Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Last Nader Post of the Day
Salon.com has turned a critical eye on Ralph Nader, this election cycle, publishing several investigative pieces about him. One, The Dark Side of Ralph Nader was a searing examination of Nader's personality that raises serious questions about his treatment of friends and allies. Another, Strange Alliance, asks the interesting question of why Nader's book is being published by Rupert Murdoch.
Ralph Nader was very displeased about the coverage he was receiving from Salon. So, he decided to give Editor-in-Chief David Talbot a call. The resulting conversation, captured in On the phone with Ralph Nader, is a startling window into the feverish, manic mindset of Nader. It's definitely worth viewing the Salon Day Pass to read.
But, for now, a choice passage where Nader tries to defend his decision to publish with Murdoch:
Salon.com has turned a critical eye on Ralph Nader, this election cycle, publishing several investigative pieces about him. One, The Dark Side of Ralph Nader was a searing examination of Nader's personality that raises serious questions about his treatment of friends and allies. Another, Strange Alliance, asks the interesting question of why Nader's book is being published by Rupert Murdoch.
Ralph Nader was very displeased about the coverage he was receiving from Salon. So, he decided to give Editor-in-Chief David Talbot a call. The resulting conversation, captured in On the phone with Ralph Nader, is a startling window into the feverish, manic mindset of Nader. It's definitely worth viewing the Salon Day Pass to read.
But, for now, a choice passage where Nader tries to defend his decision to publish with Murdoch:
- Nader: But to follow your principle would be for me to say, "I don't want anything to do with NBC. It's owned by a pig company called GE. And I certainly don't want anything to do with MSNBC because it's owned by both GE and Microsoft." They are worse than Rupert Murdoch, and I will tell you why -- Rupert Murdoch does not produce death-dealing weapons and sell them to dictatorships.
Talbot: No, he just supports and promotes those dictatorships.
Nader: Yes, but there's quite a difference isn't there, between bullets and support? He doesn't build nuclear plants; he doesn't pollute the Hudson River.
Talbot: He just played the leading role in creating the propagandistic atmosphere for the war in Iraq. His media company played and continues to play that role. You know that, Ralph. It's just disingenuous of you to downplay what Rupert Murdoch is all about.
