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Top ten reasons why I'm not voting for Nader

By Gloria Steinem

10. He's not running for President. He's running for federal matching funds for the Green Party!

9. He was able to take all those perfect progressive positions of the past because he never had to build an electoral coalition, earn a majority vote, or otherwise submit to democracy.

8. By condemning Gore for ever having taken a different position--for example, for voting against access to legal abortion when he was a Congressman from Tennessee--actually dissuades others from changing their minds and joining us.

7.Nader is rightly obsessed with economic and corporate control, yet he belittles the movements against a deeper form of control--control of reproduction, and the most intimate parts of our lives. For example, he calls the women's movement and the gay and lesbian movements "gonadal politics," and ridicules the use of the word "patriarchy," as if it were somehow more less important than the World Trade Organization. As Congressman Barney Frank wrote Nader in an open letter, "your assertion that there are not important issue differences between Bush andGore is either flatly inaccurate or reflects your view that...the issues are not important...since you have generally ignored these issues in your career...)"

6. The issues of corporate control can only be addressed by voting for candidates who will pass campaign-funding restrictions, and conducting grassroots boycotts and consumer campaigns against sweatshops? not by voting for one man who will never become President.

5. Toby Moffett, a longtime Nader Raider who also served in Congress, wrote that Nader's "Tweedledum and Tweedledee assertion that there is no important difference between the major presidential candidates would be laughable if it weren't so unsafe." We've been bamboozled by the media's practice of being evenhandedly negative. There is a far greater gulf between Bush and Gore than between Nixon and Kennedy and what did that mean to history?

4. Nader asked Winona LaDuke, an important Native American leader, to support and run with him, despite his possible contribution to the victory of George W. Bush, a man who has stated that "state law is supreme when it comes to Indians," a breathtakingly dangerous position that ignores hundreds of treaties with tribal governments, long-standing federal policy and federal law affirming tribal sovereignty.

3. If I were to run for President in the same symbolic way, I hope my friends and colleagues would have the good sense to vote against me, too, saving me from waking up to discover that I had helped send George W.Bush to the most powerful position in the world.

2. There are one, two, three, or even four lifetime Supreme Court Justices who are likely to be appointed by the next President. Bush has made clear by his record as governor and appeals to the ultra-rightwing that his appointments would overturn Roe v. Wade and reproductive freedom, dismantle remedies for racial discrimination, oppose equal rights for gaysand lesbians, oppose mandatory gun-registration, oppose federal protections of endangered species, public lands, and water--and much more. Gore is the opposite on every one of these issues. Gore has made clear that his appointments would uphold our hardwon progress in those areas, and he has outlined advances in each one.

1. The art of behaving ethically is behaving as if everything we do matters. If we want Gore and not Bush in the White House, we have to vote for Gore and not Bush--out of respect for the vote and self-respect.

I'm not telling you how to vote by sharing these reasons. The essence of feminism is the power to decide for ourselves. It's also taking responsibility for our actions. Let's face it, Bush in the White House would have far more impact on the poor and vulnerable in this country, and on the subjects of our foreign policy and aid programs in other countries. Just as Clinton saved women's lives by rescinding the Mexico City policy by executive order as his first act as President--thus ending the ban against even discussing abortion if one received U.S. aid--the next President will have enormous power over the lives of millions abroad who cannot vote plus millions too disillusioned to vote here.

Perhaps there's a reason why Nader's rallies seem so white, middle class, and disproportionately male; in short, so supported by those wouldn't be hurt if Bush were in the White House.

Think self-respect. Think about the impact of our vote on the weakest among us. Then we can't go wrong. - women-clinicdefense: A resource supportive of abortion access.

To add my own two cents: While Lisa writes that she is "a long time admirer of Gloria Steinem" and "this is the first time I have ever disagreed with Gloria Steinem," those of us who have been around a while know that Gloria Steinem has been, from the start of her career, a hatchet-person for the Democratic Party leadership. Let us not forget that Steinem used to date Henry Kissinger, and that she was a conduit for CIA funds in the 1950s to student gatherings in Europe. The radical feminist group, Redstockings, has systematically exposed phony-feminist Steinem's work on behalf of the US ruling class, and has challenged Steinem to debate its members on this and other issues -- a challenge Steinem has assiduously avoided.

- Mitchel Cohen
Brookyn Greens / Green Party of NY

A Green Party member's rebuttal to Gloria Steinem's, "Top Ten Reasons Why I'm (Gloria) Not Voting For Nader"

10. Gloria: He's not running for president. He's running for federal matching funds for the Green Party!

Lisa: Wrong, Nader is not even a Green Party member. He chose the Green Party because of it's values. He is seeking to create awareness and to help support the progressive green social movement.

9. Gloria: He was able to take all those perfect progressive positions of the past because he never had to build an electoral coalition, earn a majority vote, or otherwise submit to democracy.

Lisa: Neither did you, and look what influence you had on society, Ms. Steinem 8. Gloria: By condemning Gore for ever having taken a different position - for example, for voting against access to legal abortion when he was Congressman from Tennessee - actually dissuades others from changing their minds and joining us.

Lisa: So, are you saying that Gore waffles on the position of reproductive rights?

7. Gloria: Nader is rightly obsessed with economic and corporate control, yet he belittles the movements against a deeper form of control - control of reproduction, the most intimate parts of our lives. For example, he calls the women's movement and the gay and lesbian movements "gondal politics, " and ridicules the use of the word "patriarchy," as if it were somehow more less important than the World Trade Organization. As Congressman Barney Frank wrote Nader in an open letter, "your assertion that there are not important issue differences between Bush and Gore is either flat inaccurate or reflects your view that... the issues are not important... since you have generally ignored these issues in your career.

Lisa: One of the Green Party's ten key values is feminism. Ralph Nader has been a powerful and influential spokesperson for the Green Party and the ten key values. And Gloria, what have you done for the environment?

Mitchel: And another thing -- Gay activist leader Scott McLarty and many others have met with Nader on these issues and have convincingly rebutted the lies put forth by Barney Frank, the leadership of the National Organization for Women, and other apologists for Gore. You can find some of this at www.counterpunch.org.

6. Gloria: The issues of corporate control can only be addressed by voting for candidates who will pass campaign funding restrictions, and conducting grassroots boycotts and consumer campaigns against sweatshops? not by voting for one man who will never become President

Lisa: The issues of corporate control can only be addressed by building local grassroots opposition to corporate control and to put people in office, at the local level, who demonstrate green social values. Nader is a powerful spokesperson for this grassroots movement.

7. Gloria: Toby Moffett, a longtime Nader Raider who also served in Congress, wrote that Nader's "Tweeledum and Tweedledee assertion that there is no important difference between the major presidential candidates would be laughable if it weren't so unsafe". We've been bamboozled by the media's practice of being evenhandedly negative. There is a far greater gulf between Bush and Gore than between Nixon and Kennedy and what they mean to history.

Lisa: Nixon and Kennedy were both more progressive and socially liberal then either Bush or Gore

Mitchel: Gloria WOULD cite Toby Moffett (hey, why not Henry Kissinger too, while yer at it, Gloria?). Moffett, a former Congressman, was a vice-president at Monsanto, and a leading advocate for the biotechnolgy / genetic engineering industry. Gore is the pre-eminent shill for genetic engineering. To rewrite Moffet's sordid history in this manner is typical Steinem hypocrisy.

4. Gloria: Nader asked Winona LaDuke, an important Native American leader, to support and run with him, despite his possible contribution to the victory of George W. Bush, a man who has stated that "State law is supreme when it comes to Indians" -- a breathtaking dangerous position that ignores hundreds of treaties with tribal governments, long standing federal policy and federal law affirming tribal sovereignty.

Lisa: Perhaps an excellent debate would feature Gloria Steinem and Winona La Duke discussing fear of George Bush versus building a progressive green social movement.

Mitchel: Well, Gloria, didn't hear YOU out there advocating to include Winona in the Vice Presidential debates, at letting her speak for herself! Typical racist disempowerment, while pretending to be "concerned."

3. Gloria: If I were to run for President in the same symbolic way, I hope my friends and colleagues would have the good sense to vote against me, too, saving me from waking up to discover that I helped send George W. Bush to the most powerful position in the world.

Lisa: Blame it all on the evil Nader who has a whopping 5% of the national vote. How close to blaming the victim/under dog can you get. That's like blaming a young girl for being raped because she wore a mini skirt. Wow, if Ralph just wouldn't wear that mini skirt, then the whole world would be a safer place.

2. Gloria: There are one, two, three, even four lifetime Supreme Court Justices who are likely to be appointed by the next President. Bush has made clear by his record as governor and appeals to the ultra-rightwing that his appointments would overturn Roe v. Wade and reproductive freedom, dismantle remedies for racial discrimination, oppose equal rights for gay and lesbians, oppose mandatory gun registration, oppose federal protections of endangered species, public lands, and water - and much more. Gore is opposite on every one of these issues. Gore has made clear that his appointments would uphold our hard won progress in those areas.

Lisa: Nader is NOT Gore's problem. Gore is Gore's problem.

Mitchel: Gore voted FOR Anthony Scalia. Democrats voted overwhelmingly for Rehnquist as Supreme Court Chief Justice. And many Democrats voted for Clarence Thomas as well.

1. Gloria: The art of behaving ethically is behaving as if everything we do matters. If we want Gore and not Bush in the White House, we have to vote for Gore and not Bush - out of respect for the vote and self-respect. I'm not telling you how to vote by sharing these reasons. The essence of feminism is the power to decide for ourselves.

Lisa: You just told us how to vote.

Mitchel: We DON'T want Gore and not Bush in the White House. We want the Greens to begin creating a real alternative.

Gloria: It's also taking responsibility for our actions. Let's face it, Bush in the White House would have far more impact on the poor and vulnerable in this country, and on the subjects of our foreign policy and aid programs in other countries. Just as Clinton saved women's lives by rescinding the Mexico City policy by executive order as his first act as President - thus ending the ban against even discussing abortion if one received U.S. aid - the next President will have enormous power over the lives of millions abroad who can not vote plus millions too disillusioned to vote here.

Lisa: It's interesting that you should bring up Clinton's examples of dedication to women and the poor. Clinton supported NAFTA which helps eight year old Mexican girls leave their home communities to work as slaves in foreign owned sweatshops. Clinton also provided us with a good case study of sexual harrassments on the job. And, wasn't it Clinton that signed that Welfare Reform bill that sent thousands of children out into the streets and into homeless shelters?

Gloria: Perhaps there's a reason why Nader's rallies seemed so white, middles class, and disproportionately male; in short, so supported by those who would be hurt if Bush were in the White House.

Lisa: Gloria, your rallies weren't white and middle class? What Nader rallies have you been to? There are lots of women at the social green rallies I've been to. Perhaps more women. Our local Green Party steering committee consists of five women and four men.

Gloria: Think self-respect. Think about the impact of our vote on the weakest among us. Then we can't go wrong.

Lisa: Yes, vote Nader and LaDuke!

Submitted by:
Lisa Thurman, organizer
Green Party of Western North Carolina

with a few additional comments by Mitchel Cohen, Brooklyn Greens, Green Party of NY