What's this deal about spoilers for the election?
In 2000, Democrats blamed Green Party candidate Ralph Nader for playing spoiler to the presidential election between former Vice President Al Gore and President Bush, and his part in siphoning votes from the Florida tally.
For the 2008 presidential election, GOP insiders are worried that former congressman Bob Barr may play the spoiler between Senator McCain and Barack Obama. Barr's Libertarian Party may be indeed a long shot for the American presidency but political experts believe that some die-hard conservatives who still feel about McCain's credentials may choose to vote for the independent candidate in protest.
Dan Schnur, GOP consultant called Bob "the Ralph Nader of 2008." Of course, Ralph Nader is running again for the presidency but as an independent.
Due to the tight race between McCain and Obama, third-party candidates may prove the difference in deciding which major party will win the election.
However, both major parties regard these third-parties as spoilers and a waste of people's votes. This is what I take offense to.
I am also displeased to see how some state Republican parties are trying to prohibit Barr's Libertarian Party from appearing on the election ballot. Of course, the Democrats have done the same thing to Ralph Nader in 2000 and 2004. Currently, the Libertarian Party is already on the ballot in 30 states, with petition drives this summer aiming at 20 others.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said voting for Barr is the same as voting for Democrat Barack Obama. I really wish I can see a campaign ad where the voter has to choose the lesser of two evils: the Democrats or the Republicans. Gingrich seems intent on brainwashing the public into ignoring third-party candidates because they have no influence, but if voters give those parties a chance, they can make a better difference than what our two major parties have done in the past several decades.
Do not blame us for voting third-party. If Obama or McCain lost the election, it is because their message and vision did not resonate with the majority of our American voters.
I really think the GOP party has lost its way. Die-hard and fiscal conservatives should vote for Bob Barr or even write-in Ron Paul just to give the party a message. Its neo-con agenda cannot be the way of the Republican Party.
Comments
Posted by: Kingwood
Posted on: June 29, 2008 11:53 PM
The same thing happened in 1992 when Ross Perot ran against George Bush Sr and Bill Clinton. However, his candidacy wasn't as much of a threat in 1996.
Really, I think that by spending millions of dollars of his own money to campaign and raise awareness about the national debt, Mr. Perot gave credibility to third party candidates in general.
There will probably be one or more independent candidates from now on. Both Republicans and Democrats are just going to have to accept that and put their game face on.