Nader, the Greens, and the Socialist Party Campaign.

• Author: McReynolds, David

This is a short discussion stimulated by some requests that the Socialist Party end its Presidential campaign, and support Ralph Nader. In writing about the Greens--a group I respect and take 'seriously, and which has been much discussed within the Socialist Party (We have several members who are dual members, also active in the Greens), if I am critical it is because, having had it suggested I might withdraw in Nader's favor, clearly I need to explain the differences that Prevent that.

First, let me say what I've said many times in campaigning--I am running against Gush and Bore, not against Nader. I'm running against corporate capitalism, not against the Greens. What are the differences between Nader and myself? Some are simply personal and should not matter. Nader is famously not accessible. Virtually nothing is known about his private life. My feeling is so what? He has a right to privacy. I am famously accessible, listed in the Manhattan phone book, easy to meet or interview. Perhaps too much is known about my private life. And again, so what? If one man's private life is an open book, and another man's life is closed, does it matter? We are looking for political differences, not personal ones. Each person will have their own quirks.

But when we come to politics, I am bothered by the interview Nader gave to Tim Russert. When asked if he supported a 50% cut in the military budget Nader said no, that was too much--perhaps 33%. That baffled me--the United States spends more on its military than all the nations combined which are listed on our "enemies list." Not just "more" but seven times their combined total. And this doesn't count our alliances with NATO, Australia, Japan, etc. So if I was in a debate that included Nader I'd ask him what was wrong with 50% cut! (And that 50% is meant only as "starters", not as the final cut).

I was more bothered by the evasiveness Nader showed on questions he didn't want to answer. Russert had to ask him three times--rephrasing the question until Nader had no choice but to answer it--about his view of gay and lesbian issues. In the end Nader said he felt Vermont had done the right thing in passing its recent law. The gay/lesbian issue isn't a huge deal--I don't spend a lot of time discussing it on the campaign trail, and it hasn't been of major interest to the audiences before whom I've spoken. Nader could simply have answered "I favor equal rights for everyone, gay, lesbian, or straight, just as every...