IOWA NEWSPAPER ARTICLE (Waterloo Courier, copyright, 2008)
Longtime Nader supporter undeterred by lonely existence
WATERLOO --- It used to be kind of cool among liberals to support Ralph Naderą„¤
But that bandwagon left many years ago. Sitting in the lobby of the downtown Russell-Lamson building, Larson pauses to consider any local activists who share his passion for the man widely blamed by Democrats for losing Florida --- and the presidency --- in 2000.
"My wife certainly. She's my biggest supporter. Other than that, there are a few in Iowa," he said.
Yet not a hint of disappointment escapes Larson --- not in his voice or his body language --- when he says this. That's because his unflagging support isn't about popularity, it's about ideals.
It has to be. This is not 2000, when Nader received nearly 3 percent of the national vote.
It's looking more like a reprise of 2004, when Nader brought in less than 1 percent of votes, as liberal Democrats vowed not to "waste" any ballots by voting on principle. This year in Iowa, Nader has yet to show in any polls, and Libertarian Party candidate Bob Barr has made fleeting appearances.
But Larson keeps his spirits high because, like his political hero, he is on a mission. It is unabashedly liberal --- against the death penalty, excessive military spending and in favor of a single-payer health insurance policy.
"I feel absolutely great being part of something, even though it's not immediately successful, that will make America better," he said.
Larson said the biggest victory he could imagine this fall would be to include Ralph Nader and other third party candidates in a major, televised debate.
It's a dream shared by other third party candidates. It turns out a majority of Americans also support the idea, according to recent polls.
Libertarian Party of Iowa chairman Ed Wright explained the frustration over debates as a vicious circle.
"Why isn't he polling better? Can't get into the debate. Why isn't he in the debate? He isn't polling better," he said.
The problem, they say, is the Commission on Presidential Debates, a tax-exempt organization controlled by the two major parties. The threshold requires a candidate to register an average of 15 percent in five national public opinion polls, effectively shutting out all third parties.
Yet Larson, like in everything else political, remains upbeat, because this year third parties have worked together to get on ballots and appear in debates.
"I think it's entirely possible that 2008 may mark the end of the dominance of Republicans and Democrats," he saidą„¤ "After 2008, there may be emerging in America a multi-party system."
end
Longtime Nader supporter undeterred by lonely existence
But that bandwagon left many years ago. Sitting in the lobby of the downtown Russell-Lamson building, Larson pauses to consider any local activists who share his passion for the man widely blamed by Democrats for losing Florida --- and the presidency --- in 2000.
"My wife certainly. She's my biggest supporter. Other than that, there are a few in Iowa," he said.
Yet not a hint of disappointment escapes Larson --- not in his voice or his body language --- when he says this. That's because his unflagging support isn't about popularity, it's about ideals.
It has to be. This is not 2000, when Nader received nearly 3 percent of the national vote.
It's looking more like a reprise of 2004, when Nader brought in less than 1 percent of votes, as liberal Democrats vowed not to "waste" any ballots by voting on principle. This year in Iowa, Nader has yet to show in any polls, and Libertarian Party candidate Bob Barr has made fleeting appearances.
But Larson keeps his spirits high because, like his political hero, he is on a mission. It is unabashedly liberal --- against the death penalty, excessive military spending and in favor of a single-payer health insurance policy.
"I feel absolutely great being part of something, even though it's not immediately successful, that will make America better," he said.
Larson said the biggest victory he could imagine this fall would be to include Ralph Nader and other third party candidates in a major, televised debate.
It's a dream shared by other third party candidates. It turns out a majority of Americans also support the idea, according to recent polls.
Libertarian Party of Iowa chairman Ed Wright explained the frustration over debates as a vicious circle.
"Why isn't he polling better? Can't get into the debate. Why isn't he in the debate? He isn't polling better," he said.
The problem, they say, is the Commission on Presidential Debates, a tax-exempt organization controlled by the two major parties. The threshold requires a candidate to register an average of 15 percent in five national public opinion polls, effectively shutting out all third parties.
Yet Larson, like in everything else political, remains upbeat, because this year third parties have worked together to get on ballots and appear in debates.
"I think it's entirely possible that 2008 may mark the end of the dominance of Republicans and Democrats," he saidą„¤ "After 2008, there may be emerging in America a multi-party system."
end
posted by DC Larson at
September 08, 2008
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