Nader riles up voters at Tampa rally

TAMPA -- In a chilly room atop Ybor city’s Cuban Club Tuesday night, Ralph Nader, the Ecology Party's nominee for President of the United States, schooled his supporters on how to “make people angry enough to vote Nader/Gonzalez in 2008.”

The more than 150 faithful listened intently with theirs sweaters and coats still buttoned up as Nader talked about how both of the major party candidates, Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain were slaves to corporations that have usurped power from the people.

He charged Obama with raising the most money from corporate America of any candidate in history, and said that if he is elected it will be more of the same corporate politics because “most Washington politicians are cowards.”

In his third run for the White House, Nader cautioned his followers against voting for the least worst candidate joking “hope and change and change and hope. Have got you hypnotized yet?”
Nader said instead of voting for Obama people who want real change should cast a ballot for him because it will give the Ecology party’s agenda leverage.

“The more millions of vote we have, the bigger our base, the more power we have to change the corrupt corporate government,” he said.

--Robbyn Mitchell, Times staff writer

Comments

[I'm voting Nader]

Nader is right on campaign financing. The amount of money spent by the major parties on advertising is shameful.
I have changed my party ID from "D" to "I" and will vote for Nader/Gonzales.
I was very disappointed in the Democratic 180 on campaign finance.

[Nader is a republican ploy]

Has he apologized for giving us 8 years of Bush yet?

This is just his way of trying to get Mccain elected. No one who votes for him would ever vote for a repugnantcan. He just steals votes from the democratic candidate. He is probably on the payroll of the RNC!

[Chris Brudy]

The man is willing to sacrifice the nation to his unbounded ego. Thanks for kicking off eight years of American decline, Ralph. Guess what, you are nuts.

[DLC Dem]

Wow, I agrree with Chris Brudy. I'm afraid.

[Joe Pezz]

I am a Nader supporter who voted for Nader in 1996, 2000, and 2004. I will again vote for Nader in 2008.

So, how exactly is my vote for Nader a vote stolen from the Democratic party, if I've never voted for a Democratic candidate in my life?

When are we going to wake up and realize that Ralph Nader is the candidate who will govern on behalf of the majority of Americans? The Demicans and Republocrats are bought and paid for by corporate interests; whereas, Ralph Nader can't be bought.

www.votenader.org/issues

[Christina Petro]

Regarding the comment by "Nader is a Republican Ploy" a recent CNN poll shows Obama 51, McCain 47. When Nader is included in the poll McCain's percentage goes down. Obama 51, McCain 43, Nader 3.
http://www.pollster.com/blogs/cnntime_fl_mn_mo_nv_va_92830.php

[Nader/Gonzalez 2008]

I'm a registered "R" and voted for Mr. Nader in 2004 and again Tuesday during early voting!

To paraphrase McCain's recent statements, 'My friends, I know how to fix this thing (economy)...I know how to find Osama ...' Sounds like he knows how to spew BS, my friends.

Obama has too shaky of a past, has been caught in lies, has no experience, etc. And tell me the difference between the "spread the wealth" statement and 'from each according to thier means, to each according to thier needs.' Sounds a tad bit Marxist, eh Comrade? His VP choice, wow, that's a horrific thought.

As long as we put politicians in power, we will get political results! Results in their best interest, not ours.

Nader/Gonzalez 2008