| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/25/2008 1:06:45 PM | Nader has ALWAYS been coo-koo and liberals have given him legitimacy. Now that he criticizes Obama, liberals say "Nader's crazy!"
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From the Rocky Mountain News today:
Nader: Obama 'talking white'
Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader accused Sen. Barack Obama, the presumed Democratic Party nominee, of downplaying poverty issues, trying to "talk white" and appealing to "white guilt" during his run for the White House.
Nader, a thorn in the Democratic Party's side since the 2000 presidential election, has taken various shots at Obama in recent days while ramping up his latest independent run for president.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Rocky Mountain News on Monday, he said he is running because he believes Democrats, like Republicans, are too closely aligned with corporate interests.
Economic exploitation
Nader was asked if Obama is any different than Democrats he has criticized in the past, considering Obama's pledge to reject campaign contributions from registered lobbyists.
"There's only one thing different about Barack Obama when it comes to being a Democratic presidential candidate. He's half African-American," Nader said. "Whether that will make any difference, I don't know. I haven't heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What's keeping him from doing that? Is it because he wants to talk white? He doesn't want to appear like Jesse Jackson? We'll see all that play out in the next few months and if he gets elected afterwards."
The Obama campaign had only a brief response, calling the remarks disappointing.
Asked to clarify whether he thought Obama does try to "talk white," Nader said: "Of course.
"I mean, first of all, the number one thing that a black American politician aspiring to the presidency should be is to candidly describe the plight of the poor, especially in the inner cities and the rural areas, and have a very detailed platform about how the poor is going to be defended by the law, is going to be protected by the law, and is going to be liberated by the law," Nader said. "Haven't heard a thing."
"We are obviously disappointed with these very backward-looking remarks," Obama campaign spokeswoman Shannon Gilson said.
Plans to visit DNC
Nader said he plans to travel to Denver during this summer's Democratic National Convention, hoping to highlight an alternative agenda that he thinks the party should pursue. His appearance in the city is sure to anger some Democrats who believe his presence on the ballot during the contested 2000 election cost Al Gore votes, helping Republican George Bush win the disputed election.
Nader rejects that blame, saying Democrats "scapegoated" him instead of looking at other factors that contributed to the defeat.
'Appeal to white guilt'
Nader said he is not impressed with Obama and that he does not see him campaigning often enough in low-income, predominantly minority communities where there is a "shocking" amount of economic exploitation.
He pointed to issues like predatory lending, shortages of health care and municipal resources, environmental issues and others.
"He wants to show that he is not a threatening . . . another politically threatening African-American politician," Nader said. "He wants to appeal to white guilt. You appeal to white guilt not by coming on as black is beautiful, black is powerful. Basically he's coming on as someone who is not going to threaten the white power structure, whether it's corporate or whether it's simply oligarchic. And they love it. Whites just eat it up."
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Nader is trying hard not to be called a racist. That is the problem of running against Barack Obama. Anything critical of Obama is racism. He is black. He is white. He is whatever anyone wants him to be. He is a lightweight, empty suite and so far has pulled it off. Just don't say anything.
I wish the Obama camp would come out with an actual program rather than empty statements like, "disappointing", "backward looking", whenever someone calls him out.
C'mon Obama - let's hear your plan rather than how "disappointed" you are in the competition. Obama is the one turning this into a racial race. Nader is just telling it like it is. Obama is catering to whomever he can con into voting for him.
The first Candidate to have an immediate plan for lowering gas prices will win this November. Obama is committed to his fellow left loons and won't drill, refine, won't build nuclear plants. Obama even wants to put an additional tax on gas when it is at all time record highs. Obama is his own demise. I am not a big McCain fan but he has changed his mind on off shore drilling and wants to build Nuclear plants and become energy
independent. McCain will be our next President.
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/25/2008 1:19:52 PM | | Obama is not a racist. There was a show on PBS discussing the election and race. They stated 'Obama being on the ticket is really going to bring the true racist out of the closet racist'. This is not about race, but about issues. No, we are not racist we just desire a different economy, government and U.S. the rest of the world wants something different. | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/25/2008 2:06:20 PM | Ralph Nader message was about ISSUES! NOT LAPEL PINS which is the difference between him and Republicans.
Republicans can't really talk about the poor or corporatism because they don't care about either.
Example, Karl Rove recently accused Obama of being a country club guy, the kind who sips on a drink and talks about others. That's not an issue, that's a character assasination job.
It never occurred to Karl Rove, who actually is a Country Club member that Obama can't even get membership to some clubs because of his race. | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/25/2008 2:21:33 PM |
liberals have given him legitimacy. Now that he criticizes Obama, liberals say "Nader's crazy!"
Kind of like how Hillary supporters are now fanatical "Dittoheads" and get their TV trays out so they don't miss a second of Fox News.
Is that the real problem with people like Kucinich, Paul, and Nader, Erik? That they talk about issues instead of making it a "cover of Newsweek" story over seals and fist pounds which obviously highlight the true concerns of Americans now? | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/25/2008 2:37:21 PM | Probably Itechman, I'm a Kucinich man myself.
Kucinich has a message similar to Obama, except whereas people are wondering about Obama's short Congressional Track Record, Kucinich has a long Congressional track record to support his liberal bona fides.
What Kucinich doesn't have is the charisma, looks, height, or youth of Obama. But he's been talking the talk and walking the walk longer than any Democratic candidate.
Being white makes Kucinich less unique than Obama, but he was sidelined because he focused on the issues, and the Corporate Media who locked him out of debates didn't really focus on the issues which is why these were probably the worst debates in history.
For focusing on the issues, Kucinich was rewarded with being locked out of the debates, and having corporate America throw millions at the Blue Dog Democrats in his district to unseat him. Kucinich won the primary and will skate to an easy victory against the republican challenger. | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/25/2008 2:56:29 PM | "Obama is not a racist. There was a show on PBS discussing the election and race. They stated 'Obama being on the ticket is really going to bring the true racist out of the closet racist'. This is not about race, but about issues. No, we are not racist we just desire a different economy, government and U.S. the rest of the world wants something different."
I won't vote for Obama, not because either he or I are "racist", but because he's just another C.F.R. Globalist tool, same as McCain.
More "Divide and Conquor" tactics of those who manipulated these two scumbags into being the "chosen" candidates. | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/25/2008 3:05:09 PM | | I believe that the issues are important but what is more important is what the next President will concentrate on if elected. Obama has already played a big part and seeing that more money than has been or will be spent on the whole War in Iraq is going to paid to help the poor in countries other than America,primarily Africa. He has also made his opinions known about the educational system and how he hopes to raise the education level in the inner cities. He also wants to pay teachers more who teach in these areas. He wants to give amnesty to the 15-29 million illegal immigrants. He wants them to be able to take part in social security and college education for free even while not in the country legally. Not to mention the social services that he wants them to have access to, as well as drivers licenses even though they are here illegally.21st century learning centers(programs for the "inner cities")Pretty much everything Obama supports or has supported benefits the Black Community and the Poor...America is made up of more than these two groups.... | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/25/2008 5:34:47 PM |
Nader has ALWAYS been coo-koo and liberals have given him legitimacy.
.... you mean the guy that brought us things like consumer safety, seat belts, air bags, and warning labels on cigarettes? yeah...sounds pretty nutso to me....
(isn't using words like ALWAYS a sign of being in a recessive state?)
Nader is just telling it like it is.
....so does this mean that you are a liberal now that you're giving Ralph legitimacy?
but it is true, Ralph does tell it like it is and is a very harsh critic to many people on many things. he even encourages his own to criticize him because he understands the need to point out things that are wrong so they can be made right. people don't get what Ralph is about and what his mission has been and how long he has stuck to that mission as the "Public Citizen". there is a really good documentary on Ralph people should watch to see just what this man has done for a very long time.
.... i am disappointed as i've been hoping for a Obama/Nader ticket which doesn't seem likely. i just wrote the Obama camp and gave reasons why they should pick Ralph to run as VP..... | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/25/2008 7:09:43 PM | Nader has always had this country's best interest at heart. The rich liberals and Hollywood backed Nader in 2000. They turned against him in 2004 and with awful names, referring to him as coo-koo was the least offensive.
It's surprising of what he is saying because he is supposed to be one of the few good liberals left. All others are dead, FDR, Truman, JFK and Bobby. Ralph still have balls, though. Obama is not fit to wear Nader's shoes.
Maybe Nader feels it's okay to say these racist comments, since Bill and Hillary Clinton and other Democrats got away with it. Fact is, it is offensive. If Nader was not a liberal, there would be an uproar.
Ralph was best when he didn't become a politician. Nader is the original consumer advocate and the only one responsible, that has changed for the better, people's lives.
Nader says, there's only one thing different about Barack Obama when it comes to being a Democratic presidential candidate: He's half African-American. Whether that will make any difference, I don't know. I haven't heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos, payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What's keeping him from doing that? Is it because he wants to talk white, he doesn't want to appear like Jesse Jackson?
What is talking white? He's half African-American, he's talking white. Where are the Justice Brothers when you need them? All yeah, they are busy attempting to destroy Imus.
No one here has commented about this. These statements by Nader is just more offensive racist remarks by an American liberal. Nader will be a thorn on Obama's hip and of the Democrats, come this late summer and fall. Similar to how McCain has been in the senate, to Republicans after he lost the nomination to Bush in 2000. I will bet that McCain will change on ANWR too. And Obama will not name Nader VP. Not after this interview. He might still name Hillary the VP. It will be shocking if he does. Whoever is running Obama (Obama's a hack) does not want the Clintons anywhere near them. And they are still angry at Nader, because they blame him for Gore's defeat in 2000 and John Kerry's defeat in 2004. | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/26/2008 1:33:33 AM | [p]Pundit: "I strongly disagree with Obama's ideology. I don't believe the government is the answer to all people's problems. I think individual empowerment and self-determination is what makes this country great."[/p]
[p]Democrat's characterization of Pundit:" Cross-burning, hood-wearing, racist fear-mongering bigot who hates hope and change."[/p] | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/26/2008 1:50:42 AM | Ralph Nader is a human being, sometimes he is right, sometimes he is wrong.
In this case he is wrong. Obama has discussed predatory lending.
I look forward to his campaign being increasingly financed by Republicans, just like last time.
He has the right to say what he will, frankly I don't think he is a racist, I simply think that he is a good man, who is not taking his increasing political irrelevance well. It should also be remembered that he is running for office, and it's not like he will be stealing republican votes.
Frankly I'm amazed at all the sudden outpouring of support for Ralph Nader, the Republicans who vilified him so often, are suddenly so interested in what he has to say. Odd that? | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/26/2008 7:08:54 AM | | Yes,he is human and he really upset Al Sharpton and the other young guy on CNN. As they stated Obama is running for President of America. Blacks did not support him at first because they did not know him and now he is too black, but Nader states he is not talking about black causes. No matter how the wind blows he is stuck. I like how they said 'why isn't McCain sounding white enough'. The things Obama discusses effects all people (gas, healthcare, predatory lending etc.). They said him being on the ticket would show peoples real colors. | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/26/2008 7:27:57 AM | | Exactly, Faith. One of the things Nader said yesterday included something to the effect of...he's not black enough to be a black activist. Sharpton and 'the other guy' pointed out quite well that he is not an activist! As soon as I heard the comment that's the first thing that popped into my mind....he's not an activist...he's running for office. I think it is hard for people to come to terms with him being an african american and not standing up at the podium speaking to black only issues all the time. (No matter what Insolent says). | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/26/2008 7:46:19 AM | | Obama responded to Nader's comment during his press conference yesterday. He stated Nader has a legacy of great work and, at this time, needs to bring some attention to his campaign because he's currently not raising enough funds. Nader chose this means to do so. When looking at Nader's body of work, I'd suspect something similar. I'd also suggest the coo-coo name calling history originated when Nader started screaming about issues no one else cared about e.g safety. | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/26/2008 8:27:41 AM | I don't think Ralph's statement was purposefully racist. I understand what he was trying to say. For whatever reason, he chose to say it in an inflammatory way. I didn't expect to see him come out for Obama, but I'd hoped he might sit this election out and consider not running this time around. I'd like to see him get a position in an Obama administration, maybe in a job involving consumer affairs and safety. That's where he's shown that he's an asset. People who make Nader into a punch line must only know him as a "party spoiler" from the Gore election, but he's been around much longer than that and has done good in his career. One of the main things I like about him is that he tells the truth as he sees it, unpopular as it may be.
People don't have to worry about Nader spoiling this election; Bob Barr's more than neutralized Nader's "threat" and has appealed to a lot more hardcore conservatives than Nader's appealed to hardcore liberals in this election. I think Bob Barr will hurt McCain, but I don't think Ralph will hurt Obama. | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/26/2008 9:20:21 AM | Real simple. Obama is far more concerned with the plight of the middle class than the dirt poor these days. If there is a middle class, then the poor have something better to aspire to. If there isn't, there is no where for them to go.
And if a President forsakes the broad, middle range of average Americans to focus narrowly on the much smaller number of poor.....he might as well commit political suicide. | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/26/2008 10:55:58 AM | The OP, just like most of the right-wingers in these threads, is trying to create an issue where there is none.
First of all, I don't buy at all the supposedly honest respect and admiration expressed by the right towards Ralph Nader, especially when he is talking about the need to address the issues that affect the poorest sectors of our society. At the same time that they praise Nader, they remind us that his are the very hard core liberal views. Since when the right wing and the conservatives are becoming the champions of the liberal causes?
Second, their attempt to characterize the words of Nader as racism is only a subrefuge to justify themselves when they use the racist language trying to smear Obama. Their view is: if someone who is a liberal can be racist, why would it be wrong for us to point out things that we truly believe, just because the other side would say that we are being racists? They are going like this: if Nader can, so can we.
Third, the right -wingers should start taking notice of their own non-sense. They have kept on bashing Obama for being an extreme liberal, a racial activist, and many other odious slants. Now that a truly left-wing liberal has started his campaign, they have started to prop him up as if he speaking the real truth of their own cause. 
Pitiful! To all the right-wingers that have found their candidate in Nader, I say: Vote for him. Nader is a much better choice as a third party candidate than their own Bob Barr would ever be! I will bet even my last cent that if Nader was a real political alternative, all the right-wingers would be demonizing him all the way to hell.
To all the honest people that post their opinions on these threads and may be confused by all the bashing talk against Obama because he is too liberal, etc. : using Nader as a very good example, find out what a true Liberal is, and then make your own conclusions as to what Obama represents. | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/26/2008 11:04:22 AM | Gee, the OP here seemed to get in a lot of shots at Obama all in one, nice, not so neat blob of a thread.
I hear the drumbeat for offshore drilling.........nuclear plants.......over and over, no matter if the subject is tea, pee-pee, or Brie cheese........beat the drum, beat the drum, like the tools they are.
I dont know how many years nuclear plant construction is off and Ive heard ten years on anything appreciable for offshore oil, but all of it is pretty much just so we can keep building crappy engines and keep polluting the environment the same old way, eh?
Republicans..... how they love their antiques.
Relief at the gas pump ten years from now isnt an answer for this campaign year, friend. | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/26/2008 1:55:04 PM |
but I'd hoped he might sit this election out and consider not running this time around.
... understanding Ralph means understanding that this is what he does... he acts as a thorn in peoples sides to effect change, and he is very good at his job as Public Citizen. the guy is amazing and has been self sacrificing for a long time and working harder than any politician i know of....
he's much more critical of the right wing... this was a little puff of air compared to the tornadoes he's unleashed on the corporatists.... | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/26/2008 3:10:00 PM | ^^^^^ I agree with the post above. I honestly respect Ralph Nader for all the good work that he has done on behalf of the people of this country. I know that some of his criticism of Obama is legitimate, and I am hoping that he will find the language to get his point across without giving the right-wing the impression that he and the right-wing are on the same side, trying to defeat Obama.
If the country wasn't in this terrible mess that we are now thanks to the Republican mismanagement, I would probably consider voting for Ralph again. However, speaking realistically we can't afford to give McCain a chance to continue with this disaster.
**** I apologize for not spelling the word subterfuge correctly in message #19. It reads subrefuge, and is not what I meant. It should say subterfuge. | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/26/2008 3:39:53 PM | I know some take him seriously. He's always been a non - factor and in my book always will be. The only credible reason anyone's given me for voting for him (by my best friend who's polar opposites with me) is the argument that someday in some distant galaxy a third party will be able to receive the same political funding as the other two. If I thought he could get enough votes to make that happen I would agree but there isn't a remote possibility.
Swerving ~~~ back into the o p --- a non - factor, won't affect the election 4 months from now. | |
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| Obama and his minions can't call Ralph Nader a racist. Talking White
Posted: 6/26/2008 6:52:12 PM | | ^^ The thing I don't understand, and this is coming from someone with a lot of respect for Nader, is why when he was asked about it later he didn't say You know, you're right...it was kind of stupid. I would have felt better about it then, but he kind of defended it. Man I hope he's not losing his sanity too with the rest of us. | |
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