Posted on 04/10/2008 4:53:37 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
Addressing an auditorium filled with many students expressing support for another candidate, Matt Gonzalez, running mate of presidential hopeful Ralph Nader, spoke yesterday about reasons not to vote for Barack Obama.
Gonzalez, who was announced in February as Nader's vice presidential choice on the independent ticket, spent most of his time speaking to the Political Science 179 class about what he called Obama's "troubling" voting record.
"I'm picking on Senator Obama ... because your professor told me this is a pretty strong Obama crowd," Gonzalez said. "It says something about a candidate that can stand in front of you and repeatedly say, 'I can change the culture of Washington, (D.C.)' ... without giving you an accounting of what is going on here. What are these votes about?"
Gonzalez was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 2000, which he served on as a member and later a president until 2005, helping deal with a budget that is larger than that of some states.
In 2003, he came within a close margin when he ran against Gavin Newsom for mayor of San Francisco.
Students posed questions about Gonzalez' position concerning nuclear weapons, the war in Iraq and his work advocating instant runoff voting, a system that allows voters to rank the candidates of their choice.
"One of the reasons I ran with Nader was because I knew that I would be talking about election reform and I have a history of actually instituting that kind of reform," he said.
Many who attended the class said they thought it was interesting for Gonzalez to specifically target his remarks at a mostly pro-Obama audience.
"I enjoyed learning about his standpoint and his views, but I would like to research a bit more before I decide whether or not I agree with them," said freshman Katherine Hasnain.
Gonzalez said he encouraged his audience to reflect on what they know about the candidates before they give them their vote.
"I respect your right to not vote for Ralph Nader, but I hope that some of my remarks today would ... force you to ask some hard questions that maybe you weren't aware of and maybe to do further inquiry."
Former Georgia Congressman Barr said Saturday he had formed an exploratory committee to gauge voter interest in his candidacy as Libertarian.
His announcement was said to bring "whoops and applause" from an audience of 130 Libertarians, mostly from Midwestern states.
"We are at a tipping point," Barr said, "in terms of the willingness of voters, in significant numbers, to consider alternatives to the major [political] parties."
Barr said he probably wouldn't win, but Hell, he figured he might as well run anyway and preach some good ole Libertarian philosophy.
Barr, once a Republican congressman helped impeach Bill Clinton, but has turned his complaints on Big Government Spending Republicans as well.
Former Alaska senator and one-time Democratic presidential candidate Mike Gravel (YouTube-Gravel takes phone calls) switched to the Libertarian Party last month. Gravel might grovel for some votes himself.
Was he, or was he not, a member of the DLC.
Those social democrats supporting Obama based on the notion that he was not a DLCer are relying on a "leap of faith".
Why would anyone vote for Nader instead of Obama? Their politics are virtually indistinguishable. Nader can’t win. Obama could. Nader is a grumpy old man. Obama isn’t.
All we need are four or maybe five candidates on the Ticket.
Divide and conquer will come back to haunt us, IMHO.
Maybe a benevolent King would be a better solution. After all most folks we elect think they should be treated better than the rest of us once they are elected to office.
But, the rise of the radical center and the possibility of a centrist 3rd party candidate who can win an election are profound developments.
Like Barr, Nader does not expect to win- but he is an Independent choice over the lack luster of BIG GOVERMENT candidates running now. Nader, you know where he stands. You like him, dislike him or just ignore him. However, The Left and The Right have moved closer to Nader's platform over the years. Obama may have a shiny new car exterior, but still drives the same as the Old Nader.
Obama says he will place a time line on troop withdrawal; while his adviser, Gen. "Tony" McPeak is on record (YouTube) saying a time line would be dangerous for the obvious reasons. So Obama speaks political vote getting pop culture rhetoric, which some say he may not deliver if he becomes elected (Remember Canada...)?
Nader is grumpy and Obama who calls White voters "typical white people" hangs with an angry racist? Michelle Obama is not "long time" angry? McCain, said by some to be "one set mind" and quick tempered?
Nothing wrong with a candidate being angry, grumpy or have passion, if it is channeled in the right direction for the good of ALL Americans.
Now, as November draws closer, you have the Libertarians heard from. They all have the ability(even Greens) to take some votes away from whatever candidate which can effect a close election.
Some day the "can't wins" might just have their day in the sun.
Listened to Duncan Hunter on Business (Fox or CNBC)and how well he combated the questions delivered...well informed, intelligent, direct; but without the almighty dollar (which ironically isn't worth right now) --you can't get there from here without the big power players with it.
I definitely appreciate Hunter much more now.
“...but without the almighty dollar (which ironically isn’t worth right now) —you can’t get there from here without the big power players with it.”
Huckabee got pretty far without the almighty dollar. I don’t care for Huckabee, I’m just sayin’.
It must be awful to be identified only as “Nader’s Running-mate” in the headline. That headline reminded me of a school I visited in the early ‘80’s. The school bragged that the soccer team was coached by “Pelé’s brother.” The man didn’t have a name! He was just Pelé’s brother!
Are you calling Nader a libertarian? Or was that a reference to Barr?
Nader and Obama's reigns would be almost identical except that people would like Obama more--so he would do more damage.
Barr speaks to me on a lot of issues, except like most of his colleagues with "l" at the beginning of their political affiliation, he has gone completely over the edge on foreign policy.
Barr would have a tough time getting elected even dog-catcher.
His ethics record is questionable, to put it nicely, and his mug would scare off the dogs before he could get within a mile of them.
But what about Larry Craig supporters?
“Liberty” has been in Barr’s lexicon in several ways:
- Barr was an outspoken foe of abortion but acquiesced to his then-wife having an abortion in 1983.
- Barr invoked a legal privilege during his 1985 divorce proceedidng so he could refuse to answer questions on whether he’d cheated on this second wife with the woman who is now his third.
- Barr has become a prominent member of, yes, the American Civil Liberties Union.
- Barr became a vocal opponent of the Patriot Act. And of President Bush’s initiative to wiretap transnational phone calls from known and suspected terrorists abroad to persons within the U. S.
- Barr abandoned the Republican Party in the 2004 election and endorsed the presidential ticket of the Libertarian Party (as if anyone could remember its candidate...)
- Barr, since joining the Libertarian Party, has reversed his previous stance favoring the War on Drugs and is now a lobbyist for the Marijuana Policy project.
Barry and Gravel
Nader is Independent
Correction Barr
True, thought Hunter the better man, but realized that a little too late. But neither played well to camera ready media (who is a deciding factor). I had been told as well, that the name or Huckabee didn't play off as Presidential. I guess the name Barack Hussein Obama does.
Incoming media dollars mean wins with a Red Sox vs Yankee playoff; not a Yankees vs LA Angels of Anaheim.
Yes, Huckabee was an exception, I will agree.
Obama's a pu**y, liar, coward, cultist, and snake oil salesman. Nader is just a leftist.
I really think Nader has a strong chance this year of having a very serious run-in with one of this nation’s myriad unhinged moonbats. They honestly want him dead.
Matt Gonzalez, running mate of presidential hopeful Ralph NaderRemember that name -- it'll be a Jeopardy or Trivial Pursuit question someday.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.