Really disappointing Ralph...

In spite of this, Obama's FISA flip-flop, gladhanding of AIPAC and waffling on NAFTA is making a vote for Nader look more and more appealing everyday.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

1. When Nader decided not to run as a Green it was almost inevitable that he would choose to run a sensationalistic campaign. He isn't interested in raising the profile of the Green part or engaging in party building for the Greens, he is running to keep his own profile high. If he doesn't say crazy stuff he wont get media attention, and all this is about, now that he is running on his own, is Ralph Nader getting media attention.

2. What does this have to do with John Edwards? Did he make this accusation at some point? Did I miss a news story of some importance?

3. The fact that Obama has a page full of policy points for poverty does not show that poverty is a central issue for him. The fact is that he supports free trade as is, and is squarely in the Clinton wing of the party on economic matters. That is a way of hurting poor people that sits better with limo liberals, not a way of helping them.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

First we had the ignorant Geraldine Ferraro comment basically saying that Barack Obama got as far as he did because of his blackness; now we have Ralph "honorary black guy" Nader claiming that Obama doesn't speak enough on issues of poverty. This is so damn typical of the privileged white mindset--to define what makes someone "authentically" black. Obama simply cannot win--he's got the so-called "hard-working white American" contingent saying that he doesn't speak their language on one hand and then on the other he's got the privileged white old guard saying that he's "too white". Could you imagine the fallout had those same comments been made by Spike Lee or Jesse Jackson?

Recently Obama had made some decisions that have not rested easy on my mind, but I am also cognizant of the facts of politics. For me the idea is to get this man into the White House FIRST and then hold his feet to the fire on the issues that matter most to progressives. Destroying Obama in this way means we get McCain.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Nader is correct.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Obama is going after the blue-collar Democratic voters who voted overwhelmingly for Hillary during the primaries in the swing state.

His recent statements and position on issues ranging from foreign policy to domestic ("Miami exile community must have a seat at the table"; "Jerusalem is the undivided capitol of Isreal"; his groveling before AIPAC; lambasting African-American men on father's day; his praise for Reagan; stance on FISA etc etc) are all designed to reintroduce him to the conservative wing of the Democratic voters in the swing states.

Nader is correct.

And I'm having doubts about how different Obama will be in the office.

SCOTUS is in the balance. Shall I hope that Obama will bring a 'change'? Or should I go by the empirical evidence that indicates he will betray the progressives.

Ishmael Reed, a bonafide African-American concurs with Nader:
"As in Clinton’s case, Obama’s June 14th finger wagging at black men was a case of pandering to white conservative voters. This follows a pattern of using public perceptions of black men fanned by the media and Hollywood to win political favor. Bush One and his sleazy cohorts won votes by depicting black men as dangerous. After the Willie Horton ad, featuring a black rapist, was aired, support for Bush soared to 20% among southern white males, according to Willie Brown, former San Francisco mayor. Obama, by depicting them as irresponsible, saw his poll numbers climb to a 15% lead over McCain, according to a Newsweek poll. With his speech, he received a bounce in the polls that was denied to him after he gained the democrat nomination. He also enjoyed the bounce in the polls from Pennsylvania and Ohio..."

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

What decade is Nadar living in? Do white people talk differently from black people and if so how is that? I am white. Does being white mean I don't care about inner city kids and poverty? are only black children affected by inner city crime and poverty? I must be dumber than Ralph, I never knew white people have a different way of talking than people of color.

BTW, who heard our dumbass dancing decider compliment the president of the Philippines by expressing his admiration in the White House chef who happens to be Phillpino-American.

It turns out GWB has bigoted ignorant insensitive company with the dumbass dems and so-called progressives/liberals like Ferraro and Nadar. Ignorance by any other name is still dumb ass ignorance and it always stinks.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Nader is white and has no relationship with people in the 'ghetto' or black people of the middle class or anywhere else. This makes you wonder if Nader is not senile. Why would he begin to make these wierd statements? Sad to watch really - Nader was a real honest force before in his quest for consumer safety. Our time has moved beyond the Nader Spoiler factor & who isn't sorry that Gore wasn't our President? Thanks Nader & please keep your 'white talk trash' to yourself. Most of us no longer care - we want a unifying force to help correct our economic and social problems.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

There is no way in hades that I think that Obama is a "progressive." There is no way that I believe--as one poster put it--we can hold Obama's "feet to the fire," once we get him in there.
All of these 'progressives' suddenly coming out of the woodwork should have been looking at the only true progressive in the race--Dennis Kucinich.
I know...unelectable; yada, yada, yada, spare me the tripe, if you want a progressive in the oval office you needs work and vote for a progressive. Obama is not that progressive.
A progressive doesn't support free trade; a progressive doesn't support the war; a progressive doesn't support Big Pharma and the corporate blood-sucking insurance industry; a progressive doesn't suck up to AIPAC; a progressive doesn't stereotype the male black community; a progressive doesn't kiss the ass of the Cuban exile community; a progressive doesn't...well, you get the picture.
The only difference between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama is gender. The only difference between Barack Obama and John McCain is political affiliation.
Think not? Tell me about it a year from now.
This militant progressive won't cast a vote, since casting a vote is nothing more than voting for a continuation of corporate/political domination of the working--and under--class.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

It is sad when public figures refuse to leave the political stage.
Senator McClain and Ralph Nader are two prime examples.

The first approaching dementia, the other just being a spoiler, a role he keeps playing when everyone has left the theater.

And the rest of the far right doing it en masse to defeat the only viable candidate left.

We have become a very mean spirited society.
And eight years of Cheney/Bush are largely responible for that state of mind.

We need to clean up the tragedy the current administration has left us in.
Cheney/Bush are another Katrina.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Ralph...it's time to take your medicine and go back to bed.

Obama is talking "White"??

Does this kind of remark mean YOU are talking "Republican"???

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

that a right wing idiot is giving "1" ratings to most of the commentary on here. How trite a silly little game. I hope this is making your day.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Thanks, Ralph, for your steadfast commitment to putting another Republican in the White House. What color would you say McCain speaks?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Ralph Nader has never dealt with the issue of race in any of his speeches. He talks only about
corporations and their wealth. How in the world can he accuse Obama of talking white. When he
Nader has never uttered a word of support for the African-American struggle.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

inflammatory gossip.
painting a *genuine social critic* as a racist?

What the hell is wrong with this picture? Oh, right. nobody is supposed to criticize the Democratic Party... & if you do? why... you can do anything to smear them, right?

wow. How low the Left have fallen if this is their behaviour.

This is back to white folks thinking Oprah always sounds like Daytime TV Oprah... then defending why Ms.Clinton suddenly developed a 'rural' white voice when she'd never grown up that way...

come on, People. Get past the hype & ask yourselves... If you got beyond the 'politics' in governance & went straight to the issues as they reflect your daily life...

why do you suppose Kreepy Korporate Amerika is shrieking hysterically afraid of anybody listening to the Humanist Populist reforms in the Nader platform?

what happened to Kucinich?

... this is just another 'say anything nasty to protect the Democratic Party by smearing anybody with ACTUAL issues which the Party finds inconvenient to address with their corporate backers'.

make it up!
spin it sideways!
make it ugly as hell!

but I ask you: do you think *every* professional grew up sounding the way they do when they're trying to climb the Ladder? Why do you think 'professionals' acquire a similar approach to self-presentation?
Why do you think people make fine careers as speech coaches to perfect the presentation of professionals & politicians? PEOPLE WHO WANT POWER try to EMULATE THE CADENCE, PRONUNCIATION & VOCABULARY APPROPRIATE TO THE TRADITIONAL CULTURE OF REGIONAL MONEY & POWER

OF COURSE, OBAMA SOUNDS MORE traditionally North American "professional"... do you think he'd spend years & hours of his life perfecting to sound like a white Russian?
sounding like a white Newfoundlander?
...maybe a professional Indian Pharmacist?
How about sounding like an English-speaking Mandarin doctor?
What about a Latin American disk jockey?
...a Cockney grocer?
How about sounding like a West Virginian coal miner? I mean, that was seamless on Clinton, right?

IF OBAMA SHOWED UP TO A DEBATE IN A DASHIKI, JUST HOW COMFORTABLY WOULD MONEY & POWER REACT? HELL, there is still a percentage of the US who can't figure out how 'politeness & cultural respect' factored into Obama's traditional Muslim garb photo.

What the hell is wrong with people? 'talking white' ?!? are you kidding me?

That's not a dramatic or racist statement... ...BUT, IF YOU SNIP IT OUT OF A SPEECH & WAIVE IT LIKE A FLAG... the racism belongs to the idiots who did it & the idiots who believe its an issue.

... & can't figure out that Nader was referencing a culture of MONEY & POWER.

As more cultural groups acquire money & power in North America... as time passes... the 'social signifiers of professional culture' will continue to change in response to exposure & fashion.

... as does the English language & any other aspect of human culture.

DEAL WITH IT.

NOW CAN WE GET BACK TO ACTUAL ISSUES?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Is old 73 year old Ralph Nader for or against White Folks, or was wishing his old ass had been born WASP instead of mideasterly the last racist thought he was really entertaining before he drifted off into his dementia coma?

Awakened by the sound of current events he comes out spouting this stupid load of crap to prove that the end of the silly season ushers in the season of silly people, stuck in the past.

Old 73 year old Ralphy the Racist for president of what?

72 year Old John McCain told us to look at his old mother, and we saw two old people too old to be POTUS. Now old 73 year old Ralph Nader makes three.

Is old 73 year old Ralph's old mother still alive?
Her's is the only conceivable vote logic sees this guy getting, plus his own.

Okay damn fools, my apologies, if I hurt your feelings. Yes, you do have the right to vote for 73 year old Ralphy too. We got that. You and his old mother, 'cause thats what mothers do.

Talking White? Talking White? Rove has finally reached the dirty bottom of the trick bag.

Fox News crews, Gibson and Stephonopolous, McCain, Lieberman, Bush, Huckabee, Delay, Kirk, Dobson, Nader. Who'll be the next right of sanity defender of nastiness.... stepping up to insult humanity?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I support Obama, however if Congress persists in its 'do-nothing but look busy' posture, my vote will most definately go to Nader. The person in the W.H will have little effect if Congress persists in its corrupt policy.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

We all know that since Cynthia McKinney won the Green Party's nomination, Nader is irrelevant and basically puffing smoke. All he's doing is trying to get a rise out of people. But I think he might have raised a valid point. White American as a whole will not vote for a 100% progressive black male/female. Jesse Jackson ran a great campaign when he attempted, but eventually lost. Love him or hate him, Al Sharpton actually had some thought-provoking things to say in the 2004 debates, but he's too "revolutionary" for white America. Even Maxine Waters, a champion for progressives, would be too "black" for white America. For some reason, white America has a feeling that a black president will seek revenge for all the harm that has been done in the past. That my friends is the white fear/guilt coming in! Obama has the opportunity to become the first black (bi-racial) President of the United States. In doing so, he has to learn from the past experiences, which means be as "harmless" as possible to the white electorate. This isn't fully his fault, as the race card game, as it regularly is, is played on him first. But it horrible that a black man has to basically strip himself of all things "black" in order to be fully acceptable to the white electorate. With all this said, I still think Obama holds a responsibility to stand up to America an stop letting pundits and Repubs determine who he is and what he stands for. I'd like to think overall Americans respect honesty and standing by you convictions. This is probably my biggest problem with Obama. He's trying to change for people that will probably not vote for him anyway, while alienating those that have been with him from day one. He didn't have to leave Trinity Church, he could still support Israel while at the same time telling them that their wars against the Palestinian people are causing the very terrorism they wish to stop, and he did not have to vote for FISA. Hopefully this will change, but with this wonderful "race card" game we're playing, I doubt it.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

First thing, how many of you have actually clicked on the link to watch the video of the words that Nader said. Once again his brief comment was more honest than everything that has come out of either Obama or McCain's mouth during this entire campaign. Secondly what has Obama said in this entire campaign cycle, especially since securing the nomination, to disprove these comments. The single most important issue facing the African American voters in this election is whether or not their votes will even count. How many times have we heard Obama address this issue? This is one of Nader's basic platforms. The other main issue for African-Americans, especially those in the ghettos, is the war in Iraq. But that seems to be forgotten by the Obama camp. So if you want to keep living in a fantasy land where a man who is subsidized by Citicorp and Lehman Brothers and Excelon will actually do anything to change the plight of the common ghetto youth then be my guest. But don't talk trash on a man who has the balls to stand up and tell the truth, at least not while you're pretending to be progressive.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I'm beginning to believe a lot of the rhetoric spouted on Alternet by so-called progressives pushing Nadar or the Green party and bitching about Obama not being 'left' enough or untrustworthy, crying out for Kucinich, are really republicans attempting to stir the pot. The rhetoric is all the same, with little to back it up. Much of it sounds spoon-fed instead of heart-felt. They sound too damn much like republicans using talking points. I think they were using Hillary before to do the same. I'm absolutely certain it is a trick repug trolls play, easy enough to do it, and it is their sort of mindless fun. Of course they would LOVE Nadar or anyone else to take votes from Obama as he took votes from Gore in 2000, swinging the delicate balance of that election and giving us GWB.

btw, THANKS A LOT FOR THAT RALPH!

In any case it won't help them. Obama WILL win, too bad they are that pathetic and really somewhat mentally ill.

"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds."

~ Samuel Adams ~

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Sometimes I wonder whether I hit the wrong key and ended up on the Stormfront.org site, such is the level of ignorance and mean-spiritedness I tend to find whenever an issue concerning or talking about black people is posted on alternet. Last week there was an entire racist diatribe against Michelle Obama that had NOTHING to do with her and everything to do with some Archie Bunkers' calling for a race war. Ironically, the sexist comments made by both pundits and posters went unanswered by privileged feminists. A few weeks prior was an article about black children in foster care which once again brought out the worst of stereotypes from people I thought would have known better.

What disgusts me even more are the black enablers who, in their self-created roles as the gatekeepers of everything "black", make light of the successes one of our own has made, in spite of said black man having spent a great deal of his life fighting for civil rights. These gatekeepers have a very narrow view of what constitutes blackness and yet they wish to impose their view on the rest of black society. They are the very enablers who allow for misogyny in rap and hip-hop to flourish under the guise of First Amendment freedoms.

Ralph Nader is NOT black, therefore he has no real insight into what exactly being black in America is like. He seems to not understand that we are diverse in thought and interests and religion and folkways as any other group. Black people out west are as diverse as black people in the South and midwest. His criticism of Obama stems from sheer ignorance and an absorbing of right wing Rovian talking points. The fact that so many so-called "progressives" bought it without question makes me wonder about my loyalties to liberal/progressive causes when it seems that as a person of color, I am viewed as unworthy of respect. By the way, ask the inmates at Gitmo whether Barack Obama is a "corporate Democrat". I guess that pesky habeas corpus thing was all for show.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Obama half white? So what is the problem?

Should he speak Gray?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 -