FARAONE: Why I voted for Nader

Since I’ll be in Chicago covering the Obama rallies next Tuesday, I just voted early down at Boston City Hall. Props to the election workers over there – I was in and out in less than 15 minutes. As the woman next to me commented, people have spent much longer paying parking tickets.

At the top of the ballot I voted for Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez. Before you start writing hate mail, please consider that this was not a protest vote. I’m as enamored of Barack Obama as any of his devotees; it’s just that I believe the point of voting is to choose him or her who is best qualified for the position. To hell with everyone who runs around boasting that they’re registered independents who are voting blue this time; you’re line-toeing, bullshit-eating Democrats like the rest of them.

Anyone who thinks for three seconds that Nader wouldn’t have smoked both major party candidates in all three debates knows nothing of the man. More than ever this country needs someone who not only has genuine compassion for poor and hard working people, but who has a distinguished track record of aiding them and combating greedy corporate interests. Don’t get me started about how much dirty money fueled this excessive Obama campaign. Like Nader would any Beltway politician – I’ll bury you.

Of course there’s also the obvious argument that this is a ripe time and place to pull for third party candidates. Sure – I believe that Massholes could and should dent the system since Obama is a shoo-in – but ultimately it doesn’t matter. The reality that an inexperienced ideologue such as him can get this much momentum on little more than charisma and widespread disdain for the opposing party proves that America will never climb out of this red and blue rut.

FULL COVERAGE: www.thethephoenix.com/election2008