Lessons of the Election.

When it looked like George W. Bush was going to win by the narrowest of margins, the long knives were quickly drawn and aimed at Ralph Nader. He cost Al Gore the Presidency, we were told. He and his foolish, adolescent, or utopian supporters detracted from their own cause and betrayed their natural allies.

Nonsense.

Ralph Nader held up the banner of progressive politics, and that's nothing to be ashamed of.

Ralph Nader's supporters voted their conscience, and that's nothing to be ashamed of.

Al Gore did not earn their votes by any stretch of the imagination. Just look at his last TV ad. He made three boasts: He fought in the Vietnam War; he broke with his party to support the Gulf War; and he played a pivotal role in the destruction of welfare. For many, this was a reminder of how unworthy Gore was. After all, here was a candidate who was for the death penalty, for the sanctions on Iraq, for the Cuban embargo, and for increased Pentagon spending.

Nevertheless, many progressives held their noses and voted for Gore. We understand that decision, just as we understand the decision of those who voted for Nader (or for the fine Socialist Party candidate, David McReynolds).

But it wasn't fair to start blaming the Nader voters. Many of them wouldn't have dreamed of voting for Gore under any circumstances.

Some would have, to be sure, but that they chose a candidate more to their liking was their right as citizens.

And in any event, it's not Nader's fault that Gore came across as a pedantic prig in the first debate, and it's not Nader's fault that Gore could not overcome his Clinton complex and allow the President to campaign more aggressively for him, at least in Arkansas.

At some point, the Nader-blamers have to face facts: Gore was a poor candidate with a poor record on progressive issues.

We were never indifferent to the difficulties that a Republican White House and a Republican-controlled Congress would create, and we will fight alongside our allies within the Democratic Party to resist any revanchist thrust, no matter the outcome.

But we also recognize the validity--indeed, the valor--of Ralph Nader's effort.

We have decried the rightward drift of the Democratic Party over these last twelve years. Ralph Nader stood up and demanded a new direction for that party.

We have been trying to promote a new progressive agenda, and Ralph Nader succeeded beyond our expectations in articulating some of its key items. On issue after issue--bioengineered...