SUPPOSE TO BE THE BETTER NATION, THE 21ST CENTURY NATION, BUT WE ARE WORST THAN ANY THIRD WORLD COUNTRY AND GOING BACKWARDS WITH THE RACIAL HATRED INSTEAD OF GETTING RID OF IT. MCCAIN DOES NOT HAVE ANY ORIGINAL IDEAS OF HIS OWN, WHATEVER OBAMA SAYS HE JUMP TO CARRY IT OUT TO MAKE HIMSELF LOOK GOOD. HE IS A FOLLOWER NOT A LEADER, AND THE BIGGEST THING, HE IS JEALOUS THAT A YOUNGER MAN OF MIXED HERITAGE IS MORE POPULAR THAN HE IS. AMERICA, YOU SAID YOU WANT CHANGE, GIVE OBAMA THE CHANCE TO MAKE SOME OF THOSE CHANGES, AND REMEMBER, THERE IS A CONGRESS AND SENATE THAT BLOCKS A LOT OF THE THINGS A PRESIDENT TRIES TO DO. WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS GETTING RID OF SOME OF THE WEAK SPINED PEOPLE BEEN SITTING IN WASHINGTON TOO LONG. THOSE SITS ALSO MAY DO GOOD WITH YOUNG BLOOD LIKE OBAMA. YOU CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS, HATING SOMEONE, BUT CALLING FOR CHANGE. YOU ARE GOING TO STOP YOUR OWN IGNORANCE AND WANT THE BEST OF THE BEST, HIRE OBAMA. HE IS NOT PERFECT IT IS TRUE, BUT NEITHER ARE ANY OF US LIVING, BUT TO KEEP HATING PEOPLE ON COLOR ALONE SHAME ON YOUR IGNORANCE. ONE LAST WORD, EVERY PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAS THE SAME RIGHTS AND CAPABLITIES TO BE WELL SPOKEN AND MANNERED AS OBAMA. NOT EVERYONE HAS TO CUSE AND USE BAD GRAMMAR BECAUSE THEY SEE IT IN THE MOVIES AND ON TELEVISION. DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT EVERY BLACK PERSON USES IMPROPER GRAMMAR, ABSOLUTELY NOT. IN FACT, ANY THOUGH PEOPLE WERE TAKEN FROM AFRICA AND ENSLAVED, THAT FIRST GENERATION OF SLAVES WERE ACTUALLY EDUCATED PEOPLE AND WERE TOTALLY OUT OF THEIR CULTURE COMING TO AMERICA AND OTHER COUNTRIES AND SLAVES. THE WHITE MAN WAS JEALOUS OF WHAT THESE PEOPLE HAD IN AFRICA AND THE ONLY WAY TO CAPTURE OR TAKE OVER WHAT THEY HAD WAS TO GET RID OF THEM. SO AS ALWAYS, YOU MAKE YOURSELF LOOK GREAT BY MAKING SOMEONE ELSE LOOK LESS THAN YOU. YOU MAKE THEM FEAR YOU, YOU TAKE AWAY ALL THAT IS FAMILAR AND GOOD FOR THEM. HOW DO YOU THINK AFRICA HAD KINGS AND QUEENS, THEY WERE NOT RUNNING AROUND NAKED AND WILD LIKE ANIMALS, THEY WERE HIGHLY EDUCATED AND CULTURED. THAT IS WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE WHITE MAN OF AMERICA TO FORBID THE SLACES TO READ AND WRITE, THEY NEEDED TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE THE BLACK NATION TO STAY IN THAT CHILD-LIKE, IGNORANT STATE THEY HAD CREATED FOR THEM, AND MAKE THE WORLD BELIEVE THEY WERE NOT FIT FOR ANYTHING. BUT THANKS BE TO GOD WHO DOES ALL THINGS WELL, AND MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE SLAVES TO BE GIVEN THEIR FREEDOM, FOR MAKE WHITE WOMEN WHO PRIVATELY TAUGHT SOME OF THEIR SLAVES TO LEARN TO READ AND WRITE. NOW THE BLACK RACE HAS SOME OF THE FINEST BLACK PEOPLE IN ALL OF AMERICA IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE, AND AMERICA NEEDS TO MAKE UP ITS MIND THAT THE BLACK NATION WAS WHERE LIFE BEGAN AND THE BLACK NATION WILL BE HERE WHEN THE LIFE ENDS. BLACK WHITE, BROWN, YELLOW, AND RED PEOPLE ARE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTER. NONE OF YOU MADE YOURSELF, WE CAME FROM ONE GOD, ONE BLOOD, AND ONE NATION. LIFE BEGAN IN AFRICA PEOPLE!
GIVE OBAMA A CHANCE, HE TRULY CANNOT BE ANY WORST THAN WHITE BUSH! DO YOU TRULY WANT CHANGE OR IS IT JUST A GOOD SOUNDING PHRASE?
GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO I.
Posted by: SMARTSENSE | Aug 6, 2008 1:00:32 PM
Gallup today: McCain 44%, Obama 46%. Obama continues to fall in the polls while McCain increases.
Posted by: david from texas | Aug 6, 2008 1:08:40 PM
Poll: Nearly half hearing too much about Obama
With Election Day still three months away, 48 percent said they're hearing too much about the Democratic candidate, according to a poll released Wednesday by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center. Just 26 percent said the same about his Republican rival, John McCain.
Two-thirds of Republicans and about half of independents said they've heard too much about Obama, as did a third of Democrats, a significant number.
At the same time, nearly four in 10 said they've been hearing too little about McCain — about four times the number who said so about Obama. About half of Republicans, four in 10 independents and even a quarter of Democrats said they've not heard enough about the GOP candidate.
Looks like the MSM plan to try and push Obama down America's throat has backfired. And now, it seems, with all of Obama's flip-flopping, that his campaign is beginning to implode.
Posted by: david from texas | Aug 6, 2008 1:11:44 PM
Senator Obama can not get his facts right on energy, health care, Iraq War, etc. What are those 300 advisors doing?
Change you can believe it.
Socialism--tax and take from the rich, those who earned the dollars to those who do not earn the dollars....Martin
________________________________________
Obama laid out a detailed and comprehensive energy plan on Monday. His main goal is to reduce Americans' dependence on foreign oil. What's McCain's plan? Drill Here and Drill Now!!
In the primaries Obama laid out a detailed health care plan which includes mandatory coverage for children. What's McCain's health care plan? Wasn't McCain the one that said social security is a disgrace?
And if Obama's Iraq policy is so wrong why is it that Iraq's Prime Minister supports troop withdrawl? Even the White House conceded to a "time horizon."
Martin please spare me with your Fox News talking points.
Nadar is clamoring to be a part of the discussion, but he's going about it the wrong way.
Posted by: Jennifer | Aug 6, 2008 1:19:52 PM
Nader is the number one example of a purpose without a life.
Posted by: bhciapol | Aug 6, 2008 1:21:15 PM
Ralph Nader recently received ballot access in California(Aug.2)and polled at 6% in a nationwide survey! The Corporate Media is nearly igonoring Him,
but NOT with ABC News. Good job for covering the huge Campaign of Ralph Nader in 2008. This year will surpass all previous Campaign efforts by Ralph Nader,-thank you Peace and Freedom Party of California!
Posted by: la4nader@gmail.com | Aug 6, 2008 1:21:25 PM
"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." ... Nadar, you are correct. It's also important to note that Pelosi and other democratic leaders are telling democrats who are up for re-election to just tell voters they are in favor of limited off-shore drilling so that they get re-elected, but they have no intention of actually lifting any ban - they plan to stall any proposed bill until after the election. Pelosi has been quoted as saying that, and Obama himself is no different. He will say he is in favor of limited off-shore drilling to win voters, it might fool some, but once in office, that ban will never be lifted. Another good reason to vote based on voting record rather than on what a politician says when he's running for office.
Posted by: MIssy M | Aug 6, 2008 1:22:34 PM
"Poll: Nearly half hearing too much about Obama"
After so much Sulfur-containing air coming out from the wrong end of a phony, it will make any clear headed person dizzy.
Posted by: fact check | Aug 6, 2008 1:23:41 PM
Markymark said, "What is important is that less than half a century after desegregation we could elect someone of his skin colour." No MarkyMark, that's not what's important in this election. The important thing is to elect THE RIGHT PERSON. John McCain says he'd rather lose an election than win the war. Obama says whatever he thinks people want to hear. The time will come for a minority president, hopefully sooner rather than later. Obama just isn't the right man.
Posted by: Octoroon | Aug 6, 2008 1:27:58 PM
Pelosi has been quoted as saying that, and Obama himself is no different. He will say he is in favor of limited off-shore drilling to win voters, it might fool some, but once in office, that ban will never be lifted. Another good reason to vote based on voting record rather than on what a politician says when he's running for office.
Posted by: MIssy M | Aug 6, 2008 1:22:34 PM
Very good point! Thats why she hurried everyone out to go on vacation so they could not vote on offshore drilling. Pelosi has basically gone "mad" and Obama is quickly following her lead!
Posted by: david from texas | Aug 6, 2008 1:29:19 PM
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