A crowd of more than 90 Ralph Nader supporters gathered Wednesday evening at Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza in downtown Eugene and vehemently voiced concerns that the presidential debates are undemocratic because they exclude viable third-party candidates.
Chanting “Let Ralph Debate” and holding green picket signs that read “Gore and Bush Make Me Want to Ralph,” the protesters listened to speeches by 10 different Nader supporters, while the second debate between presidential candidates Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore took place in Winston-Salem, N.C.
“We want a leader who’ll be much greater,” said Michael Glownia, a write-in candidate for Eugene mayor. “We want a leader like Ralph Nader. Rise above mediocrity, choose a leader with integrity.”
Several speakers said corporations are silencing candidates such as Nader while supporting Bush and Gore — candidates representing corporate interests. They say these interests are destructive and wreak havoc on the environment in foreign countries, while cheating workers in foreign countries out of hard-earned pay.
Responding to protester complaints, Executive Director for the Oregon Republican Party Darryl Howard said in a phone interview Wednesday that any candidate who has the potential to run a national campaign should be allowed in the presidential debates.
“They should be open to all candidates,” Howard said. “I don’t have the pay grade to make these decisions, but if I did, there would always be a third-party candidate in there.”
But Maria Smithson, vice chair for the Oregon Democratic Party, said allowing unproven third-party candidates like Nader to participate in national debates is unrealistic and not advantageous to the public.
“If we opened up these debates to every presidential candidate, there could be up to 50 candidates,” she said. Having a large candidate pool would put voters at a disadvantage because they wouldn’t have time to be exposed in any depth to the platforms of so many candidates, she said.
“The fact is, no third-party candidate has any chance at the presidency this year,” Smithson continued. “Ralph Nader is not qualified.”
Nader protesters also criticized the media, which they said is corporate-owned and is guilty of not covering Nader consistently.
“It’s unfair that the media is excluding information about Ralph Nader,” said Kathy Jones, a member of Lane Victory 2000, Nader’s local campaign organization. “All the people I talk to say, ‘Yes, Ralph Nader should be allowed into the debates.’ Is this democracy? We need to take it back.”
Members of Lane Victory 2000, who organized Wednesday’s rally, said they support Nader because he is anti-corporate control and stands for economic justice.
One Nader supporter even quoted President John F. Kennedy.
“The unity of freedom has never depended on the uniformity of opinion,” said Richard Alevizos, a member of Lane Victory 2000.
Speakers also encouraged voters to cast their ballots for Nader because of a rising tide of Nader supporters who have turned out for rallies in Chicago, Seattle and Portland.
Two Nader supporters who spoke were considerably younger than their counterparts: 15-year-old Churchill High School students Melissa Adkins and Sarah Coon.
Adkins said her parents tried to convince her that Gore was her best choice for president, but after doing some research on the Internet, she said if she could vote, Nader would be her choice.
“I feel empowered,” Adkins said. “We’re going to Xerox some fliers and hand them out at school.”