# Democrats trying to skew another election?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [June 23, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878 "2004-06-23T21:29:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/1 "2004-06-23T21:29:56Z")
Well, here we go again. The Dems want to quash any dissenting voice, no matter who’s it is.
(1st is more a summary, full story in next 2)
> **[Newsmax.com - Breaking news from around the globe](https://www.newsmax.com)**
>
> Newsmax.com reports today’s news headlines, live news stream, news videos from Americans and global readers
> seeking the latest in current events, politics, U.S., world news, health, finance, and more.
[http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-06-22-nader-pressure\_x.htm](http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-06-22-nader-pressure_x.htm)
[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5262963/](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5262963/)
Why would the Dems want to silence a 3rd party? I don’t get it. I thought they wanted to include all points of view, or is it only points of view they agree with? Or am I so obtuse as to somehow miss this as a conspiracy of “Bushco”?
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### Author:  [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/2 "2004-06-23T21:43:08Z")
Frankly, I don’t think either of the major parties would be exactly thrilled to have Nader run this election term, but Nader’s running is, arguably, far mroe damaging to Democrats than Republicans.
Why?
Let’s break it down:
Those who would likely vote for Nader are of the liberal persuasion. Voters of the liberal persuasion, given a choice between only Democrat and Republican candidates, are most likely to vote for the Democrat. A liberal third party will siphon off liberal votes from the Democrats; and there is no corresponding fourth party of a conservative bent to siphon votes off from the Republicans.
Many people, myself included, blame Nader for Gore’s loss in 2000. If he hadn’t run, those who voted for Nader would have (probably) voted for Gore, and Gore therefore would have won.
It is stupid and selfish for someone like Nader to continue to run when he has absolutely no chance of winning the election. I have every reason to believe that Nader’s running could cost the Democrats another election this year. And by damaging the Dems chances of winning, Nader defeats the major party most closely aligned with his beliefs and ensures that the party which has the LEAST in common with his beliefs takes the election. Again.
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### Author:  [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/3 "2004-06-23T21:49:22Z")
> [@duffer](#):
>
> Why would the Dems want to silence a 3rd party? I don’t get it.
They’re worried that Nader will draw liberal votes away from them. That’s not that hard to get. 🙂
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### Author:  [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/4 "2004-06-23T21:51:33Z")
This one again?
FTR I say let him run, and fuck the whiny Dems on this one, we need more choice not less.
Blame Gore for running a horrible campaign, not Nader for siphoning off votes, and get over it.
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### Author:  [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/5 "2004-06-23T21:51:38Z")
> [@Captain Amazing](#):
>
> They’re worried that Nader will draw liberal votes away from them. That’s not that hard to get. 🙂
Sorry if the sarcasm was more clear. 😉
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### Author:  [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/6 "2004-06-23T21:52:45Z")
> [@duffer](#):
>
> Sorry if the sarcasm was more clear. 😉
**wasn’t** more clear :smack:
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### Author:  [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/7 "2004-06-23T22:06:54Z")
The issue the AZ dems have is with the validity of Nader’s signatures. A number of the signatures were collected by convicted felons, which means they’re invalid, and there are other reasons why signatures may be invalidated. The AZ dems are checking to see if Nader is in compliance with the law. Since when is that “skewing” an election?
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### Author:  [@GLWasteful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GLWasteful)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/8 "2004-06-23T22:15:14Z")
> [@cheddarsnax](#):
>
> The AZ dems are checking to see if Nader is in compliance with the law. Since when is that “skewing” an election?
Since NewsMax had a slow news day.
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### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/9 "2004-06-23T22:22:24Z")
> [@duffer](#):
>
> Why would the Dems want to silence a 3rd party?
We do it because we’re EVIL.
Face it, if we were good, there would be no Democratic party, and we’d all be voting for GWB.
Except of course for those America hating Naderites, who would _still_ be evil, and _still_ need to be crushed by the GOP.
I guess that, in a way, we’re doing your job for you.
So you should thank us.
-Except that we’re EVIL…
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### Author:  [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/10 "2004-06-23T22:28:06Z")
> [@GLWasteful](#):
>
> Since NewsMax had a slow news day.
And because that was the only cite I posted :rolleyes:
Thanks, **squink!** I never expected an honest answer! 😃
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### Author:  [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/11 "2004-06-23T23:16:29Z")
> [@World Eater](#):
>
> This one again?
>
> FTR I say let him run, and fuck the whiny Dems on this one, we need more choice not less.
>
> Blame Gore for running a horrible campaign, not Nader for siphoning off votes, and get over it.
Amen! That’s how democracy works. If you can’t convince a majority of the population or Supreme Court to vote for you, you don’t get elected. What’s the point of whining about 3% of population voting for Nader? Why not go the whole mile and whine about the 49% that voted for Bush, too? Nader is the Democrats’ pennance for trying to be Republican Lite for the last ten years.
I hate Bush like fire and am desperate to get him out of the White House. However, petulantly sulking about people who might vote for Nader instead of Kerry isn’t the way to do it. Convince people that Kerry is the better candidate and he’ll win.
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### Author:  [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/12 "2004-06-23T23:24:49Z")
> [@duffer](#):
>
> Well, here we go again. The Dems want to quash any dissenting voice, no matter who’s it is.
First, it’s irrational to ascribe to the entire party the actions of a handful of activists in one state or a handful of members of Congress. Second, even if Nader is being targeted it doesn’t translate into “quash[ing] any dissenting voice” since there are many other candidates and parties listed on various state ballots whom the Democrats are not challenging. Finally, if Nader did not meet th requirements for being on the ballot in any particular state, then he shouldn’t be listed. Whether ballot access is fair or whatever is a separate issue certainly up for debate but there are rules in place now that he has to meet just like any other candidate.
> [@duffer](#):
>
> Why would the Dems want to silence a 3rd party?
Ralph Nader is not running as a representative of any political party.
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### Author:  [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/13 "2004-06-23T23:32:54Z")
Arizona has democrats? :eek:
Is nothing sacred anymore?
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### Author:  [@furlibusea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furlibusea)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/14 "2004-06-23T23:42:12Z")
OK hypotheticals are problematic but try this one.
What if John Macain decided that the Republican party had pooped on him for long enough and had given up on the ideals that brought him to the party. Say then he decided to pull out of the party and run as an independant. You can bet your ass that Bushco would be doing anything within the law ( And we know how much he figures the president is bound by law) to make sure Macain didn’t get on a single ballot anywhere.
Actually thats not a bad idea. What if all those conservatives who can’t stand Bush and can’t quite bring themselves to vote for Kerry wrote in Macain.
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### Author:  [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/15 "2004-06-23T23:50:47Z")
> **[Nader Urges Votes for Kerry](https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1972353)**
>
> Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader calls for supporters to attend his rallies -- but to feel free to vote for Sen. John Kerry in November if the Bush-Kerry race is close. Nader, saying his campaign is meant to steer the Democratic Party...
> [@](#):
>
> The longtime consumer advocate wants would-be supporters to attend his rallies, but he says he wants them to feel free to cast their votes for Sen. John Kerry once they enter the voting booth
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### Author:  [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)
#### Post date: [June 24, 2004, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/16 "2004-06-24T00:07:46Z")
> **[Reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/politics)**
> [@](#):
>
> Although his candidacy endangers Democrat John Kerry’s run for the White House, Ralph Nader on Wednesday gave some friendly advice to his rival – pick John Edwards for vice president.
What the hell is he doing?
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### Author:  [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)
#### Post date: [June 24, 2004, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/17 "2004-06-24T01:06:13Z")
What I’d love to see:
-Ralph picks up more than 5% of the vote. Sure, this’ll probably cause a Bush win, but hey, I’m looking 40 years ahead, not 4.
-Election after that, the Greens siphon up a larger boatload of the further-left liberals of the Dem party, leaving the Democrats more centrist.
-The socially liberal Republicans siphon over to the more moderate Democratic party, leaving only the hardliner Religious Right to stew in their own divine juices.
-Crazy bat-winged monkeys from the planet Zortron come and exterminate the Religious Right.
-The two remaining parties settle down into a more rational and tolerant balance.
Won’t happen, of course. But goddammit, I pray for those Zortron monkeys with ever fibre of my socially-liberal heart.
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### Author:  [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)
#### Post date: [June 24, 2004, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/18 "2004-06-24T01:08:28Z")
Reeder, Cheddarsnax…
Looks to me like Nader is trying very hard to encourage people to be less afraid of losing an election, and more concerned about doing what they, personally, think is right.
Makes me almost want to vote for him myself, despite the fact that I disagree with a lot of his politics…
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### Author:  [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)
#### Post date: [June 24, 2004, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/19 "2004-06-24T01:09:29Z")
> [@World Eater](#):
>
> This one again?
>
> FTR I say let him run, and fuck the whiny Dems on this one, we need more choice not less.
>
> Blame Gore for running a horrible campaign, not Nader for siphoning off votes, and get over it.
Stop stealing my posts, dammit!
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### Author:  [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)
#### Post date: [June 24, 2004, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-trying-to-skew-another-election/251878/20 "2004-06-24T01:36:57Z")
> [@SPOOFE](#):
>
> -Crazy bat-winged monkeys from the planet Zortron come and exterminate the Religious Right.
Profit!
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