Ralph Nader, a racist?!

This is an open letter to Mr. Ralph Nader:

I’m completely shocked and disappointed in you, a person who I regard as one of the best of us outside of the mainstream in U.S. affairs. Your inspiring work fighting for consumer rights & safety, a fair living wage, exposing government corruption, and supporting environmental causes is something that every American should not only be made more aware of, but should praise you for your tireless efforts on behalf of your fellow compatriots. I certainly do.

But the other night, during a radio interview in Houston, you made a comment regarding Barack Obama winning the general election that I find very hard to digest:

“To put it very simply, he is our first African American president; or he will be. And we wish him well. But his choice, basically, is whether he’s going to be Uncle Sam for the people of this country, or Uncle Tom for the giant corporations”

Now, although provocative, I know the general point of what you said has merit and essentially you were really asking:

“Will President elect Obama live up to his campaign promises or will he sellout to special interest groups?”

I think that in itself is a very reasonable & fair question to ask. But did you really have to use the phrase “Uncle Tom” to make your point?! Why was that necessary? And what good do you really think it does towards helping people understand the principal point of your statement?

Although I’m confident that in your heart of hearts you’re really not a racist, I just hope you understand that this idiotic statement is not only unappreciated but only serves in making you come off like a bigot. And the fact that you choose to say such a thing on the eve of a tremendously historic occasion in our nation’s history, in electing it’s first black president, is careless and disgusting. Even if only for the symbol of hope & reconcilation this election result brings to tens of millions of Americans (and the rest of the world) why would you try to tarnish that in any way? How could you?! AND WHY WOULD YOU???

My heart ached when you said it the first time, but it really sank after Shepard Smith, an anchor of Fox News of all places, asked if you would consider rephrasing that comment and your response was “not at all”.

I just can’t believe you would say something like that, let alone stand by it.

I voted for you and Matt Gonzalez in this year’s election, not because he’s a Mexican-American and you’re an Arabic & English speaking Lebanese-American, but because as I said all along (despite the protests of my family & friends) that I was very weary of the establishment this time around. For the first time in 4 presidential elections I choose to vote for a non-Democratic Party ticket, and after some heavy thinking picked your ticket. I knew statistically you & Mr. Gonzalez had little chance of winning the general election, or even my home state of New York, but I didn’t feel that my vote for your candidacy was any less worthwhile or noble. In theory, had you won the presidency it would have been a noteworthy & historical event in it’s own right. But more importantly your campaign spoke to my own personal conviction that we need to make more assertive & substantial efforts to reshape this country for the better, and I felt your campaign did present a worthwhile mandate that I could support, even if it was only a long shot.

But now in light of all this, I’m really saddened & appalled by your recent statements. And I’m certain that I’m not the only one that feels this way. You have truly left me speechless.

At best you took your commentary too far. At worst, you’re no longer worthy of our respect or future consideration. But, I’m hopeful that at some point in the near future you’ll find a way to redeem yourself for offering such a thoughtless comment. I care very much about our country as much as you do, and often I’m as passionate in my rhetoric as you are with yours. But I don’t ever feel the need whatsoever to throw around such racially charged & political provocative statements just to make my differing points of views known, no matter how righteous it may be or feel. You’re a better man than this, or at least I thought you were.

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