| Ralph Nader @ UIC Pavilion, 10.10.2000 Grass-roots politics is alive and well, as thousands upon thousands of Chicagoans turned out in support of Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader. Best-known for his consumer advocacy (...what's in a hot dog...?), Nader has undertaken a full-on assault against corporate greed in America. It has been drilled into our minds that Nader can't win. According to the polls, that seems to be the case. As a result, the seeming goal of the Nader campaign is to garner at least 5% of the popular vote so he will be entitled to federal funding in 2004. In light of this, a movement has been started to ensure the 5% vote while keeping G Dubya out of the White House. Visit NaderTrader. The lineup of speakers at this event was pretty impressive. Jello Biafra addressed the "difference" between Gore and Bush...he said there essentially is none. He equated Lieberman to "Tipper Gore on crack", and implored the crowd: "don't hate the media, become the media." Emcee Phil Donahue called it "Ralph night in the Big Windy." He discussed Jesse Ventura's rise to power after he was allowed access to the debates ("...and suddenly, the wrestler was the governor..."). Donahue also addressed the fact that arch-conservative Antonin Scalia was confirmed by a 98-0 vote, and that one of those votes was AL GORE. Local hero Studs Terkel was next; he analogized the choice between Gore and Bush to the choice between influenza and pneumonia. Former independent presidential candidate John Andersen urged a cumulative voting method. That idea will never catch on. Next up was star speaker Michael Moore, who received a thunderous ovation. He introduced Eddie Vedder, who used his time to play 2 songs. He said he wanted to "give the people who came something to believe in," then he played "I Am a Patriot," by Little Steven Van Zandt, followed by "Times They are a Changin." It was pretty cool. Moore came back and lambasted Bush. Bush had recently been quoted as saying he had committed "no felonies in the last 25 years." To that, Moore posited, "Would Bush be willing to release all prisoners who had not committed a felony in the last 25 years?" He also cited Bush's quote that he could name all 55 members of his college fraternity. In response, he queried, "Would Bush be able to name the last 55 people he executed as governor of Texas?" He essentially called Democrats "pro-choice Republicans." Finally, Mr. Nader himself made a speech. Rather than attempt to summarize his policies here, I direct you to www.votenader2000.com. Lc. |