Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Is a vote for Nader a vote taken away from the Democrats?

Ustwo · 02-24-2004, 04:29 PM

Based on the Nader supporters I've known, and I'll admit its only been a handful, I’d have to say that Nader attracts people who are unhappy with both parties and may not have voted if Nader wasn’t running.

Now undoubtedly some of the votes in 2000 that Nader got would have gone to Gore, I have no proof of this, but I think its true.

But in this upcoming contest, I'm willing to wager that most of the Nader supporters will be dissatisfied leftists, who are the type that think republican/democrats are the same, much like Nader does. These people maybe dislike Bush more but they weren't going to vote for a Democrat anyways. Republicans have the same problem with the Libertarians, and while many Republicans and Libertarians share a lot of views, its by no means fair to say that all Libertarians would vote for a Republican.

You have to add the confused vote. I think many Nader voters had no CLUE what the Green party stood for. They most likely thought it was all about the environment. I've seen parallels with people who say they are Libertarian yet are hard line left wingers who don't have a clue what Libertarianism is, besides their drug policy, and would most likely faint if they knew.

I think all in all you will NOT see the dreaded siphoning of votes from whatever Democrat gets the nomination, but instead will see people who thought they had no choice at all vote for Nader.

Nader may become a great excuse for a Democrat defeat, but I doubt he will be the cause.

02-24-2004, 04:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ustwo Pissing in the cornflakes	Is a vote for Nader a vote taken away from the Democrats? Based on the Nader supporters I've known, and I'll admit its only been a handful, I’d have to say that Nader attracts people who are unhappy with both parties and may not have voted if Nader wasn’t running. Now undoubtedly some of the votes in 2000 that Nader got would have gone to Gore, I have no proof of this, but I think its true. But in this upcoming contest, I'm willing to wager that most of the Nader supporters will be dissatisfied leftists, who are the type that think republican/democrats are the same, much like Nader does. These people maybe dislike Bush more but they weren't going to vote for a Democrat anyways. Republicans have the same problem with the Libertarians, and while many Republicans and Libertarians share a lot of views, its by no means fair to say that all Libertarians would vote for a Republican. You have to add the confused vote. I think many Nader voters had no CLUE what the Green party stood for. They most likely thought it was all about the environment. I've seen parallels with people who say they are Libertarian yet are hard line left wingers who don't have a clue what Libertarianism is, besides their drug policy, and would most likely faint if they knew. I think all in all you will NOT see the dreaded siphoning of votes from whatever Democrat gets the nomination, but instead will see people who thought they had no choice at all vote for Nader. Nader may become a great excuse for a Democrat defeat, but I doubt he will be the cause. __________________ Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.