Nader tries to jump on FISA disappointment
Ralph Nader, the consumer advocate mounting an independent bid for president, is trying to capitalize on liberal dismay with Barack Obama's stand on anti-terror wiretaps to peel supporters away.
The presumptive Democratic nominee offered support, though somewhat qualified, to the bill passed by the House last week. Though he opposes immunity for telephone companies that took part in President Bush's warrantless wiretapping, Obama says he will support the bill when it comes to the Senate on Wednesday if the provision is not deleted.
Many liberal Democratic bloggers have excoriated the House leadership and expressed disappointment in Obama, who said during the primaries that he would filibuster against the immunity provision.
Nader's campaign, in an email to supporters, said today that the issue is the latest proof that Obama is not that progressive.
"From the beginning, we saw through Obama's "Change You Can Believe" mantra," the email says. "Obama is just another corporate candidate. At times, he might sound like a progressive. But he's not.
"That's why we're here," the Nader missive continues. "We're here to give the American people a choice in November. You can support the corporate candidates -- Obama and McCain. Or you can shift the power from the corporate candidates and the corporations to the people. And support Nader/Gonzalez. Increasingly, progressives and liberal Democrats are seeing the light and breaking away. What's your breaking point?"
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Yes, Nader-Gonzalez is trying "to peel voters away" from Obama. Because Obama owns them, and any other candidate who tries to compete does so only by "stealing," "siphoning" or "peeling away" voters from the major party candidates. This is political bigotry and it should be exposed and rejected whenever and wherever it rears its ugly head.
Obama is for sale. His positions on ethanol, nuclear power and credit cards are bought and paid for by his big contributors. See opensecrets.org. His message to supporters is "Take it or leave it." Ralph Nader and his voters are not for sale.
p.s. Nader, not Obama, has the largest percentage of small contributors.
Obama had pledged that he will not accept any money from lobbyists. But Obama and McCain will continue to take money from corporations, special interests and PAC's. Nader will not. Now despite pledging to the contrary, Obama will forgo Public Financing. There's nothing noble about this gesture since Obama knows that he will collect much more than $84 million during the General Election. Now the LA Times/Bloomburg poll released today indicates that factoring Nader into the 2008 race increases Obama's lead over McCain. Unless Nader runs, Obama will continue drifting to the right.
The Democrats in Congress have buckled again against Republican abuse! We must vote out all those Dems who have "caved" in and betrayed their constituents. There's a few "Progressive" Dems left like Congressman Wexler from Florida and Senator Russ Feingold from Wisconsin.
I am voting my conscience this year, I am supporting Nader!!! I don't care who wins and/or loses. If we keep supporting the "lesser of the two evils" we are going to continue getting crapped on over and over again!
Most know, once elected, politicians disappoint. One of the reasons why it is really sad to see so many on the Obama band wagon actually thinking he will make changes that will be beneficial to those who do not pay to play. Real change requires someone with a proven record of success measured by a standard set many years ago - Of, by and for the people. You remember what a democracy is supposed to be? Like our founding fathers implied and so many have given their lives for. Is there anyone else out there who can run against Mr. Nader, to make this a tougher discision?
This is the administration who went into negoiations with Enron to set US energy policy.
and the Democrats are spineless!
Why would they support Enron telecom
over the people of the United States of America?
We have a God given right "according to GW" to sue these bastards for breaking law of the fourth Ammendemnt of these here United States of America!
You ain't afraid to sue are you?
You ain't peeing in your pants over a lawsuit are you?
I want my rights!
I want my rights!
These telecoms deserve to go down!
And these cowards in Congress protecting the Administration once again is absolutely nuts!
Cowards over a lawsuit.
I would filibuster this bill forever
if I was a US Senator.
I would kill this bill myself.
Why would Barack Obama vote for these law breaking telecoms?
Why?
You ain't coward Barack are you?
This whole thing with FISA is disheartening
I have supported Obama and planned to vote for him, but no more.
He continues to move towards the center and I'm tired of it...
I want a liberal not a half-assed conservative.
Unless Obama does the right thing tomorrow, I can say for certain Obama has lost my vote and Nader has gotten mine.