{news} (New Haven Register) Nader's VP pick blasts Dems. 2-party system

[Tim McKee]

New Haven Register- 09-23-2004

Nader’s VP pick blasts Dems, 2-party system 

Andy Bromage , Register Staff 09/23/2004NEW HAVEN — Peter Miguel Camejo, Ralph Nader’s vice presidential pick, swung through New Haven Wednesday, telling a crowd at Southern Connecticut State University that America’s two-party system is outdated and destructive to democracy. 

Camejo, who along with Nader is running as an independent, told a crowd of 50 that a vote for Mass. Sen. John F. Kerry is no better than one for President Bush.

 
               '); } //-->   "What we see is a coalition between the Democratic and Republican parties in support of the war, the Patriot Act, against the Kyoto protocol, against universal health care," said Camejo, 64, a California businessman and environmentalist who ran on the Green Party ticket during that state’s gubernatorial recall election in October.

Nader ran as the Green Party candidate in 2000 and has been called a spoiler for "stealing" votes that analysts said could have tipped the election in favor of Vice President Al Gore.

"When you say a person steals somebody else’s vote, what you mean is the individual agrees with Candidate A but votes for Candidate B," Camejo said. "There’s massive stealing of our votes by Kerry because masses of people will vote for Kerry who agree with Nader."

This year Nader did not get the backing of the Green Party, which instead endorsed David Cobb for president. 

Nader chose Camejo in June; this was his first stop in Connecticut since he was picked.

Nader and Camejo are on the ballot in 30 states, including Connecticut, and are fighting court challenges in 14 others, most of which were filed by the Democratic Party.

Camejo said the Democrats’ effort to keep him and Nader off the ballot shows they don’t believe in democracy.

"This is the most clear and unambiguous declaration by the Democratic Party that they want to win the election in any manner, including by preventing people from voting for the candidate they want by keeping him off the ballot," he said.

Many in the crowd said they back Nader ideologically but just hope Bush is defeated.

Tim McKee, a Connecticut Green Party spokesman, said he supports Nader/Camejo for their stance on universal health care and a living wage.

"These are people who are true independents," he said.

Nader opponents were also in the crowd. Some said they back Kerry while others favor Bush.

Kevin Miner, 22, a senior at Southern and president of the College Democrats, said the pair spends more time attacking Democrats than laying out a platform.

"The key issues that Nader is running on are supported by the Democrats," he said. "Kerry wasn’t my first choice but I will support him."

Laban Seyoum, 22, a junior and head of the College Republicans, said Bush is the man for the job.

"He has the quality of leadership, he’s honest and he’s the kind of president we need in the war on terror," Seyoum said.

Comejo told the crowd the Democrats have consistently supported the GOP’s conservative agenda and are not progressive.

Camejo is the son of Venezuelan parents and marched in civil rights-era protests with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He has a long and diverse resume, including competing in the 1960 Rome Olympics as a yachtsman and running for president in 1976 as a Socialist.

Nader is planning a stop at Yale University next month, campaign organizers said.


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Andy Bromage can be reached at abromage at nhregister.com or 789-5714. 






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