While most Nader supporters are intelligent and thoughtful people, Nader
unfortunately attracts a number of people who seem to worship Nader as a god
and relentlessly lie to themselves and others.
For example, there's no evidence to support the claim some Naderites make
that Nader drew support from both Republicans and Democrats
equally. In fact evidence indicates Nader drew close
to twice as many votes from Gore as from Bush: "Voter
News Service exit polls suggested Nader had the votes of 2% of registered
Democrats, 1% of registered Republicans."
Some Nader cultists try to deny Nader intentionally helped Bush in 2000.
Since we know Nader did help Bush, they must be
claiming Nader was too dim to know the impact of his focus on the closest swing
states - especially Florida in the closing days of the campaign.
How could Nader not know he was helping Bush? Of course he recognized this
risk but not only didn't care, Nader announced that was his intention. Nader
told RFK Jr. that given a choice between Bush and Gore, Nader preferred Bush.
Several progressives - many of whom had worked with Nader over the years -
directly explained the risk to Nader, but of course Nader isn't that stupid. He
knew he was helping Bush.
Nader directed his campaign activities to maximize help for Bush and
harm to Gore. Now, as Nader contemplates another spoiler run in 2004, we should
understand why Nader would again work to undermine and
obliterate everything he claims to support.
