Is Republican Strategy To Help Bush Keep Oval Office?:
Nader Campaign Benefits
From Republican Support
WASHINGTON D.C. (Sept. 7, 2004) - The Independent Presidential Campaign of Ralph Nader  and Peter Camejo has submitted sufficient signatures and other documents today to appear on the ballot in Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico and Wisconsin.
Despite an effort by the Democratic Party to keep the Nader-Camejo campaign off the ballot the campaign is succeeding to get ballots in many states, especially in swing states. According to Ballot Access News, Ralph Nader is currently on 22 state ballots and has the potential of 45 states and the District of Columbia.
“Now that the ballot access phase of this independent campaign will soon be behind us, I am looking forward to debating issues of concern to the American people with President Bush and Senator Kerry,” said Nader.
Despite a public statement by Ralph Nader's running mate, Republicans and their allies seem to have thrown their weight behind the candidacy of Ralph Nader.
“If you oppose the war, if you're against the Patriot Act, your money is welcome. But if your purpose is because you think this is going to have an electoral effect, we don't want that money," Peter Camejo, Ralph Nader’s Running Mate, said in July. I take no money from people who disagree with us. We're not interested in that,” he continued.
Some Bush supporters are financially bankrolling Nader's effort. From donating funds to collecting signatures, conservatives have propped up Ralph Nader’s presidential bid. Some evidence suggests it's being done to help keep George Bush in the White House. It has been said that if enough people vote for Nader, it likely will take votes away from the Democratic ticket of John Kerry and John Edwards.
Particularly in states that are considered "swing" states (states in which the popular vote could swing one way or the other), such as Wisconsin, having another choice on the ballot could create problems for Democrats. It could put Wisconsin in President Bush's corner when it comes to Electoral votes, because, the candidate with the most popular votes, receives all of the electoral votes for each state.
Many Nader Donors Have Strong Connections to the Republican Party. According to a San Francisco Chronicle report, one in ten of Nader’s major donors have a history of donating to Bush.
“Did I give $1,000 to Ralph Nader because I hope and believe he will be president? No…I don’t believe that any more than Ralph Nader does… I support [Bush] 100 percent…I hope and believe he will be re-elected,” said California business executive Charles Ashman, a committed Republican.
Additionally, one of Bush’s major fundraisers, Richard Egan gave Nader $2000, as did his son and his daughter-in-law. [Dallas Morning News, 3/27/04; Boston Globe, 7/1/04; San Francisco Chronicle, 7/9/04]
One organization, the Sierra Club, feels Nader's candidacy will do nothing to stop what is has been described as the most anti-environmental administration in U.S. history.
"We wish he would focus on helping us unite Americans who are concerned about protecting the environment and getting corporate greed out of government," says Dave Blouin, Political Chair, Sierra Club Four Lakes (Madison) Group.
"Although Ralph Nader has spent his career fighting against undue corporate influence in government, we think it's unfortunate that he says there is no difference between the polluting policies of the Bush/Cheney administration and the environmentally responsible positions we know a Kerry/Edwards administration would promote based on their records," states Blouin.
"The Bush administration is allowing corporations to rewrite environmental policy, and the result is an unprecedented assault on our nation's air, water and public lands. America's precious natural resources, wild places and public health cannot tolerate another four years of the Bush administration," claims the Sierra Club spokesperson.
Here are some other indications that Bush supporters are helping Nader in his efforts in hopes of splitting up votes that might otherwise go to Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry for President.
New Hampshire: Nader Campaign Comfortable Taking Signatures from Bush Rally. “Meanwhile, [Nader campaign New Hampshire cooridinator Aaron] Rizzio said the campaign would not reject the petitions from Stratham [the site of Bush speech], noting that they would be impossible to distinguish from those gathered by legitimate Nader supporters. Asked whether the GOP-generated signatures were crucial to getting Nader on the ballot, he said the campaign surpassed the 3,000 mark with "a comfortable margin." [AP, 8/10/04]
California: Nader Paid $75,000 to Conservative Firm Arno Political Consultants.
“Democrats criticized Ralph Nader on Tuesday for getting help from Republicans to gain access to state ballots in his independent presidential campaign. Last month, Nader's campaign paid $75,000 to a well-known conservative political consulting firm that specializes in gathering signatures for ballot petitions. California-based Arno Political Consultants has helped a long list of Republican clients, including the presidential campaigns of Ronald Reagan, former Sen. Bob Dole to the types of corporations Nader has battled in the past, including the Tobacco Institute, the National Rifle Association and the California Timber Association. [AP, 8/24/04]
Oregon: Signature Gatherer Stated RNC Hired Him to Collect Signatures for Nader “CBS affiliate KTVL interviewed a signature-gatherer who admitted on air that his crew was hired by the Republican National Committee to collect Nader signatures and that he was asking signers to ‘help re-elect President Bush.’” [The Oregonian, editorial, 8/21/04]
Ohio: Republicans Hoping Nader will Draw Votes from Kerry “His petitions, however, show hefty support from Republicans such as Medina County Commissioner Patricia Geissman, who said she doesn't plan to vote for Nader but hopes he'll siphon votes from Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry. In Medina County alone, 90 of the 138 signatures belonged to Republicans and include Common Pleas Judge Christopher Collier, county Recorder Nancy Abbott and GOP Chairman Ralph Berry.” [Cleveland Plain Dealer, 8/31/04]
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