Nader, 2000's Scapegoat

[D.R.M.]

Infamously, Ralph Nader ran in the 2000 US Presidential Election as the Green Party’s candidate. He garnered support from neglected left-wing voters, receiving of the popular vote.

Nader’s image was tarnished in the eyes of many Democrats. It shouldn’t have been. As a consumer activist Nader pressured big businesses into putting seatbelts and airbags in cars. He forced airlines to reimburse passengers that had their flights bumped. He was instrumental in passing the Freedom of Information Act. 

As for the Florida fiasco a number of left-wing third parties could have tipped the balance in Gore’s favour. Monica Moorehead of the Workers World Party received 1,815 votes, while the Socialists gained 618 votes and the Socialist Workers 594 votes. All of these votes would have likely gone to Gore in a two man race, yet nobody complains about these third parties splitting the vote.

The flawed electoral system and incorrect vote counting hurt Gore more than Nader.

Al Gore was only marginally better than Bush at the time (who could have predicted 9/11 would actually give Bush a neoconservative mandate back in 2000?). Nader’s 2004 bid for presidency may have been excessive, but Nader forced the Democrats to value their left-wing. For that I thank him and so should progressive Democrats.

[D.R.M.]

Since all of Nader's supporters were young hippies, I doubt most of them would've bothered to vote had he not been on the ballot.  But I'd bet a million bucks that at least 538 of them in Florida would've shown up for Gore.

The same can be said of supporters for the other parties. Gore is mostly reponsible for these left voters voting Nader. Had his party actually listened or addressed the leftwing before the last minute, he wouldn't have lost those votes.

[D.R.M.]

Since all of Nader's supporters were young hippies, I doubt most of them would've bothered to vote had he not been on the ballot.  But I'd bet a million bucks that at least 538 of them in Florida would've shown up for Gore.

The same can be said of supporters for the other parties. Gore is mostly reponsible for these left voters voting Nader. Had his party actually listened or addressed the leftwing before the last minute, he wouldn't have lost those votes.

Yes, but Nader clearly was the most guilty culprit. Nader received 97,488 votes in Florida, whereas the other leftist candidates received less than 2000 votes. Had Nader not been on the ballot, I'm 99.9% confident that Al Gore would have received a net gain of 538 votes in Florida. And the rest, as they say, is history.

And Alcon is correct; people that voted third party socialist probably a) wouldn't have voted or b) voted for another third party candidate. Enough Nader voters would have voted for Gore, as indicated by their large swing towards Kerry in 2004.

And in what respects do you say that the left-wing was ignored in 2000? Can you give any specific issues?

Let's start with his cozy relationship with corporations.

I don't think Gore was entitled to all the non-Republican votes simply because he was the Democratic candidate.